Darmstadt March 2012

Georg Büchner´s memorial tablet at my house in Darmstadt.

I was spending most of my time in my native town Darmstadt during March 2012. We are plannig to reconstruct our roof and are building 6 new flats. Eventhough it was quite stressfull with all the decisions that had to be made and some weird discussions with the executing partners I had to deal with, everything seems to turn out being perfect and right, just the way I wanted it. So I feel a bit exhausted now but I am fine. But that is not what I was to say. The best thing about it, is beeing aware that I have so many wonderful friends  around here helping me trough. I am really thinking about moving back to Darmstadt in the future because some things are much easier to handle. Beside of all this personal experiences I got aware of all the culture in my native town. I will show you some pictures now without  comments. I will  comment  them later. Unfortunately the day I was taking the photos the weather got a bit overcast but I still think that they are o.k.

View from ther rear of the exhibit hall of Mathildenhöhe

 So I will start with the "Mathildenhöhe"

If you want to learn a bit more about Mathildenhöhe just click here.

Entrance to the exhibitions  - permanent and changing

View to the Russian chapel and the "Wedding Tower" also called "Five Finger Tower" designed by Joseph Maria Olbrich

Weddings can be held up in there.

The Kiss

Entrance hall of the Wedding Tower

Entrance door

The room where weddings take pace. 

I could only make photos through the glass door. So unfortunately the pictures aren´t that great.

Ceiling

Cups where the new weds have to drink of after the wedding ceremonies have been fullfilled.

The man drinks out of the big cup whilst his wife is drinking out of the little cup - at the same time.

That reminded me of a poem by Khalil Gibran

Here is a quote from this poem:

Füllt einander den Becher

aber trinkt nicht aus einem Becher

Fill each other's cup but drink not from one cup.

The emblem of The House of Hesse

The lion and the lily

Four sculptures from Bernhard Hoetger
Hate
Avarice
Revenge
Anger

 These reliefs are also made by Bernhard Hoetger

 Sleep

Spring

Resurrection

 Summer

Gate next to the Russian Chapel designed by Albin Müller

Here is another link with more photos of Albin Müllers works

Dying mother with child by Bernhard Hoetger

Cupola  at the staircase to one of the exhibition halls designed by Joseh Maria Olbrich

Water carrier and fountain designed by Bernhard Hoetger

Wedding tower and model made for blind people to get an idea about its shape.

Fountain designed by Joseph Maria Olbrich

Residence of Peter Behrens in Darmstadt Mathildenhöhe

Entrance door

 Details - all tiles were custom made

Outdoor lamp

 Gate and entrance door Glückert house designed by Joseph Maria Olbrich

Pavement

Entrance of the Ernst-Ludwig House "Man and Woman" designed by Ludwig Habich 1900

Foutain designed by Ludwig Habich 1900

Entrance door

Street lamp

 Fountain designed by Albin Müller

St. Tropez

This is one of our last days here in the South of France and we have decided to go to St. Tropez this morning which is about 90 km from Biot. Eventhough I am here several times in the year I have not been to St. Tropez for a long time. I remember the last time I have been here was sometime in the eighties in October for a sailing trip. It was quite nice then but I actually never really liked it. It´s a dead town and there is hardly a place to find that is open during wintertime. The prices are outrageous compared to Monaco, Nice, Cannes and Antibes and people here are not very friendly. During wintertime I am suggesting - stay in the region of  Les Alpes Maritime. There is much more to see and there is also a "normal life" going on. St. Trop is dead in wintertime and horrible in the main season. The weather was not nice either and this makes impressions even worse.

Some impressions.

This is pretty dull as you can see. There is hardly anybody on the streets and we had a Noistte at Café de Paris which was absolutely chichi and twice as expensive compared to Antibes or any other place that we usually go to. The waiters are not very polite either.

Market In Antibes

Today we decided to visit the market in Antibes that takes place every Thursday. The weather is not so nice anymore. A bit overcast but it was not raining and suprisingly warm.

Interesting lamp.

After having lunch in Antibes we went back home to Biot and had a drink at the piazza.

Piazza cat.

We bought a few things at this wonderful shop and tearoom Le Mas Orangers .

Great selection of vinegars, syrups, pastis,tea, etc......

Yesterday we spent most of the day at home at the pool. It was really very warm for this time of the year.

Balou was very happy to have us at home.

A butterfly on Claudia´s leg.

Today we went to Cannes to do some shopping.

La Croisette

Market in Cannes.

 

Morays

A great variety of olives.

Later we had lunch in Antibes and then went back home just relaxing.

Nice - Monday Antique Market

As ususal on Mondays we were going to Nice today visiting the antique market. Eventhough all the things they are selling is much to expensive, it is worth visiting. We just love the atmosphere and look at the sometimes weird stuff they are offering.

WC travelling kit - portable toilet

If you have a bad back, I might consider wearing this corsage.

And what do you think about this bedside table ?

With a matching mirror.......

...and lamp.

Later we had a nice lunch with moules au curry. After a walk through the old city of Nice we had a lovely coffee called Noisette at this wonderful cafe called Les Distilleries Ideales.

Back in Biot

On one of my last evenings I visited some friends who stayed in Sils Maria. They organized tickets for a jazz evening at the Waldhaus Hotel. It was a very nice evening and the band was super. Outside we had a snow storm and I had some trouble driving back home to Surlej.

 

A few days later I flew to Nice. Again we are very lucky this year concerning the weather.

Had lunch today at this nice little place called Café des Chineurs   in Antibes right next to Heidi's English Bookshop  .

The Bastide

 Balou is happy to have me back again.

Happy New Year 2012

 

 I wish everyone a very happy New Year!

Went for a walk in Surlej with the kids.

 Kids skiparadise in Surlej at the foot of Mount Corvatsch.

 Old wooden foutain in Sils Maria