WELSH RUGBY SCARF 2012 ... a travel log in pictures.

[Piipriker]

Patrick the piper and one of the hosts, Andy McNeill



piping in of the Haggis



the other host Günter, he's the proprietor of the Fairytale theatre and actor. Andy had a burns supper in mind, a little bit different from the traditional.
Günter played scenes from the life of Robert Burns, but also did a recitation of Tam O'Shanter translated and put into verse by Andy and Günter.



After the show Llew decided to take the stage.

Marcus (kiltmonk) and Günter




Michael (a friend from Facebook), Andy, Marcus, Günter, Terry (scot and professional singer)



I got to step in too



then Terry did a little private concert



Andy partying



It was a wonderful evening and we intend to participate again next year. Andy is a whisky dealer in Aschaffenburg and on tour around Germany to spread the finer points of whisky. He had six whiskeys straight from the cask , even one from his private cellar

He told us that he was at a Burns Supper in Frankfurt several days before, where they had a "great" selection.
Glenmorangie, Glenmorangie and Glenmorangie. He wasn't impressed to say the least. And it was expensive too.

[Piipriker]

I got the permission from Terry to publish the videos I made from his performance

http://www.piipriker.net/download/bd/P1261786.mov

http://www.piipriker.net/download/bd/P1261787.mov

http://www.piipriker.net/download/bd/P1261788.mov

[Piipriker]

on saturday Marcus, my wife and I drove the 30 minutes to the neighboring town Miltenberg to visit a pipe and tobacco shop to freshen up the tobacco supplies



some final pictures of the castle in Aschaffenburg at night

[Downunder Kilt]

Great tour and photos of Llew while he has been visiting you Piipriker. Thanks for sharing his adventures with us, fantastic he is having a grand time

[Omar Zaragoza]

Awesome pictures!!!, thanks for sharing them with us

[Piipriker]

Llew's adventure continue

On saturday we went to the local farmer market, like we do on most saturdays.
Take a litte panoramic view across the square.



Our trip to the market always ends in the tobacco shop

Llew examining the shisha selection



Here we are with Mike, the owner of the shop in front of the Whisky and spirits shelves



Unfortunately there is no Rugby on german TV, so Llew had to watch german soccer with his new friends Chico and Guernsey Ted. You can imagine, that Llew was devastated when I told him the result of the match I had been looking up on BBC news.

[Piipriker]

on sunday we took a look around town. Idstein was first documented in 1102, gaining the town rights in 1287. The part of the highlands where the town is located is called Taunus.

We visited several spots outside of the town "center".

A view from the industrial complex across town to the eastern part of the Taunus.



near the village Dasbach we visited the rebuild Limes tower, a watch tower along the Limes border separating the Roman empire from the germanic barbarians.



next we went to the Jewish cemetery from 1874. As it is not openly accessible Llew and I decided to put the stones on the wall.

[Piipriker]

after we took a look at the timber-frame barn front (above) from the 19th century, that was erected on part of the old town wall in the village Walsdorf, we finally did a tour around the old town of Idstein.

Idstein is part of the timber-frame road (Fachwerkstraße), that spreads across Germany from north to south.

But take us take a look at the castle first.

part of the medieval town wall with the Renaissance castle. The Renaissance castle is now occupied by the high school.

[Piipriker]

the castle keep of the medieval castle, in spring and summer breeding place of kestrel, jackdaw and swift (I hope my dictionary didn't let me down).

The castle keep is called Hexenturm (Witches' Tower). The persecution of witches in Idstein ended in 1677 after the death of Earl Johannes. Idstein was one of the last towns in Germany to end the persecution.



The remaining parts of the old castle are used now by town administration, a youth club and a music school

[Piipriker]

the restored baroque garden.



lion rampant of Nassau. Idstein has been territory of one or the other Nassau line.



entrance to the jail under the gateway arch building