Bakker Bugle Blog

Technically, we arrived in Baden-Baden at the end of a long day two. We checked into our hotel, found a lovely place to dine al fresco (with blankets to help keep us warm in the chilly May air) and enjoyed a relaxing night after a busy and interesting day. We retired early, intending to spend the day exploring the town and possibly a bit of the Black Forest south of town.

The BBB&B favorite guide Rick had a walk through Baden-Baden that hit all the major (and some of the minor) sights. The photoset will take you through the details, but I thought I would give you a preview of some of the lovely things.

Blooming flower beds

Beautiful buildings

Snacks!

And, of course, sun and smiles

After we finished Rick’s walk, we decided we could use a short break and possibly a light refreshment. We found a lovely place near the river which seemed to be perfect – in the sun, with good beers and wines and a nice atmosphere.

It wasn’t long, though, before some deep, dark and menacing clouds floated above. The Ladies of Baden-Baden had a decision to make: stay at our table under the umbrella or make a run for it through the gentle rain. As we were debating the decision, large drops of rain started to fall – in earnest. It was an outrageous downpour. Under our umbrella we were safe and dry, but had we tried to leave we would have been soaked through instantly. Jaime took a long look at the rain and declared it a “tantrum.” She was confident that the weather, much like a difficult two-year-old, was simply throwing a fit. She predicted a quick end to such terrible weather. Sharon and I had faith in her declaration and we decided to wait out the rain – with a second drink and a delicious lunch!

Jaime was right. Within 20 minutes the rain had spent itself, much like an exhausted toddler. The clouds passed and we were again left with a sunny sky and a beautiful day. The only lingering down-side was our abuse of the word tantrum for the rest of the visit. But it wouldn’t be a road trip without a little tantrum, now would it?

After our long repast, we finally ventured to the car. We headed into the Black Forest for a while, before turning towards Luxembourg. Will was happy to see us arrive safely home, with a plan to stay local for a few days. Next up: exploring Luxembourg!

[Ed. note: As expected, we haven’t even gotten the May photos and posts up before our 4 July deadline. The staff continues to be “under water” from dealing with necessary business travel, World Cup games and holiday parties. The remainder of July looks promising for the staff to get caught up on some of the outstanding items, unless the Netherlands wins the World Cup. If that occurs the staff makes no promises as to when you’ll see a cruise photo. Hup Holland!]