A sunday afternoon at the "Wilhelma" - zoological and botanical garden at Stuttgart

The "Wilhelma" at Stuttgart is a zoological and botanical garden with one of the most species richness of its kind worldwide. The park was built in the 19th century by the king Wilhelm I. of Württemberg. The first building was a "Badehaus im maurischen Stil" (Bath House in the Moorish style". During the times the purpose of the park changed. After the Second world war it changed to the only zoological and botanical garden in Germany. Today it is really a pleasure to have a walk trough this wunderful botanical garden with the old buildings and watching the animals from all five (six) continents. For sorrow many animals were today inside because the weather was rainy.

This very nice little rodent is called "North African Gundi".

Place de la Marche vers l`Europe - Platz der ersten europäischen Vereinigung

On the 6th of August in 1950 about 300 people went to St. Germersheim (Southern Palatine at the boarder to France) to tear down the turnpike for celebrating a agreed and unified Europe. These people from many european countries demanded in their speaches with a lot of idealism and enthusiasm a unified Europe with peace and security. Today at this place there is a monument for these forerunners for the European Union which made a sign in celebrating and demanding the international understanding in Europe.

Wissembourg (Alsace)

The little town Wissembourg is situated in Alsace (France) near the border to Germany. This little town is really worth seeing. Many very lovely corners, ornamentations and of course the old and picturesque half-timbered houses give this town a loving charm. One of the most significantly buildings in Wissembourg is the l'Abbatiale Sts Pierre et Paul (church). On our walk through the town we met a lot of tourists although the weather was not really inviting.

Völklinger Hütte and Saarbrücken

In these days the world heritage "Völklinger Hütte" presents a very special exhibition called "Asterix and the Celts". More than 100 drawings and scenes of this comic made by Goscinny and Uderzo are presented. Furthermore the original archaelogical finds of items used by the celts are also exhibited. The exhibition shows the really funny comics, there origins and the verx exact historical research of the Authors. For sorrow it was not allowed to take pictures of the exhibition.

After our visit in Völklingen we made a walk through the Capital of Saarland, Saarbrücken.
The following pictures shows the town hall and the theater of Saarbrücken.

Snowdrops in the early sun of march

Snowdrops are one of the first flowers which sprout out of the earth at the beginning of the spring. These flowers opens the upcoming fireworks of the nature with blooming and growing everywhere. Every year once again a natural wonder.

 























A few days later some spring snowflakes blooms.

More and more buds an blooms reach out to the sun.

Nature awakes and some insects enjoy the warm sun rays.