My SAABs and I

This weekend I had a small road trip to my sister's home. She has been living here in Germany for almost 10 years, in the city of Michelstadt, near Frankfurt. Her city is pretty isolated from all Autobahns, so whether I take the highway or the side roads it takes me three hours to get to her home. Frankfurt by comparison is further away but it is much faster to go there because of the Autobahn that goes to it.

Leaving Ansbach I stuck to side roads through most of the trip. These roads are at times only slightly wider than one single car and without markings, and sometimes turn into wide two-lane roads with all the markings of a highway.


Passing by Rothenburg, considered one of the prettiest towns in Germany and a popular tourist destination.


After Rothenburg I went through a very heavy downpour for almost 1.5 hours. Fortunately in Michelstadt it was clear.

In Michelstadt the nice weather allowed us to go to the local Bienemarkt, which is a German version of what in the US we call a State Fair. The same thing: rides, cheap food, shady people taking your money...

I rode in one of these things for the first time in over 20 years.


My sister's two daughters Isabel and Sofia were having a blast at the park. They're still on that age when everything at the fair is very cool. Isabel, the little one, caught some air going down the slide and her face shows some fear, but she went back up for another turn!


Some random kid really enjoying his ride!


Anton is my sister's son, he is still almost big enough to enjoy the park but only wanted to ride the cars, I rode the bumper cars three times with him.


Sofia is the oldest and she's a drama queen. A future photographer?


Coming back home I had the best weather, with a few showers and some good sunshine. This is Rothenburg on the way back.


The city had very little damage during WWII. It's funny that we think of Germany being destroyed during the War, but it was mostly the largest cities with industry. Smaller towns like Rothenburg came out mostly usncathed.


Saw some deer in the hills. German deer are tiny.


Almost home, I took a detour to see Colmberg Schloss near my home, but got there after they closed the gates. I wanted to go inside because I heard it's like a true medieval castle inside, but only outside pictures today.


Posing with the car in Colmberg.


A bit after leaving Colmberg it started raining again and I got home in the middle of another downpour.