Karneval Friday - a break from festivities

The start of our walk

Friday started late.  Thursday night still lingering in our movements as we went through the motions of breakfast.  Feeling hung over and slightly cheated because the amount of alcohol consumed didn't justify the slowness of our movements or the muziness in our heads.  We had planned not to plan anything for Friday and we succeeded... at the least for the first half of the day.  Shortly after 1 feelings of guilt started to overwhelm the lethargy.  The day was beautiful, clear and sort of warm.  There was no other option than to go for a walk through the forest up to the ruins of Löwenburg Schloss

The walk involved a short drive to the picture perfect town of Rhöndorf, home of some of the largest carp in the smallest pond in existence.  From here we parked and headed into the forest, following trails up hill to the ruins of the Schloss.  The walk was just what was needed after such a late night and it was good to be outside.  The ruins were impressive.  I always enjoy visiting old fortifications and castles as I am fascinated by how they were made and why they were needed. Annika and Birgit enjoyed the chance to catch up and I enjoyed messing around with the camera.

There were lots of my little feathered friends visiting the Schloss that afternoon and I entertained my self trying to capture the little bastards on card (I was going to say film but I guess that isn't true any more.  Card doesn't have the same ring to it but it will have to do).

We left the ruins and headed down to the pub which wasn't far away, our bellies reminding us that it was cold and we hadn't eaten for a while.  The meal was delicious, lentil and sausage soup.  Good hearty food for the walk back down.

That night we had a light supper *, drank red wine and played a really good board game.  It was late again before we realised it.

*I made spaghetti cabonara following an old recipe I got from Mark Beissel.  Mark may seem like an unlikely source for a cabonara recipe but he has hidden talents as a chef.  One day I believe he will step out from behind the shadow of the gastronomic flare which his lovely wife so frequently displays and he will shine with an intensity that will blind his friends and family.  God that sounds good.  I think I will start reviewing plays.