StringGrrl sees the World

The Walensee, about 1 hour by train outside Zurich. During the winter looking down from Flumserberg, we have often wondered about the impossible little farmhouses on the far shore of the Walensee. Well, wonder no more. StringGirl wanders the shores of the Walensee with the Kam and Pietsch families. Peering out of one of the rough hewn caves that allows access along the rugged shoreline to the remote hamlets on the north shore (cliffs) of the Walensee. Remnants of the middle ages remain from this once strategic foothold in the Swiss Alps. View Larger Map

View Larger Map Coming soon. I will have to upload the pics from our recent hike to Walensee. Many pics from the Flumserberg side of the lake in previous posts. But soon sights from the lake elevation, upward. Walensee, from the top of Flumserberg

Transatlantic commuting New site on Squidoo. Squidoo allows you to put together quick and simple sites (called lenses). Use these sites to raise money for charities (pick from a list) or make cash for yourself. You can even set it up to split the proceeds. I started a lens on business travel. With some tips and tricks of a frequent traveler. Also to find out what make you tick. Follow and find out more about Squidoo.

the old lock The old lock system (Schleuese) here was finished in 1912 under the rule of Kaiser Wilhelm II. It served actively until late in the 20th century (I could not find the date for decommissioning). up on the locks That's Eric at the observation level of the Schleuse at Waltrop. StringGirl in is on the railing.  inside the shaft lock A short walk through the now defunct Lock.  Boat lift at Woltrop The "Old lift" at Henrichenburg seen from the upriver side. Henrichenburg boat lift This is a great example of a "post-industrial" metropolis finding the way to preserve it's heritage without letting it fall into total decay.

Here in the Ruhrgebiet the had an interesting even that everybody in the Rust Belt of the USA should consider. They had a night celebrating the culture of their industry (Coal, Gas, Iron, Steel) from 8:PM till midnight they held special events at some large post industrial sites throughout the Ruhrgebiet. StringGirl with hosts Ute and Burkhard Many people, young and old, from near and far came out to learn about and enjoy the industrial heritage of their region. The Ruhrgebiet is the area of North Rhineland-Westfalia including Duisberg, Dusseldorf, Essen, Bochum, and Dortmund. They even fired up an old Steam Locomotive The pride that Germans feel in their industrial heritage is one aspect that I feel has been lost in the USA, and is not wonder that Germany is still an excellent exporter, while the US has given up making things as a whole. A large boat lift used to raise cargo ships up 3 meters to next canal Rain and unseasonable weather it would have been a pe...

StringGirl has decided that her first car should be a Wiesmann GT MF5.... Or maybe the Cabriolet Roadster, or the MF4, or, MF3... So many choices:colors and styles. The Wiesmann Experience (manufactured individuality) is truly unique with the showroom directly looking down on the manufacture of the cars. Hand-stitched leather interiors, BMW powerplants, and aluminum fabricated chassis all completed on site. A view from the showroom down to the manufacturing floor. Beautiful car inside and out. Hand built only ~200 cars per year. Take a vacation to Dulmen in Germany, to visit the Wiesmann factory and get the full experience .

Haltern am See , in North Rhine-Westfalia Is it obvious that we are in Germany? StingGirl gets a shoulder ride from a Haltern resident and poses for a picture with Burkhard.  Another Haltern monument. This one commemorating some wartime catastrophe that was not so easy to translate.

Maybe scales is too strong a word, she rode the worlds steepest cog-train up to the top At the ground level. With the Pilatus-Kulm Cog-Train in the back ground. It will climb a mind boggling 48% grade up to the top.    Inside the train, all the seats and cars sit near a 35 degree offset in order to keep us in the seats as the train scales the mountain. First built in 1889 the train was and engineering marvel. From an observation deck above the Hotel Pilatus-Kulm. Serviced only by the train this hotel will offer awesome vistas for it's visitors. Looking down into the clouds

Off for a dinner cruise on the River Rhine (Rhein) in Frankfurt, Germany. In conjunction with the AutoForm Engineering Sales meeting, StringGirl got to participate in Dinner cruise through historic Frankfurt. The sun was out and the weather balmy. StringGirl about to get on board. Hans-Werner, Bart, Mario, and Jan await. New and old fill the skyline in Frankfurt. We'll have to look up which Cathedral that is in the background. Jan, Joop, and Waldemar enjoy the cruise with StringGirl. Another big old church looms in the background.

StringGirl visits Nashville and is pleased to stumble upon live music. Here at Legends the bands, as usual, display a high level of talent--it is hard to believe that it is Sunday night and they are only playing for tips. Tim Baumgartner takes a break for a beer and to pose with StringGirl.

I wonder if the folks at BP have used this site yet. REALLY Brings it home. At the current time, the spill would cover most of the Lower Peninsula. Many European nations would be lost in this spill.  If It Was My Home - Visualizing the BP Oil Disaster

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