Sunday we took a day trip to the town of Hohenstaufen near Goeppingen. Hohenstaufen is known for its castle ruin on top of the hill dated to the year 1070. Its documented that Emperor Friedrich the 1st aka. "Barbarossa" stayed there in the year 1181. The castle was destroyed during the Peasant Wars in 1525, so there are just a few walls left over.

It was a pretty warm day and I guess I hadn't recuperated from my wisdom-tooth removal surgery enough to be walking up long hills in the midday sun and drink a beer up there, but that night I got the achies and panies and was pretty much in bed all day on Monday. I'm doing better again and I'm going to take it slow from here on.

Anyway....We walked through the charming little village of Hohenstaufen to the beginning of the clime uphill where there is a little late 15th century church. That's where I took the images, because I can't resist some things (old stones against a bluer than blue sky). Then we made our way to the top of the "hill" and sought out the restaurant that promised to be up there. Well, restaurant would be overrating it a bit I would say... but we did get ourselves something to drink. My men were smart and got a coke and I was dumb and got a beer, thinking since there was no decent lunch up here I might as well get some wheat substitue! I pushed aside the thought that I don't handle beer very well when it's hot outside and the sun is beating down.

After that I was too pooped to pop out my camera and do a lot of photographing. It was nonetheless a great day spent with the family, it always makes me cheerful when our 15 yr. old joins us on these walks! You know those moments are just there to cherish, even if the next day you feel like total mush.