Bad Schwalbach revisited

Saturday, 14 October, we drove back into the Rhein Taunus for another hike around Bad Schwalbach. The hike we had done the week before was so super, we could not resist trying out another roundway we had found in our Walking book. This one started from the opposite end of the village, up near the Kurpark. Following a well marked trail, we headed out around the lake and up a steep climb, into the forest. The mixed hardwoods, Beech, Oak and Birch with an an occasional clump of "volunteer" pines, set the background for a fabulous day. The Beech are beginning to take on the "Copper Beech" colors and along with a few maples, showed some bright spots on the mountainsides. We have no trees with red leaves which add the pzazzz that I miss from NC fall foliage. Oh well, can't have everything. In NC it was a 3 hour drive to the Blue Ridge Parkway to see colors in October; from Frankfurt, we are lacing up our boots and ready to hit the trail in less than an hour! Of course, all our destinations are not so close, but the Taunus is right at our doorstep so to speak.

After 4 weeks, Jürgen is still plugging away at his Security course. One more week and we will know whether he will make the grade. He has surely studied hard enough for it. At least in Frankfurt Rhein Main airport, you can be assured the folks checking your luggage and carry-ons are well trained and know exactly what to look for!

I started my German Intensive course on Monday. The last formal class I took was in 1994, so needless to say, I had a few trembling knees when my turn came to say "auf Deutsch" why I was in the class. I should not have worried however. I had been placed (after testing my knowledge) in a midlevel class and found that the other members were at much the same level: lots of Strassendeutsch, not so good grammarr, but anxious to become better. The class looks like a meeting of the UN: 3 Italians, 3 Poles, 1 Czech, 1 Bulgarian, 1 Chinese, 1 Pakistani, 1 Persian (Iranian), 1 Algerian, 1 Congolian, 1Ukranian, 2 Japanese (cabin crew who work for Lufthansa), 1 Indian (Asian), 1 Serbian, 2 Spaniards and NO Americans....Yeah!!!! The interesting thing is that all also speak English. I read in the BILD newspaper today that there is a movement similar to that in Frence, to clean up the German language of "Denglish". From the complexion of this group, it looks like a hopeless project to me.

Our weather is turning cooler and I make the heat on in the mornings. I expect to see our first frost soon. I understand from nephew Francis and my friend Peggy, both of whom were traveling in the NE of America last week, that the first snowstorm of the year has occurred. Bet the Ski resorts are counting the green already, looking forward to a white Thanksgiving holiday.
Well, all the news for this week.