January 11 - Another rainy day in Baden-Baden

Ron walked down to the local bakery about 8 AM for fresh rolls. We gathered in our apartment at 9 AM, and Ron prepared spiegel eier und speck (fried eggs atop bacon, the German style), along with fresh fruit, grits, walnuts, cheese, and rolls. 

Herr Van Neil stopped by and offered to drive us to see Paradies, a combined residential area with garden and waterfall feature. It was developed in the 1920's, and considered Germany's  first "beautiful living project". I had read it is lined with mansions and thought it would be interesting to see. In talking with Herr Van Neil a couple days ago, he was very surprised I knew of it, and said he and his wife had only discovered it by accident. He said it was too far to walk up, especially on a drizzly day, and said he would take us there and then drop us off in the city.

So, we set off in the 1996 BMW, and visited the Paradies area above Baden-Baden. It was not so interesting in winter, as the water was not flowing through the waterfall. But it was interesting to see the very expensive homes built along the area. The project was art-deco.

Paradies neighborhood - looking toward Baden-Baden

Herr Van Neil dropped us off at the edge of the pedestrian zone, and we walked through, looking at windows and stopped in a place for beer and cappucino. We stopped at Laterne, but the lady informed us in a rather unfriendly manner that the restaurant was closed (after 2 PM), but we could go to the cafe. (Later read several reveiws mentioning unfriendly treatment.) 

Modern Caracalla Spa - Opened in 1985

Friedrichsbad (Spa) - Opened around 1875

Our first stop - to warm up

Trinkhalle - Where you drink the mineral waters

We continued on and stopped in the Lowebraukeller for some lunch.

Shared white radish plate

Goulash Soup

Pat's sausage plate

We had wanted to drive out to a small Black Forest town in the wine district, but the weather wasn't nice, and no one felt like being back in the van again.

Pat and I stopped in another grocery store to get ingredients for chili, and Mike and Ron walked up the hill to the apartment. After shopping, Pat and I took a taxi back to the apartment (straight up hill).

At 6 PM the Van Neils (Rudy and Marion) came for drinks. A very friendly and interesting couple. Many funny stories they told. They stayed until 8 PM. 

We then went upstairs to Pat and Mike's apartment for chili prepared by Pat.