Germany 2nd time around.

The apartment block across from Roger Tanner's apartment. Just an idea of typical Hamburg architecture. I only just made Roger's wedding in Jork, South of Hamburg and not once did I take my camera out. It was a hectic day of planes, trains, buses and walking from 03.oo till 23.30 on 19th September. A bit hectic, a bit tiring.

Magic evening with Julian Hambitzer in Bonn with his Grandparents (Grandpa was Head of the Cape Town German School for many years) and his mom (not in picture unfortunately - taking the picture).. So good to see Julian again after his 6 months at SACS as an exchange student from Germany in 2012. He will be in South Africa on a Community Service Project in August 2015.

Bit of a gloomy day in central Bonn as we await my train to Munich (again). This is right in the centre of the city. Last time I was here was in 1976/77 for New years with the Bitzker family. Commander Bitzker was the SA Naval Attache and Donald Soule the Ambassador whose son I taught at SACS.

The view towards the magnificent cathedral in Bonn.

Some culture from Bonn. Both the building and one of the fathers of Germany.

Another view of the Cathedral.

Looking at the hills and vineyards en route to Munich.

A view of vineyards near Stuttgart

More vineyards near Esseling.

And some more magnificent South facing vineyards near the Rhine.

Big wheel at Oktoberfest in Munich.

Milena in Bavarian dress in front of the Old Oktoberfest venue. Far more traditional than the rowdy drunken (sometimes) masses in the big tents of the newer section. Rowdy, but so full of singing and dancing (which we did in great abandon the previous very late night).

Two Lanz Bulldog single cylinder tractors. A know of one in Agter Paarl which was used well into the '80's and may still be. These are 1930's and there are about 6 there plus a couple of Hanomags as well.

Weird bikes with offset axles and in some cases back wheel steering and other anomolies ridden by the staff. This guy had it waxed.

Outdoors and the Oompa Band braving the drizzle.

Inside a tent in the early part of the morning. Oompa Band getting warmed up.

Milena in the magnificent tent with most people wearing traditional Bavarian costume. We sat with a Swiss couple and had a wonderful beer, massive pretzel and singing time.

Another interesting sign. This one for the gents toilet!

Bavarian Band doing its thing with traditional Bavarian music. They are from a small very traditional village, so the mayor and police chief and fire chief and doctor and street sweeper and pharmacist and grocer and a couple of farmers all playing magnificently. Magic.

And now for the traditional Folk dancing.

I tried to get a shot of a truely beautiful young Bavarian dancer, but just could not. I wanted to say how beautiful she was to Milena, but waited for her to say it and then confirmed. I'm learning!

having a good turn on a 100 year old funfair ride.

Another ride we braved.

Paulaner Tower.

The traditional centre of this festival at Oktoberfest.

Milena with two magnificent draught horses of one of the breweries. They have a magnificent temperament amidst all the chaos and noise of Oktoberfest.

Myself with these magnificent horses.

As we left, I took this shot down the 'avenue'. Off to the train station and the ICE to Austria. This magnificent journey continues.