A decoration in one of the Christmas markets on the Ku’Damm in Berlin. Is he meant to be one of the three kings?
Skeletal bird sculpture, Cologne
Is this meant to be a bird or a flying reptile? Large-scale metallic sculpture overlooking the river in Cologne.
Purple orchid, Oberammergau
More alpine flowers from the meadows on the outskirts of Oberammergau. This time, green-winged orchids with their purple flowers.
Alpine choughs, Zugspitze
Alpine choughs: near the peak of the Zugspitze, there’s a combined bar and weather / research station. On an early spring day, the terrace was quite full with tourists having cake and coffee as they enjoyed the magnificent view. The choughs were constantly on the q.v. for anything they could scavenge.
The only time we saw a chough at a lower altitude was a single bird in Oberammergau … on bin day.
Gemse (chamoix) near Oberammergau
Chamoix on the slopes of the Laberjoch, an alpine hill outside Oberammergau.
Knock to enter the new year
To see in the New Year, door knockers on the main entrances of churches. The first is at Holy Trinity in Stratford on Avon. The others in Cologne and Trier.






