Life on the Vine

Not far from downtown Stuttgart is the city of Ludwigsburg where one of the largest, best preserved baroque palaces in Germany is located.  I've been to Ludwigsburg a couple times.  When my family was visiting in September, I took my mom and sister-in-law to see the palace and the annual pumpkin festival .  The pumpkin festival has a theme each year and this year's theme was dinosaurs.    Last night I went to Ludwigsburg's Christmas Market (Weihnachtsmarkt) and while it probably seems like a weird combo I thought I'd share some of my photos from September and some of my photos from last night.   Mom and Haruko in front of the palace Dinosaur Crossing- the car hood was crushed in Most dinosaurs were herbivores Path leading down to the dinos Mom and baby dinosaur A lovely lizard The main portion of the palace dates back to 1704 We did the palace tour but they don't let you take pictures inside any more The palace ...

It's been almost two weeks since I journeyed to Ludwigsburg Palace for the palace tour and to visit the annual Pumpkin Festival.  It was really nice getting out and seeing something over the long Columbus Day weekend. Apparently this is the world's largest pumpkin exhibit - some 500,000 kürbis, which is the German word for pumpkin.  All different shapes, sizes and colors.  It seems they have a theme for each festival and this year's was fairy tales.  I didn't recognize some of the stories.  Here are a few. The Pied Piper is below.  You can't tell very well but even the mice are pumpkins.  Yes, gray pumpkins! Here is Gulliver's Travels...the part where he is tied down by the Lilliputians. Behind me you'll see three characters...this is Hansel and Gretel and the evil woman trying to lure them into her home. Each exhibit had a storyboard.  Here is the one for Hansel and Gretel.  I can't remember which fairy tale ...