Our Favorite Hangouts

Hi everyone. Well I think that it is time to show you some of our favorite hangouts. Now there are some of you that have visited and know these places so I hope you enjoy seeing them again. Others are places that we only visited while we are biking around our area.

You must first understand that everything in Germany is based on food and drink. There isn't a mountain or valley that you visit that doesn't have some kind of location that will provide you with food and drink. It's just the way it is.

This blog contains three different types of places that we visit, biking locations, Rheingau or Nierstein (wine country) locations where we walk or drive and then last but definitely not least, the locations we enjoy here in our town of Geinsheim.

Wolfgang and I are pretty avid bikers. We are definitely not the Spandexers or racing bikers. We ride 10 to 20 miles and then somewhere along the way, we stop for a bite and a drink. Here are a few of the places that we have visited along the way.

First location is one that is only open from May to the end of August. It is a lovely little place that makes you feel like you are sitting in someone's backyard garden. It even comes with two dogs to enjoy but please don't feed them (it says so in the menu!)

Sissy
(likes to hang out in the front to greet everyone)

Gwendoline
(she is a professional beggar)

Notice Gwendoline in the background.

The wine of the month.
A full glass of wine costs about $3.00

Those are grape vines overhead.

I want these glasses. Maybe next year.....

The next location is one that we go to more frequently because it isn't as far as the location above. It is located in a nature preserve and looks like Hansel and Gretel's house. It is really lovely in the spring but by late summer it is usually a no go area because of the Mosquitos. They just love me (at least something does right).

This is one of Wolfgang's favorite lunch items,
Speck and Eier or eggs and bacon.

Our next bike tour location is across the Rhein river in Nierstein. It is also a location that we can walk to if needed but hey, riding a bike is so much more fun after a couple of glasses of wine!

Once in a while, the son from this family plays the piano while we enjoy the food and wine.

This family supports up and coming artist and lets them display their works.
The pyramide that you see is a metal work that I would love to have in my garden.

What did the world do before white resin tables and chairs?

The line on the glass is the Eich or the pour line.
When you sit by a vintner, the pour is always over the line.

One of our favorite locations is actually right by the Frankfurt airport in the forest close to the runway areas. It is the OldenWaldKlub (Old Forest Club). They are only open on Wednesdays and Saturdays unless they feel like being there more. Anyway, it's a great place and a perfect location to enjoy on a hot summer day because the forest is refreshingly cool.

OldenWaldKlub

This was a Wednesday which means mostly retired people biking.
We are one of them because always remember, when you are retired, everyday is Sunday!

Eventhough it is just a day trip, we never go without our "stuff".

Some people go by coach.

Biking along the dam to our next location.

Things we see along the way, 30-40 Storks feeding in the field while the farmer cuts the grass.

Fields of onions.

OK so now we move to locations that we drive to for enjoyment. Usually they are located in the Rheingau about 30 minutes from our house. Again, if you have been here, you will surely recognize these locations.

This is a place we found by accident and have been going there for the last 5 years.
It is always full so you have to get there when it opens or good luck.

Again, it's like visiting someone's garden.

Wolfgang loves this dish. I is Bloodsausage and fried potatoes.

We dress a little better when we aren't bike riding.

This next location is our absolute favorite place in the Rheingau. It is about 10 minutes from Rüdesheim and has the same view as the Johannisberg Schloss but the cost of wine is about 1/10 the price. The food is outstanding the view is always wonderful. In the summer you can sit outside and in the winter, there is a lovely little room inside complete with fireplace.

We buy wine to take home from here but be careful it is REALLY potent!

Wolfgang enjoying the sun but you must always bring a jacket because in Germany,
you just never know.

A fabulous view of the Rhein valley and the Rhein river.
Every hillside in this valley is covered in Grapevines.

OK, so he already drank from the glass because normally, it is filled right to the top.

Our last couple of locations are here in our town of Geinsheim. There are actually really only two locations in our town, the Sportheim and the Felsengrotte (Lempps). Wolfgang spends every Monday evening at the Sportheim with his Stammtisch group. There is a rule that if you go on vacation longer than one week or celebrate a birthday, you should buy a round.

The beergarden and of course, the favorite form of transportation around town.

The Stammtisch
(from left to right)
Hans, Richard, Klaus, Paul, Salvador (Restaurant Manager),
Wolfgang, Günther, Roland, Horst

And last but never least, our favorite place in Germany, The Felsengrotte. Most of you know our friends the Lempps. This is their restaurant. New in the last couple of years is a beautiful beer garden. You have definitely been here if you have been to visit us in Geinsheim.

Formal name The Felsengrotte but to us it is just "Lempps".

When the lights on the front are on, the restaurant is open.
That's how you know when a restaurant is open in Germany.

The beergarten. Not a good picture but when it's a warm and beautiful evening, the lights and old walls of the buildings behind make it a wonderful romantic place to enjoy the evening.

So that's it for this story and that's it for here in Germany this year. Soon we will be in California and we will see what happens there to share. Auf Wiedersehen.