Market at Gutenbergplatz, Karlsruhe and nearby region

Past weekend I was amazed by a lovely farmer's market in the city of Karlsruhe (seat of the Federal Constitutional Court as well as the Federal Court of Justice; the cityscape is said to resemble, even to have inspired that one of Washington D.C.). It is surrounded by a region appreciable warmer than Northern Germany. The range of regional produce on sale at this market at the onset of fall was just enviable. Giant artichokes, wild herbs, exotic mushrooms, freshly picked figues - most of these I could never have on hand at home.

The city is close to the beautiful Palatinate wine region (Alsace and the Black Forest aren't far away either) where at this time of the year they offer their regional delicacy in every winery or restaurant - Federweißer and German onion pie. I cannot think of a better way to start with fall ;)

Wochenmarkt Gutenbergplatz, Karlsruhe. Every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 7:30 am.

Eateries with a beautiful view:

Altstadtkeller, Kunigundenstr. 2, Neustadt an der Weinstraße.

Burgschänke Rittersberg, Am Hambacher Schloss 19, Neustadt an der Weinstraße.

twilight from a bird's eye view

In the lucky case you take off from a mega city during the twilight :) The bigger the city, the more lights will outline the streets (the major, the middle, the tiny streets...) and the more spectacular will be the skyline. Like an X-ray, you get a clear overview of the "city's composition", much better than during the day.

This was L.A. at the end of march where the view from the airplane was so breathtakingly beautiful it put one into a solemn mood.

I would love to see Sao Paolo, Shanghai and Tokyo likewise some day but admit that these moments can realistically not be planned ahead :) Also the flight patch & seat must be advantageous... last but not least because of environmental issues occasions for a bird's eye view of a city will become increasingly rare.

twilight II

The positive side-effect of this linear and uniform cityscape: you can always find a perspective to see the horizon. If you look down a street, no building obscures the view. At the most a cab.