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October 26, 2015 By Hailey

Into the Black Forest

Justin and I hosted his parents earlier this month, and they treated us to an excursion into the Black Forest of southern Germany. We rented a car in Zurich and set off for a relaxing afternoon of countryside driving and leisurely exploration.

Domeck family

The Rhine Falls (Rheinfall)
Europe’s largest waterfall is lodged between the Swiss and German border. Less than an hour from Zurich, the Rhine Falls are a popular day trip from Switzerland’s financial capital. Below the castle battlements of Schloss Laufen, millions of liters of water crash through gigantic boulders every minute in an awe-inspiring display of natural power.

Rhine Falls

The Black Forest (Schwartzwald)
Southwest Germany is covered with the rural woods of legend, the Black Forest. With miles and miles of forested and low-mountain terrain, the landscape served as a source of inspiration for the fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm. The narrow roads wind along the hillsides and dip into valleys, passing quaint German towns.

The Black Forest

We were told by some friends to visit one such iconic village – Triberg, a small spot on the map with romantic waterfalls, peaceful hiking trails, regional cuisine, and cuckoo clock shops galore.

Triberg Germany

Triberg Germany Waterfalls
Triberg Germany

Kookoo Clocks of the Black Forest
Taking advantage of the abundant natural resources during the cold winters, men of the Black Forest began building cuckoo clocks in the 1700s. With great skill and craftsmanship, the carpenters and clock makers worked together to fashion unique time-keeping pieces.

Cuckoo Clock, Black Forest

In Triberg, Gerald Burger explained the process of making these intricate artifacts, and he demonstrated how to tell the differences between “real” and “fake” cuckoo clocks. (Half-carved figurines and battery powered ticking are dead giveaways.) My favorites were the chalet clocks, and in particular Gerald’s patented invention of the turning-chalet, which features a summer scene on one side and a winter scene on the other.

Cuckoo clock maker in Triberg, Germany

Cuckoo Clock Details
Fake Cuckoo Clock

Cuckoo Clock figures

Black Forest Cake
No trip to the Black Forest would be complete without indulging in its signature dessert. In Triberg, Café Schäfer claims to have the original recipe to Black Forest Cake – chocolate cake layered with whipped cream, cherries, and flavored with kirsch, a cherry liquor.

Black Forest Cake

Triberg Germany, Cafe Schafer

An Effortless and Enjoyable Day Trip
An easy car ride from Zurich, southwest Germany is a pleasant area to explore for a day or two. Had we more time during our excursion into the Black Forest, we would have lingered in Freiburg, the largest city in the region. Even so, we enjoyed our family excursion from Switzerland into Germany with the time we were given, and I’m still dreaming of that sunset.

Black Forest Road Trip


Hallo friends! Would you fancy a car ride through the Black Forest? How much would you spend for a handmade, original cuckoo clock? Have you ever tried Black Forest cake?

 

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  1. Michael Lee says

    January 31, 2019 at 3:37 pm

    My wife and I have been thinking about getting a cuckoo clock. I love the ornate design of the black forest craftsmanship. The clocks are so beautiful to me.

    Reply
    • Hailey says

      February 2, 2019 at 3:50 pm

      They really are great works of art! Thanks for leaving a comment. Best of luck picking out your favorite cuckoo clock… it’s so hard to decide!

      Reply

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Hailey Domeck is a Southern girl with a Spanish heart and Swiss soul.

As a wife, mom, and travel addict, her love for mountains, fairy-tales, and great food keep her mind and heart always on the lookout for the next great adventure.

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💫 2020 - not about travel; all about family. 💫

#littleAlpenRose #WaveyBow
For me, this year was all about #motherhood - the For me, this year was all about #motherhood - the beauty of growing a child in the womb and then nurturing a precious newborn around the clock; the wild roller coaster of shepherding a toddler, whose contagious joy and  stubborn defiance make each day a challenge and a gift; the mundane tasks that help make a home feel warm and welcoming; and a bunch of other things. 

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Merry Christmas, y’all! 🤍 No matter your circ Merry Christmas, y’all! 🤍 No matter your circumstances, may you experience JOY in this holiday season and have HOPE  for a brighter year ahead. 

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📷: @whitneykeilman
• T H A N K F U L • We are saying thanks for • T H A N K F U L • 

We are saying thanks for all things in life this week. It’s so easy to get stuck on either the big picture or the tiny details, but I believe it’s important to take it all in - like I did on this ridge overlooking #Manang Village last year while trekking the #AnnapurnaCircuit in #Nepal. 

Creating a culture of gratitude takes intentionality and discipline... and it’s especially not easy when babies and toddlers demand so much of you at all hours of the day and night. Yet, here we are at the start of the holiday season, and I’m choosing to be grateful for the whole lot. 

What are you thankful for this year?
Hooray, it’s the weekend! 🥳 I don’t have a Hooray, it’s the weekend! 🥳

I don’t have any big plans today (#newbornlife), but I’m recalling the joy of “Heidi Hailey” in the Himalayas last November. ☺️ Shout out to @thatdutchieguy for bringing his Polaroid camera on our #CreateConnectNepal journey... what a fun way to capture special moments, - like my favorite stretch of the #AnnapurnaCircuit in the #Manang District ❣️

What are you up to this weekend?
As I sit here nursing an 8-week old babe, it’s j As I sit here nursing an 8-week old babe, it’s just wild to me that on this date exactly one year ago, I was walking among giants and completed the most difficult hike of my life. 

On November 11, 2019, the #CreateConnectNepal team and I went up and over the Thorong La Pass. At 17,769 feet (5416m), this is the pinnacle of the Annapurna Circuit and one of the highest mountain passes in the world. The day began in the dark with a grueling 4+ hour ascent through snow-kissed trails and then required a fierce descent down a bone dry valley. It demanded everything of me. 

Yet, that day up and over Thorong La was just one part of my epic adventure in #Nepal last November. I am eternally grateful for that experience and cherish those memories dearly. I also miss those people a lot. ❣️
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