Saxophone admirers

What a great day!

Basically, this was a do-your-own-thing day, though I did fit in a meeting with Bernard at my preferred breakfast spot in Radhausplatz. He was going back to Dublin tonight, and had the first of several train journeys at 2:30, while Ron had various options lined up before going to Die Walküre, the second of the Wagner Ring cycle.

I was sort of thinking about a bit of shopping, but wasn't too pushed. More important than that was to find out where in town a really nice scene on a tourist poster was. Having done detective work, I made my way to Fischerau and Gerberau and Augustinerplatz, considered the most picturesque parts of Freiburg. They richly deserve the reputation, especially on such a good day as today. It's been a while since I've agonised over what to choose as the day's blip (though there was some hesitation on each day since coming here), but today was really, really difficult. Fischerau itself was a prime candidate, as were this Freiburg streetscene, this bookseller moment, and even this menu holder. A really close second records (as does the blip) a moment with the Funky Marching Band at Augustinerplatz. That young man was really getting into the music, but the blip choice just summed up the deliciousness of that band encounter even better and won out in the end.

Having wandered round and round and stopped for a bite to eat in the Altstadt Café on Fischerau, I half-heartedly investigated the shopping ideas I had and almost got something to remember Freiburg by. Then it was back to the hotel for a bit of a rest, from which I was rather rudely awakened by the sound of a brass band and choir which turned out to be in the hotel's function room and had the look of some sort of annual reunion. There was no sleeping through that, so I went out again and managed to find a restaurant recommended by Martin from Zürich. This is Wolfshöhle, on Konviktsstrasse. Wow! It isn't cheap, but the food is superb. Being offered an amuse-bouche to begin with is always a nice touch, but when this is followed by delicious Spargelsuppe (asparagus soup) and a delightful halibut dish, it all adds up to a perfect eating experience. Add to that wonderful staff and excellent décor, and it amounts to a why-didn't-we-go-there-last-night combination.

Back to my hotel afterwards. It's now after midnight and still the strains of brass band and choir are constantly there from the function room below. It's utterly wonderful, though and adds that extra bit of atmosphere which crowns a really wonderful day.