externsteine and germany's statue of liberty

ujwal and rehna took us on an excursion to two edifices.. one a natural rocky outcrop and the other a man- made giant sculpture


we drove out of springe... lush green rolling farmlands







we drove through hamlyn (yes, of pied piper fame)















past rehna's workplace at blomberg



























drove around desperately for a place to eat lunch.. finally found a doner place




roses provide a colourful relief















as do nice traditional buildings















when we reached the national park, and old lady helped us take the shorter and more pleasant walk through the woods to get to the rocky outcrop














was indeed a nice and quiet wood















coming out of it.. there was the great rocks









people like ants on the top










a the brown pond at the bottom of the rocks
















and white blooms by the side















rocky relief carved centuries ago










the scene from the top was awesome

















































ripples made by a duck
















photo op 1










2













and 3












and then on the way down



























to the other rock
















amazing upward thrust of the rocks















.. stairs carved out on the rocky face

























bridge between two outcrops















kids from afar
















.. and up close











priya finds a giant croc to pose with..









as well as swing to play on...










soon it is time to head out...















near the great statue.. the place for some wholesome fun.. only it was already closed by the time we reached there, to rehna's disappointment...














rear silhouette
















front view
















closer
















close rear...
















and a close frontal view
















the dates...












and a rather unusal design for a water spout!















photo op at the top











the view from up there























driving back to hannover we saw tell tale signs of the winter storm that had knocked down trees in thick forests


we drove past villages and towns









and rolling wheat fields.. that was one lovely excursion! :)

kripa takes us around central park

had heard of central park since childhood when our whole family had been to new york and had brought back pictures of themselves around the alice in wonderland sculptures...

we took the bus from ihouse to the northern end of the park.. there we sat on the grass and had lunch















under the canopy of dappled green leaves








we went to the central reservoir..










... watched the ducks...










walked under the lovely green trees









rested our tired feet a bit










...started walking again to the lookout point.. whatever it's called






.. and went down a wooded path sprinkled with white petals














.. then on to the great bow bridge .. of hollywood fame..













still around the bow bridge















and of course kripa had to stand in front of her favourite central park icon!





then we went looking for strawberry field















.. and paid quiet homage john lennon









some more walking











..past fountains
















.. and restored archways

































struck a pose in front of the fountain










.. actually a few poses..










then headed for another pond and watched ducklings and sailboats...





as a photographer took a million shots of wildlife... a hawk

then we finally found the sculptures of alice and the crazy gang... seemed to take me right back to my childhood.. remember a stern looking babaraja posing in front of her!

...we took our turn sitting on the toadstools...



























.. and that was how we ended our tour of central park.... tired, aching feet but a smile on our lips...