Hello again - here's some Thursday clips.  We made our way from Michelbach - came back around the west side of Stuttgart, then south and west to the berg of Rotenberg in the heart of the Black Forest.  The area was rolling and beautiful - and the forests thick.  We found our way to and arrived in Rotenberg - stopped at the Rathaus (town hall) to pick up some information from Frau Armbruster, who really told us not much, but did sell us a book on Rotenberg.  Plus we got a great picture of the church from her office window...

 The churches surely remain as the foundations of these old towns - and they are often very well preserved.  Here is the church where Dad's father (Johan) was confirmed.  After wandering around a bit trying to find someone (anyone) to whom we could explain (in English and a little broken German) that we just wanted to look inside the church - we found Frau Schmidt, who let us in.

 The inside was quite nice - another beautiful pipe organ - and Frau Schmidt explained many things (apparently in some detail) that we did not quite grasp, but we did enjoy looking at the church, and we think she understood our gratefulness for her hospitality.

We found the old place where Dad's father once lived.  It's still there - but needs some TLC.   The satellite dish was added since grandpa lived there...

Rotenberg seems a cozy little German town - with a 'newer' section and modern homes, a school with a football (OK, soccer) field - and plenty of well-preserved old buildings too.  

We did visit the cemetery to look for familiar names - and found some.  Schumachers, Haberers, Esslingers and lots of other familiar German names. 




Greg found us several places where we enjoyed good views of this small town where John J - Dad - was able to walk in his father's footsteps after many many years...

It's a little chilly on this hill - but it's OK.  John J gives Rotenberg a last look.

John J deemed the trip to Rotenberg a success - 'I've done what I wanted to do...', and with that, we left Rotenberg.

Greg guided us down the road from the mild elevation of Rotenberg, out of the hills, through the tunnels and headed toward Offenberg, then to Strasbourg France and on to the Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial near St. Avold...more on that later.