Leaving You in a Plume of Diesel Fumes (Or Adventures in Public Transportation) Part I of II

This a was a long entry so I split it into 2 parts.

PART I

Yesterday we embarked on a fun adventure to the Reutlingen Wine Festival and to Rottenburg (Am Neckar).  Both of them are smaller cities close to Tuebingen.  We went in the afternoon and decided not to play the it's 5 o'clock somewhere card, but we did get to enjoy a traditional large German midday meal.

Rachel at the Wine Festival

Zach making a funny face

Zach, Jake, and Emily (left to right)

Jake and Emily at the Wine Fest

  We then noodled around the Reutlingen Marienkirche (St. Mary's Church) - we had just missed a wedding!

The pulpit is a work of art

A beautiful rose window adorns the nave of the church

Surprise! There's Martin Luther. 

A gorgeous stained glass window above the baptismal fount 

 And then it was off to Rottenburg, which was so quiet and peaceful, we decided that we would have to come back again soon.

I don't know what's going on here, but I love Rachel's face in this picture

Rottenburg Am Neckar

Jake and Emily by the bridge

Rachel, Jake, Emily, and Zach along the bridge

Behold the mighty Neckar!

Emily photobombs Rachel's wistful moment

Jake being all moody

Emily and Jake (again!) on the bridge

The Marktplatz in Rottenburg

All of this took place between making mad dashes for trains and buses.  With a huge government controlled and regulated system, the Germans have no mercy for late people or for people running after a missed bus or train. Even if you see your bus waiting at the station and you start running for it, because it's supposed to leave  right NOW, the bus driver will look at you and simply drive away.  It's your own fault for not being there on time. (Zach figures it's how the bus drivers get entertainment by leaving as a large group of Americans run after the bus.)  You have been warned: They have no mercy.