the black forest by torchlight

My husband works for a German engineering firm. We're Americans but we're living here in Germany on temporary assignment, along with a lot of other non-German employees and families. A few times a year, the company organizes what is called a Stammtisch: all the foreign employees gather together for some evening event (to help us feel happy about living so far from home in a strange land learning a strange language) and they are always lovely!

Thursday night, Karl and I joined a large group of Americans, Hungarians, Chinese, Japanese, Brazilians, Mexicans and I'm not sure what other nationalities on a torchlight walk through the Black Forest!

Here we are with our torches (yes they are flames, no batteries included!):





Here's the group traveling through the forest (black, isn't it?):



Karl and I have actually been on this path before...here's how pretty it looks in the daylight (looking more like a forest, now, doesn't it?):



After about half an hour of walking, we suddenly come to this Biergarten...yes a restaurant sitting right in the middle of the Black Forest(!)..the Bütthof:



Where Karl and I sat at a table getting to know some new Chinese, Japanese and Hungarian friends while eating fondue...



...I love my life!!