Greetings from Germany's greenest city

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Until the end of July, I am staying in Freiburg, southern Germany, for an internship at the "Institut Franco-allemand" (or "Centre Culturel Français").
The city is very charming - I like it a lot. The people speak a cute dialect, something between Swiss German and "Schwäbisch"... they would be mad if they saw that --> NEVER EVER mix up "Schwaben" and "Baden", they're totally different people, believe it or not - this I learnt here ;-)

View on Freiburg

"Biergarten" - could it be more German? ;-)

...


The part of the city where I live - almost in the middle of the "Schwarzwald" ;-) :


I live with a very nice Spanish-German biologist...


...who sometimes "decorates" my room door while I am away:


The neighborhood:


Freiburg, "bike town": everyone here owns AT LEAST 1 bike...


Sunset

Just a "PS" to my favorite Berliner: Renke, I don't know how many "Freiburgs" you know, but the one I am talking about is Freiburg IM BREISGAU... hope you'll never teach Geography ^^

Leaving France / "Die Rückwanderer" / Grossi Züglete

After 14 years, my family's time in France is over...

June 27 was "MOVING DAY"...




Welcoming surprise...


The closest neighbors: 3 friendly ladies ^^

Waiting staff


...


Tired imported cat


My mother's "rain forrest" had to be moved too, of course...


Empty room


View from my window



Pictures of Freiburg are coming soon!!

In loving memory.

TANGO

After weeks of hoping he would get better, Tango eventually died this morning.

To me he was so much more than "just a dog" - I basically grew up with this animal, which I loved for always being kind, playful and happy. When I was at home I spent hours with him every day, never really realizing it could come to an end.

He was greatly loved - and will be sadly missed.

European Seminar 2008

Strasbourg - Kehl - Brussels

Call it "intelligent holidays" ;-) ! ... Last week we (my study mates, a group of students from Germany and I) attended a "European Seminar". We spent the 2 first days here in Strasbourg and Kehl (Germany) before going to Brussels where we had the opportunity to visit the European Institutions. The workshops and conferences we attended were very interesting, but because of the huge lack of sleep we all had, it was sometimes hard to stay concentrated... Brussel is a "nice" city, but far away from being "breathtaking"... Our hotel was located quite far away from the city center, so we spent our evenings (and nights) playing "Taboo" and chatting in our rooms or running across the city looking for the right subway station ;-)

Pictures... :

Departure, Wednesday morning, 6.30...


Sleeping people...


Arrival in Brussels :


With my study mates...


European Commission, Gaëlle & Olivia


Flags at the entrance


Conference about the Lisbon Treaty...


Cécile, proud to be "Suomi" :-) ...


"My" country :


Switzerland goes European...


My roommates, "Gazou", Cécile and "Miss Bogota" ;-)


Playing Taboo at the hotel...


Conferences "early in the morning"...



Sightseeing: Belgian Royal Palace :


"Maneken Pis", wearing Tibetan clothes :


... making fun of Maneken Pis ...


"Sighsteeing Crew"...


Shopping mall :


Belgian Fashion:


Have you been hugged today? "Free Hugs" in Brussels


"Fritland": French Fries Country :-)


Last night in Brussels - Thai Restaurant


Going home... ("Merci" again to the people who took this picture...)

Somewhere between winter and spring

Switzerland, April 2008 ...



View from the balcony


The neighborhood :


Fields


...


Snow & Clouds


Morning Sun


Wind

Does China really deserve the Olympic Games?

Let me share my concerns about the situation in Tibet ...

Recent events showed once more how tough the Chinese leadership reacts when it comes to the Tibetan issue...

Today I attended (once again) an peaceful gathering in the centre of Strasbourg... This time, we were about 500 people.
It was quiet but impressive and the speeches held were interesting.

Does China really deserve the Olympics...?

Pictures :


Tibetan flags...


... lighting candles ...

...


... Minute of Silence ...

...



"Clearly, China is a human rights failure"
Lhadon Thetong

German Spring

After coming back from Sweden, I enjoyed a few days with my relatives in Waldenbuch, southern Germany.

The weather was awesome, incredibly sunny and warm. Many people - including me of course - started sunbathing...

Waldenbuch is a lovely town and very typical for its region...

Traces of spring...

German squirrel enjoying the sunshine...


Endless blue skies...


First flowers...


...and strange trees...


Street in Waldenbuch


Chocolate factory: Ritter Sport


"Chocolate-car"


German frog...


View on the countryside


Sunday-walk...



Danke an die "Surre" für die netten Tage bei euch :-) !