Today a friend said something interesting: “Everyone’s New Year’s resolutions are about themselves”. Which is true, resolutions like “I’ll help the elderly in my community more often” aren’t heard that often. The holiday season is liked by many for its merry atmosphere and the spirit of caring about others. Countless charities profit from that with advertisements showing sad street kids with tears in their eyes. Would be fun if these posters also showed the bureaucrats and corrupt officials that actually receive most of the donated money.

Overlooking Stuttgart from the west is Birkenkopf, a 500m high elevation. It grew by 40 metres in the years 1953 to 1957 when 1.5 million m³ of rubble were cleared from the bombed city and moved to the hill. Most locals know it by its unofficial name “Monte Scherbelino” which roughly translates to “Mount Shards”.

For those who would like some food for thoughts for the festive season: Your Lifestyle Has Already Been Designed (The Real Reason For The Forty-Hour Workweek)

“Cannstatter Wasen: prepare for overcrowded trains, delays and maladjusted people” - that message was showing on train departure displays at main station last weekend. The comedian in charge got into trouble with his superiors. Personally I think he should have gotten a commendation but there is no arguing with the wimps in charge of political correctness. Anecdotes aside, the bi-yearly mass intoxication that gets tourists and every farm boy in a hundred kilometre radius wasted beyond believe came to an end this Sunday.

Glemseck 101, the annual motorcycle event near Stuttgart on the former Solitude race track. Loooooots of motorcycles. Some of them quite… unusual. Anybody remember that Mel Gibson movie, Mad Max? This bike seems fit for the post-apocalyptic road-trip. Others featured a more morbid outfit. How many times does one get pulled over by the cops on a thing like this? Apparently some vendors have discovered little girls as their target group.

Two weeks ago, at “Flammende Sterne” in Filderstadt.

Another nice day in the high Alps. It started a little cool and overcast but around noon turned into a sunny, slightly cloudy day. I had contemplated to visit some sights around the lake today but the prospect of more amazing roads and stunning scenery won me over. So back on the bike. The first part of this trip took me south along the Alps before heading back into the fun at Sonthofen.

Having managed to leave my way too comfortable flat, I drove south to Lake Constance yesterday. The ride took me through some very nice areas not far from Stuttgart - could be something for a day trip. Near Bregenz I got a room through airbnb. It’s actually a whole flat at the moment as the owners won’t return before tomorrow. As the place is about ten minutes out of town, I had a splendid view with my morning coffee.

Elemental sounds of the universe, that’s how Estas Tonne describes his music. I had seen some of his performances on youtube and liked his unique and dynamic style a lot. His album “Internal Flight” has become one of my favourite tunes to listen to while sitting in a train and watching the countryside whip past. Today Estas played in Crailsheim at the “Kulturwochenende” and I went to see his performance. Some time before he went on stage, I came across him in the streets, apparently both of us looking for the stage he was supposed to climb.

Christopher Street Day in Stuttgart - queer people in a square city.