Come Walk with Me…On Any Given Sunday

Why do I love this funny little village along the Neckar River?

On any given day I can walk out my front door and be a part of something wonderful.
Just today on a quick turn around the town with my dog Clover I wandered past a group of people gathered to watch the dragon boats qualify for the bigger races later in the month.  Then I stopped while Clover had a bit of a walk about in the river and noticed a small paper sign tacked to a tree. It read simply “Grill fest for the local Turkish people in Ladenburg but all are cordially welcome”.

It looked like a lovely BBQ and the Turkish Islamic club in town normally has the best food around but I wasn’t quite hungry yet…though Clover was very interested.

We wandered a bit more and saw a man with an amphibian car stopped to have ice cream on the ferry landing….I didn’t take a photo as it looked like he was having car trouble and I didn’t want to embarrass him.

But just a little farther along the way we stopped in front of the little camping spot in our town and it was absolutely full.  People relaxing and chatting away with friends, old and new. Ladenburg does seem to be THE place to be on weekends.  Even the town pool was buzzing with life.

As we crossed the street to continue on along the grüner ring, (a walking path that winds around the village a really beautiful path to walk)…a woman approached us asking about AFRIKATAG, (Africa day) and if we knew where it was located.  I said absolutely, come along with me and my dog Clover as it is on our way home. It wasn’t really but I had forgotten that today was Afrikatag and new there would be tons of great subjects to shoot….and well, I had my wallet along with me too.

Africa day in Ladenburg is a festival of color and culture organized to help the village of Grango in Africa.  It can’t be beat.  Each year it grows in leaps and bounds and on this day I was just amazed at how many people showed up in support.  Ethnic foods, handmade traditional clothing in amazing colors and music all create a feast for the senses.  For this photographer I always find it most inspiring.

While capturing the many wonderful faces and products I made some friends and bought a few beautiful scarves and earrinigs.  My new friend Mohammed, (he was excited once he heard me speaking French with Clover) gave me a great price and even invited me out for coffee. I smiled and say thank you I am honored but I am also married. We decided he could pose for a portrait for me and I would send it to him over email. He wanted to show his friends in the desert. I was truely amazed at how many African people were able to speak German and how all my German neighbors came dressed in traditional clothing. What a great cultural exchange.

Wandering back to my home, with a big smile on my face, I thought…I have to share this amazing day with all of you.

I hope you enjoy our walk together in this slideshow.