Germany and the Wild and Wonderful West

One of the most popular songs you will hear played at festivals in Germany might surprise you…it did me the first time I heard it.  I was in a little wine cafe along the Rhine, surrounded by German’s arms link and voices lifted in song.  They were singing a medley of tunes on song blending into another and then, I recognized it…a familiar tune.  “COUNTRY ROADS TAKE ME HOME”….could it possibly be?  John Denver’s song about West Virginia?

So, now knowing that song is very popular with the German people…it won’t surprise you to find out, they are absolutely crazy about the American West.  Cowboys, Native Americans, the costumes the traditions, all fascinate them.  You can find in just about every German village a Western Club, normally flying the American flag and the TX flag along side the flag of Deutschland.

This weekend was Ladenburg’s Western Riding event, the sound of horse hooves filled the air.  Leather chaps, stetsons carried about as if made of gold…and spurs were seen just about everywhere. I felt very much like I was back in TX walking around a rodeo…but with the sound of German voices filling the air.

I will let the images tell the story for me. I hope you enjoy the slideshow below.

Great light to you on this Sunday!