Germany, the land of 10,000 breweries

We rode to Germany in our private tour coach on our way to Heidelberg. The trip took us past Mannheim Germany where my oldest was stationed before deployment in the FIRST Gulf War. At least then, we knew to quit while we were ahead. I had intended to collect hat pins and buy an Alpine hat to put them on, so by now I had pins from London , Amsterdam and Bacharach Germany, but no hat. We stopped for lunch at the home of the worlds LARGEST Coo Coo clock with life sized characters on it. The proprietor was waiting for us with a tray of wine glasses somewhat larger than communion cups. He was saying "Come to me for your fresh wine sample" in pretty good English. The shop was jammed with clocks and wooden statues that the proprietor carved himself. He preferred you not take pictures of his clocks but I got a few of his work in progress before he told me that. He had for sale the exact green Loden (wool) caps I wanted. You get the hat, then a serious pin for what you consider your home and a feather tassel or boars hair brush to start out your hat. Then you start adding the pins of places you have visited. By now I have about 20 to 25 pins including a couple I still had from 1968. The folks on the bus always wanted to see what new pins I had added from day to day. When you walk with your tour guide he holds up an umbrella or something we can spot to keep track of where we are supposed to be. From then on the Guide said watch for Mr. Doren's hat. I had to be careful not to wander off and get the whole tour group lost. The Coo Coo clock store was right in the middle of the Black Forrest which is the historic home of the Coo Coo clock Industry. I have one that my mother sent me in about 1969. In seeing the current prices for clocks I discovered that "I"M RICH!!!!!! I only wish I hadn't let the cats knock all the Humel figures off the mantel and break. So onward to Heidelberg, the H'berg castle and the Lion statue.