I’ve been totally swamped with various presentations, papers and essays over the last two weeks, but with the summer weather slowly emerging, I decided to briefly venture out from my study cave. What better place to visit (again) than Kassel, since I forgot my camera before, and this time I arrived, rather conveniently, just as the water games began. Not actually water fights, but more so the timed release of significant amounts of water over large stone features. Sounds a little strange (and I really hope they made some productive use of the gallons of water that were required) but it was quite nice to watch.
Arriving into Kassel, you can take a quick tram ride and get off at the base of a hill beside a quaint little tram house.
Following winding gravel paths through acres of deciduous woodland, and all of it uphill, eventually you reach Wilhelmhohe, a former palace and current museum in a majestic building overlooking the whole city. Intertwined paths lead further uphill around stone features, dripping waterfalls, hidden stone benches nestled under arches of growing wood dripping with new leaves, small clearings bursting with buzzing invertebrates and cheerful wildflowers and dappled shade revealing sweet little writing huts and a pretty impressive “fake” castle. At some point endless stairs bring you up to the central feature, with Hercules overlooking the land perched on his (under construction) pyramid. All this before the water games even start.
As for the water games themselves, I almost thought some features were more spectacular with just a drop of water instead of the torrid flow, but it was still quite impressive.
A perfect afternoon was rounded off with nothing other than food – a coffee, bratwurst and ice cream from the scattered stands and cafes on the hill before strolling around the museum bursting with Roman and Greek sculptures and several galleries. And the obligatory selfie!
Although the rainy deluge this morning interrupted the spell of good weather, I can only hope it continues for our planned jaunt down the Lahn in a canoe tomorrow!