Oct 17 2041We got a train from BK and went to Wurzburg then changed for a short hop to Kitzingen.  From there we rode the bikes to Iphofen.  The Knauf Museum was having a exhibit on the hexen or witches.  Most of the exhibit was on the things they did to suspected witches.  Wurzburg and Bamberg were big witch killing towns.  Some of the exhibits came from the torture museum in Rothenburg.  After the museum we went to the local Gasthaus and had wine and cake.  Then we rode back to Kitzingen but took a detour to Etwashausen, a village across the Main from Kitzingen.  We came upon a tree raising fest or planbaum.  This village had a big tree so I wondered how they were going to get it up using the regular method of pure manpower.  My question was soon answered when the drove in a truck crane.  If you look back to Aug 30 we have a tree raising in Wollbach but they used brute force.

The tree to be raised.  It must be 25 meters long at least.

Before they raise it they have to put wreathes on the tree.  It's a chore because there's a trailer holding the tree off the ground at the same spot they want to tie the wreath.  So the crane had to lift the tree, remove the trailer, tie the wreathe on, then let down the tree and not crush the wreathe and get a better pick point to lift the tree into place.  There is a predug hole that butt of the tree to fit into.   

Of course there is the fest queen, the one on the left with the tiara.

And the band plays while they are raising the tree.

Partway up

farther up

Success.  They pound wedges into the hole to center the tree.  With the tree up I wondered how they would untie the choker.  So up drives the city hook and ladder truck and they put 2 firemen on the ladder and raise them up to unhook the choker

After the raising we head back to Kitzingen.  There is an island in the river and they have a park with a beautiful swimming area.  At least 2 big pools, water slide  and beer garden.   We spent the night at the Deustches haus, a nicely appointed hotel in Kitzingen.  Because of the fest in Etwashausen rooms were hard to come by.