A Hike into the Woods

Monday was my last full day in Switzerland.  Cousin Werner picked me up at my hotel in Lenzburg, and we drove the short distance to Othmarsingen.  We went to the house of Werner's sister Ruth, and she served us a lunch of Swiss comfort food... "wurst" and macaroni with cheese.

After lunch, Ruth suggested that we take a walk.  (Good! I need to burn some calories the way I have been eating!)  Ruth's house is on the edge of town, and just across the highway is a forest.

After crossing the highway we came to a "Wanderweg", a hiking trail that goes through the "Othmarsinger Wald"... the Othmarsingen Forest.

Within the forest there are a couple of depressions which once were sandstone quarries.  Supposedly, my great great grandfather, Johannes Marti, owned the smaller of the two quarries.  The story goes that during a period of economic depression in Switzerland, his quarry business went bust, and he emigrated to a town that was known as the "Sandstone Capital of the World"... Berea, Ohio.

From the path there is lookout from which you can see Othmarsingen.

Using the zoom lens you can see Lenzburg Castle in the neighboring town.

The path leads us out of the forest and back toward Othmarsingen.

One of the most prominent buildings in the village is the schoolhouse which was built in the early 20th century thanks to a large bequest by Herman Marti.  He emigrated to Brazil where he became a very successful businessman.  Herman is not related to us, although I suppose if you go back far enough, all of the Martis in Othmarsingen are related.

There is a farm at the edge of the village which used to belong to the Marti family.  Although a different family now owns it, this fountain bears the emblems of both families.  Since the Martis were not nobility, you could not call it a coat of arms.

As you can see, the Martis are a prominent family in Othmarsingen.  I suppose I should be thankful that my great great grandfather was not successful and had to come to the U.S.  Otherwise I would not be here.