MANIA Elektronik Automatisation Entwicklung Gerätebau GmbH, Schmitten, W. Germany

It has to be admitted that sometimes weekend travel has its compensations. Whereas previous sojourns in Frankfurt had meant busy days confined indoors in the city itself, with little opportunity to satisfy the writer's rarely indulged thirst for fresh air and exercise, a free Sunday based in the heart of the Naturpark Hochtaunus just thirty minutes drive from Frankfurt became an unforgettable experience. Schmitten (Niederreifenberg), nestling in a valley surrounded by forest‐clad hills, is the village location of the headquarters of MANIA, and the day before Circuit World's visit to the company in May offered the rare chance to enjoy the Taunus hills in their Spring glory. The fresh pale green of the new foliage on the beech trees presented Nature's artistic contrast with the backcloth of dark coniferous forest, and it was refreshing and exciting to explore the abundance of well marked Wanderwege, many serving in Winter as Langlaufloipen. It was remarkably peaceful, and possible to wander for hours without seeing anyone—alone among regiments of stately pines and clusters of fragile wood anemones, crunching underfoot the remains of last Autumn's beech leaves, invigorated by the clear air and smell of pine resin, and with only birdsong for company (and isn't it a crazy world—German birds ‘speak’ exactly the same language as their British counterparts!).