4 countries in a day

We left Germany and headed to Belgium. On our way we past through Luxembourg, then of course entered Belgium where we stopped in Bastogne at the WWII war memorial(battle of the bulge), took pictures in foxholes and of Grandpa Leo's 3rd Army and 80th division honoring those that fought.
It was cheaper to stay in the Netherlands so we ended our journey there. It was pretty crazy going from German signs to French signs to Dutch signs all in one afternoon. We arrived in Groede, Netherlands in a down pore so after a good nights rest we traveled a short distance to the North Sea to play on the beach, some of the kids ventured a little deeper than us adults but it was cold and windy as most coastlines are.
We had to detour back to the hotel to warm up and dry off before heading back over to Belgium to the city of Brugge. Brugge is an old Medieval city surrounded by a mote and other water canals throughout. After four hours of walking around the kids didn't seem to think it was so cool, so we went to check out some windmills along the outer wall which they enjoyed better. I don't know if the windmills actually caught their interest or the steep grassy banks they found themselves tumbling down.
Instead of stopping of in Brussels we decided we wanted to see Trier, the oldest city in Germany. Landon was grateful to be back where he understood the signs and the people.
We visited the Porta Nigra, the largest Roman edifice on German soil(2C) and a few of the churches the Dom (cathedral) and the Basilika. It was Sunday so everything closed down at 5 so that is all we had time to see.
Today we are busy packing and of course loading up on German chocolates and gummies to take with us.
It has been a wonderful trip!!!

The Rhine River

We did a driving tour one day from Rudesheim to Koblenz following the Rhine river. We got to cross the river on a fairy and drive past all the vineyards on the cliffs and in the valley's and of course castles or fortresses at every bend. We hiked to the outcropping(which reduces the river's width by one quarter) of the Loreley, legend says she was a water sprite whom bewitched boatman with her beauty and melodious songs at the river's most dangerous spot.
We found the drive just as attractive as did those Medieval merchants and travelers in their time.

4 Days of Travel

We left my sister Kristen's house last Friday and headed south. We had a a lot of road to cover and as it turns out we cut a few things out of out itinerary because it was just going to be to much this time around. Plus Thatcher started getting sick our second day into the journey and just wasn't having the best time.
At any rate we took sometime to visit one of Landon's mission friends in Karlsruhe Bro Dutzi before heading down to Fussen and the beautiful Neuschwanstein Castle, we also toured the other castle of King Ludwig II, Hohenschwangau since they are in sight distance of each other. The surroundings of both castles were so gorgeous, very mountainous surrounded by lakes and beautiful valleys with little towns and little farms nestled in the rolling hills. We then drove a short distance to Garmisch-Pertenkirchen and got Thatcher some Pizza hut Pizza so that he would eat something then headed for our camp sight to sleep and wait out the darkness. Oh yeah we are car camping, super fun! We woke up to the huge zugspitze mountain range; what a breath taking area surrounded by many mountain ranges. We didn't take the tram up to zugspitze' 9,724 feet but we did take a gondola ride up the Wonk at 5,840 feet. These rolling green hills were full of hiking paths and Edelweiss and mountain range after mountain range in every direction as far as your eyes could see. I hope you are getting a clear picture of what we were seeing because sadly we lost all of our pictures of the first three days of our journey:(




This is where we changed our plans and decided to just head to Munchen a day early. Not because we had lost our pictures because we hadn't at this time. We decided to head to the Zoo in Munchen after another awesome night sleep in the back of the van. Thatcher needed a day he could actually enjoy and he love animals! However he still was not feeling well so after about half the day at the Zoo we headed out of town to our last stop of Rothenburg. We arrived a half hour before everything shuts down in Germany, 6pm and we decided we just couldn't handle another night in the car so We called Kris and she booked us into a cute little bed and breakfast out in the country a few small towns away, it was heavenly.
Rothenburg was a delight one of the old walled mid evil cities, we had fun climbing to the top of the old town hall tower to have a lookout over the place and also climbing down into the dungeon where they kept prisoners. Landon & Thatcher both loved the old guns and swords. Landon's only request is that we visit the museum of Medieval Justice. Oh heray! Where's the gift shop?
We tried Rothenburg's famous "Schneballs" (Snowballs) they were disgusting. Back in the day bakers wadded up the leftover pastry dough and fried it and dipped it in powdered sugar...yuck! Now they do all sorts with them, dip them in chocolate role them in nuts, cinnamon and sugar them, I guess they are a big hit because you see them everywhere. We didn't finish ours and quickly fed the trash with them. Sorry Rothenburg but we don't see what the fuss is all about but we did enjoy the rest of the old city. From the original Kathe ?????? Christmas store to our walk around the wall.

Roaming Italy

Ok, so that saying "when in Rome, do as the Romans do" is a true statement; if you don't you maybe hit by car, bus or mope head. There are no rules you just go when there is a sliver of space or at least shield your body with someone elses so they get hit before you. I thought driving was crazy in Germany, well, there is no competition, the Romans win hands down...there nuts! (we walked everywhere)
"Roma" was fun! We did a lot in three days and my feet are killing me.
All the things we saw were truly remarkable and amazing!

Pantheon

Saint Peter's Square(Vatican city)

Fontana di Trevi (Roman Holiday)

Colosseum

The Roman Forum

Spanish Steps (Roman Holiday)

(coned into flower from Habeb)

Artichokes?

I had no idea artichokes were such a beautiful flower. Why do we eat these before they can bloom...look at what we miss.

Hoffest

We took the kids to a fall harvest festival, again yet another gorgeous day. We have been to lucky with nice weather. The kids played in the straw and went through the labyrinth "corn maze". We all ate bratwurst and the kids picked out pumpkins all in the little town of Hitscherhof.




Thatcher decided that he wanted to take a nap on his pumpkin after feeling how cool it felt on his skin.

Zoo

Wild Park

Heidelberg

I had to pay 50¢€ to pee to day.
We traveled to see the Heidelberg Schloss (castle)today. It is always a bit stressful driving around the the city streets but we finally found a place to park and walked down to the castle. It was very cool learning about all those whom lived in the castle, those whom designed and the stories behind life at the castle. I think it would be so fun to step back in time and witness the goings on for a day.
It was such a beautiful day, I was worried at first because it was so foggy but it lifted and well look at the pictures...

Landon arrived today!

We picked Landon up today...yeah! Thanks to the GPS I made it to the Frankfurt Airport with no delays, except for the ones I created on purpose. We stopped at the bakery (of course, goes without saying really) and then in some little towns along the way because we would have been way to early otherwise. I love the little towns they are my favorite, especially the farms that are right in town, I'll have to get a picture one of these times.
Taking pictures has also been a challenge, they don't have any turn out spots and there is never any room to just pull over, crazy tinny roads! LOL. I will figure this out sometime but it's been a challenge with a car full of kids. The obvious choice would be to actually somehow find a place to park and walk of course but again the kids. Once we are down to just are small family it will be easier but until then shots from the car will have to do. Every shot is worth it, it is so beautiful here.
I know, I took a picture of dirt, isn't the rich red soil awesome...hey! Don't make fun.
Having Landon here has already been so wonderful, I took him to the store and it was nice when I think they told me how much I owed, he could tell me. Other wise it was reach into the old hand bag and pull something out in hopes it was enough to cover the bill. Having someone know German is very nice.
Thatcher has been calling Landon, well "Landon". It's pretty funny, but I don't think daddy likes it:)