Neuschwanstein Castle

Monday we drove down to Neuschwanstein Castle. We all totally loved it and would do it again if we were there. We did not do the tour inside the castle because of the kids. But if there was a way to do with and leave the kids behind, we would. Their system seemed very organized in getting everyone through without having to wait in a line.

You have to buy tickets for the tour down at the ticket office before you head up to the Castle. And there are three options for getting up to the Castle. You can walk, which is about a half hour hike up. Or you can take a bus, or do a horse ride carraige. We did the bus option, since we had the stroller. And I bought a round trip ticket for each of us. Emma and Ian were free, the kids were 1, 80 each and us adults were 2,80 each. (if my memory serves me correctly).

The thing to remember is, that the bus nor the carraige ride can take you all the way up. There is still walking to be done. But, they take you most of the way up.

After getting off the bus, we went over to the bridge to get pictures. It was a 5 minute walk up a steep hill. It was an amazing site. There was someone who works on the bridge offering to help take pictures for everyone. I think it helps to get everyone off the bridge faster. It was very windy and there is a water fall to see as well. Not all my kids would walk out on the bridge for a family photo.

Then we walked about 15 minutes over to the castle. We were able to walk all around the grounds. It was very cool. The kids really had fun seeing it. And then we opted to walk down the mountain instead of going back to where the bus was. It was a 2o minute walk down. It was a nice day for such a walk as well. We could of saved us some money and not bought that round trip ticket. Thank goodness it wasn't very much anyway.

Also, there is another Castle right across from Neuschwanstein. So you could see two castles during your one trip. We didn't have time to do the second one because of the kids. But it would of been fun. I'll have to save that for the next time I go visit the area.

Here are random pictures of the kids From Neuschwanstein Castle

Here are some pictures of the view from Neuschwanstein Castle.

And here are some pictures I took of Neuschwanstein Castle.

Dachau Memorial

We visited the concentration camp memorial in Dachau, Germany (near Munich) today (Konzentrationslager or KZ-Gedenkstätte Dachau). What an experience. Today I'll mention just one thing. The shame that I felt for ever having made a joke about someone being a Nazi in my life.

Something about seeing the concentration camp itself, walking the grounds covered in stones, going into the buildings where prisoners lived (up to 2,000 prisoners where there were only facilities for 200), other buildings where prisoners were tortured, pictures of the science experiments, the images of prisoners being freed by U.S. Soldiers (April 29, 1945), pictures of the hundreds of dead bodies that were discovered, and the gas chambers put me, needless to say, in a somber mood.

It is a common thing in America to call an over controlling person a Nazi. A typical example is the Soup Nazi from Seinfeld's sitcom. I think a better phrase would be drill sergeant. Someone who demands perfection in a certain situation. I think I remember referring to someone as a Nazi where a better phrase may have been micro-manager or even anal-retentive.

I remember, while hosting our first exchange student from Germany in 2004-2005, our student taking such a statement very personally. One of the fellow students in our congregation said Nazi instead of drill sergeant, micro-manager, etc. I explained that the phrase is a bad one, but that the individual who used the phrase was not intentionally demeaning the history of the 2nd world war and the great atrocities that took place under the Nazi regime.

Now I better understand why our German exchange student took this so personal and I was sad that I used something so horrible as the Nazi regime and as a joke. I plan to write some impressions of our visit over the next days. I know that Tamara plans to provide some pictures and details regarding the trip as well.

Erlangen

The kids have a 4 day weekend and so we took the opportunity to visit some friends that live in Erlangen. We left Friday and I have to share about the drive down here.

It was a 3 hour 45 minute car ride. We should be able to handle that. Gardner got home from work Friday to tell me some bad news. The repair shop could not fix our air conditioner. Oh well, life sucks sometimes was my reply. We get everyone and everything loaded and finally, an hour and a half later than we thought, we pull out.

Not even half an hour away, we hit traffic. It was not fun only going 2 miles an hour at times. Finally got our way through that.

We stop off and get McD's for the kids for dinner along the way. we are almost to the half way point. Everyone is doing good.

At one point, I told Gardner that Ian was doing really well with the car ride. Hardly was making a peep. I was really impressed. Not even 5 minutes later, Ian puked. And not a little puke. I couldn't believe how much it was when I finally was able to get off the freeway and get him and his car seat cleaned up as much as possilbe.

We finally arrive close to 11pm at night. Spend 1 hour washing clothes and a car seat in the bath tub. Got everyone to bed. I believe it was close to midnight. I was laying in bed with Ian. Emma didn't want to get back in bed. was right next to me when all of a sudden, she threw up....ON ME! On the bed I was in as well. Gardner grabbed her and took her a different direction. She puked again, all over my clothes I had laying out. Someone was in the bathroom so i grabbed the trash can, and sure enough, she puked again.

So, another hour was spent cleaning the floor, the bed, washing clothes, ect. Saturday morning, everything was thrown in the washing machine. They don't have a dryer so it had to air dry.

It was a crazy start to our weekend get away. Thankfully, that part is behind us and we can enjoy the rest of the weekend.

I want Schportschuhe for the Schportplatz from Aldi

This morning our 7 year old daughter Hannah said something pretty funny in a German-English (Denglisch) mixed up sort of way. She said two of the words in German and the rest in English. And the great thing about the German words is that they are normally spelled the same as the English words, just pronounced differently.

Proper English (I think, I have my own issues with English of course):
"I want the tennis shoes from Aldi for outdoor gym."

Our Hannah's English:
Spelled with German pronunciation hints:
"I want the Schportschuhe for the Schportplatz from Aldi."

Spelled properly:
"I want the Sportschuhe for the Sportplatz from Aldi."

Momma! Momma!

Today, I drove Gardner to work. Ian's carseat straps got a little lose and he got his arms out. Once we got to Gardner's work, I got out and re-tightened the straps and put his arms back in. He was not a happy boy.

So we dropped off Gardner and I was driving back home and all of a sudden I realized that I wasn't just hearing a screaming little boy who wasn't happy. I heard the distinct clear Momma! Momma! You know the Momma, come save me, help me, cry. As much as the screams drive me crazy at times, today, I was thrilled beyond belief.

You see, Ian is 20 months old and today, he spoke his very first word. And it was Momma! It warmed my heart. I had a huge smile on my face as my little Ian was screaming his little heart out. He said my name! Woo-hoo!