Day 6

This was our last day of sightseeing. We didn't have any firm plans. We had decided that if it was clear out we were going to go up the Zugsptize (the highest point in Germany) if not, we were going to see Swarovski Crystal World over in Austria. It was a very cloudy day, so off to Austria we went. Words cannot describe the crystal museum. It was absolutely amazing. The pictures don't even do it justice. There isn't much to say about it, just that it was beautiful. Afterwards we went and ate lunch at an Austrian restaurant. It was interesting...and yummy!
The next morning we got up and headed home. We were able to see so many neat and beautiful places, and made some wonderful memories.

The pictures: driving through Austria (the clouds were so low we were almost driving through them) out in front of Crystal World, pictures of the museum, then Jamie and the kids after loading the car.

Day 5

We woke up to another sunny day on our fifth day. (Quite amazing, here in Germany, lol) We were scheduled to go on a tour called Cake By The Lake. It was another half day tour, so we slept in, had a nice breakfast and then headed over to the PX to pick up a few things. (There is an Army base there, too) We met up with our group and started our walk-it was a little more than a walk, but not really a hike. We saw some paragliders when we first started out, and walked right by their landing site. On our way to the lake we stopped by and saw the bobsled run from the 1936 Winter Olympics. We were able to go inside the bobsled shed and see the bobsleds that the Germans used. We also got to meet the Captain of the team that won the gold in 1952. The kids were also able to sit in the bobsled that the Germans used when they won the gold that year. Then we went on to the lake. It was absolutely beautiful. We were surrounded by mountains, right by a lake. There is a restaurant there that we went to and had cake (thus, Cake by the Lake) The cake was really good, too! Afterwards we walked back down, and just as we arrived back at the lodge, it started to rain. That evening we went on a buggy ride through Garmisch. It was a lot of fun!

The pictures: The bobsled run, paragliders, the kids in the winning bobsled, the lake and the restaurant we stopped at, all four of us, Jamie and the kids in the buggy. I don't know what happened that the pics are all out of order...but at least they're on there:)

Day 4

Our fourth day was an easy day. We had signed up for Bavarian Brotzeit Tour. Just so you know, brotzeit means snack in German. The tour didn't leave until almost 10, so we slept in and enjoyed a nice breakfast. Once again it was a BEAUTIFUL day out-it was very warm for this time of year, and we really enjoyed it. Our first stop was a cheese factory where they showed us the process for making cheese. We were able to see them make cheese and we got to try some. Jamie and I have decided that we are too used to Kraft, lol. Right next door to the the cheese factory was KLOSTER Ettal...yes you read that right KLOSTER!!!! A Kloster is a monastery or convent, and we were also told can also mean covanent. The Kloster Ettal is a monastery, and the monks there make their own bier (beer, lol) and liquor. We were able to go inside the Basilica, and it was very elaborate in the paintings and statues. After arriving back at the motel Jamie and the kids went down to the pool, and I did my favorite....LAUNDRY! Then we went to a Mexican restaraunt downtown, it was really good!

The pictures: The kids getting to pretend to milk a cow, check out the backs of the folding chairs, a couple of street signs, the basilica, the kids and I, the kids at Sausalito's.

Day 3

For our third day we were on the waiting list for a bus tour to Munich. I really enjoy going on the bus tours because the tour guide knows little things about wherever you happen to be going-the stuff that's not in the tour books. They told us our best bet was to show and, and see if there were any no-shows, so we did. One of us could have gone, and we didn't think they were too excited about taking A.J. so we went back to our room. We looked over one of the books I had with me, and decided we were going to just go to Munich on our own. We walked to the bahnhof (train station) and got a ticket. We were able to get a family pass for 29 euro round trip. We jumped on the train and looked at my book some more. We decided we really wanted to see the glockenspiel and the Bavarian crown jewels. We thought both kids would like the glockenspiel, and that Kaitlin would really enjoy the jewels. When we arrived in Munich we pulled out the maps so we could figure out how the get to the Marienplatz where the glockenspiel was. The glockenspiel is a clock that when it strikes 11 and 12 (and during the summer months 5) shows a joust with a duke and his wife watching. There are also some people that dance. Interesting fact, the glockenspiel is located in the new Town Hall (rathaus), a building that survived the bombing and was the US headquarters in 1945. (All this info is from Rick Steve's book Germany and Austria 2007-very cool book and very interesting!) We were able to find it just as the clock struck 12. It was so very cool! Afterwards we ate lunch at the Ratskeller-in the cellar of the town hall. It was so good! A.J. and I ordered brats, and Jamie and Kaitlin were jealous. Then we headed over to the Residenz, and went through the part of the museum that held the crown jewels. The workmanship on the jewels was amazing! Afterwards we walked around Munich for a little bit and then headed back to the train. The kids were hot (yes, it was another beautiful day!)tired and thirsty. We jumped back on the train and made it back to Garmisch...and made the kids walk back to the motel, lol. They slept really well that night!

The pictures: The kids walking to the train station, the glockenspiel, just a bunch of bikes at a subway station-they were like this everywhere, and unlocked most of the time!, the Residenz, just some cool buildings downtown, the kids drinking their slushy drinks, Jamie and I on the train.

Day 2

On the second day the lodge wasn't sponsoring any trips that we were interested in (ok, we would like to go on the Three Country Tour, but it's mostly just driving through three countries and we didn't think the kids would really enjoy that, lol) So, we decided to sleep in and then explore Garmisch. When we woke up it was chilly, gray and rainy so we bundled up and and headed out. By lunch time, though, the sun came out and it really warmed up. It was so nice! Garmisch is a Bavarian vacation type town. It's really beautiful. You are surrounded by the mountains, and the houses are in the traditional Bavarian style. (We found out it is actually a law that your houses have to follow the old style, even down to the floor plan) We had fun just walking around downtown, and going into the little shops. A.J. got some polizei cars-Jamie thought he needed them, lol. We went to and Italian Eis (ice cream) specialty shop to eat. Check out the "spaghetti" ice cream in the pictures! OK, here's what's in the pictures: A.J. in front of the George C. Marshall Center, some Bavarian houses, A.J. and Kaitlin with their Mickey Mouse ice cream, the spaghetti ice cream, downtown Garmisch, the last two are the view from our room.

Day 1

We woke up the first morning to a gray, rainy day. We had arrived the evening before, after driving up through the Alps in the rain (it was tiring to me, and I was just riding, lol) and scheduled a tour to go see Linderhof Palace. Linderhof is one of the palaces of "Mad" King Ludwig II. The more we learn about Ludwig, the more Jamie and I think that he really was mad, lol. Anyway, we headed out to the palace. It is amazing how ornate everything is in the palace, especially considering the technology that was (or was not) available. We weren't allowed to take pictures of the interior, and it was pouring rain, so we didn't get very many of the outside. For more info on this palace you can go here: http://www.schloesser-bayern.de/englisch/palace/objects/li_schl.htm. Anway, we went through the tour. It was absolutely beautiful, just about everything (window frames, crown moldings, the walls) were gilded in gold. We also walked through the gardens, and saw a tea house that was originally in France that Ludwig convinced his grandfather to get him. There was also a man made cave. Ludwig liked to go into this cave and have shows put on for him. It was really cool being in the cave-it was pretty realistic. On the way home we stopped and Oberammergau-a little town known for it's wood carvings and Passion Play. It had a pretty interesting history, too. You can read more about it here:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oberammergau

Our Vacation

OK, we've been home for a few days now, and I think we're mostly recovered. If nothing else the laundry is done, lol. Anyway, I will post details by the day. We went sightseeing six different days, so instead of cramming it all in one, I will do six different posts. Enjoy:)