Lessons Learned

When leaving the Outobahn and entering Austria, be sure to stop before you enter to pay the 9€ toll. The fines range from 120-300€!

Stay at a hotel near the rail system. But double check the dining options also!

When visiting the Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau Castles, note that the bus schedule does not coincide with the castle tour schedules!  You can walk up hill to Neuschwanstein but beware that when you arrive, there are about 200 stairs (each account I looked up varied from 181-357. Either way, it's a LOT of stairs!) up to get into the castle. And somehow the walk back is up hill too!!

For our last meal in Germany, Karsten and I opted for McDonald's "take away". As we walked in, it smelled exactly like it does at home. And the irony?  It was the only place we have encounterd where the menu is in English and no one understands it. 

We packed, rested, and set our alarms to catch the 3:08 train. Arrived at the station to find signs stating that track was under construction for the weekend...next option a 68 minute wait...Will we arrive in time?

Stay tuned...

Train is now delayed...10 minutes...15 minutes...24 minutes...on to a taxi!  Finding out these closings and night delays are "normal"...

Ok fastest taxi/car ride ever!  We made our flight, and are now in Berlin awaiting our 10:00 am flight for Chicago!  

Boarding in Berlin...another experience!  Seems today will be filled with them!   Michelle was chosen for the "random" search. Task completed. And time to board...at the boarding Entrance, as we followed, we were put on several busses and driven to the far end of the tarmack to board...this consisted of climbing the stairs from the ground into the plane...my knees have certainly gotten their workout this trip!!  And this flight is definitely not handicap accessible!  

And do you know the tiltle of my morning devotion??  "Welcome Problems". God knew what was coming and was preparing me for the journey. I have to say it has kept a smile on my face all say!!

Safely back I'm the USA!  What a wonderful trip!  Tomorrow we drive back to the UP!   

Last piece of advice...when heading to or from Illinois, I used to stop at exit 1, South Beloit, at the Road Ranger stop for gas, restroom and McDonald's. The stop is now horrible. Very dirty and no longer on my list. So, stops will now be made closer to the Janesville area!  

Thank you to all who chose to take this trip "with" us via the Blog!  Hope you enjoyed the experience through our eyes!  

Day 8

Out final day in Germany will be spent in Munich itself. 

Starting this warm sunshiny day with my beautiful daughter!

Them just a short train rose to explore the market in Marienplatz Center. 

Karsten's mantra for the day was "food glorious food..."

Fresh and fun day in the sun...

At noon we witnessed the glockenspiel chime and dance. 

And for our final feat....Karsten and in navigated our way via train back to the hotel on our own!!  For those of you reading this that really know us, that is quite an accomplishment!!

Time to pack and relax before we head to the airport via the 3:08 AM train. 

This concludes our eight days in Germany...it was great fun and would definitely reccomend Germany I'm the spring!

Day 7

Today we ride for 3+ hours by train to Rothenburg. I am ever grateful that Kar and I made this trip with two you women, Michelle and Tara, who understand trains, buses, trams and all their schedules, transfers and tracks!!

We have been blessed with another beautiful day!

Rothenburg ob der Tauber is a town along the Romantic Road that has the strongest preservation orders in Germany. Many cobbled streets weave a web throughout the town that is surrounded by solid stone walls. There are homes, shops, cafés and medieval historic sites. 

The entrance

A view of the streets 

We found a wonderful toy shop

The blacksmith shop

And see the young man at the side of the pic?  He was Karsten and my tour guide. After following in two young women from New York and Chicago around for six days, my legs are wearing out!  And they seem to be just hitting their stride!  With all the up and down the hills of the cobble stone streets we opted

For the rickshaw:). This enabled us to see the entire city with a breeze in our face and info from our guide. 

International youth hostel

The gardens

And this pic is for my gardener's, Rick and Erma!

Our guide encouraged us to taste and smell the fresh herbs. 

A view from atop the wall. 

A view of the city from atop the wall. 

The overlook 

Time to head back 

Everywhere we go we have seen fields of yellow and wondered what they were. Today we learned they are raspeseed or raps.  The flowers bloom only in May, we are lucky to have come at just the right time. In just another month they will go to seed, become brown and ready for harvest. The seeds produce oil. Since the medieval times it has been used to make soap, in oil lamps and to lunricate engines. Then in 1974, through selective breeding at German universities, it can now be used in food. So today it is used to make biodiesel, margarine, animal feed and bioplastics. Edible rapeseed is called canola!  Now I still have my druthers about whether something that is used to make diesel and plastic is really good for our diets...hmm

Now we ride again...back to the hotel and tomorrow is or last day in Germany!  How time flies. We have seen so much, but it seems we have only seen a small part of what this part of the world has to offer!  So travel will remain in my bucket list!

Day 6

Another beautiful day!!  Thanks for answered prayers!  On the express train to Oberammergau for a day of shopping:)!!

The views from the train are gorgeous!  Sorry, too much movement for any pics. But here is a view from the Murnau train station. As we switched trains, we were met with the unmistakeable scent that let us know that we had arrived in the country. 

I am completely amazed by the thought process that so intricately weaves transportation throughout the entire region. (And, of course I am thinking if weaving as I am going through a bit if yarn withdrawal 😊). All runs timely and smoothly. This is a calm and serene place, even among the travelers of all kinds. 

Every little village has there own "crane (?)" 

And their own church. 

Oberammergau 

A cute little town catering to tourists. It sits in the foothills of the Bavarian Alps. And they had a larger variety if tea at the restaurant!  Yeah!  Haven't seen too many places that have tea, no water to speak if, but plenty of beer:)

As we walked through town, we came upon many hand-wood carvers and the shops were literally filled with carvings!

Some of the buildings boast paintings, such as Little Ref Ridinghood 

And the orphanage is painted with Hanzel and Gretel. 

On the train back, we were treated some of God's art work. 

And we finished off the day with two different beer gardens, Biergarten's, dinner, and the best dessert yet, and meeting an aquintance of Tara's. 

It was a long day but we had a lot of fun!

Day 5

Today we are headed to the Dachau Concentration Camp - S2 Train- bus-and much walking took us through the camp, the paths the prisoners walked, through the crematorium and around the memorial sites. 

Where we live, the word "camp" congers up ideas of parties, hunting and fun in the woods. 

That is not the case here. Camp here is oppression, torture, dehumanization, fear, cruelty, and indiscrible heart wrenching acts of terror. 

This memorial was constructed as a tribute to those who suffered, died and as a reminder to never let this happen again. In sites that once represented shear torture, now stand religious memorials of varying denominations. And built as praise to God for the end to Dachau. This Catholic one was built for the thousands of polish who lost their lives. 

It is a reminder to each of us how cruel mankind can be - May God forgive us. 

Now on to Kloster Andechs - a monestary that claims to have actual pieces of the crown of thorns from Jesus crucifixion. And also a brewery. 

And the best meal of the trip with a few that is second to none!  Klostergasthof!

We are

So grateful for the beautiful sunny day to explore more of Germany!!

Bus - train and headed "home" to rest and start again tomorrow....