Germany/Austria Trip - Post 3

After a full day in Munich, we drove south to Berchtesgaden, right on the Austrian border.

I have lots of memories of Berchtesgaden, having traveled there with the family in the early 1980s.  We stayed at the General Walker Hotel (run by the US military) that is no longer in business.  I saw The Shining about the same time, so in my mind the General Walker and the hotel in the movie are one in the same.  Beneath the hotel were bunkers that the Nazis used in WWII.

I got a very bad case of chicken pox during that trip.  We also had our car break down on the way home, on a holiday weekend.  We had to put Daddy on a train for work, we returned to the General Walker - all with me miserable with chicken pox.  After much effort we got the car to an Austrian mechanic, we got on a train and headed home.  I'll never forget that weekend!

This trip to Berchtesgaden was much, much better.

No chicken pox or car troubles.  Phew.

We stayed in a beautiful hotel but the rooms were for 2 people, so we split up with the boys.

Brennan loved this hotel and thought it was very "romantic and German".

our room

The next morning we headed out to explore the Lake Konigsee area.  We couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day on the Lake.

 The boys hiked every hill they could find on this trip.

Mama bought Thomas a cool German hat that he wears here at home as much as possible too.

We got tickets for a boat ride on the lake 

And had a spaghetti eis (ice cream made to look like spaghetti) while we waited.  A great memory from my youth in Germany!

The boat ride was fantastic.  So peaceful and beautiful.

iPhone photo through the boat window, but I love the reflection of the mountains in the lake

St. Bartoloma Church on the Konigsee

After touring the Lake area, we decided to drive the Alpine Road over Obersalzburg mountain range near Berchtesgaden.  It's a popular drive, with very narrow, winding, steep lanes.  It is stunning though.

The Boatwrights in The Alps

Happy, happy day

This drive up and down the mountains was a highlight of our trip for me. It was so beautiful!!

While we would have loved to visit Hitler's Eagles Nest resort on top of the mountain - it was closed at this time, not opening to tourists until May.  We stopped at the Documentation Center though - a small museum and shop lower down the mountain.

That evening we toured some areas in Berchtesgaden - many dating back to the 1200s-1400s like this cemetery and the Abbey Church.

In the Marktplatz (market plaza)

The Berchtesgaden Royal Palace

 We ended the day in Berchtesgaden with an Italian dinner off the Marktplatz, and another great night's sleep at the "Romantic German hotel".

Germany/Austria Photos - Post 2

Continuing our Spring Break trip with our second full day.

We left Rothenburg and stopped by Lehrberg where we lived for a year and a half when I was a 6th and 7th grader.  So I was Brennan's age when I lived there.  It of course looks much different now.

Then we stopped in Ansbach to see my old high school where I attended as a 7th grader.  I learned to play trumpet that year, was on the track team, and attended many football games and school dances.  It was a great year!

We headed south to Garmisch - a beautiful ski resort town.

We hiked to the gorge, passing some relics of the 1936 Winter Olympics - IV Olympics (the 4th winter Olympic games in modern times!)

It was a beautiful hike up the gorge.

Daddy has shared his much better photos with me - so the iPhone ones are obvious.  The good ones are Daddy's.

Garmisch was beautiful and we ate at a great restaurant in town - the food was a mix of cultures including Bulgarian where the owner was from.

Then we headed off to Munich.

We arrived at the Marienplatz plaza just as the Glockenspiel was playing.

The Glockenspiel is in the Neue Rathaus (new city hall), and the Alte Rathaus (old city hall) sits off to the right.

Brennan was surprised when this "statue" thanked him after he put money in his collection box.

In the 6th grade I went on a train trip with my class to Munich for a week.  We stayed in dorms at a local university and we went to the Deutsches Museum - an excellent science/technology/engineering museum.  I vividly remember the museum.  The boys name this as one of their top experiences on this trip!

The Deutsches Museum

While the men toured the museum, Mama and I walked around and had a snack at a cafe.  It was a beautiful early spring day in Munich!

Update on the Boys

Before I return to the Bailey and Germany photos, I wanted to include a few things about the boys.

Brennan:

Since Spring Break he's started his last quarter as an Elementary School student!

His teacher had a baby right before Spring Break.

The 4th-6th grade AC (academic challenge) classes had a surprise Baby Shower for her and it was really awesome.  We miss her but really like our 4th quarter substitute as well.  It's an exciting last season as a 6th grader!

Baby shower photos:

4th, 5th, and 6th grade AC students

Brennan's 6th Grade Class and Mrs. Stroh

One of the students made this!

Mrs. Stroh and Brennan  

In anticipation of our puppy arriving, we were really excited that our friend Tom got a new English springer spaniel puppy - Marlowe.  Brennan got more puppy experience!

Brennan started out our church service on Sunday by playing a Native American beat on a bongo drum.

It was really impressive.  Here other children are coming up to sing along to the opening hymn.

Brennan is still singing with the city-wide Children's Choir and has several concerts coming up this Spring.  He's also still playing percussion in the 6th grade band and plans to continue in Middle School.

Speaking of Middle School, Brennan is getting ready for the big transition.  We've met with his teachers and they're ready for him.  

He also takes his first Mission Trip this summer - his age group is going to Detroit for an opportunity to help in a number of ways.

Thomas

Thomas chose his high school based on the one he knows the best because of his involvement with their band, drama, and cross-country programs.  It is really hard to believe he's started his last quarter as a Middle Schooler!

Thomas is often involved in special portions of our church services. 

On Sunday he was in a skit and got lots of laughs for his comedic relief efforts.

Speaking of drama, Thomas got in the car after school one day and started his clearly-practiced speech by saying, "Mom you know how I'm really into Drama, right?"  He asked me to take him back to school for the Drama Club meeting.  He then tried out for the Spring play and got the male lead!  He's in after school practices now and we're looking forward to the performance soon.

Thomas is running now that the weather is (finally) turning nice, getting ready for some spring 5K's.  He's also got a bunch of band competitions coming up, and stays busy with his church and social activities.

The husband of the boys' 5th grade teacher (and my good friend) is running for Judge.  We attended a rally for his campaign and took these great photos.

The boys certainly stay busy!