Germany part 1

We left Church, came home ate lunch and loaded in the car to drive down to Dover to catch the Chunnel to France. We drove through france to Belgium where we stopped to see some quick sights in Brugges. We tried to find a chocolate shop that was still open, but because it was a Sunday after 5 we didn't ever find one. Too bad, their chocolate is amazing. Even their window displays are cool. So we had Ice Cream instead. 

Entering Belgium

 Blake and Parker enjoying chocolate ice cream in Brugges

After driving through Belgium and into Germany we stopped for the night at the Air Force Base. In the morning we got food and gas and continued on our way all the way to the south, east corner of Germany. We stayed at Edelweiss in the Alps. The Military has a little resort there, so we get great rates on rooms. The first night we just enjoyed the pool and hot tub, then headed to bed.

In the morning I ventured off by myself and found a litte bakery. They only took Euros, no credit cards. So I walked to another base and got cash, then bought some German baked goods for breakfast. It was some kind of bread with cheese baked on it. The adults enjoyed it, but the kids didn't like it. So on our way out we stopped at a local grocery store for something the kids would enjoy a little more.

We drove to the bottom of a mountain and paid to take the Wankbahn or ski lift thing to the top of the mountain Wank. The view was amazing!

Blake Jenny and Parker riding the Bahn

Jenny, Alissa, Blake, Parker
Remi and Broden

Jenny and Parker

Blake and Parker

When we were at the bottom of the mountain looking up Broden noticed that the tops of a lot of the mountains around us were covered in clouds. He got really excited and wanted to touch a cloud. So when we were at the top him and Remi were running around trying to touch the clouds. I don't really know if they ever understood that you can't touch a cloud, but we did get our picture in a cloud!

Jenny, Parker, Blake
Alissa, Remi and Broden in a cloud!

After enjoying the view from the top we started hiking down. It was a big hike for us Englanders, where the biggest "mountain" is the crater type hole by our house. It is a hole about 20 feet deep. Remi and Broden ran pretty much the whole way down, stopping at waterfalls to let us catch up. Alissa took turns on Grandpa, and mom's shoulders the first half, then dad convinced her to walk the rest of the way.

Blake and Parker

Alissa

Broden playing in one of the waterfalls

Grandpa carrying Alissa and Grandma following

Parker at the half way point where we ate lunch

Parker enjoying the view

Alissa, Remi and Broden showing the snail they found.
"My little Snaily" as Alissa says. 

Alissa explaining to "Snaily" the we were leaving him there so he can be with his family. This is how she holds her hand when she is explaining something important to something or someone.

One the way down the kids enjoyed catching butterflies, snails, seeing the cows, and even petting horses. They loved it!

Blake, and Remi petting the horses

Remi and Grandma petting the baby horse.

The baby horse liked Remi and started following her.

Alissa, Broden, Parker and Remi showing where we were.

Grandma got everyone ice cream for being such good hikers.

Alissa enjoying her ice cream!

After hiking down Wank we wanted to find a lake that we saw on the map. We found it and it was beautiful! We didn't even try to keep Parker out of the water. It was pointless, we just let him have fun. The kids went in a little ways at first, then stripped down and swam in their "knickers"(british for underwear). Remi did keep on her shirt to swim.

Alissa

Remi- Look how clear the water is, beautiful!

Parker throwing rocks

Blake and Broden

Broden getting in the water. It was FREEZING!

Remi actually jumped off a rock and swam back. She was pretty cold, but she loves water.

Remi, Alissa and Broden with the lake and Alps in the background

Remi, Alissa and Broden with the lake resort in the background.

Alissa and her stick

Parker using his walking stick

Blake with Zugspitze in the background. It is the highest peak in Germany.  This is the first time we got to see it because it was covered in clouds.

The next morning we woke up and headed to Neuschwanstein Castle, the one that looks like Cinderella's castle. The castle was cool, but I loved the drive there and the walk to it more than the actual castle. It was under construction too, so it didn't look as cool as the pictures. It is still amazing to me how they build these castles. Especially the location on this one. It is up almost in the cliffs.

Lake on the way to Neuschwanstein.

Remi, Blake and Broden enjoying their bratwurst. These ones were pretty much like a hot dog. The bread they were on was delicious though.

view on the walk up to the castle

What the castle looks like when it isn't under construction.

On the drive to the castle the road winds between Germany and Austria.

Germany or Deutschland

Amazing waterfall on the drive to the castle.

We loved hiking and relaxing in the alps! After our time here we headed back on the road to the Air Force Base. We searched in the GPS for somewhere that would be a good stopping point for lunch and to stretch our legs. There was a castle called Solitude Castle that I thought sounded nice. It was a fun little place. We didn't go inside, but the kids had fun exploring the outside.

Parker, Alissa and Blake making friends with a dog by throwing the ball for it.

The castle

Broden playing under the castle

Broden hiding from dad

Dad getting Remi and Alissa

Parker waving to everyone and Remi making sure he doesn't fall

Blake and Broden

Alissa

Alissa

After seeing the castle we walked down the sidewalk to see the horses. We couldn't pet them because there was an electric fence, but the kids had fun watching them.

Remi, Broden and Alissa

Parker and Blake watching the horses.

We left the castle and drove into town to find something to eat. We couldn't really find any German food, so we ate chicken Kebob in a pita for lunch. We were a little nervous to try kebob again because we had doner kebob before and it was disgusting. The chicken was delicious though. After lunch we got some ice cream. It was a good way to break up the drive.

Jenny, Broden, Granma, Alissa, Remi and Grandpa enjoying our ice cream.