A week in Germany

Here is a quick review of our week in Germany, through pictures and video:

 Outside hot tub at Edelweiss

First day we just hung around the hotel.  We also bought some groceries,  There was a mini-fridge, so we only had to eat out two or three times on the trip. The family went to the pool in the hotel almost everyday of our trip.  It was a lot of fun, we especially enjoyed the outside hot tube which kids were allowed to use.  On the downside, they had to wear life jackets and Lizzie couldn't move so it wasn't as much fun for her.  She still managed to have some fun as shown in the video above.  On the first day Anna found floaties (arm bands) but alas they were someone else's.  She did get to use them for a little while. We did wise up later in the week and we purchased the girls their own.

The park at the hotel

Sat.  We started the day eating some cereal in the hotel, then we stopped by a shop on base that served breakfast.  I have to mention this because it really set the mood for the day.  They sell panini's and doughnuts etc.  We each got one egg, that is all.  Then when we were leaving he had the audacity to charge us 10 Euros!  For 4 eggs.  It made us so angry.  So that is how we started the day.  I have to mention it as warning to people who head there.  Needless to say we did not go back to his establishment again on our trip. The man seems nice and I am sure he is, but I am still happy to give him bad advertising and will everone who is going there about how ridiculous he was. 

With that, we headed up the Neuschwanstein Castle 

 

A video of where we stood for our view

  

If you look at our picture it looks like a lot of fun, and it was not horrible, the weather was beautiful.  But we did learn a few valuable lessons:

  1.  The road there, which was a road that we could have used for alot of other places on our trip, (including getting back to the airport) was under construction making the trip to the castle 1.5 hours each way.

2.  We had to wait a long time for our tour and the girls (and us) were a bit tired and HOT!  

3.  We really don't like touring old buildings, it would be better if they allowed people to look through on their own.  We don't really mind the tours, but not for the price you have to pay to wait for them.

So after spending almost the entire day waiting, we wised up and didn't make that mistake again!

The reality of the castle trip

The reward at the end of the castle trip, frozen pizza!

And these stairs which Drew carried the stroller with Anna in it down

and this hill

Okay, but enough whining The next day was Sunday and learning what we did from our experience on Saturday, we decided to go to church on base (thus eliminating the need to drive anywhere).  It was cool because they gave all visitors mugs and had a fellowshiping pizza lunch afterward (this time pizza hut) not frozen!  Score.  Then we kind of bumbed around the hotel, went to the pool and relaxed.

The girls also enjoyed  this ride in the sitting area near the pool

Our next big day was going to Munich.  I wanted to do a bus tour, which we have found to be an extremely great way to see places when we travel.  It was a hop on hop off bus.  We had also wanted to go to the biggest science museum in the world, but alas, we started our day too late.  So, We got to do thw two other things
 I wanted to do which were:

1. bus tour

2. the farmers market.

Bus Tour

Palace on bus tour.  Drew and Anna decided what rooms they would have, Anna chose a pillow fight room

Lunch at the farmers market

As an added bonus, on our bus tour we stopped by the sight of the Munich Summer Olympics and got to go up in the tower for a sight of the city.  This ended up being a fabulous end to the day!

Overlooking Munich

Another picture on top of the Olympic Tower

The next day, we headed back up to Munich to go to the zoo.  I am not a big zoo fan as I associate them with being hot and stinky and overly tiring, not to mention I disagree with the way they treat animals.  But, this time, we had a great time.  It was fabulous to watch Anna and Lizzie get so excited at each exhibit.

 As an added bonus there was a cool playing area!

Awesome giant pretzle

Enough for everyone to share for a snack

Awesome rope swing at the park

Monkeys having fun

Petting the goats

We also went out for dinner at an awesome family friendly restaurant complete with playground and a beautiful view of a lake.  We got Wienerschnitzel.  Something we needed to check off our list of things to do in Germany.  Check.

Our food, very tastey, the nice weather made it even more beautiful!

Wed. was our last day of sight seeing.  We went up Zugspitze, the tallest mountain in Germany.

Our terrifying trip up to the top on a cable car.  Notice the open window, that was the terrifying part.  Holding a baby next to an open window 50 feet off the ground, yikes!

Anna throwining a snowball at the top of Germany!

Quick Family picture, note the wind in my hair!

Drew was very excited by the fact he had 4 bars on the highest mountain.  He was able to take pictures of the menu at the restaurant up there and translate it.  It was very helpful Thanks Google and of course technology!

Yummy treat we shared as a family, even Lizzie was allowed a few bites!

Drew and the girls

Another family picture

After that we went to a fun pool in town, no requirement for life jackets!  And loads of fun things to do.  Lizzie was doing some pretty interesting thing and I ended up taking a lot of pictures and video.  Probably more than anything the whole trip.  Drew said "I guess we know what your  favorite activity has been."  Its true.  We really did enjoy the trip, even the castle was beautiful, just exhausting.  But this pool was my favorite.  It had two adult water slides; one was straight down 2 stories!  The other one was a twisty slide that was rather slow.  Drew and  I each did both.  As well as a high dive!  There were also  two slides Anna's size as well as one Lizzie slide.  Although, Lizzie was less certain about her slide, we sent her down, and she didn't cry, but she didn't smile either.  Here are some videos!

Anna's high slide, if you cover your eyes its not scary (that was my tip)

The monster at the bottom of the first slide

Lizzie's "trick" that kept her entertained for a long time

Lizzie going under the water

I guess we can keep her.  But unless she bends down she does not work as a carry on, so we had to buy her a seat.

The train from Manchester, carseats and shows, and snacks = good times

Lizzie enjoying a good read of her favorite book.