A Passport is a Girl's Best Friend

Germany. It feels so good to be back. We went to visit my family in Haslach for the weekend since we had not been back since April, 2016. However, this time, Grayson and his cousin Hannes were a part of the group (born only 4 months apart). Friday afternoon we took the train to Freiburg where my cousin, Florian, picked us up at the train station after work and we drove into the valleys of the Black Forest. We had wonderful food, good wine/beer, great talks, got to remember and speak German, looked at old pictures, provided IT support, shopping around town (Germany is so cheap!!!!), and walks around the town center. It was so great to see my family again. To catch up with them about everything that has changed in the last 2 years. To see this cute little town that has become so familiar to me. Till next time Germany. I'll miss you. #ExpertTraveler Morning reading with Michaela and Ludwig   Groß Cousins

Haslach! We arrived to our little town Thursday evening, checked into our little apartment, to then walk over to the families house for a traditional German dinner. Have I mentioned how much I love being in Germany? It was so nice seeing everyone again, particularly for such a special occasion. Last summer, my cousin Florian emailed me that he and his long time girlfriend, Martina, were engaged and this weekend is the wedding! These three, such trouble makers. Friday we showed John around the town, did some shopping, went to Bollenbach to taste and buy locally made schnapps. Spring! Schnapps tasting Mmmmmmmm Schnapps Saturday was wedding day! Germans are crazy. They start their weddings at 2pm and then party till 5am. I cannot keep up with this. Sunday after saying our goodbyes, we drove through the countryside to meet some more family for lunch. 

Yesterday morning we packed up drove over the Austrian Alps, then back into Germany to Füssen. Reason? To go to the real Sleeping Beauty castle otherwise known as Schloss Neuschwanstein of course! First we met up with Mom and John to explore the little town. A beautiful full moon with the Alps The palace was commissioned by Ludwig II of Bavaria as a retreat and as an homage to Richard Wagner. Ludwig paid for the palace out of his personal fortune and by means of extensive borrowing, rather than Bavarian public funds... so naturally he went bankrupt, was arrested for being "crazy", and then "mysteriously" drowned the next day in a lake. Hohenschwangau Castle, that King Ludwig grew up in is just a stone's throw away. Alpsee Neuschwanstein Castle Marienbrücke Next, off to Haslach to rest my legs from all of this hiking.

Monday Duane and I picked up our car at the Munich Hauptbahnhof to head south to the Bavarian Alps. Road trip!!! For lunch, we stopped in Ettal to visit Ettal Monastery, a Benedictine Abbey, where monks still run a brewery, distillery and Schaukäserei (cheese factory). The small little town was nestled in a beautiful valley surrounded by mountains that sharply jetted into the sky. After exploring the monastery, we browsed the adorable little shops around main street. The Abby Kid. In. A. Candy. Shop. I was so tempted. So very tempted. After, we had a short jaunt to Garmisch-Partenkirchen, a small little mountain town in the Alps that rests in the shadow of Germany's highest mountain, Zugspitze. Fun fact, Garmisch and Partenkirchen remained separate until their respective mayors were forced by Hitler to combine the two towns in 1935 in anticipation of the 1936 Winter Olympic games. After settling into our B&B, we explored the cute stores, chocol...