Taking a little Germany with me

What a wonderful summer. Spending time with dear friends was such a wonderful gift! And no visit to Neu Isenburg would be complete without a trip to the monestary on Engelsberg.











What better place to show off my new dirndl?

Disney's Castle

Well, not really ~ but this is the one used as the model for many a fairy tale castle ~ King Ludwig II of Bavaria was a man born too late. He was not happy living in a modern world where his birthright did not carry the same weight that it would have 100 years earlier. So, what else could he do, but spend his fortune trying to recapture that time of regal privilege. Many would say that his masterpiece is the unfinished castle just a mountaintop away from his childhood home of Hohenschwangau: Neuschwanstein!







The view from the top




King Ludwig's masterpiece:

My Favorite

There are a plethora of castles, in ruins or intact, across Europe. One of my favorites is the Linderhof Palace. I could live there.





And as if the Versailles-style palace isn't enough ~ there are the grounds, complete with private, themed hide-aways.


Like the famous Grotto where King Ludwig could be pulled around in his swan boat.... Yes, he really did that.


A romantic retreat ~ the Moroccan Room






Yeah ~ I could live here.

A Visit to Salzburg

And now the gorgeous city of salt mines, the Van Trapp's, and Roman ruins (although all we saw were these ancient tiles) ~









Strolling through the streets of Salzburg ~ how nice of them to organize an Umpah band just for us!

And a bunch of chefs!! Yum!


Another church with a gorgeous organ (just for Hubert!)

And lots of winding streets and gardens ~ many of which were danced in by the movie Von Trapp's!

You should have seen our number!!!!


We even found the garden from which strapping young men would come and whisk off beautiful, helpless maidens ~

Guess I picked the wrong day to wait....

Bavaria!!!

I know that my allegiance should be aimed more to the northern part of Germany as my family hails from East Prussia, but I can't help it ~ I simply love Bavaria. It's lush and rural and quaint and sunny.


The girls and I found a cute little Gasthof from where we would take a few day trips. Heaven ~

Other than strolling and shopping, our big trip from here was to the Eagle's nest: a mountain top retreat given as a gift to Hitler


The view from the top was breathtaking!

But it was FREEZING ~ and we did not have the right outer wear (that's what happens when you live in the desert!!!)


The Edelweiss ~

Nürnberg!

The time has come for the girls to head out on their own! And of course that means renting a car. You can only imagine my disappointment when we were told our car was a Ford.... *sigh* Luckily, it was a German Ford and she met all of our expectations, including letting us travel at speeds in excess of 100 mph! Wee!!!!



And the greatest feature? Our new carmate: Helga!


A lovely view in Nürnberg:




A visit to the home of Albrecht Dürer ~










Wandering the city streets