Day 42 - Our Final Day in Paris

We caught a train at 6:20 a.m. from Munich to Paris, arriving around noon. We checked into the Hotel Paris France, where the Fixlers stayed a few weeks ago, and headed to the Arts et Métiers Café near the Metro stop of the same name. We had our last Paris lunch--staples like croque monsieur, onion soup, and wine for us, and Orangina and cheeseburgers for the kids. We then hopped on the Metro toward the tour of the city sewers, an idea planted in Jackson's head by the Fixler boys. Jackson led us on the Metro. The sewer tour was fascinating, if not just a little smelly. Grace slept through the whole thing. Then we walked to Tricia's favorite chocolate shop, Michel Chaudun, which has a beautifully presented small store to complement the best chocolate on the planet. It literally gives you chills, it's so good. Then we continued to walk to our "old" apartment, as Gracie calls it, which is near a souvenir shop we needed and the Champ de Mars, where we had a picnic dinner, played catch, and ran around. The sky was beautiful, having just threatened but not followed through on rain. We got on the Metro at the Ecole Militaire stop, where we did so often in our month here, and headed home, this time by switching from the 8 line to the 3 line at Republique, which was exciting for Jackson because in our month here he had monitored the progress of that transfer point while under construction, and it was finally open. It was one of our favorite days in Paris, a fortunate end to a fortunate trip.

Day 41 - Deutsches Museum & the English Garden

The von der Felsens met us in Munich today at the enormous, sprawling Deutches Museum. We got there a little earlier, had lunch, and tried to meet them at the Kinderreich, but we got lost in the mining exhibit, which is a long, disorienting maze of a fabricated coal mine. Absolutely fascinating if only we didn't have to be somewhere else. But we got out eventually and had another fun day with the von der Felsens. After the museum we took a nice walk along the Isar River to the English Garden, also enormous and sprawling but full of grass. We ate at a restaurant next to a Chinese pagoda, from which an oom-pah-pah band played to thousands of people eating, drinking, and talking at a famous German beer garden. The rain started just as we sat under our big umbrellas and ended just as we finished dinner. We said good-bye to the von der Felsens, whom we will miss dearly back in Oakwood.

Day 40 - Munich

The kids are exhausted.  We were able to get to the Marienplatz by noon and watch the glockenspiel.  We knew we were in trouble when the kids just complained through it.  We did a little shopping especially to a bookstore and Munich's largest toy store.  We ended up swimming at the hotel and having room service for dinner--cheeseburgers for 4th of July with a movie.  It was a very relaxing evening.  

Day 39 - A day at the von der Felsens'

We had a relaxing day playing at the v.d. Felsen's home.  Jack and Jan went to an internet cafe (McDonalds) while the rest of us just played.  Anja took me to the best grocer, baker and butcher in town and she prepared another Bavarian treat with bratwurst.  It was delicious.  The kids just played outside and inside.  It was a great way to spend the day.  Jan drove us into Munich, gave us a quick tour and ate dinner with us.  

Day 38 - Tour of Southern Bavaria

Today the von der Felsens gave us a tour of beautiful Bavaria, with scenes that the rest of the world identifies with Germany. We first saw the Weiskirche, a rococo church built around 1740s in the foothills of the Alps.  In the middle of farmland is this ornate church.  The kids got to feed horses who were wandering around it. Then we went to Schloss Linderhof, the summer castle built by King Ludwig II in the mid 1800s. It was built in honor of Louis XIV of France, with the Sun King's family's images throughout, and not a humble decor either.  The land around the castle is gorgeous with views of the alps.  We went into the grotto which Jan described as King Ludwig's entertainment system.  The plan was to have orchestrates perform in it but after the first one the acoustics were too bad.  We had dinner at Garmish-Partenkirchen. It was a very cloudy day (there were several times that we dashed from a rain storm) but right after dinner there was a break and we saw Zupspitze, Germany's highest peak.

Day 37 - Legoland

Had a blast today at Legoland with the von der Felsens. We started off looking at the Lego models of cities and other sites in Germany, which were pretty amazing, then the kids played at a playground, drove cars, saw how Legos are manufactured, bought some Legos, rode rides, stripped their clothes and played in the water park, and finally battled on the pirate/long-range-water-cannon ride. We've done a lot of new and interesting things in the past several weeks, but the kids just loved going to Legoland with their friends. Lots of fun for all, topped with another fabulous Bavarian meal by Anja.

Day 36 - To Schwabmünchen & the von der Felsens

                                 




Today we took a 2-hour ferry from Meersburg to Lindau and a 2-hour train from there to Schwabmünchen to see our good friends the von der Felsens. They themselves had only just arrived back home two days earlier from their year of living in Oakwood. Anja made for us our first Bavarian feast. It was a real treat (she's a great cook), and the kids were so exited to see each other.

Day 35 - A relaxing day at Meersburg

We decided to stay in Meersburg and go swimming for the day.  After breakfast, we took a walk to check out the pool and thermal baths but discovered a putt-putt course on our way.  So, of course, we had to play.  It was a little different since they don't use artifical turf but a flat rubberized material.  It made playing more challenging but just as fun.  After lunch, Jack, Jackson and Grace went to the swimming pool while I took a tour of the Old Castle which claimed to be the oldest inhabitant castle in all of Germany.  It was a great castle to tour.  There were lots of knights of armor, swords and a dungeon.  Pretty gruesome.  Here a prisoner was pullyed down to the bottom of cement tower and starved to death.  They have found carvings on the wall from previous occupants including someone etching the number of days.  Later, I joined the everyone at the pool.  It was a very nice day.

Day 34 - Mainau island

Today we took the ferry to Mainau, an island in Lake Constance.  It has its own separate micro-climate to grow exotic flowers and plants.  There were 3 different playgrounds with different themes that the kids enjoyed.  There was a water area with rafts to cross the water and a water fountain that flowed down a path.  Another area had webs to climb and lastly a wooden train area.  Additionally, a sandbox under shade and several swings.  After spending time at the playgrounds, we went to the top of the island to see the beautiful home and the spectacular rose garden.  Gracie had fallen asleep but Jackson created a race game that involved running through the rows of roses.  We had a great time--a fun, relaxing day.