Germany with the Staffels

Adventures with the Staffells, Part II

Over Memorial Day weekend we headed to Garmisch, Germany with Taylor's college room mate Justin, and his wife Meredith. Germany is so beautiful! I love love love this country!

On Saturday we went to the King's Castles. Hohenschwangau Castle was rebuilt by King Maximilian II. It was King Ludwig's boyhood home. 

Unfortunately we couldn't take pictures on the inside. 

Here is an overhead view of the castle that I did not take.

The scenery around the area was pretty awesome.

At 18, King Ludwig took the throne and built Neuschwanstein Castle just across the valley from Hohenschwangau. Construction began in 1969 and stopped the year the King Ludwig died and within 6 weeks tourist were going through it. 

Of course they were remodeling the entire side of the castle, so I wasn't able to get any good pictures of it! These next 2 are not mine, but it gives you an idea of how awesome this castles is!

This castle was the inspiration for Disneyland's Sleeping Beauty Castle.

Views from Neuschwanstein Castle.

On Sunday we took a train to Munich and had a great day of seeing sites, drinking German beer, eating some great German food, and did I mention German beer??

Munich's New Town Hall.

Munich's Old Town Hall.

Break for beer and food #1

They had tons of these beer gardens set up around the city. They would have hundreds of picnic tables set up around an area where you could buy beer and food.

May poles are raised on May 1st and this one is painted blue and white (which are the Bavarian colors) and decorated with pictures depicting local crafts and industry.

We had to take a break from our walking tour of Munich so the boys could play.

Taylor spinning a little kid…you know this didn't end well. Luckily Taylor caught him before he hit the ground. 

Then the boys each had a turn.

A church that was randomly built between buildings on a main street..

I think this is the most gawdy church interior I have seen.

Break for Beer and Food #2

The Haufbraühaus is one of Munich's oldest beer halls. The Nazi party used this hall to declare their policies and functions. It can hold 1,300 customers!

The regulars have their own beer mug that they keep locked up at the restaurant.

The boys were trying to climb the lion…which they did from the back…which turned into some interesting pictures! :)

In the English Park in Munich there was this guy who had a ski robe attached to a bungee cord and would ski on his board. 

There were also several surfers who were showing their moves in an area of the river where there was a large wave. 

Break for Beer and Food #3

The Chinese Tower is another one of the Beer Gardens in the English Park that we stopped at. 

Other sights around town…

Break for Beer and Food #4/Dinner

They only sold beer by the liter here. You do what you have to do...

We stayed at Edelweiss Resort and Lodge in Garmisch Germany. It is a resort for military families and is very nice. It is in a beautiful location and in a great little town. 

On the way home...

We had a great time in Germany with the Staffels. They stayed there a few more days and then headed to Belgium before they flew home. 

The Staffels come to Italy

      On May 19th Taylor's old college room mate, Justin, and his wife Meredith came to visit us in Italy! We picked them up at the airport and headed for Venice the remainder of the day. 

I would say they look pretty good after a long flight over the ocean and hardly any sleep!

It is hard to see, but they were having a sail boat race in Venice that weekend. There were tons of boats at the mouth of the Grand Canal.

Bridge of Sighs.

Longest dreads I have ever seen! Her hair must weigh tons!!

Figuring out where we were going...

Justin and Meredith in front of St. Peter's Basilica.

A gondola traffic jam! 

The Staffels in front of the Rialto Bridge.

This was such a cute street!

We were not sure what was going on here, but whoever was hurt was going to be wheeled out in that little chair. Interesting way to transport a person in an emergency!

The Grand Canal

The next day Taylor had to work, so Justin, Meredith and I went to Verona. We stopped in the little town of Soave on the way. I just love this little walled town!

We headed to Verona in the pouring rain. It rained almost all day…which was a real bummer. We got to Verona and had some lunch and wine at this cool little restaurant and eventually the rain stopped and we were able to get some site seeing in before it started up again.

This was the 3rd largest amphitheater in the Roman world dating back from the first century. They have concerts here, and just recently Justin Beiber performed here. Taylor was upset he didn't get to go. 

This is Juliet's fictional balcony. Although it is a made up story there were two real feuding families, the Montecchi and the Cappellos, which were the models for Shakespeare's Montagues and Capulets. 

I didn't get a great picture of Meredith, but it is a "Verona-must" to take a picture with the statue of Juliet. And if you do it touching her breast, then you will be guaranteed to find a lover. 

Down town in Piazza Erbe.

This stone canopy in the center of the Piazza used to hold the scales where the merchants measure the weight of goods they bought and sold. 

View across the river.

We had a great time showing the Staffels around our area. They left us and headed to Florence and the Cinque Terre for a few days. They returned the next weekend and we all headed up to Germany…but I'll save that for another post. :)