Madrid, Spain

Steph and I had made plans for an excursion to Spain while she was here for after TJ's friends arrived so that they could have the car and travel about while TJ was at work. So Tuesday we headed out for the few days before Oktoberfest. We had been going and going and going so this trip was a welcomed time of ease and relaxation complete with sangria. Here is a peak at a portion of Madrid.


I had never been there before so I found a newly renovated hotel that looked neat on the Gran Via near the El Sol part of town. Our room was awesome and the view from the balcony was great although the night creatures were a little creepy in the neighborhood our first night. We stayed at the Regente Hotel. Our room was the one on the corner with the wrap around railing...pretty nice.

And these were the street views from one of our two awesome balconies...

I don't think I would recommend the location, but the hotel was really nice. We took a hop-on, hop-off bus tour through the city to get used to the areas of the city and see some sights. Here are a few highlights.

Neptune's Fountain:

The Ministry of Agriculture (but I mostly just like the gorgeous statues on top):

One of Madrid's many gates...love the the detail:

Alumudena Cathedral, near the palace:

The Royal palace of Madrid (courtyard view):

And its offical entrance that was guarded by very decorated soldiers , but when we went back we didn't see them. The palace is only used for special events and ceremonies as the royal family does not live there.

The FC Real Madrid Futball Stadium:

Those were just a few of the sites as there were many more. The coolest thing about the city would be the architecture and the energy. There are always people out all the time! Another interesting thing we found was the advertising the city is doing to compete for the 2016 Olympics. They have signs up all over with their choice for the Olympic logo and TV commericals too. They really want it! There was also a TON of construction everywhere and I think they are already preparing the city if they get the bid. We will see...here is one of the signs.

I loved the weather while we were there and the fresh warm air was certainly welcomed. We dressed in dresses and added cardigans at night...Not so much in Germany! Here we are on the balcony before our night of tapas and sangria!

We didn't have the best luck with our food...but we found a little street with a hole in the wall tiny restaurant that was pretty good and I liked the sangria quite a bit. Here is Steph enjoying hers!

It was a short trip, but a great experience! Tomorrow I tackle our ridiculous weekend in Munich for Oktoberfest...and yes it was even better than last year!

Auf Wiedersehen!

Strasbourg and Jakob's

On Monday Steph and I decided to take a short road trip to Strasbourg, France so that she could experience a little bit of the culture and we could also have a great lunch...which we did! We walked the streets of the old city and toured the Notre Dame Cathedral there...very pretty! Here is a look at Petite France which is a neighborhood in the old part of the city.


Then we made way to the beautiful cathedral...it is so impressive! Outside...




And inside too!

We had to be back by three, so that I could pick up the boys arriving from the US, so it was a short trip...but the fun didn't stop there. After some beer and a pan and a half of lasagna later we headed to our small village's downtown area for some good time's at Jakob's Biergarten. I didn't plan on having such a great time, but Jakob and his Frau spoiled us and we all felt it the next day. Our first Prost...

On our way home the boys were true to form picking on each other...complete with wrestling. I am so happy that TJ had his buddies to hang with, it was just like old times! Pictured below are the boys...Adam, Jim, Tommy, and Nick!

Good times had by all! Auf Wiedersehen!

WurstMarkt...Nope Best Market!

I know I am behind in my blogs, but blogger was not uploading for some reason and then I spent the last few days in Spain with Steph...but last Saturday we took her to the Bad Durkheim WurstMarkt (Wine Festival) and of course had a very good time. We wenr with some of our German friends which made it even better, and they were so excited that Steph was enjoying her time here. It was really cute! We decided that we had better take before wine pictures for good measure so here they are...

We made TJ and Konrad do the same thing! We did the thing where we got street food and wine and then all but Jens, myself, and Steph hit some rides as we then became wine and coat holders...here is one of the rides.

Shortly there after we entered a tent with a bad and found a large table and dancing space to accommodate the group. Here is our table with some of the group!

And then a look later at night of the whole tent when everyone began dancing on tables.

We didn't get on any tables, but it didn't stop us from dancing!

And consuming ridiculous amounts of wine!

It was a blast and some good training for Oktoberfest this weekend. When we left the tent the party really must have started as this is what we were welcomed to...crazy crowds.

This festival has been coined as the largest in the world...I am not completely sure that this is true, but I kind of believe it! So much fun...and we had even more since then! More on that later.

Auf Wiedersehen!

Friday Night at the Disco

Friday night TJ and I took Steph out for a night on the town in Mannheim. It was super fun! We started out at a place called Stars that offers a birds eye view of the city...and then moved on to a "club" called Baton Rouge. Before we headed over there TJ made us take a Senior-esque picture on the Parade Platz. Funny, huh?


Once we got to the club we took to the dance floor almost immediately. And thank God TJ was there to capture us tearing it up the entire night! We were just getting warmed up here...


Catching the beat...

Then we moved into novelty dancing...the sprinkler, cabbage patch, and of course the seahorse *please note Steph on the left side laughing with her head thrown back!

And we ended with a fashion show featuring newly purchased 80's boots...they are so faboosh!

It was sooooo much fun...so much that we didn't get home until 4:30 am! I haven't had that bedtime in years...like circa my college years!

Saturday started late and took us late once again...more on that tomorrow!

Auf Wiedersehen!

Flashback to 1989

Steph and I have been friends since we were something like 8 years old. We spent many a days and nights together at eachother's homes glamming ourselves up with the latest hairstyles and fashion. Little has changed over the years. Last night before we went out we did our hair and make-up in my closet using a full-length mirror leaned against the wall like we had so many times before. The only things missing were the krimper and the Aqua Net!

This one goes out to our Moms...this one is for you, Penni and Julie. Enjoy!!!

Auf Wiedersehen!

Windeck, Heiligenberg, Triberg, Dachau, and Neuschwanstein

Steph and I hae been having so much fun together and have been on the go since she arrived that I have failed to keep everyone updated on our latest happenings. This might be the longest post ever because we have done a lot, but the read is worth it...at least I think. The first day she arrived she had a bit of jet lag so we hung at the house and then went shopping in Mannheim for a dirndl for her in Mannheim. We saw some great ones and she was able to try some on and get a good fit...but they were so expensive! So she ordered one online for nearly half the price thank goodness!
TJ had some friends coming in on Tuesday so Steph and I stayed in the area and did the Weinheim thing. We went int the altstadt like I did with my Mom to the Tanner's Quarter and then headed up to other castle ruins, Windeck Castle. Here is what that looked like from the altstadt.

We made it up to the ruins and Steph was able to get a good pic with the view.

The castle was built around 1100 to protect the Lorsch Monestary...and it was badly damaged in 1674 by Louis XIV. Inside the ruins (that are barely there) lies an operating restaurant. It would be awesome to rent the place out and have a party there with the cool ruins all around and the view...cool place. Here are some snaps of the ruins.

There is one lookout tower that still exists with beautiful views. This is from one of the windows of Wachenburg Castle...the one I took my Mom to only weeks ago.

After touring the castle we headed home to get TJ, Adam, and Angie to take a quick view of some sights in Heidelberg. Angie and Adam had arrived from Chicago and would only be with us overnight so we wanted to show them one of our favorite towns! We first drove up to the Heiligenberg to the lookout tower, Thingstaette, and the Monestary. The tower is old and tall and skinny...but worth the climb for the best view!

Like this one...and a really good photo of Steph and I with Heidelberg Castle in the background!

And these are the first wave of Chicago friends coming ultimately for Oktoberfest...Adam and Angie.

We headed to Thingstaette (an ampitheatre built by the Nazi party in the 30's to push propaganda and hold rallies. Hitler and the 3rd Reich has gathered here.) Davis ran the stairs like Rocky, but in a cubs hat!

And here is Steph at the top!

Just over the hill is the ruins of St. Michael. The monestary was build in the 11th century, and the ruins that still exist are really cool. On German Sundays people have picnics up here in the old rooms that are now simply greenspace. Steph and I climbed up the higher turret and the boys only climbed the little one. Don't they look cool?

But we got a better photo of the monestary's footprint. I love the tree in the middle!

We ran up to Heidelberg Castle for a minute, but couldn't stay because they were closing and setting up for an event (Steph and I will be back to visit later)...so it was off to dinner at the Bier Brezel (Beer Pretzel) for good eats and drinking beer out of a horns. Here is our crew!

The last stop that night was the old foot bridge over the Neckar to catch a glimpse of the castle at night. Here she is...

Oh, and then Steph kissed a baboon!

Wednesday we went to the Schwarzwald (Black Forest) to the little town of Triberg to visit Germany's highest waterfall. It was so pretty! Here are some snaps but they do not so it justice!

And then a great view of the Black Forest from one of the trails...

Another good one!

And I made a friend along the way! Tut would have loved to bite this one!

Triberg is also known as the cuckoo clock capital of the world! And it has the largest cuckoo clock in the world...here is part of it with Steph underneath.

Thursday was quite a big day for us...it started at 7:30 in the morning and we didn't get back until 10:30 pm. We went all over Bavaria to get to Dachau and then Schwangau to see some very cool things. Our first stop was Dachau Concentration Camp. There are many camps all over Germany, but this one is sort of important because it was the first one and it was the camp that all other camps were designed after. Like Sachsenhausen (the first one I went to) it was very sobering...but far busier. We took only a few pictures as some of the areas- we were a little caught up in the experience...but here are a few.

This is the large memorial to the prisoners that lived and died here.

And look at the camp prison bunkers.

The Jewish memorial. It was really amazing and a bit emotional.

A view of the prisoner barracks. There are only two left as the US Forces tore down the others after the liberation. The rock wells in the foreground represent the barracks that once existed there.

We also visited the cremetorium as well, but it seemed almost disrespectful to take pictures of the still intact building. But we did walk through the gas chamber room and the corpse area and them into where the ovens still exist. Very sad and very emotional.

So following this darker sightseeing experience we decided to head south to the German Alps to the castle of Ludwig II Neuschwanstein, or probably better known as Cinderella's Castle if you have been to Disney World. And you can see it like a mile away...

And some a closer look...

And the view from the castle was awesome! It was actually made better by the questionable weather...the clouds were awesome at times we were in them.

And more views...

And this is what is surrounding the castle ...mostly rocky alps and tons of beautiful waterfalls. It really sucks and hurts your eyes...its like the ugliest sight you have ever seen. Just kidding- its awesome!

It was a long day, but a fantastic one! Then yesterday we had a low key day in Heidelberg shopping and eating a fabulous cafes. Then rounded the night out by staying out until 4:30 in the morning. So much fun and more on that later!

Auf Wiedersehen!