Austria, Liechtenstein, Switzerland and France

After a wonderful 3 days in Austria it was time to move to the next phase of vacation. I had wanted to stay in Zurich but it's not a cheap city, or country for that matter so we decided to visit for the day and then drive on to the cheaper city of Strasbourg, France. Mark had never been to France so it was Mark, Bria and Tirza's first visit. Sahara and I had been on several occasions for shopping trips:)

As we were leaving Austria we starting seeing signs to FL, we didn't know what FL stood for so as we crossed the border into Liechtenstein we were ridiculously excited- a surprise country for our trip! They don't really care for tourists there so there wasn't much to see but we can now say we have been to the country of Liechtenstein!

We stopped in Zurich for lunch and a nice walk around the city. Switzerland in general was beautiful, mountains, lakes, waterfalls- amazing! Zurich was a great city and we just happened to walk right past a Swatch watch store. I couldn't resist... I have wanted a Swatch watch since I was about 12 years old, and I have been looking for a new watch for over a year now. So.... I got a Swatch watch in Switzerland! So FUN!

Then after a nice afternoon in Zurich we made our way up into France for the evening. We enjoyed walking around another pretty city, and the people were much friendlier than we expected:)

Next post: Our return to Kaiserslautern!

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Zoo, Innsbruck, Horse & Tractor Rides

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On Day 3, we woke up to rain but since it rained every day we were there we decided not to let it stop us. We headed out to the Alpine Zoo with lots of Alpine animals. Several I don't think I have ever seen, like a pack of wolves. It felt very much like we were somewhere near Narnia, don't know why but it did.

After the zoo we headed into the city of Innsbruck. It was a pretty city with lots of history. We went to see Maximilian's Golden Dachl. He built it in the 16th century to display his wealth. It has 2657 gilded cooper tiles.

After Innsbruck we hurried back to the farm for another horse ride. The girls just loved the horses, they couldn't get enough of them. They still talk about riding the horses. After the ride they helped clean and feed the horses and then we went to visit the new baby cows. One new cow didn't have a name yet so Tirza thought she should be called Hello Kitty:) The family like that but thought they would just call her Kitty:) Then the dad or Farmer, asked if the girls wanted to take a tractor ride so off Mark and the girls went on the tractor.

We loved our time in Austria, it was so relaxing... the scenery was just beautiful! Next post is our 4 county day!

Horseback Riding

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I think the highlight of our time in Austria, for the girls, was the horses. The day we arrived they got to see the horses but it was raining so they couldn't ride. But Madelena, the daughter who keep the horses, promised the girls that they could ride the next day. The anxiously awaited the ride all day. It threatened to rain while we were waiting to ride but Bria refused to believe it would happen- she thought it was just a leak:)

The rain stayed away long enough for us to enjoy a beautiful ride. Remember we are surrounded by the Alps. We walked along as the girls rode and it was breathtaking!

There are also a couple pictures of the house that we stayed in... it was just across from the stables and barn.

Swarovski

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We arrived in Austria and as we pulled up to the house the family whose guesthouse we were staying in came out to meet us. We knew that we were staying in a guesthouse on a farm but I had no idea it was an apartment in their house and that they would be such friendly hosts. They invited us in to have coffee and juice with them, sat and chatted with us, told us about their farm and the area of Austria that we were staying in. It was so cool!

Our apartment was so nice, had a varanda with a view of the mountains, a full kitchen...it was so relaxing and just a beautiful area! They had a playroom in the basement and a playground out side...not to mention the horses that I will post pictures of later:)

After a wonderful breakfast, made by our sweet hosts, made with lots of goodies fresh from the farm...eggs, milk, cheese, jellies...YUM! We went to Swarovski Crystal Worlds, it is like a museum/display next to the factory. It is where all the crystal fun started!!! I really thought that I would be the one to enjoy the trip the most but the girls LOVED it. Shinny, sparkling crystals everywhere..music and lights, they thought it was a blast! And then while I was spending over and hours making my way through the store...the girls played outside in the beautiful gardens and playgrounds all around the store.

It was a blast and I came home with a new sparkly necklace, earrings and hair clips (Happy Birthday to ME!) I couldn't help but think of my Grandma E. the whole time, especially while I was shopping...you would have had so much fun shopping with me Grandma!!!

Visiting Neuschwanstein Castle

It was fun to see the castle from below but we we ready to see the castle up close. We had bought tickets on-line so all we had to do was pick them up and then wait for the bus to take us up the mountain. The bus drops you off about 20 minutes away from the castle, part of the walk is where the look out area where we took all the pictures that look down on the little town, other castle and lake. I think it was my favorite part of the day. The view was just so amazing. I just couldn't help but really see the Creator displayed in His creation. We stayed there just enjoying the beauty for awhile and as soon as we decided to keep walking we rounded a corner and starting see the castle.

The actual castle tour is really short. The castle was never completed because poor King Ludwig was declared insane (in this castle in his room, which we did get to see) and then the next day he mysteriously drown. After he died they realized there was no money and the building of the castle was stopped. What did get done was neat to see but really the views are what makes the visit worth while. The castle is beautiful, it was the inspiration for Disney when he created Cinderella's castle. Tirza was looking for Cinderella all day:)

We also walked to a bridge near the castle. Unfortunately I read the info about the bridge, and how old it is before I went on it. It is really high and the boards all moved, A LOT! I did walk to the middle and then quickly exited taking my children with me. Mark took some picture for us and I contemplated going back out but before I could several bus loads of people appeared and crowded on to the bridge at the same time. No thanks!

We road a horse carriage back down the mountain, I think this may have been the highlight for the girls:), had lunch in the little nearby town and then began our trip into Austria. Which to get to the boarder took about 2 whole minutes. Yep two! We had no idea we were that close to the boarder, it was really funny. It was just about an hour and a half to Innsbruck where we stayed. I have lots more pictures and stories about that part of the trip to follow...

My Birthday at Neuswanstein

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Our meeting ended on my birthday so we spent the morning riding a bus with all our friends back into Munich so that we could pick up our rental car to start our family vacation. It was a lot of fun and, of course, someone pointed out that it was my bday so I got a loud Happy Birthday song sung. We had lunch at the airport with friends and then headed back the direction we had come to see the castle.

I have wanted to see this castle since we moved to Germany 10 years ago. It just never worked out when we lived there. I was SO excited we were getting another chance to go see it. Neuschwanstein was no disappointment, it is beautiful set up high in the mountains. I had no idea that the area surrounding it would be so amazing as well. Mountains all around, cute little Germany villages with pretty window boxes full of flowers, crystal clear lakes... just beautiful!

After walking around, playing in the lake and settling into our cute hotel we drove about 5 minutes into a nearby town for dinner. Mark and I had been craving donner kebab, which had been one of our favorite things to eat when we lived in Germany, so we were on a hunt. Right by where we parked was a big fruit stand with the biggest raspberries I had ever seen. So we loaded up on fresh raspberries, blackberries and blueberries....oh they were so yummy! Better than a birthday cake by far! After we enjoyed that snack we walked down the street and found a great donner kebab cafe... it was everything we remembered.

Then it was back to the hotel to get some rest for the next day when we go up the mountain to see the castle up close. Oh yeah and after the kids where asleep I ended my fabulous birthday by breaking into my stash of Baby Ruth candy bars that a friend had given me as a present. Just perfect:)

I'm Back...

Well friends, it has been a little while, sorry but we have been busy, the good kind of busy:) We have been gone for 2 weeks and just arrived home late last night. The first week was at a meeting with the others workers from Western Europe and the second week was FAMILY VACATION! I didn't get a lot of pics from the first week but I will post a few good ones and then I will do a day by day of the vacation.

Here we go....
Our meeting was called WE Celebrate and was in beautiful Bavaria, Germany. Mark and I had meetings, worship time, small group sessions and speakers from the States. It was great and so refreshing, it has been awhile since we have had the chance to do all that in English. While we were busy with all that (from 9am-9pm everyday) the girls got to do VBS, yeah!!! Boomerang Express, the girls loved it and especially loved being with friends ALL day long.

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