Today (Saturday) the seven of us (Anna-Maria and Rasmus arrived last night) biked around the Zeller See and had lunch out at an outdoor restaurant on the north end of the lake. It was a warm day and many people were cycling or sunbathing or swimming or boating. It was also the big day of the Zell am See 140th festival so even more people than usual.
After cycling, Rebecca bought a traditional Austrian dress that is very pretty on her. In the evening we ate at Hirshen, the favorite restaurant of Amelia's friend Brigitte (whose husband is from Zell am See) and it was fantastic, especially the dessert!
Wednesday, July 15, 2015
Saturday, July 11, 2015
Day 44: Alps!
<photos and more details to come>
Today we went to Kitzsteinhorn (mountain), picnicked, swam, and so forth. Photos and more to come later.
Today we went to Kitzsteinhorn (mountain), picnicked, swam, and so forth. Photos and more to come later.
Day 43: Cycling and Sliding in Austria
<photos and more details to come>
Biked from Zell am See to Kaprun, did the alpine slide...
Biked from Zell am See to Kaprun, did the alpine slide...
Day 42: Invading Austria
<photos and more details to come>
Today, we had a leisurely morning at the Marriott, mostly characterized by swimming in the indoor pool and relaxing in the jacuzzi. It was raining outside so we were in no hurry to go sightseeing or to drive anywhere. In the afternoon, the rain stopped, so we drove to the old city center and visited the Marienplatz which is the home of St Peter's Church (which was closed for cleaning), the old city hall, the new city hall, and nearby are Holy Spirit Church (which had a weird multimedia art installation) and the Frauenkirche (huge and fantastic!).
We lunched at a fantastic Italian restaurant a door or three down from the back side of the old city hall. The food was amazing.
Then, we drove south to Austria, into the Alps, to Zell am See, and found our holiday apartment, which is amazing.
We wandered around the village streets, which were full of open air restaurants and street performers (musicians, jugglers on unicycles, etc.) and temporary beer halls in tents. We had dinner in the street at a little Italian place and it was lovely. Almost every one had pasta of some sort. Mmmmm.
Today, we had a leisurely morning at the Marriott, mostly characterized by swimming in the indoor pool and relaxing in the jacuzzi. It was raining outside so we were in no hurry to go sightseeing or to drive anywhere. In the afternoon, the rain stopped, so we drove to the old city center and visited the Marienplatz which is the home of St Peter's Church (which was closed for cleaning), the old city hall, the new city hall, and nearby are Holy Spirit Church (which had a weird multimedia art installation) and the Frauenkirche (huge and fantastic!).
We lunched at a fantastic Italian restaurant a door or three down from the back side of the old city hall. The food was amazing.
Then, we drove south to Austria, into the Alps, to Zell am See, and found our holiday apartment, which is amazing.
We wandered around the village streets, which were full of open air restaurants and street performers (musicians, jugglers on unicycles, etc.) and temporary beer halls in tents. We had dinner in the street at a little Italian place and it was lovely. Almost every one had pasta of some sort. Mmmmm.
Day 41: The Romantic Road
<photos and more details to come>
Today was a travel day, again. Our plan was to drive from Rothenburg ob der Tauber to München (Münich). But first, after breakfast, we sought out the local ropes course (Kletterwald) and spent several hours in the woods climbing, zip lining and so forth. Amelia did not climb, but rather served as photographer/videographer. It's clear the Nilselids are very good at ropes courses and Andy got the hang of it very quickly (all that police training in the Air Force put to good use!).
We learned lots about the safety system used here, which was pretty fantastic, from the safety guy, Paul.
It was pretty hot, though, as the heatwave heated back up for the day. After some hours, we drove toward Munich, taking a huge detour because of road works, and stopping briefly to buy some groceries to eat in the car (fruit, bread, water, juice), and then stopping again to visit the village of Dinkelsbühl, where we saw a lovely church and ate ice cream.
Then, on to Münich, where we found the Marriott in the evening and had a late big steak supper to make up for the lack of normal lunch. Yum.
Today was a travel day, again. Our plan was to drive from Rothenburg ob der Tauber to München (Münich). But first, after breakfast, we sought out the local ropes course (Kletterwald) and spent several hours in the woods climbing, zip lining and so forth. Amelia did not climb, but rather served as photographer/videographer. It's clear the Nilselids are very good at ropes courses and Andy got the hang of it very quickly (all that police training in the Air Force put to good use!).
We learned lots about the safety system used here, which was pretty fantastic, from the safety guy, Paul.
It was pretty hot, though, as the heatwave heated back up for the day. After some hours, we drove toward Munich, taking a huge detour because of road works, and stopping briefly to buy some groceries to eat in the car (fruit, bread, water, juice), and then stopping again to visit the village of Dinkelsbühl, where we saw a lovely church and ate ice cream.
Then, on to Münich, where we found the Marriott in the evening and had a late big steak supper to make up for the lack of normal lunch. Yum.
Day 40: Rothenburg ob der Tauber
<photos and more details to come>
Today, Monday, was a full day in Rothenburg. It was still pretty hot, though, so we didn't try to do too many things. We visited the Franciscan Church which was practically next door, and wandered down the city walls to the Burggarten, which was lovely and shady with huge trees and grassy areas between the flower garden sections. The kids (meaning, everyone but Amelia) climbed a tree and we enjoyed the breeze under the shade since it was still pretty hot (although not so hot as it had been). We wandered around to see the views from the city walls and read the various memorials and such.
Then, we walked back up the hotel's street to the main market square which has an impressive Rathaus (city hall) building among others. We searched for and found an ice cream place and had some lovely gelato.
Then, we walked a couple of blocks over and visited the fascinating Mittelalterliches Kriminalmuseum.
After that we lunched in an Italian restaurant near the hotel. The pizza and pasta were pretty good!
After that we visited one of the main sites in the village, the St. Jakob Kirche (St. Jacob's Church) which is just stunning. Absolutely stunning.
Then, because it was pretty hot, we wandered back to the Burggarten to enjoy the shade. We stopped by the hotel first for towels to sit on and so forth (Amelia brought her Kindle, of course). We variously climbed trees, napped, read, listened to the park musician (an Irish man who plays German folk tunes on his guitar), and wandered around the park.
In the evening, we returned to the Hotel Reichs-Küchenmeister Restaurant for a second night. It was busy again but our waiter from the night before saw us and saved us a table when some folks were leaving.
Today, Monday, was a full day in Rothenburg. It was still pretty hot, though, so we didn't try to do too many things. We visited the Franciscan Church which was practically next door, and wandered down the city walls to the Burggarten, which was lovely and shady with huge trees and grassy areas between the flower garden sections. The kids (meaning, everyone but Amelia) climbed a tree and we enjoyed the breeze under the shade since it was still pretty hot (although not so hot as it had been). We wandered around to see the views from the city walls and read the various memorials and such.
Then, we walked back up the hotel's street to the main market square which has an impressive Rathaus (city hall) building among others. We searched for and found an ice cream place and had some lovely gelato.
Then, we walked a couple of blocks over and visited the fascinating Mittelalterliches Kriminalmuseum.
After that we lunched in an Italian restaurant near the hotel. The pizza and pasta were pretty good!
After that we visited one of the main sites in the village, the St. Jakob Kirche (St. Jacob's Church) which is just stunning. Absolutely stunning.
Then, because it was pretty hot, we wandered back to the Burggarten to enjoy the shade. We stopped by the hotel first for towels to sit on and so forth (Amelia brought her Kindle, of course). We variously climbed trees, napped, read, listened to the park musician (an Irish man who plays German folk tunes on his guitar), and wandered around the park.
In the evening, we returned to the Hotel Reichs-Küchenmeister Restaurant for a second night. It was busy again but our waiter from the night before saw us and saved us a table when some folks were leaving.
Day 39: Travel Day: Bad Rodach to Rothenburg ob der Tauber
<Photos and more details to come>
Today was a big travel day involving trains and an auto. We traveled from Bad Rodach via the world's shortest train (one car is passenger space and engine) to Lichtenfels, where we changed trains in a small station after a 40 minute wait (we visited the small book store and enjoyed the a/c there) and traveled on a nice big train (with less than good a/c) to Nürnberg (Nuremberg). There we were met, almost miraculous, the moment we walked out of the giant train station (with many halls so even coming out of the one hall they were driving towards was miraculous) by a large van of Swedes. The Swedes weren't so large or numerous (only 3) but the van is a 9 passenger van so we have plenty of room. We are short two Swedes because Magnus' wife, Anna-Marie, and eldest son, Rasmus, had to work another week. They'll join us later. So, we met Magnus, and his second son Robin, and daughter, Rebecca. We drove a little ways and found a parking spot and searched for lunch. Meanwhile the heatwave continued. It was so bloody hot!
After chicken burgers (yum) we drove through the countryside for a couple of hours to Rothenburg ob der Tauber, a village with preserved medieval buildings and lovely churches and a fantastic intact city wall with 42 towers. Wow.
We stayed at the Hotel Gotisches Haus which was located about half a block from the main market square in one direction and half a block from the city wall and gate to the Burggarten (castle garden) in the other. Perfect hotel in a perfect location. This hotel is housed in a former patrician home built in the 13th century.
More about hotel...
Dinner out...
Today was a big travel day involving trains and an auto. We traveled from Bad Rodach via the world's shortest train (one car is passenger space and engine) to Lichtenfels, where we changed trains in a small station after a 40 minute wait (we visited the small book store and enjoyed the a/c there) and traveled on a nice big train (with less than good a/c) to Nürnberg (Nuremberg). There we were met, almost miraculous, the moment we walked out of the giant train station (with many halls so even coming out of the one hall they were driving towards was miraculous) by a large van of Swedes. The Swedes weren't so large or numerous (only 3) but the van is a 9 passenger van so we have plenty of room. We are short two Swedes because Magnus' wife, Anna-Marie, and eldest son, Rasmus, had to work another week. They'll join us later. So, we met Magnus, and his second son Robin, and daughter, Rebecca. We drove a little ways and found a parking spot and searched for lunch. Meanwhile the heatwave continued. It was so bloody hot!
After chicken burgers (yum) we drove through the countryside for a couple of hours to Rothenburg ob der Tauber, a village with preserved medieval buildings and lovely churches and a fantastic intact city wall with 42 towers. Wow.
We stayed at the Hotel Gotisches Haus which was located about half a block from the main market square in one direction and half a block from the city wall and gate to the Burggarten (castle garden) in the other. Perfect hotel in a perfect location. This hotel is housed in a former patrician home built in the 13th century.
More about hotel...
Dinner out...
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