Skim Conference in Berlin
It was such fun walking out of the airport in Munich because we saw Jennifer holding a sign and with her was Emily who gave us her wonderful big awesome hug. The sign said "Das Konigens" Ha ha We were so delighted to meet up and hear about their travels.
We got a car and drove to a beautiful little town called Anif just outside of Salzburg.
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| Schloss Leopoldskron |
When I got up at 2:30 to go to the bathroom I saw my cell phone flashing. It was a text message from Andrew saying "Hi Mom and Dad. Andrea suddenly thinks she mows the front lawn. We had a schedule. It's not fair." Ha ha ha
Hallstatt.
Oh, this must be one of the most beautiful places on Earth. It's nestled at the feet of the mighty Dachstein Mts, part of the Alps, and along the Hallstattersee. (Lake) I am smitten by the absolute beauty and peacefulness here.
Chapel of Bones. Emily really loved this ha ha. Jen and Em are so much fun to be around. We just laugh and laugh and it feels so good and I feel so happy. What joy I feel to think about being together with our family forever.
As we drove away from Hallstatt I kept looking at it get smaller and further away & wishing we could stay longer.
Luge
Ceski Krumlov
I was excited to show the girls this pretty midieval town (although it's very hard to beat Hallstatt). The pretty red tile roofed, faux painted stucco buildings and a big castle & grounds at the top of the hill. When we were last here it was quite an undiscovered peaceful little jewel of a destination. Rick Steves covered it in his book and now because of that - so many tourists and higher prices. We wandered around the castle (bears still live in the moat!) and little shops.
Prague - just a day trip
Freiberg Germany - saw their small temple...parking lot only holds 25 cars. Such a gorgeous heavenly drive to this city and seems as yet undiscovered by tourism. (Love to get off the tour book trails) Saw a charming organ grinder in the theaterplatz. Jen and I put money in his tray and stood back and enjoyed the pretty music. I snapped a photo of him and he stopped and scolded me in German! Jen understood him and apologized in German. He then said in English "Why don't you ask permission before taking someone's picture. This is still the custom you know!" woops (How he thinks he can be in a public place, playing for money from tourists and not get his picture taken is beyond me!)
Got into Berlin late and settled into the Ibis Hotel. (Using B & B's until now) They have a cute organ grinder too but he is so cool. After you took a picture he would call you over and let you put on a hat and turn the organ handle and he would take a picture of you on your camera!! :)
Pergomon Museum - incredible and impressive with walls and statues and a whole Roman looking stairway - 2000 years old! Stuff brought over and assembled here in Berlin from Babylon of old. Walls that stood & were built by King Nebekenezer the 2nd.
Checkpoint Charlie - remains of Berlin wall. Saw where famous Nazi book burning took place.
Jen to airport 6:25am flight - Em 12:40pm flight.
Chris and I went to the zoo. I love zoos.
Funny thing at the monkey cage. A German guy drinking a coke was talking to the monkeys in English - "Hallo monkeys. Come hia. Do you want this?" He held up his coke bottle and two monkeys swung over and reached through the bars and took it. This was definitely not allowed but they sure had fun with that bottle. They spilled it, then tried to drink out of it, put fingers in it and peeled off the label. They then clanked it across the bars like a prisoner with a cup against the jail bars. We had a wonderful time. Ah, whether nature or animals - nothing better than God's creations. Lift's the spirit.
Met up with Rich and Judy Johnson and went to Charlotenburg Palace and ate dinner.
Next day met Bryan and Chandra in lobby 8am and went to breakfast and went for a walk. We rode a bicycle built for 7 like we had seen in NYC and also went to Potsdam; a beautiful area with a huge palace and gardens.
During conference Judy and I rode the subway to the Egyptian Museum which proudly boasts having the bust of Nephrititi but when we got there it was closed due to being moved to another location. Judy & I also went to the Dahlem museum. She's interested in No Am Indian collection but I most enjoyed watching a group of little kids on a field trip. They must have been about 5 years old. So cute all in their matching colorful beanie caps. They sat quietly enthralled by the man teaching them about Indians and beating on a drum. He taught them an Indian song and they were all around an imitation camp fire. Fun to hear their cute little voices asking and answering questions in German.
Chris and I went to the Gemalde gallery. Magnificient display of famous paintings and some that I think should have been famous! ha ha. We were excited to see the bust of Nephrititi there! ha ha - it was on loan until the Egyptian Museum reopens. This gallery boasts having the famous painting "Man with the golden hat" but it was on loan temporarily to the Dahlem museum. (Judy and I saw that when we were there ha ha!)
I went by myself at one point to a musical instruments museum and just loved it. So many unusual instruments. No one spoke English and I couldn't find the musical walking stick I was hoping to see. They had a huge upright piano - calliope type thing that was a whole orchestra in itself with cymbals and drums etc. People kept putting Euros in the box to make it play and it was fun happy German music.
I'm reading Artimus Fowl in other spare time.
