Strasbourg - Day 4

We couldn't get enough of Strasbourg once we had a taste so we stuck around most of the day. The really great thing about Strasbourg is how big of a city it is while maintaining a very traditional charm and the marriage of the French and German influences play nicely off of one another.

It is no mystery why wars were fought over this city.


When I move, this is the building I want to live in.

This is me giving final confirmation that I do not like chestnuts.
They taste like sawdust.

Someone really fancy made this church.

Sadly, Day 5 was going to be our work day so we needed to get to Frankfurt. One more pit stop on the way in Heidelberg.

We broke the "don't drive up to the castle" rule again but stayed out of trouble this time. I'm telling you, it is just too cold and wet to do all that hiking about the Germans insist on.

All of these photos were taken in about 10 minutes as the castle was closing. It was quick and dirtty.

Me taking a little drink from a giant cask. Couldn't resist.

Not a bad view of the lovely Heidelberg

The view from the West lawn

The view from the courtyard

Once upon a time this castle burned down, or at least half of it did.
They still do a pageant every year reenacting the burning.
(You can see a publicity poster for this in the basement bathroom of Grandma Susie and Stoy's house)

Off the hill we ran and down into the festivities of the city

Do you feel dizzy or intoxicated yet?
In spite of the bad photo, I had to post this so you could see how awesome the Germans are. They just build a giant one of these candle carousel things in the middle of the street and you stand around it and drink Gluhwein. AWESOME!

Then, we ran down the street to a pub we found in the Michelin guide, where they server what is referred to in the guide book as "bone sticking food".
Couldn't ask for more.

Ottobeuren to Strasbourg - Day 3

Too much driving this day. WAY too much driving but we did find the pot at the end of the Autobahn.

Ottobeuren - Day 3
was a sweet little mountain town with an amazing and quirky abbey and Basilica. I did not love this place as much as the rest of the family who characterized it as "not to be missed" but I really can't complain either. Take a look at this place:





We left Ottobeuren and headed West stopping in Lindau, a spot that I really loved and wished we could have spent more time in. It is a tiny island on the East end of Lake Constance near where Austria, Switzerland and Germany meet and where a strange micro climate begins.

It is really hard to feel how festive and welcoming this little town is from the photos but it was truly charming and a great accidental find.

From Lindau we drove along the lake into wine country. Another pleasant surprise and want for more time. There is a micro-climate in this area that makes it much like Napa Valley, which is crazy considering how close it is to the cold Bavarian mountains.

We did not get enough photos because we were very busy trying to navigate but I did snap this one, jsut a little taste of decorative surrounding valleys.


As it got dark we started to descend out of the mountains and drove what I think may have been the most impressive geographic region we went through. I base that opinion on the steep winding roads and what little we could see. I think we were near Schramberg but it was hard to tell. I guess we will need to go back to confirm.


Strasbourg, France - Still day 3

More driving, more driving and more driving until we arrived on an 8 lane highway outside of Strasbourg, France. When we hit traffic I was really disappointed to be out of rural Germany and skeptical that there was really anything worth hanging around for. With no map, hotel reservations, agenda or information about the city we opted to drive in, grab food and move on.

Then we ran into this:

You had me at Chandeliers hanging in the streets....

Just a closer, better look at what is in those glowing boxes.

I think I'm gonna like it here!

We picked the hotel closest to old town and the one with the best mushroom fairy tale Christmas theme (VERY random) and hit the streets to find some trouble.

What we did find was a little pub next to the river, or possibly under the river. It was hard to tell by the moisture dripping down the walls and the slugs settling down for a long winters nap over our table.

Bavaria Proper - Day 2

On this day we did a little more walking around Rottenburg so we could see the city by the light of day. Oh little walled city, I will miss you.

Regretfully, we hopped in our little car and drove farther South (fast) along Route 7 to find the Black Forest. And find it we did.

This little hiccup in the weather made things a little slow going but it sure did a good job dusting the trees to make things feel authentic and festive.

Our destination was Neuschwanstein Castle which we reached after dark. A circumstance we found disappointing at the time but played a key part in the construction of a great story.

A few things you should know about Germans:
1. They obey the rules
2. They do not need things spelled out for them like we have come to expect in America
3. They love to walk. We might call it hiking but they would not think twice about taking a 90 min "walk" up a steep hill, its just how they do.

When we arrived in town we were told that the castle would be closing in a few minutes and we could still take the 45 min walk up to see it but we would not be able to get in. We drove the few minutes outside of town and it started to snow huge wet flakes. The 45 min walk to see a castle in the dark quickly lost its appeal.

When we got to the gate at the bottom of the castle hill, it was open and there were a lot of people on foot heading down the road which looked plenty wide for cars. So...we drove up to the castle. As any badly behaved entitled American would do.

This is a magical place on a cliff with a windy road shadowed in overhung trees dusted in snow. I think they made a Disney movie about it once or something, it just didn't seem real.

We parked our car at the front door and made our way around to the courtyard.

There were all these retaining fences on the plaza, which I think act as crowd control during the day but with the castle obviously being closed, we found ourselves alone. There was evidence the lines had been long enough at some point for people to build a series of snowmen along the retaining wall. This was my favorite.

Since we were alone, it seemed logical to crawl through the fence and take some photos.

Photo #1: Just me (and my giant hat), impatient with the camera

Photo #2: Me & E posing for the timer, and laughing at how funny it is that we have broken so many rules in the last 10 minutes

Photo #3: Me and E running from the guard, whom you can see in the doorway on the right, as he yells at us.

He caught us cause we had to slow down to squeeze through the fence and we took a good scolding for it. Oops. Being scolded as an adult is funny and admittedly a bit embarrassing.

Only problem is, the guard doesn't know we have also driven our car up the forbidden road. I think if he had, we may have found ourselves in quite a bit more trouble.
We walked as fast as we could off the plaza and back to the car hoping to avoid another altercation.

No such luck. Another guard is waiting at the car.
After another firm scolding and profuse apologies about not seeing any signs, we drove swiftly from the scene of the crime. Half shaking, half laughing.

Life lesson learned: Getting in trouble is fun. Being in trouble is not.

Kelliott Holiday News Letter

Governor's Mansion Gala

I was Heather's date to a Gala at the Governor's Mansion last night.

This is what I know:

-Black tie optional is not enough information. Either tell people to wear them or don't, it just leaves too much room for people to wear nice pants or full formals.

-The Mansion is everything that I remembered it to be but being decorated for Christmas sure makes it super fancy. I totally need a house with a ball room. Think of the events we could have!



-I need a new f-ing camera


-This was a fun evening but to be honest, it was really an overblown Stake adult singles dance. Not really my favorite crowd to socialize with.

-I really miss singing at Christmas. It tugs at my heart and makes me so sad that I have no outlet for the songs swimming in my head.

-The best part of the evening was the pageant by the grand kids. Our seats were perfectly positioned to see into the hallway where the Governor and first lady were trying to organize the little ones and it was great entertainment. The icing: when the littlest angel bit her older sister because she wanted to be closer to the manger.


Thanks for being my date, Heather. We make quite a pair.

Romantische Strasse - Day 1

Immediately upon arriving in Frankfurt @ we jumped in our little rental car and hit the road heading South.

First photo in Germany...FOOD (many more to come)
When Heather told me to just stop at the rest stops along the highway because they had the best food, I doubted her judgment but I will tell all of you, I was wrong.



First stop:
Wurzburg

Did I mention it was freezing? ...and wet
but most most importantly, really fancy

Our first taste of what was to come in the next few days: German Christmas

There is a driving route through Southern Germany called the Romantische Strasse (romantic street) and it takes you through the rolling hills past tiny little towns with magical buildings and cobblestone streets to the base of the mountains. It is talked about in all the guide books and everyone on Germany knows what you are referring to. What they don't tell you is that the romantic part is the getting lost.
It is impossible to actually keep track of this route and if you try, you will loose. You will however have a wonderful journey under your belt and know if you and your companion could make it through The Great Race without killing each other.

I had to take a photo of the sign every time I saw one because it would be in the most random places when we thought for sure we were far off course. How romantic.

Second Stop:
Rothenburg ob . d . Tauber
There are few places I have ever traveled that effected me as much as this little walled city. There has been a painting of this city hanging above the fireplace in my parent's home my entire life and it was amazing and magical to stand in the middle of the street with such familiar buildings surrounding me.
It was also a bit heartbreaking to be there without either of my parents. Maybe next time.


More delicious food

This is the store that dad designed his year around Christmas store after. When we got to go in the next day, I couldn't believe how familiar and comforting it was to be among all the little trinkets that filled my early life.

Dad and Heather kept telling me that I would recognize the spot in the painting. I was so frustrated with them, I just wanted directions to get there but upon entering the city it was perfectly clear.

Me standing in the painting that hung in our house and clutching the Micheline guide that did not disappoint.

Bretzel (that is German for Pretzel)