Germany Trip Summer 2023

We had a great trip!  Every time I am in Europe the thought of living there for an extended time pops into my head.  I tell myself one of these day!  Here is what I had to plan our trip and from there it all fell into place!

Colin's To Do Picks

Minatur Wunderland in Hamburg, Germany

World War 2 Museum Gdansk, Poland

Drink beer

Visit where I was born!

Drive on the autobahn

Heidi's To Do Picks 

Cologne, Germany 

Nuremberg, Germany

Kaltenbrunn, Germany

Weiden, Germany

visit school where I worked

So I cheated a bit by just picking cities.  I knew I would be doing the planning and exactly what I wanted to see in each city.

A few things that we both commented on:

1.  cost of water . . . is a lot!  We both drink a lot of water and at meals our bill was usually half water!

2.  laid back . . . One of the reasons I love Europe so much!  I always talk about this and now Colin knows exactly what I mean.  No one rushes you and it is okay to sit for hours just buying one drink

3.  orderly driving . . . even though there are areas with speed limits on major highways, there are also parts where there are not . . . Colin was amazed at how everyone followed the driving rules.  I gave him a quick run down on how important it is to only pass on the left, never go faster than any car to your left, if you pass be sure to move over as soon as you clear the other car, and always watch your mirrors for fast approaching cars.  He did amazing driving . . . I know he was stressed but also know he loved every second that he drove!  Of course it helped having a nice BMW car to drive too!

What we enjoyed the most . . .

Favorite Meal

Colin:  Bratwurst at Cologne Bahnhof  (Day 2)

Heidi:  Weiden Brewery meal (Day 11)

Favorite Hotel

Colin:  he doesn't care

Heidi:   PEIRDREI Hotel Hamburg and Hanza Hotel and Drei Raben Hotel   

Favorite Experiences

Colin

1.  driving on the autobahn (Day 12)

2.  Rodelbahn (Day 12)

Day 12 was also the day we could not find his prescription glasses!

Heidi

1.  Just being there!  I know, I know that's not an answer.

2.  Closure and Peace . . . I wrote about it on Day 11

3.  Day 7 . . . just learning, remembering, and having fun

Favorite Place

Colin:  WW2 Museum in Gdansk (Day 8)

Heidi:  Stutthof Concentration Camp in Poland (Day 7)

Day 15: the journey back to reality

Clearing security at Frankfurt Airport took longer than expected.  The layout is interesting. First you scan your own boarding pass and then you are allowed to enter the next secure area.  I was yelled at for being in the family line even though the sign had an arrow pointing that way for US passports.  Then your passport is stamped and you are free to roam the terminal area. Finally, we cleared actual security.  I don’t remember it being this way but every few gates have their own security area.  Our Gates E2-E5 had their own security area and it took forever.   Any type of electronic cord or device had to be removed and placed in a bin.  Three of our four bags were deemed suspicious so I had to unpack them for inspection.  One of our bags was dinged for a tube of mustard and horseradish . . . both were 100 grams or less so take that . . . I follow the rules . . . well for the most part.  The lady was not friendly and for the second time this early morning I was yelled at for not following the signs. Whatever! Funny thing is I was following the sign!  And now we wait to board our flight home.  While I would have loved another week or two, I am ready to go home.  We settled into our lovely seats for the 10 hour 30 minute flight home.

 

The flight was good . . . I ate, napped, watched TV, repeat . . . the appetizer, dessert, and lunch meal were very good!

  

Oh and I was finally introduced to the tv show Ted Lasso . . . I loved it but too bad I do not have the channel to watch the entire series!  One funny moment was when this appeared on my screen . . .

. . . I did not notice it until we were getting off the plane.  A missed connection?  I laughed so hard and thought it was funny.  And just like that we were back in Texas . . .

. . . where I almost died when I walked outside in the ridiculous triple digit heat!
  

Steps:  9,449

Miles:  4.13

Day 14: saying good-bye is hard

I woke up looking at the ceiling.  The room’s ceiling has the story of Peter Henlein.  It is in German so no clue what it says. 

I really do like the hotel and the unique theming.  Well, the old saying time flies when you're having fun could not be truer.  The reality that our trip is over hits hard.  I love to travel.  I miss traveling.  If I have learned one thing on this trip it is that I am ready to make life changes . . . it is time for me to figure out my next plan, and I am not just talking about travel.  We checked out of the hotel but did not want to leave just yet.  It was a rainy day around Nuremberg but we were out enjoying our last hours.  One of my favorite photos of Colin was taken in Nuremberg.

We tried to recreate it but were a bit too lazy to walk to the exact spot. 

We had lunch at Café Bohm Herrenteller.  So, a little about this place.  On December 29, 2003, I was eating dinner with parents, Sean, and his parents. 

I was obviously not feeling well but look what I was eating, vanilla ice cream with hot raspberries!

Colin was due to arrive on January 8, 2004.  We were less than an hour from our home enjoying a meal and my favorite city.  I felt off the entire day but just chalked it up to being very pregnant and tired.  I swear I went to the restroom every 15 minutes.  We left town, and I continued to feel off.  My mom told me I was in early signs of labor.  So I called a fellow Army wife that was a nurse and she said yep probably need to go to the hospital.  I took a long hot bath, washed my hair, and did a bunch of other unnecessary things around the house.  Around 11pm, we went to the hospital.  So here we sit in the same restaurant 19 years later . . . eating a yummy lunch and I forgot to get a photo of us!  

We ended our day with one more eis stop which turned out to be the biggest language fiasco the entire trip.  I know how to order food in German.  I just ordered two scoops with cream and it was a disaster.  Finally, the guy next to me helped with the order!

We grabbed our bags and said good-bye to Nuremberg.  The walk to the train station was sad but knew that this trip did exactly what I wanted it to do.  

It has been a cool 62 degrees today and almost certain that I will miss this weather when we are back in Texas.  The less than three hour train ride to the Frankfurt airport was painfully slow at 105km/hour.  We checked into the Hilton Frankfurt Hotel for the night awaiting our morning flight tomorrow.

Steps:  10,800 steps

Miles:  4.39

  

Day 13: beautiful Nuremberg

I picked Nuremberg.  If you ask me my favorite German city this would be it especially during the Weihnachtsmarkt season (Christmas Market).  I have been here many times but never really did the touristy stuff.  I really wanted to explore more of the sites related to WWII and Hitler.  I know you might be asking why but history!  I booked us a tour that would take us to the key sites around Nuremberg.  

I don't know what I was expecting, but I was a bit disappointed with the tour.  In hindsight, I should have just used public transportation to get around and do my own tour.  But the guide got us there . . . I thought he talked too much and when the tour started he asked our group (7 people) what we wanted to see.  I was dumbfounded because I booked a tour that told me where they would take us.  So from the beginning I knew it was going to be a bit disappointing!  However, I did get to see several places that I wanted to visit so not a total waste.

Kongresshalle from the outside . . .

Kongresshalle from the inside . . . 

Zeppelinfeld . . .

Courtroom 1600 as the site of the Nuremberg Trials . . . 

This was the one place I was looking forward to visiting the most.  It was very crowded but was able to read more about the trials.  Our tour ended and we were dropped off in the hauptmarkt (main square).  Of course you know what we had to do first . . . eat!  When in Nuremberg you must have the Nürnberger Bratwurst.  They are the small sausages that are sometimes referred to breakfast sausage in America. Of course I loved the sides just as much! 

One of the focal points of the hauptmarkt . . . Schöner Brunnen (beautiful fountain)

We walked around just soaking up our surroundings.  I also have not spent much time at the Nuremberg Castle so we huffed it up there.  It was nice to just walk around the castle and explore.  

We took a little tea break while waiting on our tour of the Historischer Kunstbunker (historic art bunker).  It was very interesting how the art and religious relics were stored underground during the bombings.  We were told that about 90% of Nuremberg was destroyed during the January 2, 1945 bombings that lasted about an hour.  

After the tour we continued to walk around with no plans.  We did a little shopping at Müller, store with just about everything.  The vendors were out selling their goods.  I have always wished I lived in a town where I could just walk up and buy fresh produce! 

One of my favorite views in Nuremberg.

So, we went inside and had dinner at Heilig Geist Spital.  We were told that Nuremberg has a special rotbier (red beer) that is sweet and strong.  We tasted it; it was okay.  I had another one of my favorites kleiner salattteller (small salad plate) and eierspätzle (egg noodles with a cream sauce).  So yummy! 

One thing that Colin remembers about Nuremberg is a model train you could drive at the bahnhof (train station) so we went to see if it was still there.  We found it tucked away and still working!  He was so excited.  He could not resist popping a few euro coins in to drive it around. 

It amazes me what he remembers.  It was in 2010 we were last at the Nuremberg bahnhof!  So see travel with your kids they will remember!  Back to the Hotel Drei Raben to pack and prepare to change locations to fly back home.
 
Steps:  15,675
Miles:  6.85

Day 12: fun in the sun

We had a late breakfast next door at Café Brunner.  It was nice, but I went for a small breakfast because I had other plans.  

             Small Breakfast                        Real Breakfast

 

Yes, we did have ice cream for breakfast and it was delicious!  The best part was we sat outside listening to the church bells.

Before leaving town, we made a quick stop at Colin’s birth place, Klinikum Weiden. 

It was back on the road to an area I have always thought was beautiful, Pottenstein.  I knew Colin would love the fun outdoor activities in the area.  We bought 2 tickets for the rodelbahn and ended up buying 2 more because we had so much fun! 

Just down the road was one of my all time favorite stores that happens to be open on Sunday (very rare in Germany) and there was no way I could not stop by!  So off to Muggendorf we went!

  

I loved this store and spent a lot of my hard earned money there.  All the wooden items I have in my home bring me so much joy and happiness!  No regrets and so glad I have all my items.  We had to backtrack to go feed the fish!  I knew Colin would love seeing the trout fish up close and would feed them until we ran out of coins!  We purchased so many handfuls of feed!

He was determined to touch one even though signs said no.  But you know people don't pay attention to those signs.  Now was the time that I know Colin had been looking forward to the entire trip, driving on the autobahn.  I had been giving him little tidbits on the road rules the last two days so now was his time to cross off another one off his list.  We pulled to the side of the road so he could get his glasses.  I knew he would drive so threw in his prescription glasses.  We took everything out of car, and we are unpacking our suitcases and backpacks on the side of the highway.  Not once, not twice but three times.  The glasses were nowhere to be found so we throw it all back in car and get on the road.  I know I packed them.  I know I saw them a few days ago and we have not unpacked our suitcases the entire trip.  We have moved hotels every day or two and unpacking was too much trouble.  So, he just drove . . . without glasses.  Getting warmed up . . . 

It was late afternoon and we missed lunch so we pulled off at an autohof (truck stop) for a snack.  Just so happens there was a KFC.  I wasn’t thrilled but it met the goal of him eating.  So here is a KFC meal . . .

I know, I know we sure are eating a lot of American food.  Back on the road and ready to test the speed . . .

You know what will give you a heart stopping moment?  Your kid driving on the autobahn at ridiculous speeds.  He managed to get up to 210 km/hr which is about 130 mph.  I managed to remain calm and then it started raining so he slowed way down which was good.   

We were near the rental car drop off so we needed to fill up the car with gasoline.  We looked like two weirdos trying to make sure we put the correct gas in the car.  I knew it was benzine (unleaded) but that is not how the pumps were labeled.  The pumps had numbers and I had no clue what those numbers meant.  After we opened the gas compartment door, we figured it out and just laughed at ourselves.  I am sure the inside attendant was laughing at us too.  Stupid Americans!  We returned the rental car to the train station and he was sad as it was a pretty sweet car.

Our hotel was a short walk from the train station.  I used to visit Nuremberg often but it was only a 45 minute train ride to our house so never stayed at a hotel.  The area outside the Nuremberg train station is very shady!  Our hotel, Hotel Drei Raben, was sort of in that area but had great reviews.  

As we were led to our room, because that is what they do at the smaller hotels to make you are happy and know how to use all the features.  I started doubting myself.  I mean there is red shag carpet in the hallway. 

The room is super clean, and I love it!  Each room in the hotel is themed after a person or something relating to Nuremberg.  

Our room had a theme of Peter Henlein.  I had no idea who he was until I looked him up online and read about him.

Peter Henlein, a locksmith and clockmaker of Nuremberg, Germany, is often considered the inventor of the watch. He was one of the first craftsmen to make small ornamental portable clocks which were often worn as pendants or attached to clothing, and which are regarded as the first watches.

We took a quick walk outside for dinner and back to the room to unpack and look for Colin’s prescription glasses again. We still can’t find them.  They were either stolen or lost. 

 
Steps:  13,454
Miles:  5.88