I'll give a little trip report here: A few items are listed "out of order" so please forgive me.
Flights were very long and tiring - happy to have landed in Frankfurt.
There are quite a number of activities that we did but have been asked not to give everything away so as to surprise those that are booked for the future - That is only fair to those individuals so that they will have goose bumps all over, as they occur and not knowign about it.
Day 1:
checked in the Crown Royal in Heidelberg.
Having a wonderful time. Met last evening for the initial reception and get together. 29 people. About 8 children under 18.
About 3 families had just come off another ABD tour and they told us all about it. Seems two are being done back to back by many.
Buffet breakfast and very yummy.
Going to Heidelberg Castle today and Wine Tasting at Zum Ritter St. George. Dinner at Zum Ritter Hotel tonight.
Jet lag was absolutely present last evening. Crashed and did not wake up until phone rang.
Our guides are Jennae and Dave.
I went to elementary school in Munich and it the language does come back to you - a little at the time.
P.S. - the key is to pack very light. I managed to do it this time
yesterday was fabulous. Heidelburg Castle was amazing.
going to Hotel Burg Trendelburg
Departing for Alsfeld. It could have been the city inhabitated by the characters made famous by Jacob and Wilhelm, the BRothers Grimm. Celebrated sons from the region know as Hesse. (taken from the booklet we were given): not my verson at all................. You can imagine Snow White with a basket of ingredients for supper she will prepare for her seven hardworking friends. Hansel and Gretel spellbound by sweets in the bakers window. And little red riding hood to retell her harrowing account with that calculating wolf.
We will see Rapunzel staring at the picturesque townsape from her prison in the nearby woods. The maiden with her very long braid will probably appear.
Will be going to the Alsfeld Museum today.
It was uncommonly hot yesterday.
Apparently a/c is not used over here and for us spoiled Americans; it can be brutal. Yesterday was one of those brutal days. The hotel was horribly hot and muggy. Thus why I am up at 4 am this morning. Supposed to be a little cooler in Alsfeld.
Everything will not be posted, as it would ruin the whole trip for those who have it booked. Surprises are the best
FAIRYTALES TO COME TRUE - you have to be around when they happen...
We left the Crown Royal for a 3 hour bus ride = excuse me ----------- COACH RIDE-------------
headed for Alsfeld - this was the town that could have been inhabited by the characters made famous by Jacob and Wilhelm, the Brothers Grimm. Just imagine Hansel and Gretel and Snow White and Little Red Riding Hood.
Our hotel was Trendelburg Castle, also we called it RAPUNZEL's Castle
We stayed there for 2 nights. Met Rapunzel and her long locks.
There was bike riding and archery at Stammen. I did not ride, 'cause the ride was 5 miles out and 5 miles back. So the coach driver took myself and another lady around the City and to a local grocery store. That was very exciting.
Supper was at Sabab urg Castle, (sleeping beauty's castle), which was very, very nice.
SIDE NOTE: hard to remember what we did in order, if you don't write it down. I think the mind is going......
But so far I think I remember most of it.
Then we went to Lowen Castle in Kassel. This was the day that it rained, but everything still proceeded and we just walked in the rain. Eventually it stopped.
Then we started the Romantic Road to Lowenburg Castle.
If Walt had lived 300 years ago, Lowenburg Castle could have been his creation. Wilhelm IX, ruler of Hesse-Kassel, is today considered the "Walt of his era".
The Romantic Road is a tourist route created in the 1950s and stretches north/sosuth across the two dozen towns in outhern German, from Wurzburg to Fussen,
Romantische Strafse is identified by signposts along the espressway, or
autobahn.
Then we headed to Rothenburg. We departed for the Night Watchman's Walk, which was very informative.
The Bakerys were to die for in each place.
We went to a Pretzel shop and made our own Pretzel's and was taught how they are made, as we did them ourselves.
fact: The average American will eat approximately two pounds of pretzels each year. In Philadelphia the average American eats as much as 20 lbs. each year. YIKES !!!!!!!!!
lets see ------------
Next we headed to the story town of Giengen. Went to the Steif Bear Factory. Just amazing. We got to make our own bear face.
We then continued the Romantic Road to Munich, the capital of Baveria and Germany's 3rd largest city.
Onto Munich. Had quite a long City tour with an amazing guide. Best guide ever seen on any tour anywhere. He stayed with us as we traveled to Schloss Neuschwanstein. This is the Schloss that King Ludwig II started to build and only finished 1/3 of it when he died at 41 years of age. The story of his life is also amazing. IT IS TRULY A STORYBOOK CASTLE.
Then it was time to say Auf Wiedersehen.
The trip was fabulous. Hopefully I hit the high spots to give you a little information. So much more happened.
Hotels we stayed:
Crown Royal
Eizenhut
Hotel Burg Trendelburg
Hotel Kempinski
I also stayed at Hotel Kempinski Airport the last night, compliments of Delta along with food vouchers and $1,000 travel vouchers. That actually paid for my airfare on this trip.
I'll post a few pics shortly, when I get them downloaded.
Hi everyone!!!
Hugs friends!!!
can really dance, but 
& his stormtroopers one the dance contest. My favorite moment was when the cantine bad played "Soldier Boy" & "Low" along w/ the appropriate movements.
We go July 8-12. I am so excited!
It will just be Christine, her friend & me. We only have 4 days, but it will be great! 
your way!
No more injuries for anyone, I hope!
