Europe 2016: Neuschwanstein

After Legoland, we drove to this small town (Nesselwang) for the night. We woke up the next morning and headed straight to Neuschwanstein. The boys were super not excited to find out that they had to walk up to the castle, and finding ways to make it fun were not easy. Because of this, we opted not for the tour. I'm still super bummed about this. And construction kept us from the bridge with the stellar view, so this is all we got. Oh well. It was still pretty impressive.















This is what the boys were excited for: an alpine slide in the Alps! And you know, it was pretty fun. I mean, cruising up the slide tow (no ski lift!), with beautiful mountains in front of you, cows with bells on the side, and Neuschwanstein in the distance. It was pretty cool.


You get towed up and then when you get to the top, you're disconnected from the tow cable. So easy.


Can you see Neuschwanstein to the right of the light tower? So cool!




And the slide was so cheap, that we each got three rides. We even let the boys go down together. I'll let you guess who was the crazier one. (HINT: It's Ollie.)






We left here headed for Chuck's aunt and uncle's house in Salzburg, Austria!

Europe 2016: Legoland

We really had no idea what to expect when we added Legoland to our itinerary. It was one of those concessions we made for the boys. We guessed amusement park, but with what? Lego rides? Turns out no. Amusement park, yes. Legos, yes. Just not at the same time.

We pretty much make the kids go on every ride.


And go to every section of the park. We're mean.


But the Lego creations were simply amazing.


Even this was just there while we waited to get on a ride.


Well, a ride that Ollie couldn't actually ride because he was half a centimeter too short.


I can't do these any more! I'm too old and they're too spinny.


This was the funniest part of the whole day: watching Ollie drive!




Okay. So the rides were fun. But miniland? I honestly believe my parents should go to Legoland and spend all day walking around miniland! It was so unbelievable.


Sorry, but we took pictures of pretty much all of it. I probably could have stayed all day.








More than 30,000 Lego figures in the stadium alone!




Haha. I told you--Germans love their campers!




















And then we were done. It is Ollie's favorite part of the whole trip, and in Rhett's top three.

Europe 2016: Heidelberg/Maulbronn/Tubingen

The next day, still with my parents, we headed south to Heidelberg. The boys really disliked castle tours, but oh well. We were in Germany. Sorry boys. But all four adults really enjoyed it!











I don't even know how much money was spent on ice cream. A hundred dollars? Maybe. But it was worth it.


Then we headed to Maulbronn, site of a nearly thousand-year-old abbey. I loved it.




These choir seats are just so amazing to me.




When in a church, meditation is always appropriate.






Finally, my parents joined us as far as Tubingen, after which they headed back to Frankfurt and we stayed the night. This little town was awesome! It was such a surprise. I'd go back here again. And in a ringing endorsement, so would my parents! (I think.)


Rhett was thrilled to be in another gorgeous German town.


The town sits on a river, one you could get boats and be oared down, much like in Venice. We, sadly, arrived too late for boating.






Twins!