Round Deux

Did I tell you Linds and I are staying in a 5 star hotel in prague for 4 nights? Thanks Lou.

I have heard that Prague is the most charming and beautiful city in Europe. I'm trying not to set my

expectations too high, but I think it might be marvelous. And I think I can easily adapt to their lingo.

Lindsey told me to meet her in the town square called Namesti Republiky. Republiky! Love it.

Whoa.

Today was quite a blogging day. Sorry it wasn't so clever, but you got a lot of pics! I'm just worn out. Art and I just went on a little exercise jaunt up the Schlossberg where we run up the steep steps fast and skip steps. Coco not as quick as Art even though I jog sometimes during the week and he NEVER does. (And have you seen his waistline? He eats about 4 ice creams a day in about 4 seconds each.) So unfair fo' me.

I am glad to be back with him for a couple of days, though. It's hard traveling and seeing beautiful places without your other half. And doing the hold-the-hand-out-take-your-own-photo-thing works best with my bunzo.

Part 5. Mainau Island

Mainau, the flower island, was a 2.5 hour ferry ride from Lindau... we stopped at every cute little town on the south side of the lake.

Here we are...on our merry ferry way.

I met this nice couple sitting outside. Their daughter happened to be traveling in Houston.

A flower map of the lake and all the little cities.

Isn't it a beautiful place? I can't imagine what it looks like during Spring. There were several playgrounds

(artistic and cool ones) for kids, a pony riding area, petting zoo, a butterfly greenhouse like we have in Houston

and huge Sequoia trees.

Part 4. Lindau, Germany

Lindau was my favorite destination so far. Can you see why?

It's kinda off the beaten path and many Americans don't know about this little treasure of an island.

Lake Constance (or the Bodensee) lies on the borders of Germany, Austria and Switzerland and Lindau is a tiny little island on the east side in Germany.

>

Our cute, chic hotel: Vis a Vis

The "Trip Master" checking us in.

We had to climb to the top of the lighthouse, which meant a lot more little narrow steps.

Wondey Lindau!

Our fave spot where we spent most of our days.

And, where I met Topsy, the Pekingese, who thinks she owns the place

Our last day in Lindau, we took it easy and strolled the town...

and rented a motorboat...which was really quite fun.

A happy little yachting family. :)

wouldn't be a bad commute...

Part 3. Neuschwanstein Castle

We left Munich on Monday and before heading to Lindau on Lake Constance, we decided to go a little out of the way to see the Neuschwanstein Castle that we hadn't made time for while we were in Munich. The castle is a 9th century Bavarian palace on a rugged hill commissioned by Ludwig II as a retreat and as an homage to Richard Wagner, the King's inspiring muse. (You know these guys, right?) It is the most photographed building in Germany and one of the top tourist destinations.

First off, Disney totally ransacked the design for their castle in their logo and their parks...

The town is really cute and has a lot of nice little hotels. The weather was perfect and the air smelled so good.

On our 30 minute hike up. We kinda wanted to do a carriage ride, but there was a long line and we figured we should get some exercise for these Pretzel-chompin' buns anyways.

Pretty view along the way..(not much different from suburban Graz though!)

See where those people are? This is where I took the previous picture.

Part 2. Dachau Concentration Camp

While we were in Munich, we went to the Dachau concentration camp. This was the first and one of the biggest concentration camps and served as a prototype for the other camps that followed. I don't even like calling it a 'camp'...words can't describe it. I debated about whether to post about it. What you see here is nothing compared to actually being at the prison. I can not believe it happened only 70 years ago...and that the people in the surrounding towns and in Munich claim they had no idea it was going on.

The front of the main building which now houses a huge museum. We watched a 30 min. film in English of what went on at the camp...I had to close my eyes frequently.

We also carried around audio guides that explained a lot about each part of the camp.

This station described the 'roll call' the prisoners went through every day.

One of the many guardtowers where members of the SS watched 24/7 with guns.

If you stepped on the grass, you were shot.

The barracks constructed were meant to hold 200 people, but towards the end of the war,

2,000+ people were crammed in each of them. These were portrayed in the movie

Life is Beautiful when the man is in the camp with his tiny son. That is still one of my

favorite movies.

The entrance gate to the camp that reads "Work will set you free"

Part 1. Munich

It feels like I've been gone for a month, my little Bloggerees! Good thing I came home for a four day break so I can post pics, wash clothes, eat a little healthier and kiss my hubby.

{ MÜNCHEN }

City Hall or Munich Rathaus in the Marienplatz (city center). This thing is WAY bigger than the Graz Rathaus, but ours is prettier.

Our trip up. When someone else was coming down...well, scrunchy time.

Rathaus from street level. This city is packed to the max.

A view of Cathedral Church of Our Lady: Frauenkirche. München's dominant landmark that some say resembles two overflowing beer mugs...i say that's a stretch.. does everything have to revolve around beer?

The famed Hofbrauhaus. The inside of this huge beer hall is all I remember from my college trip here.

Partly because we were college kids, partly because it rained the whole time we were here and mostly because

they arranged for us to stay in a 5 star hotel.

People surf on the Isar River that runs through the Englisch Gardens. It reminded me of Schlitterbahn's terri

Boogie Bahn from hell. Now that I look at the name Schlitterbahn, I can easily see it means 'slippery road' in

Deutsch and was sorta German themed. I'm so quick!

The very pretty English Gardens. This is bigger than Central Park with a river and small 'beach'.

An English garden is more natural compared to the formal, symmetric French style garden.

and people are naked on one side of the river...people that should never be. I spared you the horror.

This is more French style.

We also visited the Andechs Monastery 45 minutes outside of Munich on Friday when Ben got there.

We really enjoyed sitting out by Lake Ammersee next to the monastery..a very quiet and non-touristy area.

There are flowers on every balcony in Germany..it's so pretty. Too bad it's too hot for this in Houston.

Ben's new business plan is to create some sort of hybrid flower that can withstand the Houston heat.

Good luck Scientist Ben!

Lindsey had to go see the Deutsches Museum as part of her grant, but we were all perked to go as it's the

largest technology and science Museum in the world. Too bad I forgot how easily I lose interest in all

things technical. I wish Art could have gone as he would be lovin' it.

Right before we ordered what we thought was a fancy sausage and potatoes meal and were sorely

disappointed with two cold oscar meyer wieners (not even the cheese inside!) and some vinegary potatoes.

Late night at the Hofbrauhaus...about 1 minute before it poured on us..and Ben and Lindsey's

käsespatzle (German mac & cheese).

The Chinesischer Turm in the English Gardens

with, of course, a huge bier garten...i do not really like beer. you know that it's poots and tinkle of tiny little

yeastlings?

So some nights I went with my Piccolo...sorta like a poor man's (in this case, a poor, non-working

woman's) champagne

Our bright and cheery hotel

And two bright and cheery ladies despite the downpour of rain. Whose NorthFace is betta? You be the judge.