A brief recap of our trip to Germany. The trip was very good. Matthew and Andrew were overall very amazing to travel with and be with, they truly do travel well. We learned alot about traveling, with kids and with ourselves. We also learned a lot about what to bring and how to pack with kids. Our packing was adequate however needed improvement on the actual organization of the "stuff" - what goes where etc.
Flights over were fun..... late leaving PIT 2.75 hrs made the 3 hr layover in NY very sketchy with having to claim luggage and transfer airports. We were both surprised we made the flight and our bag made it as well.
Mar 3 - [ London ]
We arrived at LHR airport about 7am. We were basically all in a daze. It took us about 2 hours to figure out just how we were going to leave LHR. It actually surprised us that the "info" desks did not recommend or suggest taking a bus to our hotel. They all said take the specific hotel bus (shuttle) etc. Well in true form we were determined to find public bus service to the hotel. This turned out to be by far the best solution, our hotel was about 3 stops from the airport and had service every 15 to 20 minutes. It could even get us back early early the next am for our flight to FRA. :-) Well we all got to the hotel for under 4 GPBs then checked in and ate something at the hotel restaurant. Matthew and Andrew played for quite some time in the play area of the hotel. After that we gathered our things and headed down to the bus stop again to catch the bus to the next tube station (about 4 more stops). We rode the tube to central London - about 45 minutes. We did the quick tour of central London: Big Ben, Parliament, Guards, and walking park. It was a bright blue sky when we hopped on the bus at the hotel so I opted not to bring the umbrellas, only brought rain jackets. It rained on us while we were down town .. but only for 15 minutes or so.
Mar 4
Woke early to get to LHR and catch plane to FRA. Flight was very open lots of room. Arrived in FRA found DB (trains) without trouble and caught an earlier than expected train toward Berlin. We had to change trains in Leipzig. We missed our connecting train due to our train from FRA arriving late. We grabbed something to eat in Leipzig and proceeded to miss another train by not knowing they had switched the platform the train would arrive at. After we finally figured out when the next train would be (1.5 hours late due to an accident on the track) we proceeded to miss that train as well by carelessly splitting up and not communicating. OK... we were all in a bad state at this point, we had missed 3 trains on the first day. We stuck close to each other and waited right by the platform for the next train. We finally got on a train headed toward Berlin. We all learned that day to watch the DB time tables and wait/be at track side 10 minutes before departure. We arrived in Berlin hungry and ready for bed. The tourist info desk / hotel booking desk took approx 1.5 hours. The agent was very friendly and helpful but very very very talkative. After a screaming fit by both the boys in the HBF mall area the nice German Polizei gave both Matthew and Andrew gummy treats, which calmed them down. Booked hotel and took bus to check-in and get settled.
Mar 5 - Berlin day 1
Woke about 8am. We had fruhstuck at the hotel; cereal, bread, yogurt, coffee, sandwiches. Took a bus to the Tiergarten. Climbed the 285 steps of the Siegessaule. Matthew climbed about 100 on his own before I carried him. Matthew liked the tunnels that lead us under the streets and up to the Siegessaule. Took some buses to Brandenburg Gate and then found a Starbucks for some coffee, hot chocolate, and some whipped cream in a cup :-) We got turned around a bit heading back to the hotel via the U and S bahn. There was construction on the U&S banh lines. We stopped for Schnitzel, Meatballs, Hamburger & fries, and 5 Euro water for dinner. Carried MK alot today but that is to be expected.
Mar 6 - Berlin day 2
Boys woke at 3am hungry etc.. finally got them back down to sleep. Up officially at 8am. Fruhstuck at hotel same as before. Bad start for the day as Mel had hoped to book the Munich hotel via the available Internet service at the hotel. No luck boys too needy and dad was not entertaining enough. We took the bus and U/S bahn to the Topographies des Terror & Checkpoint Charlie. Checked out the portions of the Berlin Wall still there. We took another U/S bahn to another portion of the Berlin Wall you could stand next to and touch etc.. We took a long bus ride on a double decker from its start so MK could sit up on top by the front window (his favorite). We ate a very chilly (but good) open air dinner, we opted to sit out side. Then back to the hotel.
Mar 7 - train
Woke at 6am. Pack, eat and checkout by 07:40. Took the bus and U/S bahn to Hbf. Grabbed a coffee and some steamed milk (the barista did not understand our request for whipped cream - schlagsahne. Train 5 minutes late in to Berlin Hbf. Very long train ride to Munich, but very pretty countryside and scenery. Total of 25 minutes late into Munich which caused us to miss the connect to Fussen. Caught a bit later double connect and arrived in Fussen about 1.5 hrs later than planned. First sight of Fussen we were enamored, beautiful little town. Snow covered Alps viewed from train very scenic! Matthew had to go number 2 as we were getting close to the train station .. we went and I almost had to pull him off the train potty to get out before it started back to Munich. A very very helpful German woman helped Melissa get our bags gathered and ended up helping us get off the train just in time. She grew up in Fussen and knew exactly where we were staying. She held Matthews hand and walked us within one street of our Hotel. We checked into hotel and were very impressed.
Mar 8 - Fairytale Castle
Woke at 7am a bit early. Fruhstuck at hotel, yogurt, bread, cheese. A bit rainy and overcast so I got out the gloves and mittens. Mel and Andrew napped about 1 hr while I played with Matthew. Got geared up for the bus / hike to the castle. Took the tour of Schloss Neuschwanstein. Overall decent tour but restricted (of course), had to stay with group, no pictures etc. Matthew was asleep in the MT by the end of the tour (kitchen). We hiked to Marienbrucke (Mary's Bridge) and Matthew woke up when we arrived. We hiked back down to the bus and caught the 1640 bus back to Fussen. Matthew and Andrew ate pizza slices for dinner while we had take out from the hotel restaurant, which they thank-fully let us do. NOTES: lots of hill hiking with carrying the kids (very good). This is what we want more of on family vacations & travels abroad.
Mar 9 - Munich / Andechs
Woke at 8:20 ish. Rushed out of Fussen - up a bit late and lots of packing. No time for coffee (ARGH!) very light fruhstuck. In Munich at 11am ish finalized hotel. Used an i-net cafe to finish reservation and drop the other res. Checked in to the FourPoints Sheraton :-) Took the S5 train to Hershing then a short bus ride to Andechs. Walked through the Monastery. Matthew and Andrew were not having much fun at this point ( we did stay out side ). I bought some cheese, beer and bread then we went to the play area for kids. Tires, slides, sea-saw, and bridges. Long S5 ride back to Munich and the hotel. NOTES: should have probably made this a kids day from the start. Very very good dark beer by the monks.
Mar 10 - train / ferry
Woke at 07:30 ish. Fruit and snacks for fruhstuck. Traveled by tram (trolley) to Munich Hbf to catch 9:30a train. We did not plan to rush to Hbf but made it in time for the 08:40. Yea! Changed trains in Ulm to Friedrichshafen - total train time 3 hrs. Caught a ferry to Konstanz - 1hr. Matthew liked the ferry ride, a fast catamaran. Konstanz was very pretty at first sight. Old , old city center, cobble stone streets etc. Glad we ended up making a reservation for this stay, info closed on weekends ( the hotel board was there though ). Hotel very nice.. very very old :-) Saturday is very busy for the old town section of Konstanz. Many many people in the streets. Explored just a bit and found something to eat, then back to hotel.
Mar 11 - Mainau Island
Woke at 06:30. Fruhstuck at hotel (7am). Got ready for the day. Went to a Slavic (probably Polish) Mass at the Cathedral, very pretty church built 1680. Saw view of old Roman Empire ruins (400 BC). Excavation was displayed from above through a view glass. Took bus to Mainau. Played a bit at a play area then to the petting zoo. Matthew liked feeding the hungry - hungry goats. Went to the hot butterfly house. Snacked some then played some more in sand / play area. Caught a bus home.
Mar 12 - Meersburg
Woke at 06:30. Fruhstuck at hotel (7am). Back to room to get ready leisurely for the day. Took bus to ferry dock then caught ferry to Meersburg. We found a bakery and bought some yummy treats. Then we found the Altes Schloss (built in 1100 s), very easy to find. We took the self guided tour (this was way more our pace and way more awesome than a guided tour could have been). Walking on floor planks 15 inches wide smoothed by the thousands of feet, boots, knights, etc that have stepped on them .. way cool. Viewing / walking through the Knights hall. Matthew and Andrew liked looking down into the 9m deep dungeon hole. After leaving the Schloss we walked down steps to get back to the town. Steps were next to vineyards. We went to Meersburg Therma for a swim. The boys enjoyed the fun swim in the kids area with mom and dad. Giant pumpkin dumped water on dad quite a bit. NOTES: AWESOME day! castle and the boys had a fun swim. saw a German le lache didymos
Mar 13 - Triberg
Woke at 06:30 ish. Fruhstuck at hotel (7am). We caught a 08:40 train to Triberg. This was our first hop on the Schwarzwaldbahn. A very pretty train ride into the black forest area. Went through about 15 tunnels. Arrived in Triberg found the info center to locate a hotel. Stopped along the way to watch cooko clock - entertaining. We him-hawed a bit about a hotel. We booked at Hotel Phaff. We checked and dropped off our bags. Ate an apple strudel / ice cream treat. Matthew liked ice cream only (hum.. who does he take after). We found a grocery bought snacks and fruit. We hiked to Germany's highest waterfall, past the blocked off gate area :-) We ate at an Italian restaurant for dinner, then back to the hotel, stopping at a cooko-clock shop on the way.
Mar 14 - last train to FRA
Woke at 06:40. Early fruit fruhstuck in our room for the boys. Hotel fruhstuck not until 09:00 (LAME). Hung around till 08:15 then went for a short walk outside. Back to hotel for the "timely" fruhstuck. Overall impression .. hotel staff not very friendly. We were ready to leave Triberg. Caught 10:30 ish bahn to FRA, one train change at Offenberg, which was late. When we arrived in FRA Hbf we decided to check at the info desk to see if we could find a better hotel. After some more encounters with very unhelpful / unfriendly people at the info center we opted to take the U/S bahn as close as we could get to our hotel then walk / bus the rest of the way. When we got off the U/S bahn we walked a bit and found another grocery. Bought some more fruit and snacks then quickly caught the bus to right in front of the hotel. Once at the hotel (Sheraton) we were very glad we did not try and stay some where closer to the FRA Hbf. We checked in then walked around the shopping mall adjacent to the hotel for a bit. Matthew and Andrew liked the fountain - a mini Bellagio. We ate an expensive last dinner in Germany at the hotel restaurant then back to the room.
Mar 15 - plane
Woke. Ate fruhstuck in the hotel room. Finished packing then took the free hotel shuttle bus to the FRA airport. Finally got ticket / reservation / check in squared away. A mishap occurred with our return reservation. But a very nice AA employee with dancing finger eye balls was able to help calm our very tired / warn-out boys. We boarded the plane and departed Germany.
Posted by Kevin Foote in diary on March 20, 2007