Europe 2011 – Days 1-5
Jun 13th, 2011 by kit
We made it to Frankfurt early Saturday morning. The kids did well on the flight we were lucky that we booked far enough in advance, sat at the bulk head seats and they had some space to stretch. We picked up our rental car, which is a Volvo wagon, and headed to Heidelberg, Germany. Once in Heidelberg we meet up with our friends the Ramsier Family.
We stayed at Residenz Heidelberg, www.residenze-heidlberg.de. We had a cute modern apartment that overlooked side streets. Saturday night was one of only three days a year that the city hosts a fireworks display and lights up a large castle in the city red like it is burning in remembrance of the three times the castle caught fire. The fireworks were amazing! There is no way to describable the sound of them in the valley echoing off the water of the river running through town. They were shot off an old bridge and even straight out of the river.
Sunday we toured the castle and took a short boat ride on the river, we ended the day with an ice cream and time playing at a playground with a very tall slide!
Monday we headed into France, on the way we stopped at Boden Boden, Germany and had a picnic lunch in the rain and walked around the town. In the process we got a little lost and ended up walking for over an hour to get back to the car. We all became thankful for Drew’s need to get Internet on his German phone, which we had been hassling him about for the prior three days. After entering France the roads were really curvy and Bryson ended up getting carsick (this was the second time since he threw up just outside of Fortuna when we were leaving!) We arrived at Chateau d’ Alterville about 5:30pm and we were greeted by the most amazing host, David, after getting settled we headed to a pizza place in Dieuze called Antonella. This was an experience to say the very least, but the pizza was amazing.
Monday started with a yummy breakfast at the chateau, which included homemade croissants and homemade jam made from white plums. We hit road to see Nancy. We enjoyed the street cafes, town center with gold statuary and had a picnic in a city park. In France the businesses close from 12-2 and the people are out eating and enjoying the day.
We headed to Metz for the rest of the day. We started by seeing Cathedral, the outside was breath taking and once we entered Nallia said “WOW!†We took another walking tour with unintended loops around
the city. When we tried to find dinner we confirmed that the French don’t eat dinner until after 7pm so we stopped for crapes and Nallia charmed the woman making the crapes. The woman had just a bit of batter left after we all ordered and made a little one just for Nallia. We were lucky to find another pizza place just as it started to pour rain and even got an English speaking waitress. With full bellies and the sun still shining we headed over an old bridge and stumbled upon a playground next to a castle ruin. This was not a tourist spot but just in the city next to apartment buildings. It had the fastest slide and since it was wet from the rain the kids all had a blast. Just as it got dark we headed to car with about an hour drive back to the chateau.
Today we woke up late and rushed to breakfast to find yogurt in small glass jars and more wonderful jam. The jam was labeled and as we were trying to figure out the flavors when the woman behind us explained she makes this jam. She was another guest and explained all the flavors. I loved what I think was a ginger pear and Drew had seconds (or thirds) or strawberry without seeds. I tried the green tomato with lemon, worth the try but I am not sure I loved it. www.confituresduclimont.com. We were going to stop at her factory, but again French businesses are closed from 12-2. Although this jam would have been worth the side trip!
This morning we said goodbye to the Ramsiers as they head back Leipzig and we head to Munich. It was amazing to see them and hear all about the ten months they have been living in Germany. We are so happy for them but excited they will once again be a few miles away in the near future.  Bryson has already had the experience of a lifetime hand in hand with a great friend.
So here we are waiting in a traffic jam to enter Germany. I can’t believe this part is over and we still have so much to do and see.
