Travel with Toddler, Part 2

Wednesday morning we awoke to snow outside our window!  It was beautiful but also a little worrisome as we didn't really pack for winter weather.  We enjoyed a delicious breakfast and short (and cold) walk to see the horses on the farm.  Louis liked the horses but was a little scared and did not want to pet them.

Austrian Horse Farm & Inn

We drove to the first two of King Ludwig's castles to tour.  They are amazing but I still always feel like I'm at Disney World when I see places like this.  It is hard to imagine that it is a REAL castle where people lived.  The views were really breath-taking.  Louis was awake & quiet for both tours.  The only thing he said was "stars" as he pointed to them on the ceilings of the castle.  He did get pretty cold when we waited to see the 2nd castle.  The snow was off & on and I think his little hands were too cold.  Once we got inside he calmed down.

Hohenschwangau Castle

Neuschwanstein Castle

Views on castle walk & snow.

After lunch we headed for Anna's (my mom's German exchange student around 2004) parent's home in Chiemsee, Germany.  We made a pit stop at the Wies Church.  It was worth the stop.  Very beautiful and reminded me of the churches in Italy.

We arrived to meet Anna's mom, Barbara.  Her English was much better than our German & she served us great beer, meat & cheese and then liberkase (liver cheese loaf) and potato salad for dinner.  It was really good and a nice welcome for us.  Her husband, Christian, arrived after us & this morning we woke up to see Anna.  It was great to see her & nice to have a fluent English/German translator.  Today was very relaxing as we went to Chiemsee's Islands with another of Ludwig's castles.  This one is modeled off of Versailles and was one of my favorite stops so far.  The grounds were SO beautiful as were both Islands.  We had a late lunch at a beer garden on the 2nd Island and then went back to Chiemsee for dinner at a fish house.  Louis would not fall asleep so I took him on a walk around the lake while we waited for the food.  It was BEAUTIFUL.  I loved it.  I was able to get him to sleep, snap a few pics and take in the scenery & nice weather.  I made my way back to a glass of local white wine and shrimp, asparagus and risotto which was fantastic.  It made me remember why I love it over here so much.

Schwennicke home

Louis' first boat ride.  At least we think it was his first...

 Herrenchiemsee Castle

Beer Garden Lunch

Views of lake on my walk.

 Tomorrow we do Munich.  It takes forever to upload pics for these blogs so it's hard to make them interesting AND get some sleep.  Hope to write again soon.  Think of me tomorrow & be jealous.  My goal is to drink more beer & eat some pretzels!