This past weekend, J and I drove to Garmisch-Partenkirchen, twin cities located in the Bavarian Alps and hosts of the 1936 Winter Olympics, for a long weekend (made longer by a deluge of nickel-sized snowflakes that made for white-out conditions).
We stopped at Neuschwanstein, one of several royal residences of "Mad" King Ludwig II. J and I told the kids that it is very likely that Disney modeled Cinderella's Castle after Neuschwanstein to which Littlest responded, "But it isn't blue, Mama."
Ludwig only occupied the castle for six months prior to his untimely and mysterious death. After his death, construction was halted leaving much unfinished. J marveled at the workmanship of the 60 woodcarvers who spent 18 months outfitting Ludwig II's bedroom with intricately detailed depictions of cathedrals crowning the bed's canopy. The kiddos enjoyed looking for the swan motif found throughout, while I tried to identify Wagner's works depicted in the form of paintings on nearly every wall save for the throne room.
The 45 minute walk uphill was quite tiring for the kiddos who wanted J and me to hire a horse and carriage for the ride down.
Bavarian snowballs, a doughy treat we purchased on our walk to the castle (no cream inside).
City Street
After visiting the castles, we drove to our resort, Edelweiss (whose name caused me to sing the song repeatedly throughout the weekend). The following day, our brood set out to Munich to visit the Deutsches Museum, see the Glockenspiel and eat at a Brauhaus.
Boys in front of a statue of Otto von Bismarck, founder of the German Empire.
The German Museum is the world's largest science and technology museum. We spent an inordinate amount of time exploring a mining exhibit, Bop's favorite part of the museum. Log enjoyed climbing aboard ships and airplanes on the museum's ground floor. Littlest and Matty enjoyed playing in the Kinderreich, a kind of hands-on playroom with water tables, musical instruments, blocks, fire engines and library.
Bop 'driving' a mine train.
Munich! It had been five years since J and I traveled to Munich; it was a bit different going with the kiddos.
Taking a snack break waiting for the bells to chime.
Close-up of the Glockenspiel
In the square where we waited for the Glockenspiel to begin moving, we saw a demonstration protesting Russia's invasion of Georgia. Below is Matty in front of the demonstrators!
Littlest was a bit under the weather.
We passed a Haagen Dazs advertising ice cream fondue.
At the Hofbrauhaus; the kiddos are drinking juice.
Ski Jump at the Olympic Stadium
Their version of the bull on wall street?
Garmisch
Bavarian architecture differs from that of the Rheinland: buildings feature frescoes depicting religious or pastoral themes.
No comments:
Post a Comment