Fri Oct 05, Interlaken to Innsbruck, Austria
Today was a travel day. We gassed up, bought a few provisions, and set up on a cross-Switzerland route to the next part of our journey, Austria.
Joel, Elaine and Tom: Packed and ready to hit the road
We drove east along the lake and stopped in a small town looking for a farm store. We have seen lots of cow bells in souvenir shops but wanted to find out where the farmers bought theirs. We found a perfect place and had a great time talking to the proprietors, learning that the cows have now been brought down from the high meadows for the winter. The cheese is being brought into town from the caves where it has aged. We wish it were possible to bring some home but will have to be content with sampling along the way.
Decorated leather straps for cow bells
The fields along the highways are very green and there are dairy cows everywhere. It’s no wonder that cheese, yoghurt, and other dairy are offered especially at breakfast. We like it all. We have seen a few sheep and goats.
Tom at the cow bell shop
Carved wood cow
We are amazed by all the tunnels we have traversed in Switzerland and Austria. Some are 5 or more miles long. They not only cut through mountains but go under cities. The usable land area is small for the size of the population, 8 million, and they can’t afford to clear away housing for roads & rail. By contrast Oregon has 8 times more land with half the population. No wonder that looking up the high mountainsides, one sees small plots of land carved out of every possible place. Access has to be difficult
For our sister Barbara
We have traveled on controlled roadways like freeways, but with only one lane in either direction. The speed limit is set and cars and trucks are generally expected to travel at that speed. A car meandering along looking at the sights might well get a good horning. Occasionally there are passing lanes. All roads are narrower than we are used to, and they have no shoulders. We don’t know what happens when a car breaks down, but in all the kilometers we have traveled, we haven’t seen a stalled vehicle. Maybe it’s not allowed here.
All of the countryside of Switzerland is immaculate. Not a blade of grass out of place.
Switzerland and Principality of Lichtenstein Border
After passing through Lichtenstein crossing three borders in about 15 minutes, we arrived at our lodging, Gästhaus Stefansbrücke, just outside Innsbruck, Austria in late afternoon and are taking a short 10 toes up before thinking about dinner. We’re not too hungry since we had stopped at a roadside bench where we could open our larder of bread, cheese and tomatoes for a petite repast. We also had some chocolate. The system is that you put a coin in a machine to use the WC and take a ticket giving half or all of it back when you buy something. Joel & Linda have found a bar that is just short of baker’s chocolate with little sugar which they like. What else would you need?
Our Innsbruck hotel
Sat Oct 06, Innsbruck to Salzburg, Austria
How great to wake up in the Austrian Alps and spend the day driving around with mountains on every side. There is little snow this time of year, and one can only imagine how they would look, white against the blue sky.
Our breakfast set up
Terry, Jim, Tom and Joel at the breakfast table. Linda slept in a few more minutes
Tom, Joe, Linda, Terry and Jim ... packing for the day's road trip
Innsbruck is certainly geared up for the tourists. We are off season, but in our hotel there were lots of people getting in the last hiking of summer. We were outside town in a gasthous that provided breakfast and had dinner available for their guests.
This is a lunch routine: shop for a few rolls, some cheeses. Then stop and make sandwiches.
Our polka dot "kitchen bag" which we got in Altkirch. Padded and foil lined.
We packed up in fairly good time and hit the road for Garmish-Partinkirchen, where our sister Barbara had worked at the Ohlsenhof as a house maid for a few months in the early 1970s. She and friends were trekking around Europe.
We had a brochure from the old days and walked past the train station to where we thought it should be. There was a coffee shop across the street and someone there knew that the old hotel had been torn down 10 years ago.
Ohlsenhof photo from old brochure.
Photo of building that replaced Ohlsenhof.
Barbara wrote: "Well, I’ll be. I guess we wouldn’t be living in the basement there without heat during the middle of winter.."
Drinking coffee across the street from "Ohlsenhof"
Since we weren’t too far away, we decided to drive on to Neuschwanstein, the fairy-tale castle. As it was Saturday, and a nice day, there were thousands of tourists. We parked, walked around a bit, and then decided to drive on. We were told it is always crowded these days, but we remember going some years ago when we could drive right up to the castle.
Neuschwanstein in the distance.
King Ludwig's castle before he built Neuschwanstein.
Linda and horse that pulls a carriage up to the castle
Then we were again off to Salzburg. However we had to stop at the Wieskirche, a beautiful rococo church from 1750.
Elaine and Joel in front of Wieskirche.
Sited in the midst of farmland, it has an incredible interior, very ornate with lots of gold. A dozen people were sitting on a pew and started singing a hymn. The acoustics are very good and it sounded wonderful. Outside were people in costume doing some kind of enactment. We couldn’t see where they were, but could hear gun and cannon fire, a little off-putting in such a beautiful pastoral setting.
Wieskirche altar
Pipe organ at Wieskirche
Real Austrian Food. Jim and wienerschnitzel.
Using Google Translate on the phone with the phone's camera results in the text on the phone being translated into English (Hard to see in this photo so I have enhanced the phone's screen)
Sun Oct 07, Berchtesgaden
Today we awoke to clouds and rain. Undaunted, we set out to go to Berchtesgaden just back across the border in Germany.
Impromptu Internet cafe as we wait to leave Salzburg hotel for the day.
Despite the weather, crowds had turned out for a special end of harvest Sunday with all stores open and craft booths set up. Our hoods and umbrellas worked fine, and we enjoyed it all.
Joel and Terry on rainy street in village of Berchtesgaden
Serenading the festival crowd
Firetruck at end of street was selling rides atop the ladder.
Linda rode the fire latter up high and took this photo
We found a very pleasant place to have lunch and were able to visit with an American from Maryland, who had been a serviceman here. He, married a German woman, and continued to live here off and on since. He could tell us more about the festival. It celebrates bringing the cows down from the high mountains ahead of the snows in part. He said there had been showers a couple days ago, and snow higher up.
Linda buying some cheese at this stall
Joel looking at soft felt-like slippers
The rain slacked off as we made our final rounds of the city before starting back to our Salzburg Hotel. The rooms are nice and the hotel caters to youth somewhat in the style of a hostel. We noticed a group cooking in one area.
Pretty plant stand at flower shop
Eating lunch at Berchtesgaden restaurant
Gnocchis with fried onions and cheese
Last evening the hotel recommended a nearby Salzburg restaurant. It was a real Austrian pub. The food was very good and there was even a beer tap at the table. We don’t know quite how that works.
Mon Oct 08,Salzburg to Rosenheim, Germany
We decided to drive into the old city center of Salzburg for breakfast and got parked in an underground garage. From there we walked down across a pedestrian bridge to look for a place to eat. A bakery soon presented itself, and we could get rolls and coffee.
Salzburg Milk Cows
The old city is made up of narrow streets mostly for those afoot. There are many shops with names known worldwide, and those that were local.
There were many souvenir outlets. It would not be hard to find dirndl dresses and lederhosen for the local look. It is not unusual to see an Austrian man wearing a traditional costume.
Dirndls for little girls
Linda, Terry, Tom and Joel trying to think of where to go next in old Salzburg
We had a call from our friend, Urs Engelmayer, who was organizing a get together with some of his family in the town of Rosenheim where his brother, Hans, lives. Urs and Regina has just married last Saturday, and everyone was a bit tired from the event. Urs and Regina had delayed their honeymoon to see us which was quite an honor. They will pack up today and leave for a 2-week holiday in Switzerland & the Piedmont area of Italy. They have a lot planned, but they say they are quite flexible with their itinerary. Urs is an engineer who currently works as a planner for large projects such as at airports. His current job is for a development at the Munich Airport which doesn’t require travel. Regina works for a company specializing in sunroofs for most of the cars sold.
Terry, Jim, Elaine, Tom, Joel, Helmut, Regina, Urs, Ruth, Hans and Linda in Rosenheim
Helmut’s wife, Ingrid, was Molalla’s first exchange student when Joel and Elaine were seniors, and the families have been close over many years. Ingrid died in 2000.
Newlyweds Regina and Urs with sister Ruth and brother Hans
Joel talking to father Helmut
In the later afternoon, we drove from Salzburg to Rosenheim. We had a call from Hans and he wanted all of us to come to his house for dinner. We would meet Urs and Regina at the train station and later his father, Helmut, and sister, Ruth, would come by car. We all got together and spend about an hour walking around the city center. Rosenheim is a city of 60,000 and has a very nice downtown area. Two rivers come together and it was important in shipping.
Han's friend Annette with Regina
We drove to Hans’s house were his friend, Annette, had cooked a fine dinner for us. They are both teachers.
Tom, Jim talking to Urs after a delicious dinner of chili con carne!
We met Hans’s daughter, Lioba and Annette’s son. We had a nice visit but needed to depart since most had to work the next day. We are staying in a suburb of Munich and will spend several days sightseeing here.
Wonderful photos - Janek B.
How absolutely wonderful to see all the pictures of Ingrid’s family! It sounds like you may be having more visits with them? If so, please send my hellos, hugs and best wishes to everyone. And again, thanks to the Daniels for sending all the pictures and stories…it’s almost like actually being there!! - Judy S
Nice to be with friends - Carol Sc
Everywhere you go, there are old friends to greet you! How lovely. - Nancy D
Tue Oct 09, Munich
Today we started out by driving to the train station where we are staying to catch the SBahn (Commuter Rail) to go into the city center of Munich. We started at Marienplatz, one of the main squares with the beautiful Rathaus (city hall). We walked around looking at the shops, went through the fresh food market just adjacent.
At noon, we gathered again at Marienplatz to hear the largest glockenspiel in Germany. The bells chimed, and then the dancers twirled around and knights jousted, etc. It lasts about 10 minutes, 3 times a day.
Glockenspiel at Mariensplatz
Two Marienplatz scenes
Joel getting information after hearing the glockenspiel at Marienplatz
Street muscians
Street performer painting a pastoral scene
Next stop was the Cathedral, Frauenkirche, the church of our lady. It is very plain and painted white on the inside with very beautiful stained-glass windows. Its iconic twin towed help crown Marienplatz.
Cathedral Church of Our Lady, Munich
Stained glass windows at Frauenkirche "Cathedral Church of Our Lady" or "Der Münchner Dom"
Jim lighting a candle at Frauenkirceh for friends and relatives we miss.
Joel with Human Statue at Marienplatz
We decided to board the U-bahn, the subway, to go to BMW World near the site of the 1972 Olympics. It is corporate headquarters, and an elaborate showroom with all the latest models of BMW, Rolls-Royce, Cooper Minis & motorcycles. If you bought your car there, you can take delivery on the second floor and drive it down a circular ramp and out in the cold, cruel world. We had a quick bite at the café there.
Walking away, we went through the park toward Olympic Park and saw some of the futuristic buildings that look like elaborate tents hung from steel supports. There is a communications tower there, and Linda decided to go up. She reported the view spectacular from the revolving viewing platform.
It was time to retrace our journey back in the direction of our hotel with a stop at the local supermarket to buy a few items for a light evening repast. The group was entertained in the spacious luxury suite of Tom and Terry.
Olympic Park, Munich
We love to use the public transport here and enjoy what we can’t have at home. With group rates, we were able to buy a 24 hour ticket that would get us anywhere in the greater city area by bus, subway and commuter rail. The cost: just over $2 per person. It is fast, efficient, clean, and largely on time.
Amazing.. Munich looks great - Janek B
Aloha, Thank you for sharing you trip with us. It feels like we are there with all of you. Mahalo, - Sharlene I
Beautiful church! - Nancy D
Thanks for the update! - Cheryl S
Sounds like every day is filled with a new adventure - Carol S
Hello from Sonoma, Your travels really do bring back wonderful memories. Munich is a remarkable city and we were there for Octoberfest which was wild and very decadent to say the least The two major cities Koln/Munch are very important places for architects and the famous Olympic tent structures are extraordinary. Many thanks for your travelogs!! - Dick P
Wed Oct 10, Regensberg, Germany
We decided to make a day trip to Regensburg, starting out in the fog (maybe in a fog). Driving through the beautiful countryside lifted the fog and our spirits. We saw huge solar farms and the skeletons of hop yards along the way, the latter making some of us feel right at home.
Cathedral in Regensburg
Regensburg Cathedral Alter
Regensburg is an ancient city left intact untouched by the war. We parked in the old city center and made our way to the cathedral just in time for a midday service consisting of the mighty organ and several readings. It was splendid topped off by a Bach Fuge. It’s amazing what one can stumble onto.
Cathedral organ pipes
Cathedral exterior detail
Tom, Linda, Jim, Terry and Joel getting ready to tackle Regensburg
We decided to take a little motor train for a 45-minute tour around the city and along the Danube (Donar) River.
Regensburg town tour bus
By the time it was over, we were ready for some lunch sitting outside at a typical restaurant of the area.
We walked around the narrow winding streets looking in on some of the shops and doing a little shopping.
Orders Taken
On one square, there was a street rally set up and a small group had gathered to applaud the speaker. We thought it might be a political candidate and were interested in what he might represent. Goggling his name revealed that he is a leader of the transit union and was protesting the lack of employees leading to massive overtime.
Orders Received: Schnitzel, wurst, sauer kraut and knodeln
We got back on the road and motored back to Munich as the sun was setting in the west. A good part of the Autobahn has no speed limit and it’s amazing how fast the cars can go. The roads are in very good shape and reasonably quiet. Jim says that he understands that part of the reason is that truck weight limits are so much less than in the U.S.
Good morning (here). You all look so happy....but then I would be, too, if I had a plate of schnitzel sitting in front of me!! Your hops comment caught my attention...I have never forgotten visiting a beer brewery in Holland, 1970, and on the tour, to my surprise, the guide stating the hops from Hubbard, Oregon. Enjoying your great photos and comments...Sandra H
You folks are sooooooo photogenic!
Thanks for taking “us” along on your beautiful trip! -
Mary and Ginger
Regensberg?! We love Regensberg! We lived there for 2 months in 1986 when we were studying German at the University there during Steve's Fulbright year. WOW! I recognize these shots - we lived on Vor der Griebe Strasse, and I see you got some sausage at the Alte Wurst Stube on the Danube! Hi to all!! Looks like you are having a wonderful trip.... Blessings, Deb P. P.S. That tram is new, though, very cool!!
What gorgeous photos of the cathedral! How lucky you were to get there just as the service was beginning. Love, - - Nancy D
Thu Oct 11, Munich to Swäbisch Gmünd, Germany
We checked out of our Munich hotel (in Unterhaching) this morning and toured northwest to our next stop Ulm, and old city also on the Donau (not Donar) as reported yesterday. Also, we listened to a Fugue at the cathedral yesterday, not a Fuge. Proofreaders??
Church square in Ulm
We headed for the old city center dominated by the Cathedral, parked and walked through the narrow streets with beautiful old buildings, some half-timbered, and all beautifully painted in pastels. All the main floors are shops of great variety with many restaurants.
Ulmer Münster
Though it is almost mid-October, the weather has been warm, today in the 70’s, and all the tables are still outside. Ulmer Münster (the cathedral) is a Lutheran church located in Ulm, State of Baden-Württemberg. Until the eventual completion of Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Catalonia, it will remain the tallest church in the world, and the 5th tallest structure built before the 20th century, with a steeple measuring 161.5 meters.
We decided before we ventured on, we should have lunch, and we found a Syrian Restaurant with a variety of choices. We were very pleased with what we ordered, and the price was quite reasonable. In addition to tabouli, falafel, etc., they offered fajittas and quesadillas!
Middle East / Mexican food at Syrian Restaurant
Falafel - a fan's favorite!
We drove on to our hotel in a small village near Schwäbisch Gmünd 30 miles from Stuttgart. GPS sent us on some very narrow roads over the hills with switchbacks. We loved it. Usually “she, who must be obeyed” wants to send us by super highways only. We are staying in a wonderful country hotel, The Landgasthof Hölzle, where we have been guests a number of times over the years. This area is where Elaine’s Gottwald family settled after the war, and we come here to see her cousins.
Ulm old town street
Tonight, we had dinner in the hotel with Schwäbischer cuisine of the state of Baden-Wirtemburg. Very good, but too much.
Joel at our country inn called Landgasthof Hölzle near Schwäbisch Gmünd.
Our hotel WiFi signons and passwords had umlauts (accents) in the words which made it a challenge to log in!
Tom- Thanks for the reminder of that beautiful cathedral of Ulm. - Dick D.
I thought maybe you were using a German spelling ;-) - Mick M --
Barcelona, Spain. Proofreaders?? - Phil D
I LOVE your travel blogs and pictures. Keep,em coming! - Sylvia S
Fri Oct 12, Stuttgart, Germany
We gathered this morning for breakfast in the sunny dining room in our hotel. A table had been laid out for us, and we had the typical German breakfast of bread, cheese, dry cereal, yoghurt, cured meats, and boiled eggs in a basket. We were served several pots of coffee which we all require.
Breakfast at our country inn hotel
We decided we would spend the day in Stuttgart. Along the way we drove through the village of Durlangen and stopped at the cemetery where some of Elaine’s relatives are buried. It was a peaceful place with beautifully kept plots.
Visit to Durlangen cemetery where some of Elaine's relatives are buried.
Hermine was the wife of Elaine's second cousin.
Met sister of Elaine's cousin and her husband.
Onward to Stuttgart. We thought that since we had gone to BMW earlier, we should give equal time to Mercedes, so we stopped there to look around at all the new models as well as a few old ones. Judgement pronounced: BMW was classier in a better setting; Mercedes had the best gift shop. Maybe if we owned one of these cars, we would have sprung for a $60 keychain. We were kind of taken by the pens that made vroom, vroom, sounds when you pushed on them. We’re easily pleased.
Mercedes-Benz Museum building in Stuttgart
Joel on top floor of garage building across from Mercedes
What is this red Tesla doing in the Mercedes building!
Classic Mercedes sports car
We decided to go to the city center thinking maybe there was a cathedral to add to our collection. There is, but it was built in 1978, the Cathedral Church of St. Eberhard. It had its own charm with a very modern altar. There is a beautiful pipe organ in the back, but no one was playing when we were there. They are rebuilding the tower. The church is also unusual in that it does not stand alone but is in a row of building along a street.
Downtown Stuttgart: Elaine, Linda, Jim, Terry and Tom.
Crowded and hot!
Domkirche St. Eberhard in Stuttgart
Inside Domkirche St. Eberhard
Domkirche St. Eberhard
Just a few steps from the church is the Schlossplatz (Palace Square) which is the largest square in the city. On one side sits the Palace restored after the war and turned into a museum. We found a restaurant with outdoor tables facing the Palace and enjoyed a couple hours eating and enjoying all the people. It was a perfect day with the temperature hitting 78°. And, it’s Oktober!
Busy pedestrian street in Stuttgart
Lunch! Terry with wurst and fries, Tom withe Spaetzle
and salad
Elaine had pasta with cheese sauce
We retrieved our car from a parking garage. Since our car is large, we must pay attention to the height restrictions and angle of the ceiling. Sometimes it seems as if we won’t be able to fit through a narrow passage between posts. Often one or more of us jumps out and provide some guidance. Parking on the street has its own problems. We can’t read the signs very well and often don’t know whether it is all right to park there or not. We found a great place on the street yesterday and went to the machine to get a ticket to put on the dashboard. Tom asked the man from the adjacent hotel who said that the ticket we purchased would not work in that spot. He was helpful, directing us to a garage and letting us use his restrooms.
It seemed like the whole city was getting out of town for the weekend, so it took awhile to get back to our hotel. We can spend some time practicing our German watching TV since there are no English channels. It’s kind of fun watching “MASH” dubbed into German.
You are indeed doing a collection of cathedrals and auto makers [What WAS the Tesla doing there?]! The pen that makes vroom, vroom noises sounds...noisy! - Love, Nancy D
Love all your food. The pasta and cheese sauce, aka mac 'n cheese, looks soooo good. - Pam and Larry L
This trip seems so different than you last one that had the most beautiful photos full of color. - Carol Sc
Sehr gut! If I remember any of my high school German from over 60 years ago!
Am in Redlands. Randy and
Bob leave today so it will just be the kids and me. - Ruth K.
Another great adventure...and photos! My daily National Geographic lately! Stuttgart brought back some funny memories. During Jr. Yr abroad in Aix-en-Provence, a Portland doctor, colleague of my dad, offered me a trip with lodging to Stuttgart. He was buying a Mercedes, and evidently the taxes or whatever were less when purchased in Germany. I arrived at the Mercedes factory, and out rolled the red carpet...wined and dined in the dining room by a CEO, then tours of the museum. I especially liked the airplane museum. I signed all the papers, then drove off with my new MB! Was scared to death..driving in Stuttgart in the rapid traffic. Managed to get to the exporter without a scratch :-)). My ownership of a new MB was short-lived, as a week later I received the sale papers, selling to the doctor...and a $100 bonus for my troubles! That was all very interesting...the way they treated me like royalty for buying a car.
I sent a copy of the Gottwald photos to Jon Itschner, as knew he would be interested to see some of the cousins (his mom was a Gottwald).
Thanks, always for sharing your travels...always a pleasure for me. Sandra B.
Sat Oct 13, Gottwald reunionSchwäbisch Gmünd
Trade center building in
Schwäbisch Gmünd, once a gold and silver trading center
Today was an extra special day. After a leisurely breakfast, we drove a few kilometers to the town of Schwäbisch Gmünd, a city of about 60,000. We parked near the city center and walked to find the cathedral. Around it was a farmer’s market. Lots of booths and very busy. Catching our attention were the cheese markets. We just wished we could take some home.
Schwäbisch Gmünd Münster
Schwäbisch Gmünd Münster gargoyle
Terry, Tom, Linda, Joel and Jim at an entrance to the Schwäbisch Gmünd Münster
We toured the main church of the town, The Holy Cross Cathedral (Heilig-Kreuz-Münster), which dates from about 1320 and is in the gothic style. We enjoyed the beautiful stained-glass windows.
Orange easy chairs, around town!
Elaine and Joel in orange chairs.
Little country store in our hotel
Cheeses and curry sausages at the Saturday farmers market in Schwäbisch Gmünd
Tom, not Jim and Elaine at the fountain in the square in Schwäbisch Gmünd
Lots and lots of fresh vegetables: sauer kraut in yellow containers
Wunderbar German cheeses
The Hotel's cat mascot
Linda's new shoes
Gottwald Reunion Photos
Soon it was time to head back to our hotel where we had a German/American Gottwald family reunion at noon sharp. In about 1880 Elaine’s grandfather, Moritz Gottwald immigrated from Austria (now the Czech Republic) to Nebraska. His wife-to-be joined him soon after and they lived in a sod house for about 10 years before coming on to Oregon.
Tom, Maria, Hedwig and Heidi
Moritz’s brother stayed back on the home place, where he and his son and family lived. They were forced to move to Germany after WWII. They ended up in the Stuttgart area after very hard struggles. There hadn’t been much contact with the Oregon Gottwald’s after that time until 1965, when Joel & Elaine’s family were in Germany and located them. They have kept in contact ever since and have visited several times through the years. Some of the German Gottwald’s have been to the US.
Marco, Renate and Joseph
Petra, Hans-Jeurgen, Manuel, Karin and Ranier
When the family heard we were coming, Michael Gottwald and his cousin Christina, arranged for a family party at our hotel. About 35 came and we ordered lunch off the menu. There was so much visiting that we barely found time to eat. It was fun to see a few of the latest generation: Christina’s little girls, and Sabrina’s little boy. Three of the older generation (Elaine’s second cousins) are living and were there: Adolf, Hedwig and Gerhard. Hedwig is 86, rides her bicycle and walks up 36 steps to her apartment.
Karl and Gerhart
Charlotte, Christina, Caroline and Christoph
Christopher, Sabrina and Luis
Adolf, Charlotte and Hedwig
After lunch, we took a walk in the village enjoying another unseasonably hot day and went up past the stables where horses are boarded. We had to work off some of the lunch so we could have coffee and cake. Everyone had brought desserts, and we were told it was a Gottwald tradition to eat at least three. We did our duty as best we could.
A walk in the country after lunch
A horse stable: Hedwig, Luis and Karl
A reward after the country walk: Home made desserts.
Michael, Tom, Terry and Jim looking at Ancestry
Group photo
A few of us stayed long into the evening visiting. Elaine and Joel thought they should retire to their room, so the others could leave, but they protested saying that the only thing they had to do tomorrow was to go to the bakery. Uwe and his cousins, Monika and Dieter have apartments in a house they share, and the men take turns going for weekend pastries.
We said our goodbyes, and were told “When angels travel, the sun laughs.” We feel lucky to have so much sun.
How wonderful! Errr, wunderbar!
I want a pair of Linda’s shoes. They are fabulous!
The hotel mascot looks like she could be related to Phoebe. Hugs Ruth K.
Enjoying your family reunions the food the photos the fun glad you're having such a wonderful time. - Donna H
It's so good to see all of you out having fun. Thanks for taking us alone with you on your trip via email. - Renee W
Sun Oct 14, Apollonia, near Würzburg
Elaine, Joel, Terry, Apollonia, Tom and Jim at the entrance to Apollonia's hom
This morning we drove north to the city of Würzburg to visit our friend Apollonia. She was an exchange student at Molalla in Tom and Terry’s senior class. We have been in contact with her through the years. She and Martin, her husband, have lived in an apartment in the Schloss (Castle) in the suburb of Reichenburg for over 40 years where they raised their four sons and a stepson. Martin is a professor at the University of Würzburg.
Joel, Terry, Tom, Apollonia and Jim
Stone hinge for wooden doors
Courtyard to Apollonia's home
First knight in this area to convert to protestantism
Looking at photos in Apollonia's living room
Mystery implement. Any guesses?
It was such a beautiful day that we were able to have our lunch outside. We did lots of catching up gazing out at the beautiful surrounding hills. The fall colors are especially apparent in the vibrant reds of the vines climbing the castle walls.
Apollonia's lunch for us in her garden on a sunny day!
After lunch, we took a walk through the area, past the chickens and pheasants, the horse arena, and the beautiful trees in the woods. The Schloss is heated by bio fuel, wood chips from the forest on the property which run a boiler. There is enough fuel produced to sell to the local school saving them money.
A walk in the woods after lunch
Linda, Api, Terry, Joel and Elaine at the end of our walk
This night's hotel (I-Park Hotel Klingholz) was a brand-new establishment with a focus on business people. It was in a new industrial park setting. It was at the same time rural and quiet, looking out to fields nearby.
We are ready to start winding down for our return flight from Frankfurt on Tuesday.
Thanks for sending photos glad you are enjoying yourselves. - Sharon S
Marvelous photos! Thanks for taking me along on your trip. Safe flight home! Sylvia S
NEVER too many photos! Those orange chairs were...bright. Very bright. And does Jim have a doppelgänger in Germany? Love, Nancy D
I just barely remember Appollonia; I wasn’t in high school yet when she was around Yoder. She’s still very pretty, and lives in a beautiful area! Love, Nancy D
Have a save journey home. It was so great to see all of you in Rosenheim! And I enjoyed reading your travel reports a lot.
Love, Hans E
Hi Tom,
Oh yes, I was happy yesterday about the great result for the Greens! But 10 % for the far-right AfD dampens the joy a little bit...
Have a good flight tomorrow! Michael G
Gesendet: Montag, 15. Oktober 2018 um 16:34 Uhr
Von: "Tom Daniels
An: "'Michael Gottwald'"
Betreff: From the New York Times
I saw this little headline in the NY Times and thought of you. I think it may have been a little of what you were hoping for. . Tom
Thank you for all the photos. Safe travels!- Jan S.
Mon Oct 15 - Heading to Frankfurt, Homeward Bound "Auf Wiedersehen"
This morning we packed up and left the hotel to spend the morning in Würtzburg. As usual, we relied on the GPS to get us to the center city to find the Cathedral and The Residenz.
Buildings in downtown
Wurtzburg
We found a parking garage just under the Market Square. Across the way was a nice bakery to have breakfast with wonderful rolls and coffee. Afterward we went to Marienkapelle, built in the 14th and 15th centuries. The white stone with the red decoration is stunning. The altar is unusual in that it has a four-panel painting.
Colorful Souvenirs
From there we walked to the post office to mail a package. The Bundespost is also a savings bank and has been privatized and it bought DHL, a world-wide package delivery service. The gentleman at the counter was very helpful to us.
Walking the streets in Würzburg
Another beautiful day, the sun is laughing for sure. .
The Marienkapelle is a Catholic church located at the Unterer Markt (market square).
Marienkapelle (St. Mary's Chapel) was built in the 14th century. It is a "chapel" by status, as it does not have a parish.
Marienkapelle altar piece.
We walked on to the Cathedral of St. Killan, built in the 11th and 12th centuries. It is the fourth largest Romanesque church in Germany. The interior is decorated with very oranate stucco. It was damaged in the war and was rebuilt in 1967. The marble floors are new and the pews look more modern
Side chapel in the Dom Würzburg
Pipes of the organ in the Dom Würzburg. Note some of the pipes are horizontal.
Altar at the Dom Würzburg
The Residenz is a palace that served as the home for Würzburg's powerful prince-bishops. It is known for its extravagant artistic design and Baroque architecture.
Part of the Residenz in Würzburg
Upside down house found at a rest stop on our way to Frankfurt
We left the city and drove back to where we started in Frankfurt. We will be leaving midday Tuesday for our flight back to Portland. Auf Wiedersehen. It’s been a trip. We’re happy you could come along.
Frankfurt view from our hotel rooms
Thank you Tom for all the emails and photos. I am Linda’s cousin and I lived in Europe and it will be nice for me to now discuss all the places Linda went on her very special journey with all of you. So very helpful to see her travels and glimpses of her in the photos. I know how special this was for her. Safe travels home. Lori F
What a wonderful adventure and thank you for sharing. It was almost as good as being there. I am so glad you all have the capability of walking without assistance and I envy you that experience. I would not be able to do that. I hope you ate some extra cheese for the rest of us, as well as all the good food you described. It made my mouth water. Have a good trip home and we will hopefully see some of you in February or March. God's blessings on you. Norma S
Beautiful, Tom! Safe travels home! Jan S
Hello, weary traveler...no doubt home now. What a great trip! Yes, the sun certainly was shining every day I opened your new travel log. Buck, as well, enjoyed the photos; he lived 4 years in Switzerland, college there, and did a lot of traveling/surfing, too, while there. You are so kind to share your travels with so many. Was delighted with Sunday's photos of your group visiting Appolonia. I remember well her arrival in late summer, just before school started. She and Snyders came over to our house for a big outdoor picnic, then we all went touring around the Molalla area countryside, showing her the saw mills and farms! When I recount stories of all of our exchange students, friends are usually quite amazed to hear of all the travels and trails (and opportunities and adventuresome spirits) that those interactions opened up for so many of us....and you are still on those trails! Your recent travels an example.We were lucky to have had such a strong exchange program in our little towns..thanks to our parents and their efforts, Rotary Club and etc...! Best regards...Sandra B
Thanks for sharing. Safe and gentle travels - Ruth K
Thanks for the lovely photos and commentary....Enjoyed as always... Cheryl S
mein Gott! 10 years in a sod house! wish u could have taken a successful foto of the stained glass window. i want those cat shoes! wonder if i could ever locate my kohrs family ancestors. think they were from frankfurt. half german from my dad’s side. they arrived in iowa in time to see lincoln’s funeral train. Molly M
Tom, Thanks for including me in your trip. Loved your memories and photos. Will we see you at Fromm for lunch when the group is there? Hope you write yes! - Rosemary J
hello tom... answer: cobblers bench..?? loved all the info and photos. Appy's home and the Gottwald family was the best!! see you soon.. love, Sherry S
Gute Reise! Du hast viele auf Deutschland gesehen. Jon S
Thank you for sharing your marvelous trip with us! Love, Nancy D
Glad to have you back!! Hope your trip was all you wanted it to be and more. Sara H
Welcome home! Greg G
TomD, Welcome home! An sleepless in Oakland at the strangest time like 12 midnight. Chat tomorrow, I’m at Fromm so around 5pm. - TomO
I woke up at 5 this morning and took the shuttle to AMS. Unbelievable how everything at AMS was automated/self service from checking in my luggage, passport check, security check/scan. I was done in 20 min without fanfare. Can’t wait to get home! C U, - Jon H
Glad to hear your back safe and sound. I left for Florida yesterday (Oct 17) and will be gone until Nov 14. I enjoyed the travel log of your recent trip. See you in November. - Ken B
You are all on your way home now. I have truly enjoyed reading about your trip and adventures. How fortunate you were to be with family and friends. Thanks for sharing, Susan M., Jill’s cousin