Monday, July 19, 2010

Relections

We are home and time to reflect. WOW!
1) Amazing World Champions! TEAM USA is GOLD!
2) Amazing relationships made!
3) Amazing travel experiences!
4) Amazing life-time experience!

I feel extremely blessed that I had the opportunity to be a part of it all.

Vicky Showalter (Team Mom)

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Oberammergau & The Passion Play

The stage at the Passion Play. We had tickets in the middle on the 14th row. Wonderful! The play goes for 3 1/2 hours then a 3 hour supper break then another 3 1/2 hours. We followed along in a "textbook" as all the talking and singing was in German. It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience.




Beautiful paintings on the building all over Oberammergau!


The Hansel and Grettel house



The Little Red Riding Hood house



St. Peter and Paul's Church



The Pilatus House

Ettal

Our hotel at the Abbey



The Abbey





Ettal brewery at the Abbey


Kindergarten on campus


Castle Linderhof





Beautiful gardens around the castle




Interior rooms of the castle

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

An Evening out in Garmisch-Partenkirchen

We have spent 2 nights and 2 days in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. These two villages make up Germany's top Alpine resort. The towns maintain the charm of an ancient village, especially Partenkirchen. The two villages were put together by Adolf Hitler for the 1936 Olympics that. Hotel Eidelweiss is in Garmisch so tonight we walked to the Partenkirchen area where beautiful paintings adorn the buildings. We ate at an outdoor restaurant at the base of a church.









Knuckle of Pork as recommended by the restaurant owner. It was delicious!


Don's Bavarian special


Relaxing in our room after a busy day in Germany!

Time in Germany after the Gold!

Monday, July 12 came quickly. I decided to call the sleep that we got a "nap" rather than a night's sleep. The bus was loaded and we took off for the airport at 3:45 a.m. We said our goodbyes and hugs were exchanged at the airport as Don and I are staying in Germany until next Saturday. The boys and most other adults were heading back to the states. Wow! What a fantastic time we had with TEAM USA! They achieved their goal of winning the GOLD and being the U17 World Champions!

Don and I flew to Munich then took trains to southern Germany.
Don sleeping on the train to Garmisch-Partenkirchen.


We've arrived at Hotel Eidelweiss.


Don lounging (sleeping) in the back garden while we wait for our room to get ready.


View of the back yard from our room's balcony.


TUESDAY, JUNE 13 We started with breakfast in the gardens of our hotel. Delightful!


We rode this train up to Zagspitzplatt which was almost to the top of Zugspitze. This part of the journey took about 45 minutes and chugged through a very long tunnel toward the end.


Beautiful views


We decided to try the toboggan run. It was great fun - bumpy, fast, and wet snow! We were in short sleeves the whole time. We were told it would be very cold up on the mountain.




I bought this German hat for next winter's recess duties.


Don trying on a German hat.


Brats on the grill



A cable car took us further up the mountain. The remainder of the way is on your own. This sign should have been our clue to stay put, but NO we are going to the top!


Here I am starting up and this was the easy section. Later we had to hold on to a cable wire and climb a mountain ladder! Dear Brent and Melissa, our life insurance is paid in full and you two are the beneficaries.


Hike to the top (for me it was climb and crawl! And hold on!) Don says it's good to get out of our comfort zone and this was OUT.


The top!


Don at the top of Zugspitze - the highest peak in Germany


The view from the top


We took a different route on a cable car down the mountain to Eibsee and then caught a train back to Garmisch where we are staying for 2 days/nights.


House & Barn in one building!


Gelato - yum! We've found a wonderful little spot for this close to our hotel. It's a great snack on our way back.


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