Mutti and Vati Visit!!!

It's been 11 weeks since I arrived in Germany and, at long last, the 'Rents have visited!!! I blame my recent lack of blogging on them, as this crazy couple has kept me more than busy!

There are too many updates to write, but here's my sad attempt to cover the highlights:

-- Mutti and Vati (Mommy and Daddy, that is) arrived last Sunday and despite their exhaustion, managed to tour the castle on a beautiful day!

-- We ate dinner at the Schnitzelhaus, which serves 101 different types of schnitzel (fried pork), including chocolate schnitzel!

-- We visited 3 cities outside of Heidelberg: Stuttgart, Neckareinstach, and Hohenschwangau (the site of Neuschwanstein Castle)...we were traveling gurus!

1) In Stuttgart, we visited Frühlingsfest (Spring Festival), which is basically the German equivalent of the NC State Fair. It featured some killer rides, great traditional German food (including a chocolate-covered chili pepper that we'd never like to try again), German craft booths, and a few hundred raging, drunken high-schoolers that danced on the tables of the beer tents with some bumpin' techno music. Fortunately, we found a quieter beer tent away from the vomit and beer-covered tables.

2) In Hohenschwangau, we visited Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau castles (or, if you speak my Dad's version of German, Neustarkklein und Hohscheinstachjfkljids castles). Neuschwanstein and the surrounding countryside were the inspiration of countless fairytales, Walt Disney's Cinderella castle, and Richard Wagner's opera, Swan Lake. This was definitely my favorite part of our vacation, as we rented a car and drove through the breathtaking Bavarian countryside. The day was simply stunning, minus an accidental return from the castle, in which we missed the last carriage ride and had to walk 30-minutes downhill in a torrential hail storm (during which I may have forgotten my Dad's umbrella...I still feel bad about that, Dad). The 'Rents are real troopers!!

3) On our last day in Heidelberg, we also took a river boat cruise up the Neckar River to Neckereinstach, a small town about 1.5 hours north of Heidelberg. We saw several stunning churches and my Dad, at long last, found one of his beloved beer gardens. Fun fact: I tried a banana beer there...sounds gross, but it's really delicious.

My parents are awesome travelers and I thank my Daddy for buying me lots of yummy food. I had my first meal at a restaurant with a waitress! Mom and Dad: the fan you guys bought for my room is also a lifesaver! I don't wake up sweating anymore (too much information? Yea, sorry...)!

Below are a few pictures to help illustrate our journey. As most of the pictures were taken on my parents' camera, however, I only have a few to show right now. I'll post more when they send me a picture CD!

In Heidelberg on Day 1.


Neuschwanstein Castle (stolen from the internet). I'll post our own pictures when I get them.

The Fam outside Neuschwanstein (just before the hail storm).

Traditional German dancing at Neuschwanstein to celebrate the May 1 holiday.

A crooked picture of my parents hotel, The Hotel Ritter. It is the oldest existing building in Heidelberg, built in 1592. This was the perfect place to stay, except for the church across the street, which chimed every 15 minutes through the night (remember this is Germany, which doesn't do A/C, so you have to leave your windows open at night).

Random knight inside the hotel. Like father, like daughter....(sadly).

Luckily for my parents, they also arrived during Weißspargel (white asparagus) season. This is grown throughout the area surrounding Heidelberg and is absolutely delicious! Many restaurants make special asparagus menus just for this season.


Schnitzel, potatoes, and white asparagus with hollandaise sauce.

The streets of Heidelberg. Holy cow, the tourists have arrived in full force!!


River boat cruise to Neckareinstach.


Vati found a beer garden...hooray!


Beautiful beer garden on the river.

Newer stained glass in a church in Neckareinstach.


Older church architecture in Neckareinstach. Unlike many of the large cathedrals in Western Europe, the congregations of these churches are still alive, meaning one can see ongoing church projects and events inside the sanctuaries.

One of the many old fortresses outside Neckareinstach.

Family pic from the castle!

Home sweet Heidelberg.

I guess that's it for me...sorry this is so long again! Ryan comes in a week, so I'll update more then!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MEREDITH!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love,

Lizzie