Blog Going Private

Hey, I've just posted some great pics from our Black Forest adventure.  But first, it's time to make our blog private.  After careful consideration, we think it is best.  However, we still want who ever checks this to be able to continue to enjoy it!  Please either leave a comment with your email address or email me it (mindles6@yahoo.com), and I will send you an invite this week.  Please title your email "Blog." By next Sunday it will be private.  Thanks!

Black Forest Fun + Alsace Charm

I am sharing the rest of the pics from my sister's visit… we did a little three day trip through the Black Forest, then into Strasbourg, France, and then the Alsace wine route.  We did the wine route last year with Ben's parents, and loved it so much I wanted to take my sister there.  

But first the Black Forest.  It is such a beautiful area of Germany, and only an hour or two drive from Stuttgart.  It is believed to be the inspiration for many of the Grimms Brothers' fairytales.  My sister was all over that… she loves stories… to read and to tell them… so she loved this whole area and found it quite enchanting. 

First we went to Gutach, which has a rodelbahn, or Alpine slide.  We are finding these things everywhere!  My kids love them… It's basically a roller coaster in the forest.

Cool shades, I know.

Beck and Ricky cruising. 

The facility also had a sweet playground where the kids could get their wiggles out

Then just down the street is an open air museum called the Freilichtmuseum.  It's basically a little reconstructed village to show how people lived centuries ago in the Black Forest.  Some of the homes were original, others were taken apart and then brought to the location.

It's been interesting hosting company, you never know what is going to strike someone's fancy.  Ben would have been BORED at this place.  Beck was totally enthralled.  She could have stayed for hours.  Actually, we did stay for hours.  And got some oh so cute pictures.

I guess people were superstitious and would use these things to ward off evil spirits?? Beck, can you help out?  She listened to the audio tour.  I chased the kids. 

Then it was on to the nearby village of Shiltach where we spent the night at a cozy bed and breakfast called Gasthof Brucke.  I HIGHLY recommend it.  It was so picturesque, the owner, Mike, was so nice… he cooked our dinner, made our breakfast, and gave the girls kinder eggs.  

The restaurant was right on the edge of this river… so pretty but a pain with James.  I spent my time between bites chasing after him!

See how he's taunting me?

Not so happy now that he's captured!

Beck's room had an awesome balcony… the kids played up there the next morning while we got ready

Caroline is preoccupied with her little toy from the kinder egg

Yeah, I packed the marble works.  Can you believe I did that?

Then it was an hour's drive to Strasbourg.  Man, it was CRAZY driving into the city and also parking the van in their teeny tiny underground parking garage… but we made it!  

We found some Caroline books to add to our collection:

 The kids were throwing their kinder egg toys and chasing after them.  These tiny toys kept them occupied the rest of our trip!

We visited the beautiful cathedral, but Beck wasn't so impressed.  I guess she hates big, dark, cold cathedrals.  Again, you never know!

Then it was on to the wine route!

The hotel we stayed at in Bergheim France:

And Haut Koenigsbourg Castle

 Kaysersberg, my favorite town along the route:

They are serious about their window boxes

Can you believe people still live like this?

This madam had some serious accordion skills!

And then our last stop was Riquewihr, where we ate at a delicious creperie and indulged in to-die-for macaroons. 

A bientôt!