Visit Home!

Good grief, I've had this post sitting ready to post for a few days. My appologies ;) 

For just a short weekend trip home (Friday-Monday) I sure got a lot accomplished! My Friday morning started with a beautiful departure from Arizona, just look at that morning sunshine (and no humidity)

Dad picked me up at the airport and our first stop was back at the office to say hello to all my coworkers that I miss very much! It was so nice to get to see everyone, I ended up staying way longer than I thought I would! Who knew people would want to hear all about AZ life and my new job.

After the office visit I had to make a stop at my favorite ice cream stop, the only place I know of that you can get eyes on your ice cream! My family has been going here since we were wee little ones, and anytime A.Drama or NiBo and I go, we still get eyes... dad sometimes even asks for them! 

After ice cream, dad and I had some time to kill so we just drove around until we got the call that the family was ready. The original plan was to surprise mom, gpa and gma.... so only A.Drama, a few friends and dad knew I was coming. For months and months the secret was safe. But A.Drama let it slip about 2 weeks before I was due to arrive, and to make sure she knew, my friend BWurm let it slip too. Oh well... it was good timing for mom since she was a little down that NiBo had shipped out for boot camp, so in the end I'm glad she knew and had something to look forward to. 

A.Drama sent us a text once they were all settled in their seats at one of our favorite pizza places (another haunt that we have been going to since we were all wee little ones) There was an empty seat next to gma so I sad down and said "Can I sit here?" The look on her face was priceless, she just looked at me with her mouth open and started to tear up! I didn't get to see Gpa's face but A.Dram said it was pretty much the same. They were so excited to see me, it was an awesome surprise! 

How I've missed these simple roads! 

Midwest sunsets are pretty awesome

I got my haircut, the bangs are back! 

A.Drama and I paid a visit to Roger Ebert and had to pose for a thumbs up! 

Cornfields as far as the eye can see! 

Had to made a stop at an Illinois pizza staple

Yay! Gma and Gpa! 

A.Drama and I also made a stop at the orchard, I picked up some apple butter and pumpkin butter! 

It was nice to visit back home, even if it was super humid. I was glad to get back to my dry heat Arizona though! The little kitties missed me! 

One Year Ago today...

I was on a plane bound for my first foreign adventure in Germany. I had so much fun and new experiences on that trip. The travel bug definitely bit me and hasn't let go, though paired with a finite number of vacation days and a limited budget, it leaves for a rather non-existent travel schedule. But here's a short trip down memory lane with a few of my favorite pictures from Germany

Pictures Soon!

Germany: Final Days & Rothenburg

Yesterday was another lazy sleep in day. We needed it after our hike up the mountain. (PS I'm still sore two days later) We really didn't do much of anything. Just slept in incredibly late (I'm on vacation don't judge) and had our good-bye's to the delish Donner Kebob's that I will miss very very much. My favorite Germany food was a non-German food.

I might actually miss watching television in German, I've grown fond of watching American TV shows and movies with German words, I feel like I'm catching on (nope)

Today we took another easy day of shopping and some sightseeing in nearby Rothenburg. I actually managed to pick up a few things for myself even! Rothenburg is a walled medieval town. I have a few pictures for ya. We also went to a criminal museum that showed torture weapons and laws of the land. They also have a big Christmas store that I had heard a lot about before I left.

If you look close you can see the wall that surrounds the city.



and here's a few pictures from the criminal museum

and when we got back to Schweinfurt a crazy German thunderstorm rolled through and soaked us just in time for our run to dinner.

Tomorrow morning I will get on my second plane ride for a 9 hour 18 minute flight back to the good ol' USA. Germany it's been fun, watch out Ireland! Now that I've got some foreign travel experience it's only the tip of the iceberg.

Auf wiedersehen Deutchland!

Germany: Neuschwanstein Castle

Today was a very long day. Our first train left at 7am and we didn't get back until 11:30 but it was worth it to see the beautiful area surrounding Neuschwanstein Castle. It's no wonder that King Ludwig II chose this area to build his castle.

We actually got to see two castles today as his parents summer palace is located nearby. The area around these castles are indescribable. There are mountains, lakes and meadows as far as the eye can see. I don't think these pictures can even do it justice.

Our first castle, Hohenschwangau Castle is located below Neuschwanstein Castle and in some of the pictures you can see it in the back.

We couldn't take pictures inside the castle but here are a few views out the castle windows and the surrounding views from the castle grounds.

The whole area is very very hilly, it was quite a workout to get up to both castles, don't let the beauty fool you. To get from this castle up to Neuschwanstein castle the map says is about a 40 minute walk up a every increasing incline. We took a horse and carriage up a main stop and then we walked about 5-10minutes to get to the Castle gate. Here's some of the scenery on the way up...

Again we couldn't take pictures inside Neuschwanstein Castle but the pictures of the outside are plenty to overwhelm your senses.

View of Mary's Bridge from the castle gate

After our tour of the castle we didn't have much time so we literally jogged up to Mary's bridge (about 15 minutes from the castle exit) and let me tell you it was not flat. So basically ran up a mountain, biggest inclines I have ever seen in my entire life. On our way up we were able to see the first castle we visited and a beautiful shot of Neuschwanstein.

Once I was able to stop huffing and puffing after we made it to Mary's Bridge (said to be one of King Ludwig's favorite views) (and man am I out of shape) we were able to see the grand castle in all it's glory and the beautiful waterfall.

The parting views from the train on our way back home were just as beautiful.