Easter Weekend

Tuttlingen

First, we took a trip to Tuttlingen, Germany where my dad's mother's family was from before immigrating to the United States in 1845. My great-grandfather Otto Kern (my dad's grandfather and his mother's father) was born here. It is a quaint city in a beautiful valley surrounded by a forest with the Danube river running through the middle of the old village.

This is a view from the Honberg castle which sits atop a hill overlooking Tuttlingen.

 

 

 

We had a wonderful walk back down to the village.

This must be a very old house....it looked as if it might fall into a heap at any second!!! The house on the left was leaning onto it as well.

We ate AMAZING German food for dinner!!!

This is the center of the old village, the market square at night...and the market the next day.

A local glass blower makes glass Easter Eggs

Kai making a transaction with the locals! He bought a blue glass Easter Egg.

On our way to Neuschwanstein Castle (the castle that Disneyland copied!) we finally found the "KERN" family name!!! On the back of a German car!!! Yeah my sister Kern!!!

Neuschwanstein Castle

What a magical, snowy day we had at Neuschwanstein Castle! It was cold, but the weather added to the ambiance of the beautiful castle set in the mountainous cliffs of Bavaria. It was majestic! I wish we could show some interior photos, but we were not allowed to take any. I added a picture I found online (with credits). We really loved the cozy, warmth of the style which was so different than any other castle we have seen. The King's bedroom with the theme of "Tristan and Isolde" was just beautiful! The paintings amazing! Shawn visited the castle when he was Sage's age...30 years ago!!!

This is what the castle looks like when it is not snowing...we took a photo of a poster they had on display!

This bridge was built by the King for his wife's birthday. It is very high above a waterfall with a huge drop!

Pictures of the Lohengrin story, drawing room, Neuschwanstein Castle, Upper Bavaria, Germany. Photograph by Joseph Albert 1886, postcard published ca. between 1890 and 1900. Detroit Publishing Co. print no. 17481.

This photo was taken from the castle window looking towards the bridge we were on earlier.

This is the village below the castle

German flag

This is the neighboring castle - Schloss Hohenschwangau

When we were finished with all our sightseeing, we left the highway...we used the "Ausfahrt"(exit)!

Easter Egg Dying

Easter Sunday
 We had a nice Easter visit from the Easter Bunny. He left some candy and HUGE chocolate bunnies!

The Easter Bunny took a big bite out of the carrot the kids left out for him!

Soren organized her "loot" from her Easter Basket

After Church

I think the kids like their chocolate bunnies!!!

Easter Egg Hunt

                          HAPPY EASTER!