We spent a day visiting the Ludwig II’s most noteworthy castles in Bavaria. Ludwig II became the King of Bavaria (what is now Southern Germany) when he was only 18 years old, and he is most remembered for his contribution to Germany’s extravagant architecture, and not to politics.  He poured his own private funds (and those borrowed from his family and whomever would give him loans) into elaborate construction projects, and when his...

It’s hard not to fall in love with Austria and Southern Germany when everywhere you look, you think you’re in a storybook. We stopped briefly in Innsbruck for an afternoon to walk around. Innsbruck is located halfway between Munich and Verona (Italy). We didn’t make it to either one this Fall, but we will someday. It’s kind of picturesque…don’t you think? It’s located in Western Austria, nestled in the mountains at over 7600...

After our lovely diesel/gasoline mixup, we landed at our reserved room in Oberammergau during the late night hours. Thank goodness we already had a place lined up—because we have learned that you don’t want to be searching for a room late at night in Germany (good luck finding one)! This place happened to be a room rented on a family farm. We had to walk through the family’s home and up the stairs to the top level apartment with a...

We enjoyed a visit in late Fall to the Hitscherhof Farm Fest, which is located in between the villages of Thalweischweiler Froeschen and Rieschweiler, southwest of Frankfurt, Germany. Jared’s Aunt and Uncle often go to this festival in late September, so we were excited our visit coincided with the festival! The festival has a Farmer’s and Craft Market with more than 80 participants. A lot of pumpkin and Fall-related foods are available...

Well, it happened. Trust me, it’s a mistake you never want to make. I am fortunate to have a husband that pampers me in many ways, and one of those ways is in never requesting that I filled up a vehicle or drive, unless I want to. Well, I never really want to. So—when we stopped at a gas station in Innsbruck, Austria, Jared was filling us up when suddenly he stopped the pump and said to me, “Oh no! I just put in gas, not diesel!” We...

My husband’s Aunt and Uncle live in Germany, near the border of France. Luckily for us, this meant we could stay with them as a base as we traveled Europe, and they treated us to their company on some great day trips, as well!  This particular day they invited us on a day trip with them to Wissembourg, France, which is located on the Northeast corner of France. Here we are, leaving Germany… …and entering France!  No border patrols...