Dear Family and Friends,
Our Christmas vacation has sadly come to an end. Nevertheless, we were very fortunate that our first Christmas in a hotel went well and the kids' worries that Santa wouldn't find them turned out to be unfounded. We were also grateful to have seen so many interesting sites and that the weather was on our side throughout our journey.
On our last full day in Salzburg, we attended church at the local ward. The missionaries noticed us immediately and provided us with transation so that we were able to understand what was happening. After church, we took a short dirve over to Schlosse Helbrunn and took a nice walk around the gardens. The kids particularly liked watching the swans and finally had the chance to meander without holding mom or dad's hand.
Our evening meal consisted of Austian specialties like Bratwurst with sauerkraut, Wiener Schnitzel with cranberry sauce, and apple strudel. We were surprised how much the kids liked the local food and, except for Nicolas' potatoes (he takes after his aunt Laurel), everthing was finished.
On our way home, we drove south to the Bavarian Alps to see Schlosse Neuenswanstien, the castle that inspired the Disneyland Cinderella castle. Unlike most castles that are created for function, this castle was designed by an artist for asthetics alone. Our tour began in the morning with a cold mile-and-a-half hike up slushy wet roads to the base of the castle.
After some complaining about cold feet and tired legs, we reached the top and were able to look out at the Bavarian plains, the alps, and lakes situated below the castle. The view was even more impressive from inside the castle, where King Ludwig made sure to include numerous windows and balanconies from which to survey his kingdom.
Alhough we have by now visited several castles, the interior of Neuswanstien, or at least that portion that were completed before the king's death, was as impressive as anything we had seen before (photo courtesy of Lynx Travel). For example, we learned on our tour that the carving on the king's bed took four years alone to complete.
On our drive home through Germany, Julie and Joe enjoyed seeing the unique architecture of the area, including the Bavarian churches with the onion domes and the houses with their unique wood carvings and frescoes.
Best Wishes for the New Year!
Joe, Julie, Nicolas, Elyse, and Nathaniel
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