Beckn Pics

Saying Goodbye

2008-06-01T08:54:37Z

This will be my last posting for awhile since we are about to have all of our worldly possessions packed away for it's trip to the states. Italy has been a fantastic adventure for us but all good things must come to an end and so, our life in Italy is closing and a new chapter will be starting back home in Texas. Next week our things will get packed up, put into crates, and sent away in the belly of a ship to the states and won't see the light of day for another two months or so. We won't be seeing any of it until August, at the very least, so wish it all buon viaggio and hope that it all gets there intact, and none of my Cappodimonti end up in tiny little pieces. The boys have their last day of school on June 12th and we make our way to our grand closing vacation, a 12 day cruise to Turkey, Greece and Italy. (Woohoo). After that we head back to the states to start our new life in a new place with a new job, new schools and a new house. I don't see settlement until at least September. So, for now, thank you everyone who frequented our photoblog in the past three years and made such wonderful comments about what I was trying to show you here. It's been a blast and I'll pick it back up when life is settled back home in Texas. Arrivederci

Brothers

2008-05-30T09:22:52Z

Castle in the Sky

2008-05-25T08:36:15Z

And now the Neuschwanstein. We learned many a thing about King Ludwig II's reign of Bavaria and his downfall. He was eccentric and fanciful and drowned at an early age (whether it was by accident or intentionally, no one knows). We were able to see three of the homes King Ludwig lived in, two of the ones he created himself and man, oh, man are they fantasy castles. The Neuschwanstein was not finished since the king died during its construction and the royal family stopped construction on all of his projects (I think he had three or four going at the same time). So, now tourists are able to go see the castle in all its half built glory. There was one floor that was finished and so ornate and beautiful, you just can't imagine how long it took artisans to finish. The bedroom alone is richly carved from wood and took 4 1/2 years with 14 craftsmen to finish. Wow. We weren't allowed to take pictures inside the castle for copy write reasons. That's a drag.

Bavarian Alps in April

2008-05-19T16:28:27Z

The Bavarian Alps in Germany on our way to see Mad King Ludwig's castle Neuschwanstein which Walt Disney used as a model for Cinderellas castle in Disney Land.

The Lookout

2008-05-15T22:13:59Z

Munich was home to the 1972 summer Olympics. The planners who created the Olympic park broke the city skyline by adding a 960-ft television tower in the center of the park. We found out that the tower has the fastest elevator on the continant (or so the elevator attendant claimed). I wonder where the fastest elevator in the world is.

Warm and Happy

2008-05-10T07:43:02Z

Walking past the Hofbräuhaus in Munich. The windows are large and inviting. Looking in you see happy people enjoying happy food, happy beer and happy music. It just makes you happy. :o)

Munich

2008-05-05T06:58:32Z

Spring at Night

2008-05-04T08:28:19Z

Protector

2008-05-02T07:07:31Z

This is the main square in Munich with their town hall. Behind the cherub-like figure stabbing a small dragon (can we get anymore gothic?) is the Glockenspiel which performs a miniature tournament, with the figures moving in and out of the archways every day at 11 am and noon.

Big Times

2008-04-29T07:13:53Z

Meet John, one of our travel buddies on our trip to Germany. He and his wife, Jess, joined us this time around and we had a great time. We visited Hofbräuhaus am Platzl in Munich for dinner. The atmosphere is wonderful in this historic beer hall. The tables are all in rows and if you are a party of two or three, expect to sit with another party of two or three and expect to get to talking with them. When Gina and I went to Munich before Christmas last year, we went to Hofbräuhaus for lunch and ended up sitting there pretty much until dinner talking with our table mates. They were the sweetest German couple who spoke wonderful English and we had a complete blast. Out of all the countries we've traveled to here in Europe, I have to say that Germany's people are the most friendly of the lot. They all speak excellent English and always have a smile on their faces. This time around at Hofbräuhaus, we had tons of fun, ate great Bavarian food and yes, drank huge, huge mugs of beer. So huge you pretty much have to pick them up with both hands.