Kings and Queens...

Cooking yummy Fresh cured bacon and eggs

Today was Grandma and Pops last day here in Germany.  We began with Grandma and I walking to the market and butcher. Then Jason and Pops cooked a great breakfast of fresh eggs and cured bacon to get us ready for our big day of Kings and Queens.  We thought we would finish their visit with a tour of 'Ludwigsburg Palace'.

If you ever want to feel like you are a tiny speck in this very old, Big world, just tour some historic sites in Europe.  For me, it is a wake up call (Again) that life is short and we should try to enjoy each day.  Ok...corny I know, but you come walk the halls that King's and Queens walked (that didn't by the way, include a potty) and see what emotions get stirred up in your heart.  The construction of this Palace began in 1704.

Karina looks so small..

The amazing thing, to me, was much of the original furniture, silk 'wallpaper, curtains, tapestries, floors, Fresco paintings etc. still remain. What absolutely amazed me most in the palace was "The palace theatre" (Europe's oldest preserved theatre) and its stage machinery from 1758 are still operational!!! Jason and I will be getting a babysitter this summer and checking this out.  Yep, babysitter is necessary...too high tech for kids in this theater:) The kids both took in everything the tour guide had to say. Cooper even asked her, "Why are all the ceilings cracked" and Karina asked me, "Why are some of the people in the paintings naked"  My answer, "It was so hot back then that people didn't always wear clothes"  I have been asked much harder questions since we moved here....but I am glad their brains are stimulated and asking questions (just wish my brain would kick in gear for some good answers!)

A little view of the gardens

One of the hallways with fabulous Frescos on the ceiling

Fresco Paintings up close

King's Throne

I can't imagine how long it took to make this Tapestry

 

Cooper and Karina's favorite part of the Palace...the cat!

To finish the Palace tour off....You guessed it...another playground. I just want to know WHO funds all of these fabulous playgrounds here in Germany. No two are alike (we won't even talk about the liability suits they would cause in the states)  The kids can spot them from miles away! (And mom can see the Hospital trip a-comin :))

Rope tree at Playground.. only level 1 of probably 15

Nice warm walk from Palace to Playground with Pops

I, like the kids, really love it here.  Not that I don't miss my friends or family or Birmingham.  But, the experience we are having as a family is making us even closer not to mention the great friends we are picking up along the way (and maybe a few pounds too)   The people are so nice, well maybe not the kids who threw snowballs at our front door last night during dinner, but otherwise I continue meeting great people everyday.  Tonight we took the train to a good German restaurant.  We wanted to get Grandma/Pops nice and full for their long journey tomorrow.  Before we could even get in the door, both kids were singing, "I want Schnitzel, I want Schnitzell"  That didn't take long for them to aquire their mother's love of this very low in calorie delight (Ha - and I won't even mention how TOO GOOD the German potato salad is here)

On that note.....I better go to bed.  A new friend and I are taking our kids to "Mineral Bad Leuze" in the morning. The pools require a bathing suite but this is what the website says about the other areas, "The norm is nudity but a towel is required to separate yourself from any surface that you may sit on."  Before you think, "Bad Mother"  The German culture is not so hung up on naked bodies.  (with that being said---I haven't heard one person here say, " I gained a few pounds over the holidays" )  It is almost nice that body sizes and shapes aren't such a topic here.  Nope, I know what you are thinking- I HAVEN'T SEEN A FAT PERSON YET.  I'll let you know how the kids and I survive tomorrow!  I just hope Cooper doesn't yell out, "I see her Booooo-beeees"