Favorite Thing Luna Said This Weekend...

"Why I say 'Why?' all the time?"

We No Speak Americano...

Not sure if they are playing this in the states, but it is being touted as the top hit of the summer over here.  I kinda like it.  It's a re-mix of some old song ("Tu vuò fà l'americano" by Renato Carosone) by an Australian duo, and I love the tempo and syncopation.  Leave me a comment if you've heard it in the states... I'm curious!

Stranded Baby #3

Camping in the Frankische Schweiz

Last weekend we packed up and headed a whole 45 minutes away to camp in Pottenstein, in the Frankische Schweiz (Franconian Switzerland - so named for the hills, mountains and rock formations that spring up seemingly out of nowhere in a, relatively, flat Franconia.)  It was our first camping trip as a family, so it was good to be close to home, so that we knew we could jump in the car, leave our stuff, go home to sleep, and go back to collect the gear - should we need to!

Some differences on camping in Germany from the U.S. - there aren't trees around the campsites, you're pretty much on the grass - not pine needle covered dirt, there's no fire pit and no picnic table!  Different, but still fun.  Although I missed the campfire.  And the grass was terrible with severe morning dew - especially around here!

So we roasted marshmellows over our grill.  Worked fine!

Luna's first S'more...

We used Liebniz butterkeks i/o graham crackers, and Milka chocolate instead of Hershey's... but boy was it yummy that way!  S'mores always seem so gross in concept, but then they're so yummy when you eat them!  (I had 4!)

That's it Luna - get your knee!  There's no bath to throw you in!

Looks like Papa fell asleep first!

No Papa!  Tell me the story about Goldilocks!

I knew you were faking!

Soon into the first night we discovered our brand new air mattress had a slow leak.  We woke up around 2 a.m. on the ground.  We hoped for the best and thought perhaps it was a loose valve, and so tried again on Saturday night... no such luck.  The mattress did not come home with us...

Shots from Pottenstein...

We arrived at the start of the local Kirchweihe (summer beer fest.)  Here is the fest tree.

Shot of the castle up on the hill.

Pottenstein had 6 working mills at one point (and it's a tiny town!)  Here is one which still has a turning wheel...

Shot with the old town wall in the foreground.

The next town over, Tuchersfeld, also has perilously perched, rock-top buildings...

Saturday afternoon we headed to the Felsenbad (Rock Pool) to get some rare sunshine and to let Luna frolic a bit.

Back at the campsite, Luna held her first inch worm.

View of the town on the way to the Kirchweihe for dinner.  (Haxen - Roast Pork Hocks... YUM!)

Definitely the most grown up ride Luna has ever been on!

Love the colors in this picture.

Not sure Papa is enjoying it anymore!

This might have been more his speed!

Next day we stopped in Egloffstein before heading home.  The drive between towns was incredible.  The entire town of Egloffstein was built into the hillside this time - not just the schloss, making pictures difficult, but it was worth seeing.  It also had a grand schloss up at the summit...

View from the summit schloss and church.

Pretty frescoes inside the church.  Loved the light quality coupled with the hues used in the frescoes.

I think I would give up stairs for Lent if I lived in this town...

Nice shot of the schloss with fachwerk (half-timber) houses in the foreground.  Love the way the gutter drain pipes match the shutters on the house with blue shutters!