Fairy Tale Road - Part 2

We made it in to Hameln (Hamlin) about 3:30 on day 2, just as the light was dwindling.  But it gave us an opportunity to walk around the town and scope it out a bit.  Like most of the towns we visited, Hameln sits on the Weser river, and this gothic Muenster sat just at the wall of the old town, overlooking the river.  (They still had their Christmas star up.)

Little "Old Lady" selling absinthe (?) outside a shop... looked real enough to speak to!

Saw this in a toy shop, took a picture, so that I can make one for Luna...

Window display full of old tin signs, which seemed to be a popular item in several towns we stopped in...

Was so excited about the guesthouse we picked out of the "proverbial" hat, when we found out we were the ONLY ones there, and that it was full of antiques and fun stuff...

Bed looked like it might rock like a cradle, but it didn't budge - solid pine!  But it did have adjustable head and foot inclines!

Here we are in the breakfast room...

Instead of plates they had these cute little rat shaped cutting boards.  The hole in the ear was for your egg (which probably had dioxin in it...!The infected farms were in this area of the country!  Oh well, you only live once, right?)

The spread...

An old Burgers house out on the main square...

Loved the windows in this church tower...

The Rattenfaengerhaus...

Couldn't resist... human statue on his way to work...

Our hotel was the fourth on the right...

LOTS more fachwerk...

Ice covered parking lot...

And we were on our way again!!!  Next stop - Bremen!

Fairy Tale Road - Part 1

We started our journey in Kassel.  After waiting for the ice all over everything to melt enough to drive, we got a late start on Thursday, and got in to Kassel after dark.  We looked up our hotel for each night, on the road, from the car navigation system, and booked as we went.  Beats driving around and looking for one!  In the morning we hoped to visit the Bruder Grimm Museum, which is why Kassel was our first stop, only to find it closed for renovation.  Did manage to snap this shot of their statue, though.

Our next stop was Hannoversch Muenden.  An adorable little town, well worth the stop.  It has over 700 Fachwerk or half-timbered houses.  Definitely haven't seen that many altogther before!

One of the things that distinguished the fachwerk in the north, from the fachwerk we're used to here in Bayern, was the painted, carved elements seen on may of the buildings.  Th eone below was the book store where we bought Luna's new copy of the Grimm's most classic tales.

We saw lots of towers (look deep in the mist) like this one along the way, but we decided this one was Rapunzel's tower...

Saw this in the bakery we had coffee in...  store keeper told me photos were "Verboten!" So I waited till we went outside...

See Frau Holle up in the dormer???

The little goat who hid in the clock?

After Muenden, we headed out a little road up into the Tier Park area, which was absolutely deserted.  Which was good, because it was also a sheet of ice.  This is what happens when you get freezing rain on snow-packed roads!  But these really give you an idea of what the fog was like on our first day.  It had stopped raining, so it was a magical way to see the Fairy Tale settings!

We hadn't passed anyone in several miles, so it seemed safe to stop the car in the middle of the road to take pictures!

Luna didn't notice the fog... she was too busy watching Sleeping Beauty, which was appropriate...

Because Sleeping Beauty's castle was our next stop!  This castle is marketed as Sleeping Beauty's castle, who knows why, but it operates as a hotel, and was quite beautiful in the fog.

It was a bit overgrown...

The roof was gone...

It does look as if everybody has just gone to sleep...

But here she is!  Sleeping Beauty!

Wooden sculpture just outside the castle area.

Next stop was a little town called Hoexter (my umlaut isn't working...)  turned out to not be much to see, especially after Muenden, but got a couple fun shots.

Next Stop... Hameln (As in the Pied Piper of...)  Stay tuned...

Game Night

We invited some friends over for a game night tonight, since tomorrow is a holiday (3 Kings Day) here.  After chili, and a fun table game, we put Luna to bed, and headed downstairs to the playroom.  First we broke in the new Kinect...

Derek defined intensity all night.

TJ and Bas flapping there arms to burst bubbles...

Must be the obstacle course...

It definitely helps if you stick your tongue out... ask TJ.

Then we switched to the Wii for a little Dance Party action...  Hey - You Can Ring my Bell...

C'mon, c'mon, c'mon...

Cotton Eyed Joe and the chain saw move...

How coordinated!

Lasso!

How's this for intensity?  Take that Derek!

We had a blast.  I'm sure you can tell by all the smiles on our faces.  Sure was good for a laugh, and probably some sore forearms tomorrow!!