Dry Sandwiches

While sitting here at work eating my dry sandwich and drinking a V-8 I couldn't help but reflect back on a delicious lunch we had on the outskirts of Bertchesgaden. We stopped at a little market, purchased some rolls, meat, cheese, drinks, and a bag of sweets. Then as we were driving we saw a large open field and decided to stop. We spread out a blanket and had an impromptu picnic with this as our view. Wow and wow.

Rick actually has this picture as his screen saver and it is even more beautiful on a larger scale. Oh, I have such wonderful memories to reflect back on. It was the best.

MORE VACATION SHOTS

WELCOME TO GERMANY!


I'm not sure the role the May pole plays in the community, but Cory and I were surprised when we realized that instead of a tree being secured atop a tall pole it is actually a tall tree that has its bark stripped and only the tree top is left. It must certainly be a way each community identifies who they are and their history, hence the flags. They are fun to spot as you travel through the countryside. We were sitting beside this one in Eschenbach and decided to snap a shot pointing upwards. It must take some doing to find the right tree, prepare all the attachments and then get it into the city square without damaging surrounding buildings.




I peeked over a city wall while in Bertchesgaden, Germany, and saw this well preserved cemetary. Oh, I wanted to walk through it and touch some of the markers. It was quiet and so inviting. It's quite remarkable the part this little city played in World War II, considering Hitler had his private retreat, The Eagle's Nest, not far from here. The walls holding back the hillside beside the road were so old and the houses built on the side of the mountain were so picturesque. We liked this city so much we visited it twice! Okay, I admit the shopping brought us back for the second visit. Tricia found a traditional dress that she couldn't pass up and I found some great scarves, cards, and a decorative plate.




As we were strolling down the market street in Salzburg, Austria, we could identify each shop by the ornamentation on the side of the building. There were fashionable clothing shops, gift shops, restaurants, and book shops. And when I looked up and saw the golden arches I couldn't believe they could really be in this chic spot. There is something perverse and wrong to find something so new and over marketed like a McDonald's being on the same street as the birth place of Mozart. Go figure. There are lots of side streets that break off to the right and left and offer quiet places to shop or eat. It's a remarkable city that sits right at the base of a huge rock mountain wall. We actually parked IN the mountain.

We had so much fun!

There and Back

My thanks to Tricia and Cory for all the wonderful places we were able to see while I was in Germany. Jeffrey was my back seat buddy and he sure is a great little traveler.

This picture was taken while in Rothenburg. We were on our way to do the Night Watchman tour; a clever way to be introduced to the city and its history. The weather was beautiful and the city is such a wonderful mix of old and new. It's a great place to wander because you keep seeing new things. Last time I was in the city it was a cold December evening and Cory and I walked along the top of the wall. I could imagine people from the 1300's walking that same wall. The tour leads you through a gate and close to a wall that drops dramatically to the valley floor. Because of the way we came into the city you don't immediately recognize how high you are. I'm glad I got a picture travel guide to the city because all of the photographs truly depict what you see.

While we were in Salzburg, Austria, we stopped in a children's park to give Jeffrey some down time. Sitting in a stroller can get a little confining so we took advantage of the fun playground. After some swing time, a little teeter tottering, and then crawling on the lawn he was ready to go some more.





This lichen covered tree was in front of a guest house/farm close to Bertchesgaden, Germany. There was a beautiful river flowing in front of the farm, around it was a vast field of green, and in the back was a sharp rise to a forest and steep mountains. Can you imagine spending your life living in a scene from a postcard? The entire time we were driving through the country I was stunned by the beauty of everything we saw.

Cory and Tricia kept on going and going, willing to pack in all the sightseeing we could and it was definitely the trip of a lifetime!

While back in the States Rick was saying his final goodbye to his mom as her funeral was days after I left for Germany. The neighbors were so good to him and Brian was certainly thoughtful during the time I was gone. Brian served with Rick and other family members as pall bearers. What a sweet tribute to such a fine woman. I hope to hear the audio of the service as soon as it comes from the mortuary. To believe that she lived twenty years beyond her husbands passing says much for her ability to do for herself. It was only the last several months that time finally caught up with her.

Home Again

Yesterday the family moved Grandma Whittaker back home. It took a day or two of preparation and there was great anticipation that she would be glad to be back in familiar surroundings. Sadly, she didn't recognize that she was home when she got there! However, we feel it's the best thing to have her in a controlled environment. At the nursing facility it was hard to get some individual attention because everyone there has such a pressing need.

Because the situation with Rick's mom has been so critical it's been heavy on his mind to notify his children of their grandmother's condition. He has tried many times over the years to communicate with them and establish a relationship but they are not interested. I hope there will come a time when they recognize how much he cares and will let him in.

I went to Brian's last night and got a tour of their home in Murray. It's an older home that they have great plans to remodel. The kitchen has been modernized and that's a plus. It has three bedrooms and a basement that has a finished family room. It's in a quiet cul-de-sac and appears to be a neighborhood with older residents because on both sides the neighbors are retired. One has a garden that takes up half his yard and I'm sure Brian will want to be fast friends with him. It looks like their yard had a garden at one time but it needs some work. I was surprised to learn that Brian still works part-time for Saratoga Springs Fire Department. Only the young can fit so many things on their plate.