Sunday Sights

Are you all impatient for baby news?  Well we are too!  :)

SO, in the meantime we try to keep busy with other things.  Sunday noon (June 26) Laura and Frederik said to put on my walking shoes, we'd go exploring, and that it would involve food. OK! That sounds good, so we headed out!
 They didn't tell me where we were going, and I'm directionally challenged over here, along with being geography challenged most anywhere I am

 They did tell me we were headed East--and the trees are getting more dense,  I'm feeling like I'm in a forest!

 Here was a cool curved apt. (or something) building I spotted out my window

And here's our destination!  We came to Germany to visit a castle!

 I spy! do you?
First we walked a bit in the lower park gardens

 I'm really quite excited to get to actually see/be at a real castle!  I've only read about them.

 Who can resist having their picture taken in front of one?  Pinch me, I was really here?  haha!

 And the roses.  Always roses!

 We heard music, a band, a parade & men dressed in green uniforms.  We discovered later it was a hunters (Riders?) club being celebrated

 What beautiful horses!

 First we have to find a parking spot and something to eat!

 We didn't park there, but I thought it was an interesting looking underground parking area.

 And now we'll go exploring the streets looking for a cafe for our lunch. I do love those yellow table cloths under the umbrellas!

 And lots of narrow steep steps tucked away to the street below

 Flower boxes on the windows

 From what I've seen so far on our adventures, there is very little "Handicap accessible" accommodations. And I'm not being rude or unkind here, as I can appreciate our US efforts on that behalf.  Alot of what I see here would never be allowed in this day & age in our country.  But there is an age old charm to this, simply a way of life and people adapt. The sidewalks are narrow, the doorways small, there are steps everywhere, there are un-even brick streets (and sidewalks)  Later I saw a man with one leg & a crutch visiting the castle, and It would not have been an easy trek up the hill on those cobblestones let alone the distance or steps.

 Well, after much deliberation and  trying to translate signs and menu items available, we've settled on a little place. Most places have some seating outside and in both, but it's nearly always most appealing to eat out in the open air.

 What do you think? As usual our waitress spoke a little English, and between that and the German/Dutch translations we chose our meals.

 The doors are always open, and there's always flowers.

 And here it is! Along with the very familiar American (?!) Coca-Cola!

Once we finish our meal, we head up the hill to the Castle.

The view to our left

 And the view back from where we've come. It's a hill and rough cobblestones, remember.

 We will walk along that wall, and later climb to the very top of one of those watch towers!

 We're getting closer to the inner walls of the castle grounds

 Looking back down at the (Gate-house?)  Honestly I don't know if that's what it's called, but it sure makes sense to me.  There's a coffee shop on the upper/outdoor level that looks fun.

 And here we are, we've arrived at the entrance.

Here's what it looks like all at once, and what we'll be seeing.

We pay our entrance fee and climb the steep uneven sloping steps to the Castle wall.....

And start taking pictures of the incredible view we have from up here!!

 The park gardens where we were earlier-

 Did I mention all the trees?  I wonder how far you can see up here!

 Across the grounds-

 And down-

 And across to the wall on the other side.  Right in the lower right hand corner you can see the steps where we came up.

 Here's a better view of the outside steps, to the bottom left of them is the enterance where we came in.
The tower is where I took the pictures from of the views out the windows  and the openings on the walkway walls where I took the others.

All my life I've seen pictures of the red roofs in Germany from a dear friend--now I have finally seen them for myself!

 Well, it looks like our sunny day is coming to an end-

 Here we are!

 Lets go exploring up those stairs!

 The stairs are cut in the stone walls, and they are definitely one way! Everyone had to take turns coming up or down!

 Yes, we're really up high!

 The steps back down!

 As we come down (Laura did not attempt these steps..... LOL)  We discover yes, it's raining.  Dumping rain!  And we pull out the umbrellas.

 Did I mention it was really raining?

 Where we were-

 The watch tower looks even higher from across the grounds!

 We're headed over to the right to the carriage house, but first the roses!

 These were so cool to see.  As I looked at them I could just imagine in my mind these buggy's being drawn up that steep cobblestone road to the inside castle walls.  The sound of the horses hooves on the rock. (and the bumpy ride! haha!)

Wow, that's quite the elegant ride!

 These dates just kind of blow me away!  If you read this about the castle (Yay, they have some information in English!) you can pick out some of these rooms!

 The Dining hall

 The wood crafting is amazing!

 The front door (on the right)

 The stained glass windows are exquisite!

 Another Suite

 The stair way railing=

 And back out the front door.  We'll go over to the right side of the castle now- But first the roses (again!)  :)

 This room was the experiment room--the Laboratory--they had a voice tour here only it was only in German so not understood, but it was rather interesting to see the whole room reproduced . I only took a picture of the philosopher working at his table ;)


 There was a poem that went over & over in my mind while touring this castle.  It was one my Grandpa recited often, and once upon a year I even managed to learn the whole thing by memory for a Thanksgiving day poem recitation.  Unfortunately although I really do like poetry, my memorization AND my memory skills are sadly lacking so I can no longer quote it, but I can hear my grandpa's voice:

The Childrens Hour

Between the dark and the daylight, 
When the night is beginning to lower, 
Comes a pause in the day's occupations, 
That is known as the Children's Hour.
 

I hear in the chamber above me 
The patter of little feet, 
The sound of a door that is opened, 
And voices soft and sweet.
 

From my study I see in the lamplight, 
Descending the broad hall stair, 
Grave Alice, and laughing Allegra, 
And Edith with golden hair.
 

A whisper, and then a silence: 
Yet I know by their merry eyes 
They are plotting and planning together 
To take me by surprise.
 

A sudden rush from the stairway, 
A sudden raid from the hall! 
By three doors left unguarded 
They enter my castle wall! 

They climb up into my turret 
O'er the arms and back of my chair; 
If I try to escape, they surround me; 
They seem to be everywhere.
 

They almost devour me with kisses, 
Their arms about me entwine, 
Till I think of the Bishop of Bingen 
In his Mouse-Tower on the Rhine! 

Do you think, O blue-eyed banditti, 
Because you have scaled the wall, 
Such an old mustache as I am 
Is not a match for you all! 

I have you fast in my fortress, 
And will not let you depart, 
But put you down into the dungeon 
In the round-tower of my heart.
 

And there will I keep you forever, 
Yes, forever and a day, 
Till the walls shall crumble to ruin, 
And moulder in dust away! Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

And the very top was blocked off.  It was quite worth the climb on these small steep winding stairs once again.  If walls could talk, the stories they would tell!

 Well, we're back outside now, heading towards the last side of the castle wall. (And we're still walking in the rain!)   (Aren't they cute! )

 We're headed thru this door in the wall to where the well is located.

 

 1 meter = 3.2808399 Feet

 so 23 Meters = 75.459318 Feet

And no, I do not know metric.  Yes, I do know Google.  haha!

 

This is the open area in the top, The well was so deep you could only see part way down, but the sides of it were interesting.  Unfortunately I couldn't angle my camera to get a photo, there is glass in front of it. The stone sides with jutted out rock areas was interesting.

 Now we are headed back towards the gate.

Look close at the side's of the entrance wall.  You can see the fantastic old wood doors!  I could just imagine the carriage being pulled thru this entrance & the doors shut.

 I loved this view looking out from the Castle entrance

 And here we are again, ready to head thru the lower entrance

 This is quite the interesting tree!  It looks like it has ears!  Did you notice how flat the bottom is?  There are sheep grazing on the grounds here!

 We arrive back at the street--Notice how narrow the street is--and the parking?  When we arrived & were walking around, a car attempted to pull out from between two others, but misjudged and we heard a loud crunching.  He had hit the wall in turning too sharply.  There was no language barriers when all the bystanders heard it and collectively gave a "oh, no!"

 To park one must let the right side passengers out first--and when we left, you have to pull out into the street to let the passengers back in!

 We're leaving the Castle behind--but look where we were!  See those ammunition holes in the wall?!

 Some of the outside view as we drove away

 What a great experience! I loved visiting this castle!

 A few random pictures before we leave Germany

 A German Windmill.  Frederik tells me they differ a little from the Dutch ones.  Still fascinating to see!

 And don't these look familiar!  The new, along side of the old.

 Love that blue and sunny sky again!!

Ant there we are--Back in the Netherlands.
Thanks for traveling along today.  Maybe you are just as tired looking at all this as we were walking it?  We about did Laura in!

Until Next time........