my grandmother, whom i call bambi (because my older sister couldnt say grammy when she was little, it came out like "bambi" and it stuck) is a remarkable woman. she has been through her fair share of hardship in her lifetime and has recently decided to start enjoying life a little more...
so for her 82nd birthday, she decided she wanted to spend it in europe! she has never traveled overseas or been away from her husband for more than 4 nights, but she was determined to enjoy 19 days here for the vacation of her life!
she arrived at the airport looking very refreshed and was a big ball of energy- not jet lagged at all. (i just wish her eyes were open in this pic!)
our first day was spent around my town- walking to the bakery, feeding the ducks, window shopping...
the following day we went to the ritter sport chocolate factory and spent a nice evening out to dinner with just us adults- my gram enjoyed tasting all the beers!
tate enjoyed tasting all the chocolates
we stopped at this adorable little bakery in a neighboring town
saturday: my grams actual birthday! we headed to the czech republic by bus on an USO tour. the first city we went to was cesky krumlov, which you will see is absolutely awesome. it is a walled city, with a huge castle and quaint little streets. the architecture was spectacular. many of the buildings were painted...
there were several large bears living in the moat of the castle- it was feeding time when we were there!
again- the incredible painting!
picture perfect-
check out the clouds in the sky!
view from the wall around the castle
love this one! "dont jump gram!"
the second city we visited was ceske budejovice- again, the architecture! the city was full of amazing buildings and all painted such beautiful colors! not what i was expecting to see in the czech republic. this was a gigantic plaza in the center of town-
ceske budejovice is apparently home to the original budeweiser beer! the family that moved to st. louis to start the company was czech!
this was my grams birthday dinner- beer and dessert! (so thats how she stays so young...)
we got home from our bus tour at 3am on sunday, slept for a few hours and got back in the car at 10am to head to france! we spent the day with brian and the kids in strausburg, france. my gram cried when we got there because she was in shock that she was actually in france!
the amazing cathedral! it takes my breath away each time i see it-
my gram bought a painting from this man- and then kissed him! so glad i got the pic!
we had a lovely city tour on this glass topped boat
monday, tuesday and wednesday we stayed close to home, mainly because we all got sick!
ceske budejovice is apparently home to the original budeweiser beer! the family that moved to st. louis to start the company was czech!
this was my grams birthday dinner- beer and dessert! (so thats how she stays so young...)
we got home from our bus tour at 3am on sunday, slept for a few hours and got back in the car at 10am to head to france! we spent the day with brian and the kids in strausburg, france. my gram cried when we got there because she was in shock that she was actually in france!
the amazing cathedral! it takes my breath away each time i see it-
my gram bought a painting from this man- and then kissed him! so glad i got the pic!
we had a lovely city tour on this glass topped boat
monday, tuesday and wednesday we stayed close to home, mainly because we all got sick!thursday we headed out for the morning to schloss litchenstein- my favorite castle!
the perfect day to be there!
macy wanted to help sweep up!
the tour guide let my gram borrow the key to the castle!
we went to the lake for lunch and my gram enjoyed her first brat!
then we took the kids to the park and my gram had more fun than they did! go gram-
thursday night we headed to poland! we went on a pottery shopping trip, along with my two close friends diane and sara.
the perfect day to be there!
macy wanted to help sweep up!
the tour guide let my gram borrow the key to the castle!
we went to the lake for lunch and my gram enjoyed her first brat!
then we took the kids to the park and my gram had more fun than they did! go gram-
thursday night we headed to poland! we went on a pottery shopping trip, along with my two close friends diane and sara. smile gram!
we had a factory tour and saw all the women hand painting the pottery- their work is incredible!
"ahh, which pieces do i want?"
the whole experience was very overwhelming- it was a long, busy day so we enjoyed this great dinner before heading home.
this was where we ate dinner- in a giant pyramid! random.
sara was under the bus trying to find all our boxes!
poor (pregnant) diane had to ride home in the back seat with all our boxes!
no rest for us! we got home from poland in the wee hours of the morning, slept a bit and then headed out for cooking class. this class was on base, but given by a local german woman. the theme was apples. YUM!
sunday we went into stuttgart for our volksfest- very similar to oktoberfest.
this was the giant beer "tent" that we went into for lunch
our waiter- my gram would eventually kiss him! check out the huge beers!
brian challenges gram to a chugging contest- just kidding
my friend amy came along with us and wore her traditional german fest outfit!
the inside of the tent, the band played the whole time we were there- it was fabulous! my gram was in tears again, just in disbelief that she was here!
we wouldnt get her into a 'drindle' outfit, but she bought an apron that looks like one! (and wanted her picture taken with this guy- and would eventually kiss him too!)
after lunch tate and my gram wanted to ride rides. i should have know that after that giant beer, she shouldnt have driven! tate got off the ride with a bloody nose!!
these cookies are typical at the fests- this ones says (something like) this grandma is classy!
amy and my gram went this ride together! crazy ladies!
the following day we headed to soufenhiem, france to do more pottery shopping with my friend ashley. this town was so cute and the pottery was great.
we ate lunch at a creperie, of course! i mean, we were in france, right? they were delicious!
wednesday we got back on the bus and headed to austria. we went to visit the swarvoski crystal factory/museum and the city of innsbruck
there were random pieces of "art" around the crystal museum. furniture or art, you decide!
i love the sheep skins covering these cafe chairs- definately where i want to eat!
we got pizza to go- we had no idea each slice would be bigger than our heads!!
oops- back at the crystal museum.... this was the entrance- kinda cool!
a giant wall of crystals
"hmmmm, what should i buy?"
this wall was incredible- so many tiny crystal beads!
on our way home, we stopped at this weird rest stop along the highway!
a picture my gram took from the bus- beautiful austria!
the next day we headed to the pumpkin festival at the ludwigsburg palace
some of the creations were so cool!
my gram enjoying some pumpkin champagne!
if only the ladies were smiling.... (and macy's face wasnt all cut up! she had an unfortunate fall the day before.)
on friday we went to rothenburg- my favorite walled, medevial, german city! we did a little sight seeing, some shopping and ate lunch there. sometimes you never know what is on the menu when you cant read or speak the language! we think she ordered a giant liver ball!
that night we went out to dinner without the kids to our favorite italian restaurant in our town. my gram was the kissing bandit again! this time- it was poor sebastian, our waiter!
saturday we took off (again on the bus!) for our last day trip. this time it was to austria again- for the annual festival to welcome the cows home from the hills after the summer! it was a great day and one of my favorite festivals in europe so far!
we had a factory tour and saw all the women hand painting the pottery- their work is incredible!
"ahh, which pieces do i want?"
the whole experience was very overwhelming- it was a long, busy day so we enjoyed this great dinner before heading home.
this was where we ate dinner- in a giant pyramid! random.
sara was under the bus trying to find all our boxes!
poor (pregnant) diane had to ride home in the back seat with all our boxes!
no rest for us! we got home from poland in the wee hours of the morning, slept a bit and then headed out for cooking class. this class was on base, but given by a local german woman. the theme was apples. YUM!
sunday we went into stuttgart for our volksfest- very similar to oktoberfest.
this was the giant beer "tent" that we went into for lunch
our waiter- my gram would eventually kiss him! check out the huge beers!
brian challenges gram to a chugging contest- just kidding
my friend amy came along with us and wore her traditional german fest outfit!
the inside of the tent, the band played the whole time we were there- it was fabulous! my gram was in tears again, just in disbelief that she was here!
we wouldnt get her into a 'drindle' outfit, but she bought an apron that looks like one! (and wanted her picture taken with this guy- and would eventually kiss him too!)
after lunch tate and my gram wanted to ride rides. i should have know that after that giant beer, she shouldnt have driven! tate got off the ride with a bloody nose!!
these cookies are typical at the fests- this ones says (something like) this grandma is classy!
amy and my gram went this ride together! crazy ladies!
the following day we headed to soufenhiem, france to do more pottery shopping with my friend ashley. this town was so cute and the pottery was great.
we ate lunch at a creperie, of course! i mean, we were in france, right? they were delicious!
wednesday we got back on the bus and headed to austria. we went to visit the swarvoski crystal factory/museum and the city of innsbruck
there were random pieces of "art" around the crystal museum. furniture or art, you decide!
i love the sheep skins covering these cafe chairs- definately where i want to eat!
we got pizza to go- we had no idea each slice would be bigger than our heads!!
oops- back at the crystal museum.... this was the entrance- kinda cool!
a giant wall of crystals
"hmmmm, what should i buy?"
this wall was incredible- so many tiny crystal beads!
on our way home, we stopped at this weird rest stop along the highway!
a picture my gram took from the bus- beautiful austria!
the next day we headed to the pumpkin festival at the ludwigsburg palace
some of the creations were so cool!
my gram enjoying some pumpkin champagne!
if only the ladies were smiling.... (and macy's face wasnt all cut up! she had an unfortunate fall the day before.)
on friday we went to rothenburg- my favorite walled, medevial, german city! we did a little sight seeing, some shopping and ate lunch there. sometimes you never know what is on the menu when you cant read or speak the language! we think she ordered a giant liver ball!
that night we went out to dinner without the kids to our favorite italian restaurant in our town. my gram was the kissing bandit again! this time- it was poor sebastian, our waiter!
saturday we took off (again on the bus!) for our last day trip. this time it was to austria again- for the annual festival to welcome the cows home from the hills after the summer! it was a great day and one of my favorite festivals in europe so far!this little town was adorable-
we walked through town to a local farm to watch the family get their herd ready to be in the parade- look at the GIANT bell they were putting on! you can only imagine how loudly a bell of this size rings- it was crazy! no wonder the cows were fighting to get away!
during the festival we had brats and beer- my favorite meal!
okay- so here come the cows! each farmer walks into town with their herd- over 200 cows all day long!
check out these headdresses!
we stopped off in innsbruck again after the festival-
and we took a carriage ride! my gram had never taken one before!
a great dinner after a great day!
it was wonderful to have my gram here with me for almost 3 weeks and all these photos of our travels throughout europe are priceless! but most of all, i will cherish the time she spent with tate and macy during her trip...
we walked through town to a local farm to watch the family get their herd ready to be in the parade- look at the GIANT bell they were putting on! you can only imagine how loudly a bell of this size rings- it was crazy! no wonder the cows were fighting to get away!
during the festival we had brats and beer- my favorite meal!
okay- so here come the cows! each farmer walks into town with their herd- over 200 cows all day long!
check out these headdresses!
we stopped off in innsbruck again after the festival-
and we took a carriage ride! my gram had never taken one before!
a great dinner after a great day!
it was wonderful to have my gram here with me for almost 3 weeks and all these photos of our travels throughout europe are priceless! but most of all, i will cherish the time she spent with tate and macy during her trip...
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