Last Day in Germany

Today is our last day in Germany.  I can't believe how fast the time has flown by.  Last night I got some of the best sleep that I've had all trip!  It was definitely needed.  I went to bed by 10:30 p.m. and didn't get up until about 7:30 a.m.  Soooo nice!  I woke up to sunny skies feeling totally rested and refreshed.  After a delicious breakfast, Diane and I realized that we HAD to get our stuff together for our week in Europe after the guys left.  So, while the guys decided to go to see Walhalla, we stayed home and check train routes, plane departure times, booked a tour for Venice, and another one in Rome.  Took pictures of maps, and directions on how to get there.  It is waaaayyyy more work to plan for a trip that most people realize - until they do it. Our guys have no idea how many hours we spent prior to our vacation beginning.  We've done a terrific job, too!

The Walhalla is a hall of fame that honors laudable and distinguished in German history - "politicians, soverigns, scientists, and artists of the German tongue", thus the celebrities honored are drawn from a wider area than today's Germany.  The guys left about 1 p.m. from the house while Diane and I worked.  Walter drove and they had a good amount of time to explore the incredible exhibit.  Brian was in charge of being the photographer in Diane's absence.  They enjoyed their trip, but grumbled a little at the number of steps there were in order to go see the exhibit.  lol.  There was an awe inspiring view from the Walhalla, overlooking the entire valley and the Danube River.

The guys returned home with some items for our late lunch, and for dinner as well.  Walter made some Elderberry pancakes, complete with the flower from the bush itself.  They were absolutely delicious.  We sat outside and enjoyed the sun and low 70's weather.  Then the girls went up to repack a few less items to take us through our last week without the guys.  SUCCESS!  We are all done and ready to go for tomorrow.

Walter remembered how fond I was of spargel (white asparagus) and bought some at the store along with the rest of the specific ingredients for a special "last dinner" in Germany.  He (with sous chef Brian) our meal was created.  Spargel was wrapped in thin pieces of ham, and covered with a type of German cheese that resembles Swiss cheese, and then Hollandaise sauce on top.  Baked to perfection, he added a German spinach salad, and some new baby potatoes.   Walter also brought out a toast with some sherry, to give honor to our last night here.
DELICIOSO!  Diane claimed that this was absolutely the best meal we have had in all of Europe!  Thank you Walter for being a 5 star host and chef!

Sat outside until it was dark, then tried for an early bed time.  The guys fly out at 10:30 a.m. and need to be at the airport 2 hours early, and they are an hour away from Munich.  So, probably leaving by 7:30 at the latest.  Diane and I have a little easier schedule, as our train also leaves at 10:30 a.m. but we leave out of Regensburg, which is only 15 minutes away, and we only need to be at the train station around 60 minutes early.

So, goodbye and good night from our wonderful days in Germany, with an incredibly open and sharing family, the Nowotnys...  Walter, Uli, and Miriam.