We decided to take a vacation right after school got out based on the recommendation of a friend. If an Austrian recommends some place for you to go near Austria…you go.
I’m so glad we did.
We went to Sonnenalp Resort in Bavaria Germany. It is one of those places where you have zero stress. Your meals are served right down stairs, there’s pools, spas, activities, golf, horses and a kids club. After our experience in Dubai at the kids club (things did not go well) I was a bit hesitant as how this would go. However, I was pleasantly surprised that they ran in there and the next morning I woke up to them asking WHEN are we going to class!?!
Our morning started out ok with our morning meeting regarding expectations in the car.
Then, traffic hit. Car turned off, in park, sitting and waiting.
Once we hit the Autobahn we started flying again.
Until we hit more traffic.
However, once we arrived we realized that the 10 hr drive was definitely worth the wait.
I was also a tad bit too excited about a closet. Haven’t had one in a while.
Life is easy there. Walk downstairs, load up on the giant breakfast buffet.
Play golf
Pick up kids from kids club and chow down on dinner.
Such a relaxing and easy place to be.
If only JTH would STOP working.
Dad…stahp.
More Golf…
More Food…
Horses…
And plenty of other activities to keep them busy.
While there we also drove down to Neuschwanstein Castle. As you may already know this is the castle that Walt Disney based the famous “Disney Castle” after. Mr. Disney had quite an obsession with Germany and in turn took a lot of “influencing ideas” from here.
Here’s a tip if you ever plan on going. Order your tickets ahead of time online. If you do you get to wait in this line (none)
And if not, you have to wait in this one (which snaked around outside too). If you don’t have the ability to get the tickets online, then show up around 4pm. There’s no one there.
There are 3 ways to get up to the castle. Horse, Bus or walking. We chose to take the horse. Which made for an uncomfortable and immature ride. The horses that were carrying our buggy had terrible stomach aches and were releasing all sorts of noxious fumes in our direct path. I was turning green while Zane and Lily couldn’t stop laughing hysterically.
We finally made it to the top!
The entry foyer was pretty packed full of people. However there isn’t really a line to go in. Your tickets have a tour time on them that runs every 5 minutes. You simply wait for your time to go up on the electronic board, your group lines up and you begin your tour of the castle.
The views from the top were breathtaking.
And the castle, spectacular.
After a week of relaxation and fun we had to head back to the in-between real-world of Brussels to prepare for our move. But first, we stopped by Strasbourg, France to help take a break from all the driving. It’s a great town and I wish we had more time to spend there.
You know you are close to a city center when you see the fluorescent purses…
See look, I was there.
Later Lily told me they both wished for a swimming pool. Birthday candles…offering candles…meh.
This astronomical clock was unbelievable. I wish we have been allowed to get closer.
It was a great trip and I’m so thankful for the recommendation. Although I had fun, the undertones of the bittersweet were ever present.
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