Hohenzollern

We went to Hohenzollern Castle today, under postcard skies. Hohenzollern was the inspiration for the Disney castle.






This was one of those times when you understand the reason for all the stained glass. The sun was so intense it was projecting the colors onto the interior - check out the neon-like glow on the object on the right.







We also visited the walled city of Bebenhausen:





This kid was awesome. He came walking past with an angry look on his face, dragging his sled, totally alone. He didn't even acknowledge our presence. I also like this photo because it illustrates the fact that these medieval villages are still very much living towns. That kid lived there and was going about his day just like any other kid would, albeit a little more serious about his sledding than most.

Lucerne

Lucerne was picture-perfect and pleasant in every sense, aside from the very cold temperature.

Our hotel was beautiful and perfect - it had all of the ambience and comforts we hoped for, with none of the European quirks we hoped to avoid (thank you to Vicki and Roland for the great recommendation).


I learned on this trip that Jaime is really into swans.


Our room had a balcony with a table and two chairs that overlooked the Jesuit church, the river and the lake. We didn't spend a lot of time out there, due to the temperature, but we went out often to check out the view in the changing light.










The view from our room's balcony.

A few sights around town:




















We took a detour deeper into the alps on the way back to Germany and happened upon this lake.

Getting Medieval...

Today we are checking out some medieval sites in southern Germany. Hopefully, I will get a chance to post Lucerne images tonight.

In the meantime, another picture from my creepy dolls series, this time from Lucerne:



I am not sure of the translation of the Antiquitaeten, but based on the contents of the window my guess would be "Antichrist Figurines". Don't get too close to the little blonde one on the top shelf, middle right; it will bite your neck and make you a zombie.

Zurich

We arrived back in Stuttgart tonight after two full and rewarding days in Switzerland. Jaime decided Zurich would be the better place to live, but Lucerne was a better location for leisure.




Our little GPS unit went HAL on us a few times in Switzerland - this time it sent us on a detour through the hills.


Our room in Zurich.


Our hotel was right at the junction of the old and refined lakefront, the financial district and the bohemian/hipster neighborhood of Kreis 4. Because we wanted to see as much as we could of the big and diverse city, we covered more miles in Zurich than in any other city we visited.


My lunch on NYE - it is apparently a popular Swiss dish. Jaime called it "cold hot dogs". Regardless, it was overpriced, along with all the food we had in Zurich.










Although the weather was gray and drizzly all day, the skies began to clear just as the sun set. The downtown sky was full of the moon and the five illuminated church spires concentrated along the edge of the lake, which provided an all-night light exhibit that made the fireworks seem almost like an afterthought.

More Strasbourg

Our first two days were the best weather days. I wish I could have had this light in Switzerland.










Creepy doll window.

More Munich

Here are a few more Munich pictures:








This was some kind of palace, I think. To be honest, I am getting a little bit of castle/palace fatigue. They are starting to become a bit hard to differentiate.

Around Switzerland

Photos will be forthcoming; I think there will be some excellent imagery from our time in Switzerland. For now, this is a brief update from the sub-alpine lakes.

Zurich was a truly amazing place to be for NYE. Hundreds of thousands of people poured into downtown and celebrated in the streets, which had been closed to traffic. The city was lit by a full moon, the fireworks and the lights of the buildings and church spires that surrounded the lakefront. I paid $7 Sfr. (approx. $7) for a grande coffee at Starbucks this morning and $68 for parking overnight. I am all for indulgence, but Switzerland is expensive in the strangest ways.

Luzern is beautiful and our room in the the Hotel des Balances here is perfect; our balcony overhangs the river and has a view of the lake.