The Eye

Make no mistake: this is one big ferris wheel.

Prague

View of Prague Castle from the St. Charles bridge after a fresh snow.

Home!

It was certainly an amazing trip! We traveled almost 15,000 miles over two weeks. Among the modes of transportation:
- 4 Flights
- 9 London Underground rides
- 13 Munich U-Bahn rides
- National train through England
- Coach through Germany, Austria and Czech Republic
- Horse and Carriage
- Funicular in Salzburg
- Countless escalators and elevators!
- Numerous shuttle buses
- London and Prague cabs
- Roger's car through rural England

and of course MILES and MILES on foot!

Looking back right now, the challenge and fun of the multiple modes of transportation was one of the most fun parts of the trip.

Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial

On a cold gray day in the Munich area, we spent a couple hours visiting the Dachau Concentration Camp. It was a chilling and somber experience, but also very interesting.

Candles Details

It's 1:30am here in Munich and we've just had a fine meal with everyone involved in the tour - the whole gang leaves tomorrow and we'll stay on an extra day to visit the Dachau Concentration camp later today. I'm siting here in the hotel with a nice cold bier, compliments of Tim and it's the first time in two weeks that I've had more than a coupe minutes to update the blog, check messages, etc. These photos are detailed images of the candles that were left in the tiny chapel. It really is quite amazing when you think about what it took for people to travel to America before autos were even invented.

The Hotel Eingang!

This is a story that happened a couple days ago but deserves its own entry. My cousin Ron left our hotel in Salzburg to do a bit of exploring and pickup some supplies such as softdrinks, etc. On the way out the door he noted what he thought was the name of the hotel: The Hotel Engang - as clearly stated on the door. As he made his way back, he discovered there were numerous hotels with this name and he became hopelessly lost. He stopped in a shop to ask for assistance and tat is where he learned the the German word for "entrance" is "eingang"! Eventually he made his way to the Hotel Gablerbrau and we have all had a great laugh at his expense! Thanks Ron - you were a WONDERFUL traveling companion and fit right in with this crazy circus family!

Munich

Today we returned to Munich and had a great day drinking at the Hofbrauhaus - fantastic Dunkel (dark beer)! Conor and Jack and I then spent the afternoon climbing Church and Glockespiel towers - 660 steps on one of them!

Pilgrimage to Gebenbach, Germany

Today we traveled from the scary but dramatic world of Prague to the idyllic farming village of Gebenbach, the home of my Great Great Grandparents. We were greeted enthusiastically by our relatives and then taken to the tiny chapel next to the farm house in which both of my great great grandparents left a candle to pray for safe passage to America all the way back in 1888 - and AMAZINGLY those candles are still there today.

We then toured the farm, had cakes and coffees and beer, and traveled together to the cemetery where all our distant relatives are buried. It was an incredibly moving and meaningful day, and one that we will all remember and pass on to our children forever.

Prague

Today we explored Prague during their first snowstorm of the year!

Our intrepid group set out for a walking tour of Prague Castle and the Charles Bridge. The weather was COLD AND SNOWY - but we pressed on.

During the previous eveing, my sister and her famiy were swindled out of about $100 US dollars by gun toting guys impersonating policemen who trapped them on a tram on their way back from the city center. The next day my cousin Eugine had his wallet stolen from his pocket as we made our way through the city.

It is an impressive and beautiful city, but very very scary and dangerous.

We spent the rest of the evening in the safety of the hotel bar - drinking more in one night than that hotel has seen in several months.

Cesky Krumlov

This is the small village of Cesky Krumlov - we stopped here for a few hours on the way to Prague. Late in te afternoon we arrived in Prague, took a brief bus tour around the city and then checked into the beautiful old hotel - the Union Praha - a gorgeous old word buiding. Last night it snowed about six inches and today we are scheduled for a waking tour of the city - so it will be brutal cold and wet - but I think the snow looks awesome on the streets and buildings here.

Feigling

Feigling is an evil concoction sold in many bars here - you bang the bottle on the table until it turns cloudy, then put the cap on your nose until you drink it.

Salzburg

We've been in Salzburg for the past day and a half - this is one of the most BEAUTIFUL towns I've ever seen!

Munich

We arrived in Munich last night and joined up with the rest of the family - had a rowdy dinner out and then hit a small neighborhood tavern - it's on! Gregor Glanz was one of the many bands who brought in the New Year celebration in Munich - it was a WILD AND ROWDY time - my brothers claim it to be the best New Years Celebration they have ever had - and that is a bold statement indeed!

New Years Eve

We had a fabulous New Years Eve in Lyddington! Drinks and nibbles at Jax and Buzz's place then back to Roger's where he

cooked an incredible Beef Wellington - which we ate at 12:30am! Today we spent an afternoon at the pub and our last evening here in England will be spent with friends coming over to the house for martinis - tomorrow is Germany where we meet up with the family!