Escape to Heidelberg

While all chaos was about to errupt at home, in preparation for dd#1's graduation, a party at our home, dh's flight to Elmhurst and then our impending move to the U.S., Jane, Kate & I were able to escape for one lovely day to Heidelberg. While I've been there several times, it never fails to impress me as a beautiful, traditional German town and Kate & Jane really loved it.

We started with the castle, so we could look out over the river valley and see the beautiful town nestled below. Although we didn't take a tour, we bought guidebooks and were even allowed into some of the exhibits normally reserved for those on the guided tour by a couple of very sweet German gentlemen. We saw some great weapons (too bad dd#2 wasn't with us), learned some of the history of the castle and it's ruins, and saw a great model of the castle itself. We went in more rooms than I'd even been before and even explored the apothecary museum. Of course, we had to visit the largest wine cask, but it was a little early in the morning for wine-tasting.

Instead, we finished our tour of the castle and then headed down into town for lunch. We stopped to eat a lovely little place in the shadow of the cathedral and had some wonderful food, including a great Greek salad, soup, bread and, of course, some good German spatzel. While we could have easily relaxed for some time at our cozy table and watched the people go by, we decided to keep moving and see more of the town. We did some shopping along the main street, including some souvenirs and even Christmas gifts. Of course, we had to sample some of the great Italian gelato before finding our way back to the car for the drive home.

Waiting for us when we returned to Frankfurt were dd#1 and her boyfriend, Joe, having just returned from the 12th grade trip to Barcelona. Since dd#1 didn't know that her aunt Kate was coming for graduation, or at least she was very confused by all my slips in the preceeding weeks, it was a nice surprise for her when we got back. But, our escape from the mania was over and it was back to preparations for graduation, the party, dh, Jane & Joe flying back to IL on Monday, a quick trip to Munich, Kate and dds #2&3 flying back to NY on Thursday, and then the movers, packers, and all the other fun waiting for us in preparation for the move back to the U.S. What a nice chance to escape reality for a day in a medieval German castle town.