Happy Easter from Neuschwanstein Castle!

Our trip to Austria continued with a stop at the Neuschwanstein Castle in the Bavarian region of Germany. Neuschwanstein is the castle after which the Disneyland Castle is modeled, and it has an interesting story. It was built in the 1860’s by the King of Bavaria, King Ludwig II, as a sort of fantasy castle. Shortly after it was completed, he was declared insane, taken to a Sanitarium, then found dead the following day in a nearby lake. Makes for a good story, no?! Click here for more…http://www.neuschwanstein.de/englisch/idea/index.htm

Jack enjoyed the castle tour, even though he didn’t see any real knights walking around.

Meanwhile, the Easter Bunny managed to find us in Bavaria, and the boys enjoyed the Easter egg hunt in our hotel room early Easter morning.

At the end of the day, we enjoyed a leisurely walk around the area and were surprised to see how close the castles were to our hotel!

See you later!

Legoland Deutschland!

On our way to Austria, we made a pit stop at Legoland.

(Please don't tell Barbie!)

We only spent a few hours there (which was enough!) and left with two Lego toys and two caps for the boys (which give the appearance of an imminent prison break). Here are a few pictures of our day...

The Pirate Playground was a big hit. Who knew Luke was so fearless (sporting a pacifier, no less!)?! He headed right up the rope ladder and wasn't the least bit phased by the big kids brushing him aside, leaving the ladder swaying. Although I removed him twice, as soon as I put him down, he ran right back. That kid is persistent, stubborn and focused. Hmm. :-)

Jack also had great time, as his confidence on climbing structures grows.

At the end of the day, we headed to Fuessen, Germany, to visit Crazy King Ludwig II's Neuschwanstein Castle.

Stay tuned...

Jack's Ski Race!

Last week Jack went to ski school. Previous to this, his robust resume of snow sports included three days in Sauerland, Germany, where he wowwed the crowds by sledding out of the toboggan area, onto the ski slope, and sailing (literally) into the parking lot. Oh, and he also had a day of ski school there...which pales in comparison to his sledding legacy.


Let's face it - he's a pro.

And indeed, he raced down a slolam course in Austria, complete with gates and everything. (How is it that my 5 year old has now done things I have not??!!) Below is the video of the big event. Listen closely and you will hear the announcer doing a play-by-play (in German) of Jack's run. (please note: Dramamine needed.)

As it turns out, Jack won the bronze medal! Here he is at the award ceremony:





Reservations for next year are already underway!

The Hotel Almhof

We’ve found the most amazing place – the Hotel Almhof in Gerlos, a tiny village in the Austrian Alps. www.familyresort.at It’s like being on a cruise, but the boat isn’t moving.

The Hotel Almhof is a “Kinderhotel,” which is a place geared around families with children. Everything here is designed to make the stay fun, for both kids and parents. There is food available during the whole day, and the buffet includes baby food, as well as kid food and gourmet dinners for the adults. The dining room is both stylish and kid friendly. They have a baby care room, a Kids Club for kids 3-?, indoor & outdoor pools (swim through) and an incredible water tube slide. We can snow ski, hike, ride bikes and ride horses. Throw in a good movie channel in ENGLISH, and I’d be in heaven.

Jack is in ski school and loves it. John has been skiing, and I’ve been spending some quality time with Luke (who doesn’t really care for the baby care). We’ve spent a lot of time in the pool as well. If not for email, and the financial crisis impacting our customers, I might actually be on a real, live vacation! As it is, it’s still awesome, and we’re having a wonderful time.

One thing to note: the hotel is full of families in their 30’s and 40’s, all with kids ranging from 6 months to teenagers, most between 4-10. While everyone is polite and says “hallo” in the halls, no one is the least bit interested in striking up a conversation. Given that we sit at tables next to each other at every meal, and our children are screaming together and playing together, I find it…odd…but very European.

Hope you had a happy Easter!

An Interview with Jack Carpenter - March 2009

Jack shares his views on school, love and marriage...