Freudenstadt 1998

Jo-Ann
4.7.98 - Travelled on the freeway to make up time, came off at Baden-Baden, beautiful town and passed through some lovely little towns.  Black Forest is under threat from pollution and pests and is slowly being destroyed.  Got a nice B&B Kiong Karl, 2 rooms near railway in Freudenstadt.  This year this little town is 399 years old.  Today they had a big celebration in the town square.  A great night, good food and I love the beer "Pils".  The boys had a great time climbing a big wall and shooting a bow and arrows.


Christian
Day 9 - Today we drove to Freudenstadt.  We found a market and just walked around.  We later found out that it was a once a year show and we came at the right time.  There was music, dancing, games and lots more.  The people had beer and wine while sitting and watching a band play all sorts of songs.  We watched Croatia in soccer. Croatia beat Germany 3 to nil.  
Joshua
Day 9 - We drove to Freudenstadt and dad and I went to look for a hotel, we went to one that had a park next to it.  So dad booked it and then we got dressed in better clothes because there was a town party on.  We left mum and Christian there so they could look in the shops.  When we got there we parked the car and went to look for them but we couldn't find them, we looked over at the climbing wall and they were sitting on the chairs.  Then we asked mum if we could have a go at the wall so we had a go and I got up to the top and we had two goes and I made it up the wall both of them.

Worms 1998

Jo-Ann
3.7.98 - Had a nice breakfast and visited Castle Eltz.  A long walk but nice through the forest 1 hr return.  A marvellous castle, still owned by the Eltz family.  Original artefacts still in the castle.  A long day of driving we couldn't find a hotel. Finally ended up in Worms at an expensive apartment style accommodation.  Had a nice meal at local restaurant 2 mins from hotel - Italian food.  we got the boys take away because they wanted to stay in the room and watch T.V.  Got to be at 12pm.


Christian
Day 8 - Today we are drove to Worms.  On the way we went to Berg Eltz which is a castle.  Berg means castle and Eltz is the name of the people who still own it today.  To get there you have to walk for half an hour along side of a little stream that runs for the whole way.  I found a little cave in a rock that bears or lions might have lived in when they lived in Europe.  We were skipping rocks in the stream as we walked.


Joshua
Day 8 - Today we left and went to a place called Berg Eltz which is a castle on a really high hill.  When we got there we went on a tour, we couldn't understand because they spoke German.  After that we went to Rudesheim where we looked for a hotel but they were too dear so we couldn't stay in Rudesheim.  Then we drove to Worms and dad said "what a funny name for a town" and here we found a hotel called Asgard and it was 8.30pm so we went to bed.

Moselle Valley 1998

Jo-Ann
2.7.98 - Started our drive along the Moselle river.  This is one of the most beautiful areas and I would recommend it to everyone.  Plenty of guest houses along the way.  Stopped at Bernkastle early. Wonderful ancient town.  Behind the main street is the most wonderful town square and fountain.  Lots of shops and great coffee lounges.  Changed our travellers cheques and didn't charge us a fee!  Drove through Cochem and looked at the castle - a long walk but worth it.  Ate Wiener Schnitzel for tea and drank wine with some Americans.


Christian
Day 7 - Today we drove to Cochem.  We were very hot and hungry.  We saw a little take away place and bought some food.  The shops here are not very nice although the sports shops are really good and some of the prices are half of what you would pay in Australia.  I went to a gun shop and bought a bullet pen for 17 dollars it is not a bad pen either.  In the Moselle river their are a lot of barges.  we went to the castle and while the guide was talking in German 3 FA18 fighter jets flew over - didn't effect us.


Joshua
Day 7 - Today we drove down the Moselle valley and we stopped at a town called Bernkastle and we exchanged our money.  Then we went into a little alleyway and there were lots of shops.  Christian bought a pen that is a bullet.  Then we got out of there and went to Cochem.  At Cochem we parked the car and went shopping.  After that we went on a tour of a castle and there was a hunters room with a baby Racoon's skin and its mothers too.  It was a big walk back.  Then we went to the shops and bought some shoes while dad and mum had a drink at the cafe.  After that we went to our hotel and we had to drag our bags up stairs then we got into our room and went to bed.

Schweich 1998

Jo-Ann

1.7.98 - We left Luxembourg for the Moselle area.  Stopped at Trier and spent some time shopping and doing a tour of the city lots of history e.g. the Romans.  You can even buy coins from the Roman Empire.  Had a nice lunch of tortellini and spinach.  Bought a hair dryer.  Electrical goods and silver jewellery very cheap. Had a beer - very nice.  Where we stayed was clean but very old and the waft of cow manure kept blowing over every now and then.


Christian 
Day 6 - Today we drove to Germany.  To get to germany you have to cross the Moselle River.  You can throw a Luxembourg rock to Germany from one side to the other.  I thought it was stupid that on one side of the river they use one type of money and on the other they have another type of money.  We were skipping rocks over the water and throwing rocks at fish.  We went into a wine tasting place and I wanted a glass of wine but only got a grape juice.



Joshua
Day 6 - On the way we stopped at two wine cellars and at the second we got to taste wine.  When we go to Germany we went into this little cafe and it had a pond and my foot slipped into it and I could not wear my shoes for the rest of the day.  Then we went on another train trip it showed you the city.  After that dad took us to a church and mum went to get a hairdryer. But when we came to meet her she was not there so Christian went up to find her but then she came so I had to go and get Christian.