Paris!

So, the stereotypes have proven true in Paris. Omg, I don't know where to start! But the city is amazing...more metropolitan than I thought, and bigger. Saw quite a bit today, more tomorrow.

Here's a shot from below the Eiffel Tower as Deb and I drank some fine French wine...

Only a day left, Texas is already knocking!

Au voir Germany, Bonjour Paris

Arrived in Paris this morning via overnight train, was an experience like no other...tiny little sleeping compartment...I had the lower, Deb had the upper.

It was sad leaving Germany because we had so much fun there. Had an awesome time at Augustiner for Starkbiefest...we were the only tourists there...drank with two young Germans for a few hours and definitely felt the strength of the beer in the morning. We talked culture, tv, movies, and life...awesome. It was different the next day when deb sat next to a big german ladies man at a outdoor biergarten. Germany was great.

Now time to explore Paris!

(stories are brief as it's hard to blog on the iPhone!)

Germany and Austria

Our driving portion of the trip is nearly over...yesterday we took the autobahn and Romantic Road (in parts) down to Fussen from Rothenburg. We drove through countless small German cities, with stops in Dinkilsbuhl and Nordligen, where we climbed the town walls and sat in the town square enjoying beer, sausages and potatoes.

Arrived in Fussen and spent last night and tonight here...and once the sun sets the tourists mostly leave, us excluded of course! Enjoyed some great Bavarian food and more great beer! A great little town in south Germany.

Today we ventured into Austria and hiked to one of the Ehrenberg Castles...up in the Austrian alps, absolutely gorgeous. Snow all over the ground, and the lakes were still somewhat frozen over...which made us feel better about getting those snow tires! Afterwards we traveled to and toured King Ludwig's castle at Linderhoff, then to Oberammergau, and finally to a catholic church in Weis that was, and still is, a pilgrimage stop...we did so much and are quite happy with our decision for the rental car...

Tomorrow...Neuchwanstein Castle then to Munich!

Mobile Pic

Pat and I enjoying Geuze at Cantillon in Brussels. Last night Deb and I broke open the bottle we purchased...it was great!

Rothenburg, a truly medieval city!

Looking at buildings built in the 1300s, that survived holy wars and WWII...truly amazing. The gothic architecture next to Renaissance, it's quite the sight.

The car experience was something...we did great communicating, finding it, and getting out of Frankfurt. But we took a wrong turn that turned into a number of corrective exits and turns. Some German guy even honked at me! Autobahn lived up to the hype...fast!!! We didn't go past 105 mph, though...some were easily 50+ that!

Tomorrow: Romantic Road down to south Germany