Road Trip to Good Times...Part 2

Yes, I know I promised yesterday...so to the three of you that read this...sorry! Anyway, on the Cologne. During the month of December, this is the home of one of the greatest Christmas markets in Germany. Any other month, it is home to the most amazing cathedral I have ever seen. The town itself does not really hold a candle to Brugge, but we only had one day here anyway, and that was enough to see the cathedral. After referencing my handy dandy "1000 places to see before you die", we learned that the important way to experience Cologne is to climb the 542 steps to the top of the cathedral and look out on the city and the Rhine river. So we did...even Ava. When we got to the top, she rightfully named the cathedral the "Church of a 1000 steps"! We did have some sore legs the next day, but the view was incredible. Even me with my horrible phobia of heights, managed to sneak a few looks. When you get up about 400 or so of the steps, there is a round room to rest in/let the kids run around. While I was watching the kids (and praying that the kids wouldn't find a way to fall to their death) Eric kept climbing and my parents (who thought Eric was helping me) trekked up the wrong way to the top. I waited awhile until I realized that no one was coming back to help me. I summoned every bit of courage, tucked Eli under one arm and began the climb with Ava to the very top. Twice I had to stop and let Ava prod and encourage me to the top. "Don't worry Mommy- I won't let you fall. We will be okay." And so we were!
Pretty girls in front of a pretty cathedral
Ava having a little rest half way up the church of 1000 stairs
Proof that Mommy overcame her "episode" and made it to the top!
Daddy and his girl
After we climbed back down, we were completely tired and ready for a cup of chocolate, some strudel and a nap in the car on the way to Rothenburg.
Rothenburg is your quintessential beautiful town. My "1000 places to see before you die" describes it as a German Christmas village in love with it's own image...and so it is. Rightfully so. At night the village is by far the most lovely I have ever seen. Each building is lit up with Christmas lights. At 8pm every night, the night watchman appears out of nowhere to take the tourists on a tour of the town. The place is over 1000 years old so it is very medieval and rich in history. The hotel we stayed at was built in the 12th century. I swear I could hear ghosts at night...but they were probably just shopping for nutcrackers at Kathe Wolfhert or visiting the Medieval crime and torture museum. That's what we did too!
Ava helps the night watchman with his lantern.
A view from outside the gate. The entire city is on a hill and surrounded by a wall. We found the entrance to the ramparts on the wall, so we took a nighttime stroll around the city. Mommy was scared...of course.
Here is Ava being "punished" outside the museum. She looks really remorseful, doesn't she? They actually had a real iron maiden, a disturbing collection of chastity belts, and shoes with bells that "bad kids" had to wear around when they were cheeky. We keep threatening our kids with those...
Here is the family after our nighttime surveillance of the city. I would visit Rothenburg again tomorrow if I could!
So, tomorrow morning I have to fly to Texas for a week of field training- so it will probably be next weekend before I get the "Ava takes on a pine tree while skiing in Edelweiss" blog up. Believe me, you don't want to miss that one! Cheers!