GERMANY 

Actually also some from JULY before Nic and Aidan arrived.

July 30th - Prague, Czech Republic  

A quick trip with a visiting work colleague from the USA.

July 31st - Herzogenaurach

This is the village where I work.  It had its annual medieval historic festival today.

AUGUST 2005

August 6th - Stuttgart

Mercedes-Benz Museum

Porsche Museum

Old palace in the centre of Stuttgart.

August 7th - Our new home for awhile.

August 13th - Nurburgring

Went to the historic grand prix race meeting.  A few ferrari's were also there.  The last photo is of the old F1 track used from the 1930's until the 1970's, where Niki Lauda had his crash.  You are allowed to drive around it in your road car or bike, no speed limit, one way, all 22 kms of it....they get quite a crowd just watching the "ringers", those people who have an annual pass (750 euros) and do laps every weekend.  Of course, I had to do a lap.

August 14th - Ingolstadt

Audi Museum

NIC AND AIDAN ARRIVE!!!!..............so no more car photos..... :-(

August 20th - Nürnberg

We live about 30 minutes North of Nürnberg.  There is a very large old town surrounded by the old wall.  A lot of it rebuilt of course after WWII.  First two photos taken up at the castle which overlooks the old town.  Third is a very famous hospital built over the river, old town square is the next two and then a large fountain which has a few weird looking things on it.

There was a small country circus in Herzogenaurach, the village where adidas are and Mark works.

August 21st - Röthenberg ob der Tauber

This village has a complete wall around the old town and is supposedly like stepping back 500 years when you pass through the wall.  Photos shows one of the entrances through the wall, the old Rathaus (Town Hall) and Aidan munching on one of the village specialties, these profiterole type things, this one had contreau flavour.  The last photo is taking at the top of the Rathaus tower, which was quite a hard climb to get up, literally narrow wooden ladders towards the end.

August 27th - Königschlosses (Royal Castles)

In Southern Germany near the border with Austria, just outside the town of Füssen, are the two Royal Castles of Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein.  The first was rebuilt in the 1830's by Bavarian King Maximillian and the second was built by his son, King Ludwig II in the 1870's.  We weren't allowed to take any photo's inside but they were very luxurious as you would expect.  Neuschwanstein is the fairytale castle that Disney modelled his castle on.  Aidan was in heaven and continues to dream about a visit back in the winter time when the castles will be snow covered!

Hohenschwangau

Neuschwanstein

This is the hotel where we stayed in Füssen.

August 28th - The Romantic Road

Romantic Road is a 300km route from the border with Austria to Würzburg that passes through many historic old villages.  The country side is breathtaking, surrounded by nothing but lush green fields - just divine!

Castle at Harburg.

Village of Nördlingen. We climbed the 'Daniel', which is the tower of the old church.  It was very high. Nördlingen is also a completely walled town, which you can see in the 4th photo.

Dinkesbuhl

Würzburg - The huge Residence building, evening sky with vapour trails and on the bridge.