Robertsons & Daughters: Germany Part 1

We made it into Germany! Crossing the boarders into the different countries was very easy. One country we crossed the boarder they did ask a handful of questions. But they let us in. Other countries we just drove slowly and entered a new country. We visited 6 countries overall!

The beloved "no speed limit sign" ha ha. Lee and I each got an international driving permit before we went to Europe. All it is, is an explanation of our driver's license in different languages. We watched several YouTube videos about driving in different countries and espcially driving in the restricted zones in the big cities like Rome & Paris. We learned that while technically in the states people aren't supposed to pass on the right, we do that in the states all the time. People just go slow in the fast lane and hover there...and they shouldn't. In Europe they are very good at moving over if they are going slow. And on the Autobahn people are really good at sticking to this. Also you can get pulled over for passing someone on the right.

170 is about 105 mph. Lee got up to about 126 mph on the Autobahn. He really enjoyed driving there. The tiny parking garages were a different story...plus he had too many backseat drivers.

Our first official stop in Germany was the Porsche museum in Stuttgart. First, food at Lidl. Oh and driving out of France into Germany, we stopped at a roadside stop with a gas station and picnic type area. Clark and I each snagged a hot chocolate from a vending machine. Very tasty!

Such cute carrots at Lidl! And fun produce!

Haha....for those upcoming Autobahn enthusiasts....

The fruit I had here are raspberries. Ugh, they were gross! Bland and I think over ripe. Then the minis klassish cheese things were gross too. I liked the salad!

You know...just at the parking garage for the Porche museum.

Fun museum! We were there for a couple hours.

After the museum we made the trek to Munich. We found a parking spot for the car and then found our hotel. Finding street parking was also a hassle at times! The place we stayed at in Munich had two rooms, but not bathrooms in the room. The shower room was down the hall, with the toilet room right next to it. It was nice that our family had the hallway all to ourselves, but I thought I had private bathrooms. Ugh. After dropping our stuff off we stopped at a kebab place just around the corner. Chloe told us about these places and it was fun to try it out! This was set up like a Subway. Pick your bread type, then pick your toppings. Thankfully so many people knew English!

I picked out two spots to do laundry on our trip. Elden tagged along with us for our first laundry stop. There were enough washers and dryers open, so we could get everything done. We brought some cards and played one or two games while we were waiting. Also while we were waiting a lady from the states was talking to some maitenance guy, practically yelling at him how she was a blue door knob but got a brown one....or something like that. She kept going on and on and on and on and on and did I mention, on? I was really surprised, in the end she was able to have a pleasant goodbye with this person. I chatted with her for a little bit. She was in Germany for a few months to get away and I guess was renting out her home while gone.

Full day in the Munich area! Our first stop of this new day was Dachau Concentration Camp.

We got there early and had to wait to enter, and I kept seeing these shoes all over....I kind of want some!

Sobering place to be. We walked around for about an hour. Lots to explore that we didn't even get to.

After Dachau we drove to Nyphenburg Palace. It was cold and rainy so we didn't stay long, nor did we go inside.

We drove further into downtown Munich and found a hamburger place for lunch. We weren't going to get something so "American" but then read how hamburgers were kind of created by Germans. So why not?

The food looked good! The burgers were fine. I guess the wall posters in the back seating area were not fine, but crude. Not a place we'd go to again.

At some point Elden started collecting Fanta sodas.

Clark convinced us to go to the BMW Museum. It worked out, so why not?!

Also another cool museum. It was interesting learning that BMW & Porche used Jews for free and forced labor in WWII. I'm glad they acknowledged that and are doing things to promote human freedom.

Shanna, Haley and Elden didn't bring phones on the this trip. Well, Elden doesn't even have a phone. But I bought them all nice cameras. Though sadly Elden forgot his GoPro for the trip. Rats. Cal didn't have a phone either. It was fun seeing the "photoshoot".

Parked by the hotel then walked into downtown Munch. We saw the Devil's footprint at Frauenkirche--Cathedral Church of Our Lady.

We paid to walk up the tower to the overlook.

I hear if you rub the baor's nose it bring you good luck.

St. Michael.

The main thing I wanted to do in Munich was see the Glockenspiel. So cool!!!

We did some shopping at ate at Ratskeller for dinner. Very cool German restaurant.

Haha, Cal's eggnog. We should have guessed it had alcohol in it. We very soon found out! Gag. Tasted just like the smell of hand sanitzer.

More shopping! Also while we were walking around the plaza, there was a protest against Isreal, with a lady screaming, Free Free Palestine. A bit unnerving. Lots of police around too.