After a wonderful nights sleep and a lazy morning in the hotel room, we went to my last post operation appointment at the Landsthul Medical Center. All was well and I was even cleared to drive. We spent the rest of the day laying low, still recuperating from our whorl wind journey. Later that evening I randomly decided to check my email, and found some pretty disturbing news. RyanAir had canceled our flight!! The French air traffic controllers union had scheduled a strike in response to the newly proposed union of European air space. Needless to say, that news whipped me into a veritable frenzy! I was able to rebook us a flight for free online, but it wouldn't leave until the Saturday the 30th, which was the day after the biggest fund raising event for the Morale committee that I chair at work. I was absolutely beside myself. I started shooting off emails to just about everyone I could think of, expecting the worst reaction but wanting to get the word out. That night I barely slept, completely disturbed by the many possible responses I would get from the command the next morning. To my great surprise and refreshing relief, my other committee members and senior adviser stepped up, and reassured me that they would handle everything and the event would be a great success. Also my chain of command, assured me that there was no need to worry and that they would just extend my Temporary Assignment until I was able to get a flight back. With all the details worked out, Brad and I just sat back and relaxed enjoying our couple extra days in Germany.
We decided to head out for one more off base adventure on Friday morning. On our way to our Heidelberg, we drove through Mannheim, and stopped to tour the Palace. The massive
Mannheimer Schloss was built by Elector Carl Philipp from 1720 to 1760. It was his successor Carl Theodor who saw its completion and fostered fine arts, music, theater and science and saw Mannheim reach its cultural zenith in the 18th century. Subsequently host to legal courts, schools and as apartments for government officials, today most of the building, almost completely destroyed in WWII and rebuilt, houses the university.
Heidelberg is a truly breathtaking city. The streets were full of interesting shops and gorgeous architecture. So much color and interest everywhere you turned.
We wandered through the city just soaking up the local flavor, and the crisp fall air. The pepper pots guard the entrance to the old bridge right next to an intriguing brass monkey statue.
From the bridge you can see the grand façade of the Heildelberg Schloss which was our next stop. We wound our way back through the city and up the steep walking path to the castle gates.
The views of the city and the river from the schloss were magnificent! With its trees in full fall foliage, it reminded me a little of Vermont.
Inside the main courtyard you can see that the schloss is a little worse for the wear, but still full in intricate details at every turn. The oldest parts of the castle were first built in the early 13th century. It was expanded on, and damaged by lighting several times throughout the 16th and 17th centuries and has only been partially restored since its last great damages in the 18th century. From that history is incidents, me thinks this might not have been the best location for a castle!
We took the stair path on the way back into town. We took our time and just enjoyed strolling through the beautiful trees.
With all the beauty, culture and interest that Heidelberg had to offer, we were so glad to have gotten delayed so that we were able to see it! It was a picture perfect ending to our grandest adventure yet!
We decided to head out for one more off base adventure on Friday morning. On our way to our Heidelberg, we drove through Mannheim, and stopped to tour the Palace. The massive Mannheimer Schloss was built by Elector Carl Philipp from 1720 to 1760. It was his successor Carl Theodor who saw its completion and fostered fine arts, music, theater and science and saw Mannheim reach its cultural zenith in the 18th century. Subsequently host to legal courts, schools and as apartments for government officials, today most of the building, almost completely destroyed in WWII and rebuilt, houses the university.
Heidelberg is a truly breathtaking city. The streets were full of interesting shops and gorgeous architecture. So much color and interest everywhere you turned.
We wandered through the city just soaking up the local flavor, and the crisp fall air. The pepper pots guard the entrance to the old bridge right next to an intriguing brass monkey statue.
From the bridge you can see the grand façade of the Heildelberg Schloss which was our next stop. We wound our way back through the city and up the steep walking path to the castle gates.
The views of the city and the river from the schloss were magnificent! With its trees in full fall foliage, it reminded me a little of Vermont.
Inside the main courtyard you can see that the schloss is a little worse for the wear, but still full in intricate details at every turn. The oldest parts of the castle were first built in the early 13th century. It was expanded on, and damaged by lighting several times throughout the 16th and 17th centuries and has only been partially restored since its last great damages in the 18th century. From that history is incidents, me thinks this might not have been the best location for a castle!
We took the stair path on the way back into town. We took our time and just enjoyed strolling through the beautiful trees.
With all the beauty, culture and interest that Heidelberg had to offer, we were so glad to have gotten delayed so that we were able to see it! It was a picture perfect ending to our grandest adventure yet!
