Aschaffenburg

We have spent the last 2 days seeing Aschaffenburg with the family. The city is bigger than I thought. And although the homes look the older Bavarian style on the outside, they are remodeled and modern on the inside. 

The Johanissburg Castle is huge and separates the new and old cities . We shopped in both parts and my sister in laws bought me a real Bavarian dress. Today we go to buy Jeff lederhosen!  Yea baby!

As this is a Catholic area, the churches are magnificent. Pictures below.

Yesterday, we walked for hours at the Schonbusch; a huge park with a "small" castle. This was the Bishops summer home and the Schloss Johanissburg was his winter home. It was good to be a bishop then... Pictures below.

Our German gets a bit better yesterday as we understand more. The dialect here is very different so we will really need to learn Aschaffenburg German. Jeff's family is learning English too and it's fun to try to talk back and forth. 

Last night, we had a big dinner for everyone at a "guest house". That's what they call a family owned restaurant.  They even had vegetarian schnitzel!!! 17 family members were there.  A moving dinner for all!  

 

We continue to sleep in too much and Jeff is now eating a chicken sausage made by his brother Peter. 

All is good here and we are planning on heading north tomorrow afternoon.

Tschuss!

Guten Tag!

After a long but uneventful flight, we landed in Frankfurt to a big welcome. Jeff's family was there in force with champagne, flags etc... Quite the show and a bit overwhelming for Jeff!

After introductions, and more champagne, we headed to his mom and dads apartment. His mom is quite quiet and his dad is more of a chatterbox. His dad talks a bit of English but when he gets excited talking he goes back to German. Our savior a in this translation dilemma is Maria, Jeff's oldest brothers wife, who speaks very good English. We are staying with them in a lovely apartment on the top floor of their house I really like the European style.

We have met everyone in the family now after a big BBQ yesterday at the Rabbit Club.  It's been very interesting to see the dynamics between all the siblings- some subtle and some not so subtle. All love having Jeff visit and that's what is important to us! 

We are off to a German mall today and then a bakery, a coffeehouse (not Starbucks), and a bar. Yep, we are in for another full day!

Here are a few photos of our trip so far!