Deutsches Museum

We had spent a terrific long weekend travelling the Romantic Road (click here and here for the recap).  But our journey had taken us to our final stop, Munich, for the real reason we were in Germany, checking out the girls school and the surrounding areas.  We had two full days free so the girls and I decided to hit up the Deutsches Museum on Tuesday.

We took it slow.  It had been go, go, go up to that point so we slept in.  We ate a leisurely breakfast.  And then got ready.  It was still only 9:30 when we left...funny how having kids changes what you think a late and slow start is.

We navigated our way to the S-Bahn station. Which is no small feat for me as I am directionally challenged.  I purchased tickets from the machine and found the right rail line, going in the right direction.  Again, no small feat.

A 25-minute train ride, a 5-minute walk and we were there.  And little did I know that we were going to be there for the next 7 hours and the girls were going to beg to stay, even after they had closed.  And I don't blame them, the Deutsches Museum is a masterpiece.  It is 7 floors of Science and Technology and hands-on learning for all ages.  In other words, a giant playground that happens to also teach you about the world around you and how it has evolved from the beginning of time until today.  It was incredible to watch both of the girls so engaged in learning and touching and trying out all of the exhibits. I think it is safe to say that we will be back.  And if you are in the Munich area - and need to spend a rainy day indoors (or any day) this would be the perfect place.

Trying to see if she can bend the concrete by molecules.  It wasn't working because even when I got on, it didn't move.

A selfie with a goat.  I've done stranger. Right?

Inside a giant guitar - of course.

A break for lunch brought a thumbs up to the slushies.

Checking out slides of bee pollen.

Turning herself into a famous German scientist.

Testing the facial recognition screen.  It could read emotions, age, and gender.  It came close on most things - though the one that says MadHatter is 20 is a bit unsettling...

Though I will take 35 any day.

We walked into an old time pharmacy to see how they made medicine before heading directly into the human body and walking through a human cell...

We watched him blow glass into the form of an ink pen.

And then used the pen to sign a guest book.

The games I grew up with brought back nostalgia - though the kids did not understand why you could not hold them in your hands...

Reading about the history of flight and sea navigation.

Testing her power.

Romantic Road

We began our Ski Week vacation with a trip to Rothenburg ob der Tauber (click here).  It is a magical village in the Bavarian countryside and is truly worth the drive just to see it.  But, it is also part of what is known as the Romantic Road, 350 km stretching from the northern part of Bavaria down to the Austrian border that links picturesque towns and castles.  In medieval times it was a trade route but since about 1950, when a group of travel agents trying to promote the area got together to help business, it has been known as the "Romantic Road".

There are 28 villages/cities that make up the route, which is clearly marked by brown signs showing visitors the way, and it has been rated Germany's most travelled tourist route for many years now.  I can see why.  The towns we visited were picturesque, friendly and welcoming and not far from one another making it possible for you to visit more than a handful each day.  Which we took advantage of.

After spending the night in Rothenburg o.d. Tauber, we had a late breakfast and were on the road to our next stop - Dinkelsbühl - located about 40 km (25 miles) south.  We picked Dinkelsbühl because it is another of the three cities in Germany that are still completely protected by the city walls, as is Rothenburg.  Can you guess where we went next and why?

There isn't much that is a must see in the city.  Mainly it is just a village that transports you back in time and lets your imagination run wild as to what it would have been like to live there back in the 16th century, when time seemingly stopped for the residents here.  We wandered, we had coffee and donuts, and we headed back to the car to mosey on down the road to our next destination.

The outside of the wall.

The square had this house.  Can you spot the small painting on the front right corner by the windows?   

Here is a close up of it - this is where prisoners had their hands cut off as punishment for their crimes. Interesting, but a bit greusome. 

The wheel that turned the water wheel (back left corner) that brought water to the city back in the day.

I have no history on this house but was intrigued by it nonetheless.  It has a minature of itself hanging off of the left side...Pretty cute.  A house and it's mini.

We took another stroll on the city wall...

And then headed back to the car.  The girls told each other tales as they walked.

 Our next stop was again about a 25 minute drive south.  This time we were headed to Nördlingen.  You guessed it - the third of the only cities in Germany still surrounded by a city wall.  But before we could even get within the walls, we found a playground and had to do this...

Nördlingen is also famous for another reason - it is where, 14 million years ago, a meteor struck the earth causing a deep crater of about 15 miles wide and about 350 feet deep.  Interestingly enough, the town wall runs along the craters edge and to get a better view of the enire impact area we climbed the Kirchturm Daniel.  Of course we did, if there is a tower to climb, we climb.

A view of the city and the crater that formed the ring.

Daniel Tower is over 350 steps from the bottom to the top - and not all of them are easy.  First you wind your way up a few floors on old stone stairs.  Then you do a few flights of wooden stairs, some more winding ones...a few precarious ones.  And it seems like you will never reach the top.  Especially when, after climbing what seems like forever, you see this...

You still have a ways to go.

But it is worth it.  The views are stunning and we would have stayed a bit longer but for the fact that it was very windy and the tower was swaying in the breeze.  Add that to my fear of heights and it was a quick trip around and back down.

 

Back on the ground we spent a little more time wandering the city streets, but since it was Sunday, not much was open.  We did grab a quick lunch and headed on down the road to our final stop of the day - Fürstenfeldbruck.  Not on the Romantic Road, but close to our final destination (Munich) we had booked our hotel here because of its history and we wanted to see the Fürstenfeld Abbey.

In 1256, the Duke of Bavaria murdered his wife on suspicion of adultry (unfounded) and as penance he erected the Abbey for Pope Alexander IV.  It has changed hands a few times over the course of the last 760 years, mostly held by Bavarian royalty until about 1803 when was sold into private ownership.  Today it is held by the town and the grounds are used as a cultural center.  We wandered around the grounds and then headed into the Abbey itself...

 It was getting to be about dinner time so we packed the car and headed to our final destination of the trip, Munich.  The Romantic Road really was a treat and one I am sure we will travel again after we move to Germany in June.