Cochem, Germany (Christmas Market)

Had a fun day in Cochem, Germany checking out their annual Christmas Market! The town is really lovely and there are several things you can do in the area, including the Cochem Castle and historic mustard mill (but we saved this for another day).

Our focus was on the Christmas Market.  It was a really cute little market with lots of yummy food and gluhwein!

Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany (Christmas Market)

We took a day trip to Rothenburg ob der Tauber to check out their annual Christmas Market with a great group of friends of ours today!

Considered Germany's most charming and best preserved medieval city, "The Gem of the Middle Ages", this walled town is popular tourist destination.

London, England (Kensington Palace)

We couldn't leave England without having tea at least once...so what better place to do that than The Orangery at Kensington Palace!

Little Mama was super excited about the whole real-life "tea party" (and not going to lie, so was I)!  Especially having tea at such a historical place!

London, England (Changing of the Guard)

We woke up this morning and headed to Whitehall in Westminster to see the Horse Guards Parade and Changing of the Guard ceremony...

At the heart of Whitehall, it was the traditional entrance to the Royal Palaces and is still guarded by mounted sentries from the Queen's Household Cavalry. Changing the Guard takes place here every morning - 11am Monday to Saturday and 10am on Sundays - and lasts 30 minutes. It is at this time that twelve mounted troops in traditional costume arrive from their Hyde Park Barracks. At the Guard Changing ceremony, the Old Guard forms up on the north side of the Horse Guards Parade enclosure and the New Guard on the south side.

London, England (Hop-On/Hop-Off Tour)

Although London is super easy to navigate via the Tube, I was running my first half marathon the next day and I refused to walk anymore than necessary!  We purchased tickets for the Hop-On/Hop-Off bus online (60 EUR for three 48 hr. passes), printed off our tickets, and met our bus at the station first thing in the morning....

London, England (Arrival)

We scored round-trip tickets to London for our family of four for 320 EUR (including one checked bag) on RyanAir.  We left Frankfurt Hahn at 12:45 p.m. and arrived in London Stansted at 1 p.m. (wohoo time change!).  It was an easy flight and once at the airport we were able to purchase round-trip train tickets into London Liverpool for 75 EUR.  The train leaves the airport every 15 min. and takes about 45 min. to get there...easy peasy!

Speyer, Germany (Renaissance Festival)

We went with a friend of ours to Speyer, Germany today to check out what we thought would be a small town medieval festival...we ended up going to "the largest traveling Medieval Cultural Festival in the world!"

(Photo:  http://www.spectaculum.de)

Travel to Speyer was easy, it was mostly all autobahn and only took an hour.  We got there just in time for a "traditional German" lunch at the Domhof Hausbrauerei (and a few yummy home brews) and walk the main square before heading into the festival...

Hanau, Germany (Schloss Philippsruhe)

Took a quick day trip to Hanau to see the baroque palace, Schloss Phillppsruhe.

The two-story main building, or corps de logis, is flanked by two one-story wings on each side.  Schloss Phillppsruhe is one of the most important architectural and cultural monuments in Hessen. It's location on the banks of the river Main, the large park behind the castle, the museum, the fairy tale festival and the restaurant terrace make the palace a favourite destination for locals and visitors from all over Hessen, Germany, and the world"

Brussels, Belgium (Flower Carpet)

After a fun day "exploring" Mini-Europe we headed into downtown Brussels to find our hotel and check out the Flower Carpet!

We stayed at the Chelton Hotel, which was not within walking distance of the Flower Carpet but was withing walking distance to the Schuman Metro Station.  It was 93 EUR for one night (including parking but excluding breakfast) and the staff was friendly and the hotel was clean.

Brussels, Belgium (Mini-Europe)

This weekend we decided to head to Belgium to check out their Flower Carpet!  On the way there we stopped by Mini-Europe to let the kids burn off some energy....

Mini Europe awesome!  It's located just outside of Brussels and shares a huge parking area (5 EUR per day) with the water park Oceade and the Atomium.

Wachenheim, Germany (Kurpfalz Park)

Took the kids on a day trip to Kurpfalz Park today!

We all had a blast tackling the slides and toboggan run, playing in the playgrounds, and checking out the animals!

Mehlingen, Germany (K1 Waldseilpark)

Took the husband on an anniversary date to the K1 High Ropes Course in Mehlingen today!

The park has eight courses with over 80 different obstacles with varying difficulties (there is even a kids area for the younger ones)!  There is also a bistro for snacks, a bathroom, and changing area.

Kaiserslautern, Germany (Japanese Gardens)

Had a lovely time at the Japanese Gardens in Kaiserslautern!  The kids really enjoyed the fish in the koi pond and "exploring" the trails through the gardens.  The weather was perfect and the entire place was so peaceful!

Gran Canaria, Spain

We booked an amazing all-inclusive trip to the Canary Islands for 4th of July weekend through Mit-Reisen Travel Agency!  We highly recommend using them for quick getaways and they are always having amazing deals on their Facebook page. The staff is also super-friendly and easy to get in contact with!

Our package was for 5 days and 4 nights at a 4-star hotel (Paradise Valle Taurito) with all meals and drinks (alcoholic and nonalcoholic) included.  We also had free access to the water park in front of the resort!  All that and airfare for four people came to just 1,256 EUR.

Stuttgart, Germany (Sensapolis)

We took the kids to Stuggart today to check out Sensapolis, a gigantic indoor family park!

It cost 68 EUR for three adults and one child (children under three years are free). Worth every penny!  The park is divided into several areas - a spaceship, knowledge center, riding area, adventure trail, kid's land, climbing area, fun shooter, pirate ship, water area, and high wire garden!

Brugge, Belgium

After a wonderful evening in Oostend, we got up early and took a quick 15 minute train ride into medieval city of Brugge. We were really excited to go exploring in it's city centre...the whole thing is named a UNESCO World Heritage site!

Once there we walked the downtown area for a little bit, checked out the Church of Our Lady (with the second tallest brickwork tower in the world), then took a canal tour of the city.  It was beautiful!  

Oostend, Belgium

My husband planned a little getaway for us for us while Grandma was in town...we spent a wonderful few days in Belgium exploring and relaxing in Oostend and Brugge!

We got into Oostend in the late afternoon (it is about a 4-hr. drive from us).  Once we got to our amazing apartment overlooking the Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, we headed to a nearby restaurant to taste-test some Belgium beer and have dinner!

Pisa, Italy (Piazza dei Miracoli)

Today was our final day in Italy (insert sad face).  After a quick trip up the Dome, we packed up and boarded the train....destination....Pisa.

Florence Italy (Duomo)

Since we weren't able to tour Brunelleschi's Dome yesterday, we decided to try one more time before we had to leave for Pisa...and we are so glad we did!

The view at the top of the Dome is breathtaking and completely worth each of the 463 steps you have to take to get to the top!  It was the largest masonry dome ever built and has an amazing fresco on the ceiling of the Last Judgment. Totally worth seeing while you are in Florence!

Florence, Italy (Accademia)

This morning we woke up early to try and get in line to climb up Brunelleschi's Dome; however, we were disappointed when we got there to see that it was undergoing an unexpected closure and wouldn't open until after lunch.

It didn't stop us from having a pleasant morning though!  We found a nearby park and let the kiddos play for awhile.

Florence, Italy (Galileo Science Museum)

This morning we headed to Florence!  We purchased a family ticket for 130 EUR from Trenitalia (Roma Termini to Firenze S.M.N.,which took about an hour and a half).  The kids LOVED the train ride...probably because they got iPad time!

Once in Florence we walked to our hotel (Hotel Fedora) to check-in and regroup. The hotel room was a very decent size with a dining area/living room and bed downstairs and a loft bedroom upstairs.  The staff was excellent and put out a nice little breakfast of bread and jams but it was definitely only a 2-star hotel.  The bathroom was super-tiny, it was dimly lit, the wi-fi only worked in the lobby and there was no air conditioning...but for the cost (180 EUR for two nights) and location we didn't complain (until after we had walked around all day and came back to a room hotter than a sauna).

Rome, Italy (National Roman Museum)

Seeing as how we saw everything we had planned to see/do today yesterday we had a nice day to relax, catch up on some laundry, and explore the National Roman Museum before packing up to head to Florence.

Boxer at Rest

The museum is actually divided into four different sites; however, we only visited the site at Palazzo Massimo alle Terme (which is conveniently close to the Termini Train Station).  It is a really nice building with four floors to explore but our children were slowly quickly losing interest in all things "broken." So, we focused on the few highlights we didn't want to miss: Boxer at Rest, Augustus Pontifex Maximus, and The Discus Thrower.

Rome, Italy (Palatine Hill and Roman Forum)

If you think after literally walking around Rome all morning we would be too tired to walk up one of it's most famous hills...you severely underestimate my role as a tour guide.

(They were really hating me at this point, lol!)

Suck it up, buttercup...we've got sites to see and memories to make!

Rome, Italy (Colosseum)

After a busy (but fun), redirected morning we finally made it to the Colosseum! It wasn't super crowded when we arrived (probably thanks to the parade) but we still had quite a wait to go through the security line.  Once "in" we used our Roma Pass to bypass the ticket line and go right inside!

There were tons of people offering every kind of guide and tour imaginable; however, with the way our day was going we knew we didn't have much time before our tired babies had a meltdown!  To try to ward this off and keep everyone entertained for as long as possible, we went to the gift shop and purchased a flip-over book of Rome that allowed you to see what everything looked like then/now (well worth the 20 EURO!).  

Rome, Italy (Trevi Fountain/Pantheon/Spanish Steps)

Initially our plan was to leave our hotel this morning and walk to the Colosseum but because we were re-routed due to the parade, we got the chance to make a wish in the Trevi Fountain, check-out the Pantheon, and walk the Spanish Steps beforehand!

Our first stop was Rome's "Fountain of Youth," a.k.a. the Trevi Fountain.  The monument "depicts Triton taming Oceanus' shell-shaped chariot drawn by sea horses" and tradition holds that if you throw a coin into the fountain (over your shoulder with you back to the water) you will one day return to Rome!

Fun Fact:  An estimated 3,000 EUR is collected a day in the fountain and given to charity.

Rome, Italy (Festival of the Italian Republic)

Today our "plan" was to hit the Colosseum then roam Palatine Hill and check out the Roman Forum. However, we failed to consider that today was Festa della Repubblica Italiana, Republic Day in Italy (kinda like our July 4th).  Most of the sites were closed until mid-afternoon, the streets were closed for parades, security was beefed up everywhere, and things were just utter chaos!

It was really cool to see how they celebrate their holiday though (even if it meant we ended up walking SEVEN MILES with two hot, cranky, small children all day).  And, it actually worked out great because we got to cram a lot more into our trip than we intended to and it made our next day even easier!

Rome, Italy (Vatican)

After touring St. Peter's Basilica and having a quick dinner, we walked back to Vatican City.  We had previously made a 7:30 p.m. reservation online to tour the Vatican Museums (highly recommended to bypass ticket line).

Once there we got into the "reservation-holders" line (to the right).  We were told to get a guard's attention if our entry time was approaching and we weren't moving forward in line but our line went fairly quickly and we had no problems.  You do need to make sure you bring identity documents (passports) with you to verify and complete your reservation.

Rome, Italy (St. Peter's Basilica)

After exploring Castel Sant'Angelo and getting some rest, we headed back to the Trastevere area to see St. Peter's Basilica.

This church is absolutely gorgeous!  It is described "as the largest church ever built and one of the holiest sites in Christendom."  Tradition holds that it is built at the place St. Peter (considered the first pope and one of the apostles of Jesus Christ) was crucified or buried.  His tomb is under the main altar.

Rome, Italy (Castel Sant'Angelo)

We divided up our days in Rome by destination to maximize our time...and today was Vatican Day!  Our first stop was Castel Sant'Angelo so the kids could run around and explore (and get some energy out!) with our final stop of the evening being the Vatican.

We arrived at Castel Sant'Angelo early (there was no queue) and unfortunately used our Roma Pass for free entry (in hindsight we would have paid regular price to enter and use the ability to bypass a line at another site).  Lessons learned.  

Rome, Italy (Arrival)

We went on a six day vacation to Italy this week and had the trip of a lifetime!  We spent three days in Rome, two days in Florence, and one day in Pisa...and would go back in a heartbeat!

Tickets were very cheap flying into Pisa (we were originally going to fly into Rome), under 170 EUR for all three adults and two children!  We ended up splurging on one baggage check (60 EUR) since we had so many people, which worked out nicely because we only had to do laundry once while we were there.

Speyer, Germany (Technik Museum)

Today we took the family to Speyer, Germany to check out their Technik Museum.  We had a lot of fun looking at all the old automobiles, fire engines, trains, and planes...there is even a submarine and space-shuttle!

Our favorite part though was the huge play area in front of the museum with boat rides, go-carts, and a pirate ship playground!

Wissembourg, France

We took our first train ride to France, today!

We ended up taking a USO "Learn to Ride the German Train" tour to Wissembourg in the Alsace region of France.  The tour guide was super friendly and knowledgeable about the German train system.  It was nice to have an English guide to help answer questions and figure things out for the first time!  We'll definitely make use of the train system while we are here...

Kaiserslautern, Germany (Maikerwe)

After visiting last year's Oktoberkerwe, we were super excited for the Maikerwe (May Carnival).  Luckily, Grandma was here to enjoy it with us this time!

This is one of the biggest "folk fests" in the West Pfalz area with tons of food, vendors, craftsmen, beer gardens, and lots and lots of fun RIDES!

Keukenhof Gardens, Holland (Tulip Festival)

We went on a quick weekend getaway to the Tulip Festival in Holland this weekend!  We have heard such lovely things about the gardens and knew that the tulips would be a "must-see" during our time here.

Trying to find a hotel near Keukenhof proved a little difficult on short notice (at least for our price point), so we ended up staying in Rotterdam.  It worked out perfectly though, we left on a Friday afternoon after work and made the four hour drive to Rotterdam with hardly any traffic.

St. Goar & Assmanshausen, Germany (Rhine River Cruise)

Today was Mother's Day and I was so thankful that I got to spend it with my wonderful mama here in Germany!  We spent a perfect day cruising down the Rhine River, touring a castle, wine tasting, and checking out some quaint, little villages along the way!

The tour was offered through the local USO office.  After an early bus ride we arrived at Burg Rheinstein where we were given a brief introduction of the castle's history by an English-speaking employee.  We were then free to tour the refurbished castle, grounds and gift shop on our own.

Landstuhl, Germany (Burg Nanstein)

Grandma is in town!  A trip to Germany would not be complete without touring at least one castle, so we took her to see the nearby ruins of Burg Nanstein.

The castle is nestled on a wooded hill above the village of Landstuhl.  You can see the castle from the village below (it is especially pretty at night) but the best view of the castle is up close and personal.

Heidelberg, Germany (Schloss Heidelberg)

Some awesome friends of ours asked if they could watch the kiddos for the day...we happily agreed...and then hopped on a train bound for Heidelberg!

We had no earthly idea what we were going to do but we've heard nothing but good things about the area so we thought we would be pretty successful at winging it...

Kaiserslautern, Germany (Farmer's Market)

We went to Kaiserslautern today to check out their weekly Farmer's Market...so glad we did!  We came back with lots of yummy, home-grown goodies.

They had just about anything you could ask for...fresh eggs, fruits, veggies, meats cheeses, homemade breads, honey, jams, liquor, fresh cut flowers...just about everything!

Kaiserslautern, Germany (Kaiserslautern Zoo)

Had a fun afternoon visiting the animals at the Kaiserslautern Zoo.  The zoo itself isn't that big but it is very family-oriented and we had a good time!

The main attraction (to us, anyway) was the lion near the front of the zoo.  There was also a neat little trail you can take around a portion of the zoo with some interesting exhibits (in German).

Metz, France

Took a quick day trip to Metz, France today to see the Cathedral...and in one word, WOW!

The Cathedrale Saint-Etienne de Metz is one of the most gorgeous churches we've seen since we've moved to Europe...

Neunkirchen, Germany (Gondwana Praehistorium)

We took the kids to Gondwana Praehistorium today to check out "the worldwide biggest dinosaur-show with huge animatronic dinosaurs" and play in the Gondi's Dinowelt!

Trier, Germany (Porta Nigra)

We went on our first solo sightseeing trip today to Trier, Germany!  Trier is one of Germany's oldest cities with lots of interesting and fun things to do.  On our itinerary for the day was Porta Nigra and the Trier Cathedral...

Porta Nigra is a large Roman city gate dating back to the Middle Ages.  You can go inside for a small fee and even get a guided tour by a "Roman Centurion" during the summertime!