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...

We figured the whole train thing out somewhat easily and once we got to Heidelberg we bought a bus ticket to get downtown (from there everything was in walking distance).

Our first stop was the Heidelberg Castle.  We figured we'd take the cable car up to the castle entrance; however, we got off at the wrong stop and weren't allowed to go back down (or we'd lose our chance to go down after viewing the castle).  No worries though, there was a really nice and well-marked trail that led right down to where we needed to go and we got a good view of the back of the castle from the trail!

Once to the castle we headed to the ticket office and purchased a one-hour guided English tour (which was something we wouldn't have been able to do with the kiddos).  We had a great tour guide and the tour itself was really interesting...

(the poop shoot!)

(this little baby reaches down to the HUGE wine barrel downstairs)

After our tour, it was only fitting that we I have a nice glass of Eiswein in front of the world's largest wine barrel!  

Then we went out to the balcony for an amazing view of downtown Heidelberg and the River Nektar!

We intended to take the cable car back down but once we got done with our tour we were only a short walk downtown and we'd have to walk back up to get to the car.  So off we went...

There were some really good views of the castle from the village and lots of shops and restaurants along the square.  There was also a really cool looking church that was holding services.  You could hear the organ playing from the street!

However, soon the weather took a turn for the worse and we ducked in a restaurant for a nice long lunch waiting for the rain to pass.

(My husband was not a fan of the "purple crap" on his steak!)

After lunch we took a quick stroll across the Old Bridge before heading back to the bus stop.  We had a little time left before we had to get back on the train so we went by the Old Heidelberg University and student prison.

We really enjoyed our "Date Day" away and had an awesome time exploring Heidelberg...there is a reason this is one of the most visited cites in the world!