Weekend getaway in Germany....

ok don't get confused guys....I know it's hard to keep up with me but technically I am still living in Spain at the moment but when an opportunity to travel strikes you gotta take it.  At least that is what I believe.  So here is how my weekend in Germany happened...I got an email from a family who I have known for years back in San Diego that said they were going to be making a trip over to Europe.  Ya, ya I know Europe is a big place but luckily they were going to be in locations kinda near me.  Also the beauty of this place is you can fly anywhere way easier then the states and usually much cheaper.  So I ended up deciding to meet them at the end of thier

Me and the Kids at Burg Eltz

 holiday in Cologne, Germany.  This is a place that I went last year on my adventures however I only got to spend 1 day there and really wanted to spend more time so it worked out great they would be there.  I was only able to get 3 days off so to make the most of my time (thank you to the other nanny I share with here Ezrah) I took a super early flight that required me to be in a taxi at 5am.  Due to an unexpected long Skype call the night before I only got a few hours sleep before the flight but it was all worth it (late Skype call and early flight) once I arrived.  There really is nothing like walking out of the Cologne main train station and being hit in the face with the amazing cathedral.  It is beyond gorgeous and overwhelming just sitting smack in the middle of the city!  Another moment that will never get old no matter how many times I do it.  I didn't know exactly where their hotel was and I didn't have a phone but would just feel my way there as I have become quite good at.  I found a Starbucks with internet to let them know I had arrived and was in wondering route to them.  After a few wrong turns and one stop for directions I was knocking on their hotel room door and hugging

Burg Eltz

 these wonderful people I had not seen in months.  It was so special that I was getting to see them in Europe because I really didn't get to say a proper good bye to them when I left and they are such an important family in my life.  As I walked in they said "Are you ready to go see a castle?"  Ummm is there any other answer to that then yes?  So I set my bag down, used the loo and headed to the car to drive to a castle.  Oh...in the middle of all that (not while I was in the loo) I met their friend Marcus who lives in Dusseldorf and was hanging out with us.  The drive was fine...only a few u-turns due to some GPS directions trying to take us down roads with construction..we made it to the castle.  We had to walk into

Champagne tasting at the castle

 the castle, which was down hill thankfully) but we had some great views as we walked.  The difference between this and other castles is this one was built more for personal use instead of battle so it was hidden in the hills instead of up on the hill to see everything.  Usually castles are more about the views you get from them but this one was about the castle itself which was really cool.  The family that built the castle was into hunting and fishing so it was right on a river that the kids went and played in.  The other cool thing was that the castle is still in the hands of the decedents of the family that built it.  I believe that

Love Lock Bridge

some of them still live there at times.  I loved all the different rooms that were set up for specific things to do.  I would have lived in the ladies workroom which had sewing equipment.  After the castle we headed back into town and the hotel. Now Dave (dad of family I am staying with) has access to the executive lounge at the hotel we were staying at which was amazing!  I have to say this little 3 days was luxury like I haven't known on my travels.  I love my hostels but man sometimes it is nice to have a hotel bed, buffet breakfast and an executive lounge at night with amazing German beers.

City Lights

 After our day at the castle we were all pretty tired so we had a quick rest and snack at the hotel then decided just to take a lovely evening stroll.  We walked the bridge that all the lovers have pledged true devotion to each other with the closing of a lock.  There were a lot of really creative ones on this bridge....different then the other Love Lock bridges I have seen.  We also had some beautiful night time views from the bridge.  The other great thing about visiting people is I get to go walking at night since I am not alone.  Once we felt we had taken in enough for the day we headed back to the hotel to rest up for the next day which was to be packed with more sights and excitement.  I will leave you for now but the weekend in Germany will continue soon.