The Foy Family

Cable Cars, Austria, Gorges and Farms (Oh My!)

(Because of a lack of internet, please click this link to see the pictures)

What a crazy few days the past days have been! We’ve been so busy (and tired!) that we’ve barely had time to update.

We’ll start with the Cable Cars. On Wednesday, we had the opportunity to take a series of cable cars not that far from our hotel to one of the highest points in Germany. It was a spectacular ride because it was so quiet, and so vast, it was hard to not take in the immense beauty of it all. As you’ll see from the pictures below, nearly every mountain peak we’ve come across has a cross at the top, and this one was no exception. You’ll also get to see Gail (Chrissy’s Mom) right where she likes it – on the edge!

After the cable cars, we hopped in our car and drove 2.5 hours to Austria, specifically to Salzburg. This was the town part of The Sound of Music was filmed in, and since Annabelle and Charlotte have been watching that movie so much, we wanted to go and see it. On the good side, we did see it, and managed to avoid getting arrested (for driving through a pedestrian center when we got lost) and avoided a 200 Euro fine (for driving in a restricted area without a permit). Gail and Bill were not so lucky and got hit with a 100 Euro fine for not having a permit to be on the Austrian Autobahn.

We also discovered that we have very little interest in ever going back to Salzburg. But we did get some neat pictures of the fountain from the movie, and got to enjoy some of the biggest springrolls I’ve ever eaten at an Austrian Chinese restaurant in the middle of town.

On Friday, we hike to a gorge near our hotel. Well, you drive to the Olympic Ski Stadium where they once did the ski jump (and still have the jump and stadium up), and then you hike for 20 minutes to the entrance, 20 minutes through the gorge, and then a 5 minute steep hike at the end. You can then either turn around and go back through the gorge, or you can follow the rest of the crowds and do a 30 minute hike up and around to get back, or you can think you know what you are doing at end up hiking for an additional 3.5 hours – nearly all up hill – during which time you give up and hike all the way back to the gorge and just go back through it.

Of course, us getting lost came at nap time, so you’ll see from the pictures below where Annabelle slept for her nap (and Charlotte was asleep in the sling).

Finally, we checked out of our hotel in Garmisch and made the nearly 6 hour drive across Germany to Haslach. We’re staying on a farm which is absolutely beautiful. We got in Sunday night, and on Monday we drove over and got to see some really neat animals at a local zoo. Nevermind that it was 40 degrees F and raining (or at least, the girls didn’t seem to mind). We got to see sheep, alpacas, llamas, tons of owls, bobcats, pigs, and a very cute fox of some sort. All for 9 Euros for all 5 of us.

Then this evening we stayed on the farm and walked around to see the cows and take in some of the views. It is very hard to capture with pictures how beautiful the countryside is. We’re planning on riding the train, going to see the world’s largest cuckoo clock, perhaps going to EuropaPark, and many other things before we have to head out to Munich. Here on the farm we have no internet access, so updates will be spotty until we get over to Munich.

Enjoy the pictures! (Because of a lack of internet, please click this link to see the pictures)

Cory, Chrissy, Annabelle and Charlotte

Day 2 – Cinderella’s Castle

This morning we took the family up to see Neuschwanstein Castle which is about a 70 minute drive from the hotel. This castle was what they modeled Cinderella’s castle off of, and is absolutely stunning. It is an interesting ride to get there – once you drive there, you park at the bottom, purchase your tickets, and then can either hike up to the castle (30-40 minutes) or take a horse carriage (30-40 minutes) or take a bus (faster, but doesn’t go all the way up). Chrissy’s mom, the girls and I all took the horse carriage up, while Bill and Aunt Kay hiked.

Once you arrive at the top, you then have a 5-10 minute hike up to the castle proper, and the tour takes you up approximately 160 steps (and then back down at the end). The history was really fascinating – the castle took either 11 or 17 years (I can’t remember) to build, and the King lived in it for just over 100 days before dying. Our tour guide told us that the King was found in the bathtub and died mysteriously. In talking with some other people who had been on other tours, they said that either he committed suicide, drowned, killed his doctor and drowned, killed his doctor and committed suicide, or was beheaded. Strange.

In addition to the castle, the girls got to eat a Schitzel Sandwich for the first time.

Anyway, tomorrow we’re likely doing a bike ride and perhaps a cable car ride, and then have several other activities planned. New pictures below!

Cory, Chrissy, Annabelle and Charlotte

Pictures from our first day in Germany

Hi Everyone,

Chrissy, the girls and I are spending the next couple of weeks throughout Germany. After 16 hours of travel (13 hours flying, 3 hours airport and via car) we arrived in Garmisch yesterday. The girls were amazing troopers doing *very* well on the plane ride and in general just being their sweet selfs. We’re over with Chrissy’s mom, step-dad, and aunt. Today we got to do a hike from our hotel in Garmisch up to a lake nearby. We wanted to share some pictures from that, and hope to share even more pictures as we explore more of the amazing countryside and as the leaves change color. Be sure to click on the picture to see a bigger copy!

- Cory, Chrissy, Annabelle and Charlotte