Van Essen Adventures

Nuremburg Rally Grounds

Friday - February 20, 2009
Today we headed to Nuremburg without the kids. Jer took the day off work and just the 4 of us(M0m, Dad, Jer, and Kimber) went. We encountered snow on the way there and while we were in Nuremburg - but today that was okay as we weren't trying to keep 4 little kids happy or pushing a stroller.
We started off the day by going to the Documentation Center which is part of the former Nazi Rally Grounds. The Documentation Center is housed in a building that Hitler started however never completed. This building - which was suppose to be his Congress Hall - was HUGE! It was suppose to seat 50,000 men. It was an interesting morning, to say the least. We listened (English audio guides) to so much information on Hitler's rise to power and the Nazi movement; while viewing photographs, videos, and other documentation.

From the outside - and on the inside an unfinished skeleton. Also a picture of what Hitler had hoped it would be.

We also drove around the complex to Zeppelin field. This is where the Nazi Rallies were held in the 1930's. Since it was snowing - its hard to see. But this field was also HUGE. And all around it were these great big pillars as part of the surrounding stands which held 250,000 people.

Jer up on the main platform....that is our car down below (no not the yellow van).

The last picture is of the entire grounds. The Congress Hall is in the middle - it however was never completed as I stated before. Some other parts are also no longer in existance. The straight road you can see in the picture is the Great Road is 200 feet wide. It was the main parade route from the grounds into the city of Nuremburg and points towards the imperial palace. Interesting -thats about all I can say.

Ladenburg

Thursday - February 19, 2009
The sun was once again shining today - so I decided to take mom and dad to the town of Ladenburg. Ladenburg is just northwest of Heidelberg and also along the Nekar River.

The downtown area is filled with old half-timbered buildings. There are some fun little shops here as well.

A few more pictures from around Ladenburg.

The other thing Ladenburg is known for is the Roman remains that were found here. It is interesting to see the straight precise Roman walls compared to the uneven, winding medieval walls. Dad was especially interested in all this historic stuff!

Ladenburg also has a few churches and some buildings that are "painted". This picture looks like bricks - but they are really just painted on.

We stopped to get Turkish Doner Kebabs for lunch. This is roasted lamb that they shave off and put on your sandwhich. They are delicious!

Heidelberg

Wednesday -February 18, 2009

Today it is cold outside -but the sun is shining- and so we ventured into Heidelberg. We took the burgbahn up to the castle - the grounds were very icy - but we still enjoyed the castle, and got some neat pictures with the snow.

Dad and Mom overlooking Heidelberg. The Church of the Holy Spirit (this is where the Heidelberg Catechism was written).

Scenes from the castle grounds

Looking up at the Heidelberg Castle from the bridge. The sun was out -so the pictures are a bit hazy....but we will take the warmth of the sun anyday! The last picture was taken of us inside the Church of the Holy Spirit. Two nice old German ladies stopped to talk with us (I think they liked Silas) and ended up taking our picture.

Mom and Dad are really enjoying their time here. They are soaking everything in....which is A LOT! Dad is marveling at the history -and reading up on all the places we are going to. We are also having some "down" time in the afternoons when the rest of the kiddos get home from school. All in all we are having a GREAT time together!

Special Time with Grandma and Grandpa

Silas is definately getting his share of special time with grandma and grandpa. Here he is with grandma - getting nose kisses....

And having grandpa read him his favorite book - over and over and over again. I think grandpa has gotten some practice reading books to cousin Kyriana back in Iowa....

Happy Birthday Shane!

Tuesday evening we finally celebrated Shane's birthday. We sang Happy Birthday to him and had him blow out the number 8 candle on a cupcake! He also got to open the rest of his birthday gifts. Thanks to those of you who sent gifts, emails, e-cards, and cards to him for his birthday. I can hardly believe he is 8 years old!

Shane with his cupcake - and his gifts....

Mommy, Shane, and Daddy - and all those gifts!

Shane actually opened this gift early - he has been wanting to learn how to play guitar. Here daddy is giving him his first lesson. I think daddy is going to learn how to play too!

Freiburg

Monday - February 16, 2009
After Triberg we headed to Freiburg....which is known to some as the gateway to the southern Black Forest as it is situated on the edge of the Black Forest and the Rhine Valley. Freiburg has a neat old town. One of the main features which make this town unique are its Bachle or water channels which were built in the middle ages to water animals, and wash away filth (sewer system).

There are also two medieval gateways into the city. Both of these are very picturesque.

Another neat building is the Kaufhaus (buying house) which was built in 1520.

And last - but not least - the cathedral, the Minster of Our Lady, with its 377 foot tower which was built by the same builder who tried to build a similar tower in Leeuwarden (crazy that we went to both these places within 3 days of eachother in 2 different countries???) Pictures of the two towers are below....see any similarities? If only the soil in the Netherlands had been a bit harder....a beautiful cathedral may have stood behind the tower there.