Friday, November 22, 2013

Can You Guess???

Over the long Veterans Day weekend we decided to make the 5 hour trek to the city of dancing houses, bicycles, canals, fresh herring, Dutch pancakes, Anne Frank, marijuana bars and legal prostitution. We're talking the home of capitalism, the first stock exchange, and the country that lent us funds for the Revolutionary War. Enough hints?   You guessed it!  Amsterdam!

I must say, Amsterdam was nothing like I pictured it.  In fact, it was much more beautiful than I pictured.   The buildings literally lean due to the water levels in the canals, giving the houses the illusion they are dancing with one another.  The canals are lined with antique fishing vessels newly renovated into house boats.  The residents of Amsterdam's primary mode of transportation is the bicycle.  Bicycles are parked everywhere!  There are actually more bicycles in this city than people.  Families ride their bicycles together and stick their children (some three at a time) in the cart on the front of their bicycle!  People will pedal away with pretty much anything stowed on the front of their bike.

We stayed in a 16th century home right on a canal street.  We had a gorgeous view of the city, pedestrians, and historical church.   We were two blocks from a large daily market, and 3 blocks from the red light district.

The first afternoon we were here we set off on foot to find something to eat.  Strolling the streets we passed many interesting shops and entered into China town.  The aromas from the quaint shops and restaurants flooded the streets, to also include the marijuana bars.  As we searched for a restaurant to grab a bite we soon realized we were making our way into the red light district.  We quickly ushered the children back out of this area.  Oops!

After learning more, we soon realized Amsterdam's red light district is very safe.  The prostitution and drug laws are in place regulating the business practices, so believe it or not, crime is almost non-existent.

While in Amsterdam we dined at a great Italian restaurant.  After speaking with our server from Tunesia we soon realized Amsterdam is quite the melting pot.  Only half the citizens of Amsterdam are Dutch, the other half are International.

We took a canal cruise which situated us 6 meters below sea level.  We learned all about the city to include their method of controlling the water levels in the canals so as not to disturb the city.  Te city remains completely unaffected by the rising and falling of the tide. We saw gathering places of wives of fisherman from the 16th century where they saw their husbands out to sea.

We enjoyed lunch at a small little bar where a polish waitress took Liam behind the bar to help serve drinks.  She doted on his through our whole meal.  The kids enjoyed Dutch pancakes with bacon.

With Marylou and Jim traveling with us, Daniel and I had the opportunity to tour the red light district at night without the kids.  I have never seen anything like this in my life.  The streets were hopping and windows filled with gorgeous women from all over the world.  One cannot help but wonder why a woman would choose this profession.  From what I understand, the brothels are registered with the state and follow strict mandates.  The rooms are then rented by the individual "women of the night."  A typical "trick" will cost these women $50.  They rent their window where they advertise their service for about $150 a night.  You can do the Math!  We saw many satisfied customers coming out of such brothels.

We decided to stick out the 45 minute wait in line to tour the Anne Frank house.  It was most certainly worth the wait.  Seeing this young girl's pictures on her bedroom window all these years later and her actual diary was an incredible experience for each and every one of us.  We walked the very same hallways as Anne and her family.  These experiences have given the kids and ourselves a whole new perspective on history and life in itself.  

    "We all live with the objective of being happy; our lives are all different and yet the same."
     - Anne Frank



My boys in Amsterdam.


Us.



We're on a boat.


Look at this good looking crew!


Bikes, bikes, and more bikes.


Beauty.


Us.


This way to Anne Frank house.


Pretty Fall Day.


Look at those dancing houses.


Me and my girl.


My better half.


Me and my girl.




Our view.


Our rental loft.


Outside our room.


Amsterdam.

Sunday, November 3, 2013

Hohenecken

So as you know we are homeschooling.  Germany can be a very dreary place for many days in a row. So what do you do when you are living in Germany, you are homeschooling, and you get a 75 degree day where there is not a cloud in the sky?  You take a field trip!

The kids and I went on a hike up to Hohonecken Castle, in the tiny little town of Hohonecken about 15 minutes from our home in Weilerbach.  


Hohenecken was constructed sometime around 1200 and is unique in having a five-sided keep, though little of it is left.  Only a few other castles have keeps with more than four sides.  

The castle was of particular importance in the 1200's and during the time of the Holy Roman Empire.  They helped enforce the control of a key raw material of the empire, being the forests.  

The castle was sacked during the Peasants war of 1525 and during the Thirty Years War the Hohoneckeg family siezed up the Imperial declaration that the co-owners from the province Pfalz had broken the peace by supporting the Protestants, thus laying sole claim to the property.  

In 1688, Hohenecken was destroyed by French troops and the castle was never rebuilt.

Once again, the views were what you would only imagine to find in a story book, with the fall folliage, and the quaint German village neatly nestled between two hillsides.   We sat and took in the scenery, played in the leaves, explored the castle, and even observed a caterpillar we found in the grass.  

"Blessed are the curious for they shall have adventures."  Lovelle Drachman


                                                                             Hiking.


Picture perfect.


The most amazing 4 peopleI have ever met.


Miss Rowan.


Miss Rowan.


My little observer.

         
                                                                 Hohonecken Autumn



Hohonecken


Hohonecken.  You can see for miles!


My 4 little travelers.


Double trouble.


Teddy and the Hohonecken Castle.


Always absorbed in his own imagination.


Patrick made a friend.


Horsing around.


He's flying!!


Heidelberg

Temperatures have fallen tremendously here in Rheinland Pfalz.  The Finleys are experiencing autumn for the first time in years.  I don't know what it is about fall, but I love the crisp air, the pallet of colors decorating the leaves, and the smells.  Don't forget the smells.  The leaves.  The crisp air.  The fire burning in our living room fire place.  Fireplaces are more than dust collectors here in Germany!

We took a trip to Heidelberg Germany with Grandma and Pop.  We toured the Heidelberg Castle that overlooks the city, took in the views, and watched the kids play in the autumn leaves.  The castle dates back to as early as 1196.  Over the course of history, the castle has been damaged by wars and lightening bolts (several times) and rebuilt again.  Martin Luther, a leader in Christian reformation actually spoke here defending one of his theses and visited the castle.

After touring the castle we made our way down to the Marktplatz where we did a little window shopping and stopped in for dinner at a local brewery.  Following dinner, we made our way onto the old bridge to take in the River Necktar.  The stone bridge was originally constructed of wood before it was knocked out several times by storms and floods.  One section of this bridge was actually blown up by German soldiers to prevent American soldiers from passing into the city from the North.  However Americans were approaching from the West, making German efforts useless.  

The kids were entertained by the violinists playing for spare change.  We stopped to take in a few boats dotting the water, as well as a few standing paddlers on their boards coming down the river.  The hillsides were painted in red, orange and yellow fall folliage.



Taking in the views.


Checking out the castle grounds.


Grandma & Teddy.


Rowan & Daniel.


Patrick & Daniel.


The crew.


                                                                  Paddy Pumpkin.


Teddy.


                                                                  Fabulous Fall Folliage


The older boys checking out the collapsing castle.


Us.


My little "GQ" poser.


Heidelberg Old Bridge


Heidelberg Castle


River Necktar


Old Bridge