Monthly Archives: February 2025

Garmisch-Partenkirchen

26 Wednesday Feb 2025

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After a “normal” week, we are back on vacation this week for Ski Break (that is really what it is called). Ty really wanted to go skiing, so we planned a vacation in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, which is at the base of the Bavarian Alps. It’s a beautiful area with some unique touches and amazing food.

When we got home from Brussels, Jay and Ty joined the Glace’s and Ted for a Frankfurt Eintracht football (soccer) game.
It is Fasching time in Germany. It is celebrated during Carnival and while it has roots as a religious event before Lent, an outsider’s perspective is that it seems to be more around getting dressed up and going to parties. It’s like a multi-day Halloween party.
Garmisch. Gorgeous.
We are staying at an Air BNB called Chalet Alpspitz. It is beautiful, and I love listening to the mountain stream in the backyard.
Dinner on night 1 was at Hotel & Gasthof Fraundorfer. Entertainment was provided by a live accordion player and 2 adorable boys dancing in a traditional style in their liederhosen. Classic Bavaria. The food was delicious.
On Sunday we headed up the mountain to the Zugspitze and the highest point in Germany. We took a cogwheel train up the mountain. It was Kaycee’s first train ride. The first hour was fine, and then we entered a tunnel for 20 minutes of darkness. I did not love that part of the trip. It took me about 15 minutes to recover when we arrived at the top. Felt a little nauseous and claustrophobic.
The train was really climbing. The kids had fun playing with gravity.
We rented a few sleds and sent the kids (and Paul) on a loooooong hike to the top of the sledding hill. You can easily see Jay in this picture. Can anyone see Paul and Lily? If anyone from the top of the mountain reads this blog, PLEASE for the love of God put in a lift. The kids only went down the hill twice because they were so exhausted. The only reason why they went twice instead of once is because it was super intense. I will post the sledtastrophe video on Facebook.
So this place was seriously cool (no pun intended). Iglu Dorf. This is a giant snow fort that has a bar and several hotel rooms ALL MADE OUT OF SNOW!! The next group of photos are from inside. Absolutely incredible carvings. In the spring it all melts away. Next winter they will spend 5-6 weeks building a new one.
Sip on a glass of wine, take in the view, and watch the skiers zoom past? Not a bad way to spend a Sunday.
We took a short ride on a gondola (Kaycee’s first) to get to the highest point in Germany. The clouds were rolling in so we didn’t get the full experience but it was still neat to be above the clouds.
The highest point in Germany (and apparently the highest hat in Germany also).
Glace’s (minus 1)
We crossed a bridge into Austria before heading down the mountain. This time we took a gondola (somehow I didn’t get any photos).
From the gondola stop we switched back to a train. The skiers stopped at Hausberg to get fitted for their ski equipment and finalize ski plans for the week.
Dinner on Sunday night was at Seehaus Restaurant & Cafe. There is a lake next to the restaurant but it was dark out so we couldn’t see it. Wah wah. The food was delicious.
On Monday Jay and the kids had a lesson with Olivia. There is a US military base in the area, and a resort for military families. The Hausberg ski school and equipment rental is employed by Americans. It was so nice to not have to worry about anything getting lost in translation.
While half the group was on the mountain, Jessica, Paul and I explored the town. First stop was Edelweiss Resort which is only accessible to US military families and their guests.
Wandering through town
Ok. So these wooden benches with Bavarian people painted on the ends are SO COOL. I feel like I need one in my life. There are several sprinkled around the town.
We ate lunch at Mohrenplatz. Outside. In the sun. It was 50 degrees Fahrenheit!!
My Treasury eye couldn’t help but notice the world’s most beautiful Commerzbank building.
I love the architecture in the area. Many of the buildings/homes have intricate paintings on the outside.
Jessica and Paul headed back home, so Kaycee and I walked to the lodge to meet the skiers. They all had a great time (and were exhausted)!
Tuesday morning we dropped Ty and Cam off at the lift and went to Wafflehaus. Important note: this is NOT part of the Waffle House chain in the US. Jay has a weird love of the US WH, so he will not be happy with me saying this, but this Wafflehaus was so much better than USWH. I mean, not even comparable.
I believe I ate this hot cherry Belgian waffle with ice cream in record time
Why wouldn’t you put schnitzel on your breakfast sandwich?
Ty and Cam found some friends from school!
Warning. The next section is mildly inappropriate but I feel like I need to include a record of this observation. I am somewhat immature and enjoy bathroom humor. This sign made me chuckle. Translation is bath alley but I only see Bad Gas.
This is the best “toilets are this way” sign
Enter a stall and enjoy the artwork
Well hello there
I almost didn’t post this one, but come on. How could I not? I was cracking up in the bathroom. For the guys reading this, most women’s bathrooms do not have this kind of decor. Note that these are 3 different public stalls, at 3 different locations. It’s a thing here. 🙂

We are here all week – looking forward to more adventures!

Brussels. A You’re A Peein’ City

16 Sunday Feb 2025

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Ty had an indoor baseball tournament in Schriesheim, Germany last weekend. I wish there was indoor baseball in the US. It is super fast-paced and fun! The Redwings got 3rd place – only lost 1 game against the team that took 1st.
Lily got a new curling iron and has been fun practicing with the different attachments. I benefit from this interest of hers.
Ty’s basketball team had games in Brussels. Lily had a birthday party so Jay and I drove the quick 4 hours to cheer on the boys. Both games were good match-ups and ended in nail-biting finished. Won the first game and lost the second. The boys played well!

Ty stayed with a Host family and a teammate, so Jay and I had a date night in Brussels, which just happened to be Valentine’s Day!

The Grand Place was gorgeous! It is a huge square with beautiful buildings accented in gold.
We had dinner at Cave Du Roy – a random The Fork find. It was delicious! These Belgians really love their beer. This is a small (j/k). I had to use 2 hands to pick it up.

Did you know that Brussels is famous for 3 “mannekin pjs”? The city is full of little trinkets of peeing statues.

The most famous is the peeing boy. My mom had a fountain with this statue when I was growing up. Who knew that it was a copy of this?
One of the best photobombs ever
This is Jeannekin Pis. I find it hilarious that they named this statue after me.
A closeup of Jeanne. Apparently they often decorate the statues. Jeanne must have needed an IV.
This is Het Zinneke, the peeing dog.
While we were too full to actually eat a Belgium waffle, this is an example of what I mean when I say there are peeing statue items for sale everywhere.
We had a little time Saturday morning to wander around in the daylight. The building behind us is the Belgian Beer World Experience. We didn’t go inside, but the building was beautiful!
This was a cool thing. There were a few of these glass-covered holes around the city showing you the ruins below.
I mean, this doesn’t look like your typical McDonald’s.

We stayed at the Hilton Gand Place. The location was perfect for exploring the massive downtown area. I would have liked to have one more day when shops were open, but we had a great time wandering around at night. Cool city, beautiful buildings, yummy beer, fun atmosphere.

Big Ben…Parliament

02 Sunday Feb 2025

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Whirlwind 3 days in London. We scratched the surface, saw a lot but only from a distance. I ate some yummy fish and chips, and Lily discovered the joy of eating baked beans for breakfast.

Look kids! Big Ben
Oh hey. There’s Buckingham Palace.
So pretty
I think we probably need a red telephone booth at our house.
We mastered the Underground. Mind the gap!
A highlight – Hamilton!! The Brits were good sports about the King. :). He’s my favorite. ya da da da da dah….you’ll be back
Such a beautiful theater
Intermission – all smiles!
A chilly Sunday morning loop on the Hop On Hop Off Big Bus.
St Paul’s Cathedral
The Crown Jewels are in that fortress. Would have been neat to go inside and see them – next time!
Look kids! Big Ben!

I didn’t get any good pictures of the basketball team. Unfortunately the boys lost both games, but they played hard. ASL was a solid team.

I love that we can explore a whole new city and country during an easy 3 day weekend. And I loved having a break from Google Translate. We manage pretty well in the land of Deutsch, but it is an additional layer of thinking and is a subtle frustration to not be able to speak the language in Germany. Being able to read and listen to everything without having to exert mental translation energy is a holiday treat.

Cheers mate!!