Day 47: Exploring Rhotenburg, Schneedallen balls, and a Night Watchman Tour (June 30):

   Today we woke up, had breakfast at the hotel, then we walked around Rhotenburg. We didn't even drive, it was so small. This bed and breakfast is so tight and the ceilings so low, that it is much more pleasant to be outside (Benson has head scars to prove that statement to be true - poor guy forgot to duck once and knocked himself out on the top of our bedroom doorway).

     There was a church there, but honestly, I was tired of all the churches! So Mom and Dad went inside (and met someone from Littleton, Co).

 Apparently, in the middle ages, artwork depicting Christ in the garden of Gethsemane were very common.

   We got these ball candies, called Schneedallen balls. They are like big doughnuts as big as baseballs, and rolled in different yummy toppings. We ate these and I watched everyone while Mom and Dad were in the church.

   We walk to the market, and all around Rhotenberg (we stalk up on binkies).

 

 

The door reminds us of the door in the painting of Christ in the red robe, knocking at he door.

 

 

 Each of the kids get some spending money. Kennedi spends hers right away on a ring. Peyton knows exactly what he wants: two boxes of blue berries. It's fun to see what the kids buy. The big kids go back to the festival and buy ice cream and another ride on the Rainbow. 

   Then we went to get lunch and met this couple from Nebraska who were so nice. We talked about cool things to do for half an hour. Then we left for an all year Christmas store! It's decorated to look like a village outside, in the winter. It was so pretty! We saw really pretty trees. We all got to pick out an ornament for 5 Euros or less. Instead, I got a snow globe of Rhotenburg. It was cool.

 

Tanner, finding a nap whenever and wherever he can.

The kids think it's hilarious that Ausfahrt means exit, and they laugh every time we see it on a sign.

He wakes up for ice cream, of course!

  We find a restaurant and sit outside to eat dinner, but it starts to rain hard, so we quickly move in. Of course we order spaghetti, and some Schnitzel and Cordon Bleu. 

    Then at 8:00pm., we went to an English watchman's tour. The guide was so funny. We got a picture with him. He wore a cape and dressed up. In the tour, there was a REALLY cute boy! He looked like 15/16. He was Adorable! Anyway, he showed us around the town, told us it's history and the role of a night watchman, and told us about a restaurant called Hell, and keeps making hell jokes. He says, "So if someone tells you to 'go to Hell', tell them thank-you, it's a good recommendation."

I have to add that when all six kiddos walk up for their photo shoot with the wathcman, there is an audible, "aaahh" from the crowd.

 

 Then Talie, Dallin and I go to find the city wall, and walk along it. It is super cool! It feels like you are in a fairy tale.

 

 

   We have trouble finding still water here. Everyone drinks carbonated water - I have no idea why! So many times we have hurriedly opened up a bottle of cold, fresh water in hot temperatures, only to hear a fizz and see bubbles race to the top, and realize we bought the nasty water. Now we ask for water without gas. We did come up with a good solution for gassy water - pour grape flavored powder in and wala!: Grape soda that everyone likes (except for Talie, of course)!