Posted on 12/23/2009 5:53:54 PM PST by paul in cape
LOL! Looks more like iron, or perhaps dark chocolate.
When I was a 9 or 10 yr old visiting in France with my parents many decades ago, the family we visited ate sandwiches at the beach - long skinny loaves sliced in half, with slabs of dark chocolate in between. I found the flavors interesting.
Those are croissants with chocolate tips (probably also filled with chocolate or hazelnut). They just look bigger in the foreground.
Thanks for the info!
I agree, that's a beautiful area. Tons of wood carving crafts in that are, and probably some skiing as well.
As far as Saltzberg, the salt mines have these very long wood slides you go down on burlap sacks that was fun (was decades ago that I've gone).
If I were you, I’d bring a laptop—as the Germans are as well wired for wireless (or better) than we are. Then look up things to see, and places to go near your planned destinations WHILE YOU ARE THERE.
Last time I was in Germany, in ‘06 one of my most memorable trips via Autobahnn was spur of the moment, having looked the place up on Wikipedia—a little town called Fritzlar in N. Hesse (where St. Boniface chopped down the Oak tree...introducing Christianity to Germany). It was gorgeous, fully restored, and a German (only) tourist site—full of timber-frame houses and absolutely charming. I’m not suggesting you go there this time (as it is not near your itinerary)—only that out of the way places are THE BEST!
Best advice: GET OFF THE BEATEN TRACK. Most all educated Germans under the age of 35 will know some English—so don’t be afraid to explore, and see the small towns. The little places are the unappreciated jewels of Germany, and it is FULL of small towns—that remind one of childhood storybooks. Rarely is a town more than 3 or 4 KM (2 or 3 miles) away from another—and everything is connected by mass transit (usually a train).
Austria is the same way—I’ve explored there, and while Wien (Vienna) is nice....the little fairy-tale villages surrounding it are even better. GORGEOUS!!!
I’m very jealous of you, as I’ve never been in winter—and Germans & Austrians are nuts about Christmas.
Froehe Weinachten! (pr. Froy Vinak-ten) Merry Christmas!!! (and have some hot Gluewein in FR’s honor!)
I’ve been in the those areas several times, with a 14 year old, and just this past summer with a 21 year old. I agree with the suggestions people have given, but most didn’t zero in on the “teenagers” part. So here’s what I’d add:
Hallstatt has great scenery, but takes most of the day getting there and back, so maybe skip that.
Salzburg is great, and is the hub of lots of things to do. I agree that Salt Mine tours are great for any age. Also, if they like The Sound of Music, the Panorama Tour is great. I was surprised how much my 21 year old loved it. They also do all sorts of other tours, including the Salt Mines. Unfortunately, our two favorites will be closed due to Winter:
Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest and the Ice Cave (teens love it: you tour it using antique carbide lamps, maybe you can catch it some summer).
You say you’ve booked to Prague. I was just there with my son. Prague is OK, but go one hour further by train to Kutna Hora, with the famous Bone Church. 3-D panorama view is here:
www.360cities.net/image/kostnice-ossuary-in-kutna-hora-czech-republic
Unless it is lousy weather, you can walk from the train station at Kutna Hora. Take a right when you leave the train station, walk about half a kilometer until you reach a main road into town, take a left onto that, and then about another 1/2 km to the church which is on your right and set back from the road about 1/2 block. If you get lost, it’s in the city, so any local will know where it is, even if you have to draw a picture of a bone and a church.
If you get to Munich, my son liked the Science Museum, Dachau, Schloss Nymphenburg (Palace), and Hofbrau House (wild and crazy beer house—touristy, but teens seem to love it).
Have fun!
Don’t forget all the murals on the buildings.
Oh yeh, and don’t speed coming off the Autobahn. When it says 30 km/hr it means it, ‘or they will make ze controls!’ We never found out what that was, but evidently driving as if you were leaving a California freeway is NOT the right way.
OK. You’re back now. Give us a report on where you decided to go and how it went!
How was your trip?
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