Germany Trip Day 6: Heidelberg to Maulberg

We experienced an unpleasant surprise in the morning after breakfast when Timothy received a notice from our US bank that some money had been withdrawn from our account – the exact amount that had NOT come out of the ATM the evening before. So, after breakfast, we packed up, I snapped some pictures of the hotel room for posterity, and we tried to figure out how to best handle the situation. We finally decided that Timo should go back into town solo to try to talk to people at the bank.

Our room in Heidelberg

The kitchenette

The kids' room (K enjoyed snuggling on that chair to read)

The foyer area

The other side of the foyer

While Timo paid the bill, I took the kids down the road behind the hotel to some of the local farmer’s stores in their barns. The final destination was a bakery at the end of the road. When we got to the bakery, I purchased a raisin bun and an apple pastry for us to eat in addition to the two apples and one carrot we had bought along the way. Timo met us when we were almost to the bakery and walked some of the way with us, but he then ran back to get the car and try to find out from the bank what happened to our money. He ended up meeting us with the car and driving everyone back to the hotel, where we waited in the shade on the grass while Timo went back into Heidelberg.

We ended up making the bakery treats into a mini-picnic along with a cup of yogurt we had left over from our trip to the grocery store.

The kids with their apples they got from a local farmer

I thought this hayfield by the bakery looked so picturesque.

H walking around while we waited

Sweet girl

Happy Baby

AJ downing his yogurt. We didn't have a spoon, but he made do.

Messy face

Finding his bellybutton

Timo finally returned with no conclusion to the mystery of our missing money. We all hopped in the car and headed to a view the Schwetzingen Castle gardens before journeying south toward my cousin's house in Maulberg.

Walking toward the entrance of the castle

Looking from the castle out toward the gardens

Front of one of the Zirkelbauten, originally intended to be an orangery.

Walking along next to the zirkelbaut.

Rows of trees leading away from the castle

One of many groups of arched hedges.

I think this is the bath house.

One of the fountains, looking away from the castle.

Another archway, leading to a statue at the end

I loved the flowers. They are just gorgeous.

I wish my garden looked like this.

View from the flowers toward the castle.

Looking down a side path

One of the side fountains

The center fountain closest to the castle



These are kids on the backs of geese.



The castle from in front of the fountain

Another side fountain

Another perfectly symmetrical path

The lake toward the back.

This mallard decided to show off his feathers for me.

A swan saying, "Hello."

There were a bunch of little ducklings that the kids loved.

H and the swan checking each other out.

All the kids with the swan. K is holding H back. :)

The statue of Danubius in the lake

Looking toward the castle from the lake

H checking out the flowers on the way back

View of the other zirkelbaut from the gardens

After leaving the gardens, we drove to my cousin's house. All three kids fell asleep, making the drive much less stressful despite the traffic on the autobahn. We arrived at Karen’s house sometime around 5:30pm, and we spent the evening getting settled into our temporary quarters and catching up with family. The kids loved playing with their third cousin, and they also thoroughly enjoyed the toys, books, and puzzles that Karen has bought for her daughter. I think it was a much-needed break from all the traveling.