Sinsheim Auto and Technik Museum - 25 Aug 08

We recently visited an Auto and Technical museum in a little town about 100kms from Stuttgart. It is amazing to find such an incredible place literally in the middle of nowhere. However when you get there you realise why you need the middle of nowhere, to house all the stuff they have on display.

This is an amazing place that has a massive collection of Cars, Planes, War Machines and many much more memorbilia.

They have different themes areas with all different types of machines on display depicting that era or events that happened during that time.

One of the many Automobile displays

Cafetaria with play area in Plane in background

Actual Land Speed record vehicle

Modern Sports Cars on display too..

Lambo and Ferrari Display..

Roadworthy Midget Car..

American Police Car

DeLorean Car from Back 2 the Future..

American 70's Cars..

Fiat500 with Mini Caravan..

Grounded Air France Concorde on display..

What was particulary impressive was the incredible WW2 display, with machinery and history that we had not been exposed to. In fact this was the first place that we have been to in Germany that you see WW2 proudly on display!

Rhine River Valley 15-17 Aug 08

We recently travelled to the famous Middle Rhine River Valley area which is a World Heritage Site because of the huge amount of Castles and Ruins in such a small area. The area stretches all along the The Rhine River from the towns of Koblenz to Mainz. This area is in the middle of Germany.

We stayed in a little village situated in the Northern part of the middle Rhine, closer to Koblenz. We found a typical German/European hotel in a little town called Boppard. THe hotel was old school with green carpets and wallpaper. However we had a room with a little balcony right on the Rhine RIver. Nothing in front of us except the towns little esplanade and the passing ships, it was a fantastic place.

View from Room...

Walking through the narrow, cobble-stoned streets of the town, we really felt like we were in Germany as a tourist would want to see Germany...old village charm. There was nothing much to do in Boppard except walk around the streets and shop, so as you can imagine Mandy was happy! The river front esplande was a great place just to walk with Alex, plenty of boats passing by, Ice cream shops and a very nice playground.

Boppard shopping area..

Shopping mall Rhine style....

Cutie on the Rhine...

Cutie with another cutie...

Sweethearts on the Rhine..

The 1st night we were there, we walked around the whole town it took about 30 mins!!! Alex fell asleep in the pram and Mandy and I stopped a riverside sportsbar...they had tables outside on the river and we sample the local beer and wine. The Rhine river valley area, apart from Castles is famous for wine farms.

On the Saturday, we took a day boat trip up the Rhine to view the castles and Ruins...it was great we boarded the boat at 11h00 and got off at Rudesheim and walked around for 1 hour and then boarded the boat at 16h00 to go back to Boppard arriving back eventually at 19h00. The ship has restuarant on board so it was a great ralaxing day and obviously the best way to see all the castles that are situated directly on the Rhine River banks.

Castle on the Rhine...

Cruise ship we travelled on..

One of many car ferries on Rhine..

On the Sunday we woke up and took a Sesselbahn(Chairlift) up the mountain above Boppard. They have a restuarant situated at top of mountain with unbelievable views of the Rhine. Mandy was whining like a baby as she did not like the chairlift, Alex and I thought it was great!

After that we left to come home, is was really a very beautifull part of Germany...not much to do but nice and relaxing and great sites to take in.

EUROPAPARK 12 July 2008

WOW..WOW...WOW!!!!

What a place, unlike anything that we have ever experienced before, all I could think was that Alex is a spoilt brat having experienced this at 3 yrs old!

Europa Park is the biggest ThemePark in Europe(Other than Paris Disneyland), it is the Europeans answer to the American Theme Park Phenomonen!! I cant compare as we have never been to an American Themepark, but it was absolutely fantastic! We were there for 2 full days from opening(9am) till close (7pm) and we could have been there for another 3 days to be able to experience everything.

Of course we prioritized and fitted in all the major rides, with keeping the kids happy imbetween with some slow paced breather rides.....

Alex really enjoyed the bumper cars, she mus take after

Mommy!!!

On this ride...she looked like her Granny Krull....

The entire park is divided into different areas which is the countries of Europe re-created and within each area with authentic architecture, shops and theme are the rides also designed to fit in with the country that you were in.

Bringing abit of SA culture to Germany...4 people in a

2 seater Taxi!!!

As we walked around we just kept on saying how much mony must have been spent to create this, but @ Eur31.50 per adult for a day pass...I think they have made it up.

This seemed abit steep to pay at first until you get into the park, no expense is spared from the rides to the side shows, we saw world class horse and Ice Shows all included in your entrance fee.

Needless to say we had an unbelievable 2 days, we stayed in the park themed accommodation village(Tipi Dorf) in a American Western Chuck Wagon(was really cool). The accommodation were all wagons, Log Cabins and Indian Tipi Tents, like we were in the Wild West...the kids loved it.

Wagon that we stayed in..

. Inside the wagon..

Tipi Dorf with Silver Star in background..

We will be going back before the end of this Summer for another 2 day q night trip. We are very proud to say that we went on all the rides, ALL OF THEM!!!! Having not been one for Amusement park Hair raising rides(mates can vouch for that), I went on rides that I think we make most scared and ill! I think it is the fact that Germans are very precise and maticulous so you know the rides are 200% safe and maintained, so not so much Eishhhhhh!!

Pictures of the Rides

Fjoord Rafting

Matterhorn Blitz high and quick drops..

Atlantic Splash...

Alpine Splash..

Eurosat Rollercoaster in teh dark inside Dome Sphere..

EUROMIR, 2nd best ride in the Park

You start the ride in the bottom of 1 of those towers

and then go round and round up until the top then the lights come on and there

is a massive space rocket in the middle, then the doors open and you are thrown

all over the show...

Click on the play button.

THE SILVER STAR.....

Largest and longest Roller Coaster in Europe, 80m high, 130km/h, drops that are about 75deg...

been there done it, got the T-Shirt....will NEVER go again......

Click on the play button.

We could think of many back home that we would love to take to this park, there is so much to do for everyone....from hectic hair-raising rides to just relaxing and taking in a show and the sights. So the invitation is open to everyone.......??