LAST MEAL OF MY 20's!!!!
So, here I am, sitting at my wrapped table having my last dinner before I turn 30 in a few hours. I'm actually on my way to volleyball. Jan was in class and I was at home. I had a home made pizza with peppers, salami, & cheese. hehehe. It was yummy. I had a lot of fun playing until 11:30 when I had to go. I know Jan had something up his sleeve.
So after I got out of the shower, he had candles lite and a letter for me. I've never had a birthday start right at the min of midnight. It was special! Turning 30 has been special. I didn't expect it to be a big deal, but not being able to celebrate it with friends and family is a bit different on a special day turning the big THREE-ZERO. None the less, it was a great start to being 30. Jan had a full day prepared for me. We needed a good nights rest so that we can have a full day of fun. The letter was a big hint, but I was so excited about being 30 that I didn't really look at the clue. Not until we got to the location!!!
We had a long hike up the mountain to a castle.HOHENZELLERN CASTLE
We walked up 217 stairs plus some to get to the top. It's low season so not many people going up and down. I think it was forbidden to go on the trails. But we did anyway. No one to stop us. I think it's mainly closed due to the snow and ice. No snow and ice that day. Just coldness!!
I wanted to climb up the side of the wall to get to the castle. Perhaps my prince is waiting for me! Oh wait, he's right beside me. No need to climb up the rocks!
It was a beautiful castle. There wasn't a lot of people around so I could take pictures without waiting for people to go by. It was great. I felt like a princess having her own personal tour all to herself. It felt like my castle that I lived in. But i'm not sure if i really wanted to live there. It was way to cold. No heating system or something. hahhaa
This Castle was built in 3 stages. The 1st stage was destroyed by one of the wars, but then the rest was build for the royal people. We definitely felt royal. :)
We went on a tour inside and we hoped it was just the 2 of us. But then there was other people who joined in at the last minute. Bummer!
I couldn't believe how beautiful it is. The picture on the right with Jan in it, you can see the different colour of the building. That is the difference of the 2 stages of when the castle was built. I believe that the last stage was finished in the 19th century.
We had to wear these funny looking, warm shoes over our shoes so that we don't bring in the dirt into the castle. We weren't allowed to take pictures but I did manage to take one of the family tree. The royal family still exists today. But they live in Berlin. If they do visit, there is a room that they stay in at the castle since everything else is for tourist. What a beautiful place.
Then, Jan took me to a another small town near by. We had some time to shop and then we went back to Tuebingen, return some books, bought some baked goods and went home to relax before we went out for dinner. We made some more pearls for bubble tea after our dinner. We went to a Greek Restaurant just around the corner from our house. Therefore, we would be able to have a glass of wine and not having to drive home. We want to try all the different places in our small town to see what it's like to give in a small town. We already tired all 3 restaurants in out town. I believe that's it. We only like one of them. The other 2 are not on our list to go back to. Sorry....they didn't impress us enough.The beginning of my 30's wasn't so bad. This is a year of transition and more great things for me. I'm glad to have had the time in Germany to reflect and to live each day with a smile on my face. It's great to wake up every morning to be with someone that you love and willing to cherish every moment with them. It's that what life is about! Living it!!!
