The last two weeks the youth here in Germany, were out of school for Autumn break. So the two weeks were very busy especially with baptisms. It is fun to see the youth come to the temple. Some of them stayed and spent five days of their Autumn break doing baptisms.
On October 25, 2010 we traveled to Cochem. This is a tourist town and so there were many people there, but we had a great time.
Reichsburg Castle
This castle was built in the 11th Century. It was destroyed in the 1600s and then rebuilt in the 1800s. So this is one of the more "modern" castles that we have seen. It was rebuilt by Mr. Louis Ravene who was a rich merchant. The outside is medieval but inside it is an inhabitable nineteenth century chateau. In 1942 Mr. Ravene's decendants were forced to sell the castle to the Reich. Since 1978 it has belonged to the town of Cochem.
One of the streets of Cochem. Note: the Cobblestones--they are not that comfortable to walk on.
We went to lunch at one of the German Restaurants. Karen decided to have an ethnic experience. Actually I wanted to have German sauerkraut (I hadn't had any since arriving in Germany) and whatever this is was the only item on the menu that offered sauerkraut with it. None of us knew exactly what I was ordering other than it was pork. When it came it was what is called the knuckle (knee bone of the pig). The meat tasted good, but was very hard to get to because it was covered in a thick layer of fat (YUCK). The pureed potatoes were okay and the sauerkraut??? It WAS NASTY! So much for having an ethnic experience!
The Mosel River Valley is one of the most beautiful parts of Germany. The Mosel River is one of the longest tributaries of the Rhein River.
We started the climb up to the castle. Don is not satisfied unless he climbs up on something or is hanging on the side of a cliff. Now don't panic--he is just a few feet up off the path and is not really standing on the side of a cliff.
We climbed, and climbed, and climbed. This is our first glimpse of the castle from the pathway.
We climbed up a long ways and then down a long ways and then we had to climb these stairs that went up and up and up.
We are looking up toward the castle from the path below--we decided that we had just about one mile left to climb up and up and up. In front of the castle are many vineyards.
The view of the Mosel River from the castle yard.
A view of the city from the castle.
Another view of the city--note: the vineyards on the mountain side. It is amazing to see where the vineyards are planted--on the steepest mountainsides. They go for miles and miles and miles.
When we finally reached the castle, we discovered that we could have driven up to the parking lot just below the castle--or better yet taken a taxi right into the castle yard. (Wait a minute we need to catch our breath!)
We went to lunch at one of the German Restaurants. Karen decided to have an ethnic experience. Actually I wanted to have German sauerkraut (I hadn't had any since arriving in Germany) and whatever this is was the only item on the menu that offered sauerkraut with it. None of us knew exactly what I was ordering other than it was pork. When it came it was what is called the knuckle (knee bone of the pig). The meat tasted good, but was very hard to get to because it was covered in a thick layer of fat (YUCK). The pureed potatoes were okay and the sauerkraut??? It WAS NASTY! So much for having an ethnic experience! 
The Mosel River Valley is one of the most beautiful parts of Germany. The Mosel River is one of the longest tributaries of the Rhein River. 
We started the climb up to the castle. Don is not satisfied unless he climbs up on something or is hanging on the side of a cliff. Now don't panic--he is just a few feet up off the path and is not really standing on the side of a cliff.
We climbed, and climbed, and climbed. This is our first glimpse of the castle from the pathway.
We climbed up a long ways and then down a long ways and then we had to climb these stairs that went up and up and up.
We are looking up toward the castle from the path below--we decided that we had just about one mile left to climb up and up and up. In front of the castle are many vineyards.
The view of the Mosel River from the castle yard.
A view of the city from the castle.
Another view of the city--note: the vineyards on the mountain side. It is amazing to see where the vineyards are planted--on the steepest mountainsides. They go for miles and miles and miles.
When we finally reached the castle, we discovered that we could have driven up to the parking lot just below the castle--or better yet taken a taxi right into the castle yard. (Wait a minute we need to catch our breath!)
Entrance of the Castle
Inside, the dinning room. We counted the chairs around the table and there were 24.
This is a mermaid lamp, a symbolic figure to keep evil out of the castle.
The is in the weapons room. Knights were usually very small, because the armour is heavy and the horses can't carry large men with large armour. A knights armour together with war-horse was worth about 45 cows.
The big knight's armour: This man lived in Austria (Castle Ambras in Innsbruck) in the middle ages and had a height of more than 7 feet. I wonder how big the horse was that carried that man. These suits of armour are imitations but are typical of the 16th Century armour.
In the courtyard.
Yes, we were really there!
Another entrance to the courtyard.
Starting back down to the city
This is a Church in a neighboring city.
We left the Monsel River Valley and drove to where the Monsel River and the Rhein River meet. The following pictures are of castles that we saw along the Rhein River. We saw many castles but could only get pictures of a few of them. We are facinated by the castles.
October 22, 2010
Tradition is that the person that has the birthday passes out treats to the singers. Here Karen is staying with tradition.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Inside, the dinning room. We counted the chairs around the table and there were 24.
This is a mermaid lamp, a symbolic figure to keep evil out of the castle.
The is in the weapons room. Knights were usually very small, because the armour is heavy and the horses can't carry large men with large armour. A knights armour together with war-horse was worth about 45 cows.
The big knight's armour: This man lived in Austria (Castle Ambras in Innsbruck) in the middle ages and had a height of more than 7 feet. I wonder how big the horse was that carried that man. These suits of armour are imitations but are typical of the 16th Century armour.
In the courtyard. 
Yes, we were really there!
Another entrance to the courtyard.
Starting back down to the city
This is a Church in a neighboring city.
We left the Monsel River Valley and drove to where the Monsel River and the Rhein River meet. The following pictures are of castles that we saw along the Rhein River. We saw many castles but could only get pictures of a few of them. We are facinated by the castles.
October 22, 2010Karen's Birthday
It is tradition that the missionaries from our shift meet at the doorway of the person having a birthday and singing a birthday song. The song they sing is a German Birthday song and has several verses.
Here are some of the missionaries.
Here are some of the missionaries.
Tradition is that the person that has the birthday passes out treats to the singers. Here Karen is staying with tradition.
Sunday, October 24, 2010The temple missionaries hold Family Home Evening on Sunday Evening. This last Sunday for Family Home Evening we attended a Lutheran Church for a Concert. This picture was taken as we were walking to the Concert at the side of the Temple. And Yes, it was very cold!
The steeple in the background is of the Lutheran Church. The concert was very nice--there was all kinds of music: Movie Songs, Folk songs, instrumental music and there was no preaching!! It was very intersting to hear Music of the Night in German.
An interesting old building on the walkway to the church.
Picture is out of order, but Karen received these flowers for her birthday from the Frosts.
And these flowers from the temple president and his wife: President and Sister Berkhahn
October 18, 2010
We were amazed at the figures that were all hand carved out of different kinds of wood. The following pictures come from this shop.
We left the wood carving shop and traveled to Castle Johannisburg. There is a large palace in Johannesberg. Many places are closed on Germany and the palace is one of these places so we were not able to go inside.
The palace is on the banks of Main River--this picture was taken from the palace gardens.
The gate of the palace gardens
The steeple in the background is of the Lutheran Church. The concert was very nice--there was all kinds of music: Movie Songs, Folk songs, instrumental music and there was no preaching!! It was very intersting to hear Music of the Night in German.
An interesting old building on the walkway to the church.
Picture is out of order, but Karen received these flowers for her birthday from the Frosts.
And these flowers from the temple president and his wife: President and Sister Berkhahn
October 18, 2010
We traveled to a wood carving shop in Aschaffenburg.
We were amazed at the figures that were all hand carved out of different kinds of wood. The following pictures come from this shop.
We left the wood carving shop and traveled to Castle Johannisburg. There is a large palace in Johannesberg. Many places are closed on Germany and the palace is one of these places so we were not able to go inside.
The palace is on the banks of Main River--this picture was taken from the palace gardens.
The gate of the palace gardens
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