Family Trip to Germany

The second week my family was here my dad and brother-in-law showed up. They brought my precious parakeet, Moe. We've missed her for the past eight months. She was hand-raised and is just as friendly as a big parrot. We played her favorite song, and after not hearing it that entire time she still sang to it!

Moe bird.

Anyways, my dad and brother-in-law flew in and then we headed to Munich. We saw Dachau, very heart-breaking. We went to the Munich Ratskeller restaurant for dinner. Then we headed to the Neuschwanstein Castle, otherwise known as the Disney Castle. I'm having to split up the photos into three segments, so that's it for this one. There will be more later.

Visiting Esslingen for ice cream and an afternoon in the park.

Dachau barracks.

Dachau gate, Arbeit Macht Frei - Work Makes You Free

Neuschwanstein in the mist.

Nesting Swans in Esslingen

One of our medieval towns here around Stuttgart is called Esslingen. We took my family there for a stroll on the cobbled streets and ended up in a park so my niece could swing. (She loves to swing.) There was a pair of swans nesting that the city had built a wall to protect. The gander (is that what the male swan is called?) was very protective, but when he sauntered off for a swim I was able to get pretty close. Even with him there he was tolerant. I took some beautiful pictures. When the mother swan stood to move the eggs we counted eight.

We're hoping to go back this weekend to see if the eggs have hatched. Anyone know how long it takes for swan eggs to hatch?