Ahhhh, Heidelberg . . .

Every day I keep thinking, "This has been my FAVORITE place!!" I honestly could not say that one is my most favorite, but the day we spent in Heidelberg yesterday was WONDERFUL!! The schloss in Heidelberg (the castle/palace ruins on the hillside) was just SPECTACULAR!! Our guide at the castle was terrific, and I learned SOOO much!! I could have spent two days there, easily . . .


We also toured the apotheke museum (that would be German for "pharmacy"). I seriously started to get giddy!! I kept thinking, "Holy cow!! A room like this would be a crafter's DREAM!" All those little drawers and shelves!! Ahhhh, Heaven!!!



You can see the schloss (castle) on the hill behind me. The whole entire city was so picturesque and beautiful. Those early Europeans really knew how to choose their real estate, I tell ya!! We have been so fortunate with the weather, also. It was overcast yesterday, but we never really got any rain (which I hear is pretty lucky). So much to see and do that rain could hardly spoil it anyway.

We have seen many castles, palaces and churches. We have also visited many kloisters (monasteries). We went the kloister in Maulbrun a few days ago. Soooo lovely. There was a musical trio practicing in the chapel there (a violin, clarinet and piano) while we were walking around the grounds. Honestly, could it GET any BETTER? The music was sooo beautiful and the surroundings were amazing . . . a truly wonderful combination. We saw several wedding parties there as well. What a glorious setting for wedding photographs!!


Ron, Devan and I climbed the hill up to the schloss in Heidelberg. (Our friend, Elke, my father-in-law and mother-in-law all took the tram to the top.) Devan didn't REALLY carry me up the hill . . . we were just mugging for the camera. I need all the exercise I can get, baby! Especially if I keep running into . . .



. . . delicious things to eat like this!! (I got this slice of heavenly cake in Bad Urach!) I can say that I have enjoyed every pastry I have eaten (except, of course, for that chocolate-covered snowball thing that tasted like cardboard in the middle - it was the first thing you saw me eating several posts back . . . it's okay, though, 'cause the chocolate on it was good!)


We have been staying with a close friend of our family since Saturday near Karlsruhe (her name is Elke - she is in the picture above). She is the most INCREDIBLE cook!! Better than ANY restaurant we have been in, that's for sure!! She took us to the most glorious park on Saturday afternoon. The flowers and trees were breathtakingly beautiful. I really enjoyed that day as well. There was a palace there and some other really incredible-looking buildings. Lovely sights around every corner . . .

Which brings me to the long-awaited-and-promised UGLIEST card I have EVER made!! I remember having an idea in my head when I made this. Too bad it couldn't get past the brain barrier . . . it seems to have gotten lost somewhere between the picture in my head and the tips of my fingers!! Isn't this just AWFUL??? C'mon, admit it!! It's HIDEOROROUS!! (Good adjective from "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" with Jim Carrey! LOVE that word!) I don't even own that stamp set anymore . . . I shamed it so terribly with this card that I couldn't bring myself to ink it up again . . . EVER!!

I will have a little more to share with you before we fly home on Thursday . . . actually, I could fill PAGES of blog posts with photos, but I will spare ya the slideshow!!! Have a wonderful Monday!!