We finished off our vacation driving home from Salzburg through Mondsee to see the church where the Sound of Music wedding was filmed. Turns out there was a big festival in town with many dancers and bands playing. We spent a few minutes there seeing the sights then finished off the trip driving home. All together, we traveled right at 2000 kilometers or approximately 1300 miles. We got home safe and sound at about 6:00 on Sunday evening and unpacked. Now we need a vacation from the vacation. Back to work tomorrow processing expenses and balancing books.

Robert and the boys pose on the bridge with Salzburg in the background
Elaine and the boys at the same spot
The boys look at where the Vontrap family hid behind the gravestones in the movie. Really quite a different place. Movies are like that.

Elaine points out a feature to James in Salzburg.
James entertains a street performer.
Robert and the boys overlook Salzburg
The birthplace of Mozart - Got any Mozart Chocolate balls
Look at those new hats. - Salzburg Austria

We finished off the trip by visiting Salzburg Austria. Home of the "Sound of Music" and birthplace of Mozart. The boys were really interested in seeing the sites from the Sound of Music movie as it is one of our favorites. They were also very interested in the Mozart musuem where Mozart was born and lived most of his life. The music department at ICSB has a great music appreciation program and both boys had studied about Mozart so they really got into the Musuem about his life. I was very impressed with both of them and their knowledge of his music and life. In addition, Salzburg is where you get Mozart Balls - A chocolate candy similar to the US malt ball candy. James had to get some. Both of them also got new hats in traditional Austrian fashion. Nathan's hat is the traditional hat worn by young men in Austria while James is more of a fall/winter hat. The weather again was wonderful and Salzburg is always nice. We ate at Pizza Il Sole twice. This is an outdoor cafe that has great brick oven pizza and pasta. Highly recommended and worth the wait even when the waiter couldn't get the order together.

Elaine and the boys pose on the bridge overlooking the castle.
The Rierson family at Neuschwanstein Castle
Nathan took this picture of the castle
Nathan also took this picture of the Castle. What a view.

Today we traveled between Legoland and Salzburg Austria via the Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria Germany. The boys complained about walking up the hill to see the castle but when we got to the top, they loved the view. This really is a great castle. We didn't spend the time to go inside but we did enjoy the views and the brief walk. We met a group of high school students from a Christain school in California. They were taking a history tour of Europe and had just vistited Budapest. It was great to share some of the experience and the fourth of July with some other Americans. We then turned east and travelled through the German/Austrian Alps toward Salzburg. The countryside through this part of the world is beautiful. We took a brief stop at Kitzbühel Austria and joined a Harley Davidson convention on the fourth of July. Strange to see those Hawgs over here as well as in the US. Seemed like home. We finished up the day touring downtown Salzburg, home of the Sound of Music. We will definitely have to watch that movie again when we get home.

Part of Legoland minature City with a roller coaster in the background.
The Munich airport - Legoized

Legoland where everything, including the snakes are made of Legos

The boys and Elaine pose next to the dinosaur cook.
James drives the boat
Safari Adventure
Mom and Dad take their had at driving a boat.

Today we stayed at Legoland and went to the park. The boys had a blast. The weather was great with cool cloudy skies and the lines were short. We didn't wait any time in any line. We rode almost all the rides twice and bought several different legos. It really is a neat place. We especially liked the mini city where they have reconstructed several different sites in Europe on a small scale with (You guessed it) entirely made of Legos. The detailed work that the Lego engineers went to creating the minatures was incredible and a must see. We would definitely recommend the park to anyone with small children. The rides were child friendly. James could ride almost everyride by himself. We would not necessarily recommend the park to those with teenagers. There isn't much to do for that age group. We had a great day and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

A beautiful church outside Munich on Autobahn 8

Nathan inside the Crematorium where the Nazi's disposed of those who died in the Dachau prison camp. Each crematorium could cremate 2-3 bodies per hour.
Inside the Crematorium
Nathan poses next to the memorial stating "Never Again"
Elaine and James rest in the shade near the camp houses. Each house held approximately 2000 people.

Today, we traveled between Vienna and Legoland which is about 100 km west of Munich. On the way, we saw some awesome countryside in Austria and Germany. We also stopped by Dachau. Approximately 43,000 people died in the Dachau prison camp. This is really nothing compared to the concentration/extermination camp of Auschwitz in Poland where millions died. This camp was more for political prisoners and as such, people were not systematically exterminated like in Poland. The boys are learning a lot about world history as am I. I never really studied WWII history but wish I would have. There is so much history around. I didn't realize how many political prisoners the Nazi's created or how many concentration camps there were. They literally cover the countryside in Germany. How could so many turn their back on such attrocities when they know and understand what was going on. Yet I am reminded even today that many nations across the world treat their citizens in the same manner seeking to exterminate races. We still haven't learned. We never will until Christ returns.

By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Gen 2:2



Ok, the work was not finished but it was time for a day of rest, so the family took a couple of days to go see some of Western Europe. Today after work, we left Budapest and traveled to Vienna Austria. We stayed at a hotel near the Schonbrunner Schoss. We had been to Vienna last November but didn't get to see this attraction. It is a really beautiful site. Especially in the Summer when the flowers are blooming. The boys got to enjoy a brief stroll through the parks before bed time. Tomorrow we head to Legoland. The boys can't wait.

Below are some pictures of the Central Europe Field AGM 2008 held in Vargasztes Hungary which is about 1 hr outside of Budapest toward Vienna. We had a great time although it was somewhat of a busman's holiday for us as we were in charge of transportation, logistics, etc for the meeting. Elaine was her usual position in charge of rooming lists, transporation arrangements, tour guide and overall logistics. Robert was in charge of sound equipment, video projectors and word displays for the worship services. Below are some pictures.

Nathan got the part of the Bailif in the AGM Children's play. They children rehearsed and performed "Simon Say's" in less than a week.

James got a solo for one of the songs. The children did an awesome job performing the play.

Lottie Moon Christmas Offering stuff. Yum! Candy from America. The CEF collected over $15,000 dollars for Lottie Moon Offering. This money goes directly to support missionaries serving with the International Mission Board.

Wes and Tamara Banks - Missionaries to Romania. It was great getting to know them.

The resort had a wonderful indoor pool. Unfortunately, Elaine and I only got to get in once. The boys on the otherhand swam everyday as part of their program. Wish we could have been there with them.

I got my face painted at the carnival the volunteer team put on. The lady said snakes were popular and Elaine suggested a music note so, we got a snake in the form of a treble cleft.

The boys swam almost everyday in the indoor pool at the resort. Here, Nathan takes a flying leap into the pool.

David Simmons was in charge of the volunteer team and also dressed as a clown for the carnival. He was great with balloon figures as well as handling all that went into getting 37 people ready to serve the missionaries.

This was our abode for 6 days. The villas were essentially 4 bedroom/2 bath condos with living area and kitchen. I think everyone enjoyed them. I know we really enjoyed our living partners, Wes and Tamara Banks. The boys especially enjoyed the Banks' Boys.

David Simmons makes a great clown. The children collected bags of candy and small toys at the carnival the volunteer team put on. It was a great time just like fall festival at home. No small feat considering you have to carry everything with you in suitcases.