Jack, Merry & The Trumanator: Best Layover Extension Ever!

On the way home from Turkey back in June of 2017 we stopped for one last adventure with the Drydens in Europe!

They were so kind to let us stay with them and always so fun to travel with!

We had a fantastic time!

All of our bags are packed and we were ready to leave our Ankara apartment for the last time!

We landed in Germany with our numerous bags and Erica picked us up. Luckily they had a minivan to cart us around!

The next day we headed out all together for some adventures. Jack requested that our first stop be at the

Luxemburg American Cemetery and Memorial.
It is a really interesting site and it is always good to take a minute to remember all of those men who died fighting for our country.

This is also where Gen. George S. Patton is buried. Jack poses in front of the grave.

The kids all finished a kids learning booklet about the cemetery and received a reward!

Belgium

From the cemetery we went into Belgium and indulged Jack again with a stop at the Hergé Museum.

Seriously, the Drydens were so kind to be willing to go to a museum about an artist who created a character (Tintin) and comic books that they hadn't even heard of!

The Man and Boy were THRILLED!

Waterloo

You may notice that most of this day was planned around things that Jack loves. Because the third stop was in Waterloo, so we could learn about the Battle of Waterloo.

The kids entertain themselves!

Jack and the Duke of Wellington

Lion Mound

Brussels

Our next destination was Brussels and we had to immediately get some fries!!

And some waffles!

Grand Place surrounded by the fabulous guild halls.

Manneken Pis. Jack was thrilled!

More Waffles!!

Plenty of goofiness!!

The next day we went on to Bruges!

Medieval Belfry of Bruges.

Provinciaal Hof on the Markt.

Gotta have more fries!

Basilica of the Holy Blood

We decided to do a boat tour and it was so fun and a great way to see so much of this beautiful city!

Megan and Jack on the Bonifacius Bridge.

The sculpture of the Madonna and Child created by Michelangelo in the Church of Our Lady.

The Drydens had to go home at this point so we settled into our hotel in this quiet back street. Then we went back to the Markt so Jack could try some of the famed mussels. He assured us that they were delicious.

That evening and the next morning the city was clear of tourists and the quiet water allowed for some truly gorgeous reflections and pleasant walks around town!

We surely hadn't had enough battlefield tours so we headed out to see Eben Emael Fort.

It was part of the Battle of Belgium in the Second World War.

We crossed over into the Netherlands and visited Maastricht.

Basilica of Saint Servatius

Saint Servatius Bridge.

An automat!!

We crossed back into Germany and stopped in Aachen.

Aachen Cathedral and Palatine Chapel, built by Charlemagne.

Fabulous!!

That evening we made another stop this time in Köln (Cologne) to see the cathedral.

It was truly stupendous! Enormous and beautiful!

The next day Erica and some of the kids took us to visit Heidelberg!

We hiked up the hill to visit the castle.

And it's enormous wine barrels!

The Drydens waited patiently outside for us as they had already visited it many times!

We headed off on our own again to visit Switzerland.

We started off with a cable car ride to the top of Mount Pilatus.

Halfway up we stopped in this Alpine meadow to change to another cable car. We wanted to ride the alpine slide but once again our quest to ride one was foiled by damp weather!

The cable car coming up through the clouds!

View down the backside of the mountain.

Gorgeous yet scary mountain hiking trails!

You can opt to take a very steep train ride up the mountain.

Lookin down onto Lucerne and Lake Lucerne

View of Lucerne and Lake Lucerne.

As it was raining when we reached Lucerne we decided to take a paddle boat ride around the Lake.

So pretty!

Maybe a bit too tranquil for the Boy!

Once our boat had docked it was clear enough to tour around the city.

Chapel Bridge

Lion Monument

The next morning we headed out Reichenbach Falls. Anybody who loves Sherlock Holmes as much as Jack does can't be in Switzerland and miss it!

Adorable funicular to the falls!

Obligatory Holmes photo op!

Such a beautiful day! Gorgeous views on our hike!

Meiringen

Lauterbrunnen

Trum found his river!!!

This area of Switzerland has to be one of the most beautiful places we have ever seen! Jack was seriously trying to figure out a way for us to be able to move there!