Dinosaur Park/Garden Show Kaiserslautern, Germany

A funny thing happened on our way to the

Japanese Garden in Kaiserslautern, we ended up at the

GARTENSCHAU

(Garden Show in English)

in the

Neumühle Park.

This park is fabulous.  You simply must go if you live in Germany.

Neumühle Park is home

to the largest open air dinosaur exhibition in Europe.

More than 80 life-like dinosaur replicas populate

this park.

The Garden show was featuring fairytales made from pumpkins in this enchanting park.

A babbling brook runs through the park and there are amazing play grounds

for the kiddies.

Here's the Pied Piper of Hamlin.

Just look at the little pumpkin rats following the piper.

Cinderella and coach.

I think this is Bel and the Dragon.

Click to enlarge this picture.

You'd think you were in Jurrasic Park.

What a fantastic "family" day out.

There is something for everyone here.

From the pumpkin sculptures and flowers to

the incredible dinosaur exhibits.

Many people had brought picnic's and made a real day out of it.

I was disappointed that they didn't have food on sale when we went, although

there were booths, they were closed.

If you climb to the top of the park

you get a view over Kaiserslautern.

You will also find a place to eat here

and you will  discover the

peaceful and lovely

Willow Chapel.

Mac says this day out deserves

his "two" thumbs up.

Let me just find him, and take a picture in front of one of the pumpkin

sculptures for you.

Mac?

Ah-oh. MAC!!!

 Gotta go folks, but go to

www.gartenschau-kl.de

and check out their information. 

The site is in English and German.

 This show will be on until the 31st of October so you still have

 plenty of time to visit!

THE PUMPKIN FESTIVAL, Ludwigsburg, Germany

Mac and I really love when we find something that captures

our imaginations. 

This Pumpkin Festival at the

Blühende Barock Garden,

(Castle Garden of Ludwigsburg Castle)

not only captured our fancy but completely charmed us.

(Remember if you'd like a better view of a picture, you may click on the photo to enlarge it.)

The theme for the 12th annual pumpkin festival was

"JURASSIC PARK"

Dinosaurs made out of pumpkins and squash

were everywhere.

We marveled at the imaginations

that could create such creatures.

Many of the dinosaur heads were hand carved from wood.

There festival has something for everyone in your family.

From the beautiful garden

settings

to pumpkin carving tents for the kiddies, there is truly

something for everyone.

There are fabulous playgrounds for the kids

as well as a cartoon theater.  They were showing the FROG PRINCE

in German when we went in. It was still easy to follow even if you don't speak

German.

The Fairytale area (follow the signs for

Märchengarten) has a boat ride,

and train ride.

A pretty walk  leads you from fairytale to fairytale.

Here is little RED RIDING HOOD

and the wolf!

An American Mom was having her children

"guess" the fairytales as they were

listed in German.

Rapunzel's castle, where if your children call out loudly enough

she'll let down her hair.

Now let's talk FOOD.

Here is the fabulous pumpkin risotto.

Mac had the pumpkin soup with pumpkin maultaschen.

(a large ravoli)

He said it tasted "amazing".

I had the pumpkin spaghetti which, was

incredible.  Very tasty!

We shared a "Pumpkin strudel".

Mac especially enjoyed that.

while

Funk Kartell

a German Soul group

entertained us.

www.funkkartell.de

As we strolled back through the gardens on our way home

we thought these smaller pumpkin carvings so cute

Mac loved the mice and pumpkin cheese.

while I kinda liked this little guy.

Remember this fest runs through November 6th

so you still have a chance to visit it too.

Set your GPS

for Mompelgardstrasse 28

Ludwigsburg

71640

Tickets cost

8 Euro for adults

3.90 Euro for children 15 and under.

Mac gives this Fest

3 thumbs up and he can't wait to see

what the "theme" will be next year!

The ZUGSPITZE (Highest Mountain in Germany)

Our destination today is

the Zugspitze, Germany's highest mountain.

It towers to a breathtaking  2,962 m and is located in the Wetterstein range, in the Northern Limestone Alps. The border between Austria  and Germany  runs between the western and the eastern peaks.

Many people do hike up the mountain but Mac and I decided to be sensible and

take the Tiroler Zugspitzbahn cable car from

Ehrwald, Tirol.

We crowded on to the car and held tight.

For people who do not enjoy heights, I wouldn't recommend this trip for you.

Reaching our destination at the top we were rewarded with

some fabulous

and amazing birds-eye views.

We stopped in to the Müncher Haus

run by the Barth family since 1925.

Mac and I had the Germknödel and coffee.

We simply adore this yeast dough dumpling filled with spicy plum jam and served in a bed of vanilla sauce.

It's topped with crushed poppyseeds and sugar.

This sweet little bird joined us for our treat hoping for any little crumb.

We bought some postcards for our children and posted them from

the highest postbox in Germany!

We watched these brave hikers who decided to go to the highest point on the mountain

(Click on the picture to get a better view)

marked by this golden cross.

Usually Mac decides if the trip was a thumb's up or down

but, this time I just had to get in on the act.

If you are visiting or live here in Germany

this is a MUST SEE.