New Years Eve - Stuttgart

So on new years day we decided to go to the city center of Stuttgart.  The last time that we went there it was dark and we weren't able to see a lot, and there is a lot to see there.  We took the train in the afternoon and Jen said it was really quiet, she had never been there when it was that quiet.  All of the shops were closed down, but for a select few.  I think all the people were getting ready for the big new year.  We walked around and saw some really cool buildings.  When we first got there we stopped at Starbucks for a little caffeine.  Well for David and Jen, the boys didn't need any extra energy.  That also gave us the code for the bathroom.  That is the other thing in Germany, sometimes it is really hard to find a bathroom, especially one that you can use.  They are few and far between.

                                                               They are too cute!!!!

                               He is so mischievous - doesn't it look like he is about ready to do something?

                             The boys really liked this Lego display and of course wanted to buy some.

Here are some interesting facts about Stuttgart:

Scholssplatz is one of the most famous squares in Germany, notable for is grandeur and spaciousness.  In the center is the slender Jubilee Column donated in 1841 by the Estates on the occasion of the silver jubilee of King William I.  It is crowned by a 4 meter bronze figure representing unity and is flanked by two identical cup fountains with water-spouting lions' heads and representations of he major rivers in the kingdom.  The Konigsbau (King's building) has its 34 iconic columns resembling a Greek temple.  Behind the 135 cm long neoclassical colonnade a huge office building with shopping arcades were built in 1850-1860 by order of King William.  At the end of the 19th century court celebrations were held in the rooms of the upper story.   In 1861 it also accommodated the stock exchange.  This is also the place were the Avengers was filmed - David was really excited about that!!!

                                               look familiar - Avenger movie?!?!

                                             This is the gazebo where all the music was played

Stiftskirche (collegiate church) was built starting from 1240 in the same place where once was an early Romanesque parish church (about 1100). With its 2, more than 60 meters high, towers it is one of Stuttgart's landmarks finished in 1531.  There are more than 100 members of the Wurttemberg royal house are buried in the Stiftkirche, most in the Furstengruft (princes' tomb) under the choir.

The old Palace is where the origins of Stuttgart are to be sought as it marks the site where Duke Liudolf had a rampart built up in the 10th century to protect his stud farm, the Stutengarten, after which the city is named.  They even had a ramp built so the horses could get up to the second story.  He must have really liked his horses.

 

The Christmas market was gone, but they still had the ice skating rink out.  We figured since the boys had done so well in all of our exploring they could ice skate for a little while.  Michael had a little bit of a hard time to start with, but then I found some skates that had four blades on each foot that just strapped around each foot and then he was off and moving.  It really helped his confidence and all he said after they were done he kept saying he had soooooooooooo much fun!!  AJ did a great job also!!  He used the regular skates and once he finally let go of the wall he started skating around.  He just had to remember from the last time that he could do it!  We were very proud of both of them!!

He said he wanted a picture with the elf.  It is supposed to help the little ones skate, but Michael was not going to us one, but still wanted the picture.  After that the boys wanted a treat so we let them both get white chocolate covered apples.  They liked them except it was rolled in coconut - not their favorite so we tried to get it off not the easiest.  

                                                                 yummy, yummy

                                                       

Even though the Christmas market wasn't up any more, they still had the gluwhien tent - so of course we had to get a mug - this time I had hot chocolate though.

On our way back to the train the boys found this gem - they thought it was pretty cool - so did the couple of adults that were on it before the boys could get on.  :-)  They seem to have things like this just randomly around the city.

 

We just missed the train - so we walked a little ways and found a doenner shop open and had some dinner while waiting for the next one.  All in all it was a great trip into the city!!  After that we went back to Jen's and hung out for the rest of the evening.  I do have to say Germans take New Years very seriously.  The fire works here are like the professional ones back in the states.  I think some of these would have been illegal even on the reservations.  And EVERYBODY shoots them off.  They start around 10 pm, but at midnight is when it sounds like there is bombing all over the town.  I went for a run the next morning and it was nothing but empty fire works - there was a lot of trash around.  Which is something that you don't see very often.  They are usually really clean.  I am sure later that day they were out cleaning up the streets.  All in all we had a FANTASTIC new year weekend!!!  We are very excited to see what the next year brings and all of the adventures we are going to have!!!  I hope and pray that everybody had a great new year and is starting the year out right!