Day 10

Today we leave Munich and head to Heidelberg. It is a long drive with beautiful country side. Chuck and Bill push the limits on the autobahn - going 108 miles per hour - 180km/hr! We are coming into wine country now and the hills are rolling with beautiful vineyards along the way. The grapes are still green but huge clusters are hanging and you can see them from the road.

Heidelberg is known for the place where all the great theologians studied and all the great German writers and poets. - Gutenberg built the printing press here.

We are staying at the Heidelberg Mariott on the conseir floor. There is a lounge at the end of the floor that has a balcony that overlooks the river and you can see the castle from there. They have a "cocktail party" complete with lots of food - chicken wings, brasetta, fruit cups, other hor deveres, fresh french bread, and lots and lots of pastries and desserts. We eat our supper there and sit out on the balcony. It is a beautiful evening. We meet some people that are visiting their daugther who works with Young Life on the military base. And others who are Jewish who work with an organization that helps military families who need help. Bill is great at talking to all the people and we are old friends very soon.

Down the Nacker River we can see the castle sitting in the hills. Tonight they are re-enacting when the French burned the castle and bombed the city during the war between the Germans and the French. We wait and wait. Finally about 10:30pm the castle is lit up with red and it looks as if it is on fire. They have fireworks over the river - our second fireworks in Europe! It is beautiful - then to bed...