Saturday the historical tours began. Wurzburg, Bavaria is about 80 minutes south of Bimbach, and was the seat of the first Prince-Bishop in Germany. Rosi packed a picnic lunch and we headed there for the day. Terry was entranced by the architecture of the churches, basilicas, and grand old houses. We took a tour of the grand palace, and finished the day with a visit to the hilltop castle and a drink in their guesthouse overlooking the picturesque town on the river below. There was a wedding party there as well – what a great setting for a special occasion! 
Sunday we started the day with a visit to the abandoned ammo station a couple miles out of town where Ray used to work. The girls (Annalisa and Teresa) went with us, and we walked the field around the fenced area while Ray pointed out old bunkers and building foundations. There was a small flock of sheep inside the fence, which appeared as curious about us as we were about them.
We returned to the house, where the clan gathered in two cars and caravanned about an hour through the countryside to the Kreuzberg Monastery at Rhon, Bavaria. We climbed the long staircase to the hilltop and enjoyed the view before exploring the complex. The main stone buildings are hundreds of years old, and the few modern ones seem very compatible in the hillside setting as well. The monks make beer there … really good beer! People come from all over to enjoy the fruits of their labor and often spend the night in one of the comfortable guesthouse rooms. We did the first but not the second, sitting 
out in the courtyard in the sunshine with about 75 other visitors. When the sun began to go down behind the buildings we all headed back to town.
There is a very poignant aspect of our visit; our hosts lost a son in a car accident earlier this year. Michael was 24 with a promising life in front of him and was well loved by many people. We visited his gravesite with Rosi and she told us about his funeral – there were over 1200 people there and they live in a town of 800. At times it feels like his absence fills the room, as everyone is thinking about the loss and not talking much about it. However, we are all thankful we are together to focus on other things and move through the grief.
out in the courtyard in the sunshine with about 75 other visitors. When the sun began to go down behind the buildings we all headed back to town.There is a very poignant aspect of our visit; our hosts lost a son in a car accident earlier this year. Michael was 24 with a promising life in front of him and was well loved by many people. We visited his gravesite with Rosi and she told us about his funeral – there were over 1200 people there and they live in a town of 800. At times it feels like his absence fills the room, as everyone is thinking about the loss and not talking much about it. However, we are all thankful we are together to focus on other things and move through the grief.
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