A Visit from the Kinders

Our dear friends Ashley and Dustin came to visit us over the Easter break. As always, we had a fabulous time with them. Our time with them reminded us how much we miss all of our friends back in Texas.

Their visit started with a couple of days in Oxford:

Dustin and I exchanging our customary greeting

Our beautiful (and patient) wives

Ashley and Dustin at Christ Church College

After Oxford, we headed to London for a whirlwind tour of the big city:

Jared, Dustin and Ben

Dinner at the Texas Embassy!

Then off to Deutschland...

Our first German town: Munich, Bavaria

Of course, we had to spend the evening at the Hofbräuhaus.  The ladies had weissbier...

...but I went for the real deal--a full liter of dunkel

After Munich, we drove across the Austrian border to Salzburg:

"Some people just aren't cut out for life on the road."--Lloyd Christmas

The streets of Salzburg

Salzburg's most famous resident: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

After Salzburg, we drove along the German-Austrian border to Mad King Ludwig's castles:

Our stop for lunch at the Andechs Monastery. For the first time in our lives, Dustin and I considered becoming monks.

Neuschwanstein Castle...almost like a fairy tale

The views from the castle were amazing...

...but Dustin and I were more amazed by our hotel owner's mustache

After Neuschwanstein, we drove up the 'Romantic Road' for two nights in medieval town of Rothenburg:

The streets of Rothenburg

While Ashley and Leah enjoyed shopping in Rothenburg...

...Dustin and I walked the city walls

But to Dustin and me, the most impressive sight was our new personal hero: The Night Watchman of Rothenburg ob der Tauber

Our final day in Germany was spent driving in along the Rhine River:

A castle and terraced vineyard on the Rhine

The magnificent Rhine Valley

We were sad to see our friends go, but we are thankful for the wonderful time that we got to spend with them.  It was one of the highlights of our year!