Eifel Vacation Day 1 - Trier

When we finally got another pharmacist here, we only gave the poor lady a month to get comfortable in the pharmacy before we hurried and went on vacation. We went to the Eifel area with my mom, dad, and brother Zak and stayed in a cute cottage. We drove most of Sunday and got there late Sunday afternoon. The next day we went to Trier. We were a little worried since it was raining where we were, but there was a little hole in the clouds where we could see blue skies, and those blue skies were right over Trier. It didn't last the whole time but it wasn't too bad. Trier is the oldest city in Germany, founded in or before 16 BC. Anyway, this is the Porta Nigra. It is the largest Roman city gate north of the Alps. It was originally built in gray sandstone between 186 and 200 AD. This is the view from the inside the city or the south side.

This is a view from the north side. 

Zak, Ty, Laney and Nyah trying to avoid some raindrops.

 In the main market place there were some little shops set up and 2 of them had flowers. I love them all!!! I think I could've bought every single flower there.

 The steeple of St. Gangolf church in the center of Trier.

While we were wandering around Trier, we stumbled upon the oldest pharmacy in Germany. Of course Ben had to get a picture in front of it. Over the door it says, "Germany's oldest pharmacy. Since 1241. The Lion Pharmacy". Ben said that somewhere else it also said that it could be older than that, but the oldest records they had been able to find of it were from 1241.

Whilst walking to our next point of interest on the map, Nyah found an ice cream cone that she continually loved upon to the amusement of us and other people walking past. It was pretty cute.

The cathedral in Trier.

 Inside the cathedral - I just love this picture. My dad took Laney around the cathedral and showed her all sorts of things, and I just love this picture because you can tell my dad is telling her something and she's all ears, and just absorbing it all. After my dad would tell her something, she would come over to me and tell it to me all over. At one point my dad had shown her the baptistry and told her about how some other churches baptize babies by sprinkling water on their heads instead of being baptized at 8, and being fully immersed in the water like we believe in. She came over and told me all about it, but apparently she has misunderstood and thought my dad had said that they sprinkled wood on the babies instead of water. We quickly corrected the misunderstanding but I couldn't help having a funny picture in my head of the poor babies having little wood chips poured on them. Ouch!

 The Palace of Trier. On the left side of it is the Constantine Basilica that used to be the throne hall of the Roman Emperor Constantine.

 Laney and Ty were so happy that they were wearing their 'gummy boots' as Laney called them (translated directly from Danish) so that they could splash and jump in all the puddles.

 Unfortunately, Nyah doesn't have any 'gummy boots' yet, so she had to be strapped into the stroller. Luckily there are lots of stairs that she found, and a very willing uncle and mormor who would hold her hand so she could go up and down all the stairs again and again and again and again and again and....

 The ruins of one of three Roman baths in Trier. Very impressive.

 The foot of an old statue of Emperor Constantine. This little piggy went to the market....

 ...this little piggy stayed home....

 ...this little piggy had roast beef....

 ...this little piggy had none.....

 And this little piggy went 'wee wee wee' all the way home....I'm so glad the kids did that to old Constantine. He probably had never tried it before and he probably needed a little fun and games after all these years.

 After playing with Constantine, my parents had had enough of all the silliness and decided to head back to the summer house. We decided we wanted more silliness and to see a couple more things. First we drove across an old Roman bridge, which I didn't get a picture of, and then we went to see a Roman Amphitheater. This is a picture from above. Unfortunately they were clearing the arena after a concert or something so it looks a little too modern but it was still cool to see it.

 Whilst walking down to the arena of the amphitheater. I love the vineyards that are all over. One day I will have a little vineyard and then I will make some delicious grape juice from it. :D

Who doesn't like a good, nice close-up of some rocks?! Well, I do!! :D This is inside the amphitheater. We also went down under the arena which was really cool but not good for taking pictures. And as always when we go in dark, cold, damp, underground places, Ty started freaking out. Poor kid!! What else is there to say other than we loved Trier!

...stayed tuned for days 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 of our vacation. You don't want to miss it!!! hahaha