Beyond the Tourist Trail

While planning a family history trip differs vastly from a standard European tour, the rewards are unparalleled. With Dave’s diligent preparation and proactive outreach, we ventured into charming small towns that held personal significance. It’s one thing to visit iconic sites like Neuschwanstein Castle or the Charles Bridge, but quite another to explore quaint villages where your ancestors once lived.

Making Local Connections

Thanks to the power of the internet, Dave was able to reach out to local historians and community members ahead of our visit. One memorable experience was connecting with a local pastor in Lusdorf, Kanton Turgau, Switzerland, who introduced us to the church organist. It was in these intimate settings that our family history came to life through stories and landmarks directly tied to our ancestors.

A Warm Welcome in Ancestral Villages

Our visits were marked by genuine enthusiasm and hospitality. News of “the Americans” spread quickly in the village of Falkenberg, Germany, where residents warmly welcomed us back to Dave’s ancestral homeland. Engaging with locals who were excited to share their history and culture enriched our understanding and appreciation of our heritage.

Personalized Tours and Enriching Insights

In places like Castle Kyburg, we were treated to personalized tours that went beyond standard tourist experiences. These guided visits offered insights directly relevant to our ancestry, allowing us to explore at our own pace and in our own way. Being immersed in these historical spaces, with knowledge shared by passionate locals, made us feel truly connected to our roots.

Embracing Local Enthusiasm

The genuine enthusiasm and pride of the local communities we visited added depth and meaning to our journey. By taking advantage of their willingness to share, we gained a perspective on Europe that isn’t available through any tour bus or guidebook.

Final Thoughts

Our journey through Europe was a testament to the beauty of exploring one’s roots with an open heart and mind. By prioritizing local connections and personalized experiences, we discovered hidden gems and forged meaningful connections that will stay with us forever. We hope our journey inspires you to dig deep into your own history, embrace spontaneity, and explore the world through the eyes of your ancestors.

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Wow! What an amazing day! We started off in the morning with a visit to the Reformed Church in Lustdorf where my 11th Great Grandfather, Hans Conradt Wohnlich (or Wonlich) (1590-1656) was a minister.

David arranged for us to have a private tour of the church. The bulk of the church has been completely rebuilt, but the original bell tower remains. The woman who cares for the church took us up into the bell tower and showed us how the clock and the bells work. It was fascinating and a tricky climb up old steps.

She also gave me a copy of a book about Lustdorf called “Dorfgeschichte von Lustdorf TG” by Adolf Rietmann, published 2011. The book is written in German, so I used Google Translate to help me read it after I got home.

According to this book, Hans Conradt Wohnlich served as the Pfarrer of Lustdorf (A Reformation Church) from 1617-1656. He is discussed in this book on pages 108, 109, 133. It also says that his grandmother’s father, Leo Jud, was a close friend of Zwingli.

Video of Our Lustdorf Church / Belfry Tour

Playing the Organ in the Lustdorf Chapel

I’d mentioned a couple days earlier to Dave that one of my bucket list items for this trip was to play an instrument (preferably a keyboard) in one of the historic buildings that have such wonderful acoustics. The caretaker at the Lustdorf church is also the organist. Dave arranged for me to be able to play the organ! That was fun, even though I didn’t really know what to do with the foot pedals. I’m a pianist, not an organist.

Next, we took a quick drive through Rickenbach where Hans Rudolph Wonlich (my 13th Great Grandfather) served as minister and where his son Rüdolff (my 11th Great Grandfather who was the father of Hans Conradt Wohnlich) was born. We visited Rickenbach to get a feel for the town where they lived. We stopped at a church there but found no trace of the Wonlich/Wohnlichs.

Having the Run of Kyburg Castle

The bulk of the day, we spent at Kyburg Castle where my 13th Great Grandfather, Hans Rudolph Lavater (1500-1557) lived and served for 11 years as a Landvogt or Bailiff of the castle (aka Schloss). A Landvogt or Bailiff is like a Sheriff – protecting a town, caring for the castle, and collecting taxes. Because the castle is closed this time of year, Dave arranged a private tour for me there too. Isn’t he AWESOME!?

I hoped to discover more about Hans Rudolph Lavater’s parents and grandparents (whom I hope connect back to the royal von Sulz line). While I didn’t discover that, I learned some other cool stuff!

First, I learned that a Bailiff is someone who has a lot of money. When a Bailiff is elected, he throws a banquet for all the people who voted for him. Also, the Bailiffs at Kyburg were often chosen as Burgermiesters (aka Mayors) of Zurich. This is what happened with Hans Rudolph Lavater. He went on to be a Senator and then the Mayor of Zurich.

Finding More Ancestors at Kyburg

The main thing I discovered here was that Hans Rudolph Lavater’s second wife (my 12th great grandmother, Ursula Stapfer, 1522-1569) was the daughter of another Bailiff at Kyburg. Her father was Hans Jakob Stapfer (1467-1526). His father (Ursula’s grandfather) Heinrich Stapfer (1446-1493) also served as a Bailiff at Kyburg.

This means 3 of my great grandfathers served as Bailiff’s at Kyburg Castle. It was fun to see the living quarters where Hans and Ursula would have lived.

Not only did the historian give us a private tour, but also when I had questions for which he didn’t immediately have an answer (like a list Hans and Ursula’s children or what the symbol on my Stapfer grandfathers’ family shield meant), the historian would leave us to explore the castle on our own while he researched the answers.

I loved sitting in the window seats of the upper levels of the castle and soaking up the incredible views. For a spell my ancestors shared their castle with me and Kyburg was mine.

A Video our Private Kyburg Schloss (aka Castle) Tour

You can see the views in the video tour I made below.

Click here for a behind the scenes look at how Dave scheduled these private tours.

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The Art of Being Adaptable

Traveling with a set itinerary might offer structure, but Europe has a way of surprising you with unexpected opportunities. On our journey, we had many plans that just didn’t fit once we arrived. Instead of holding tight to these plans, we chose to embrace new paths that revealed themselves. Whether it was following a new lead in our family history or taking a spontaneous detour, flexibility became our guiding principle.

Watch Us Talk About the Gems
We Found by Staying Flexible

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Culinary Flexibility on the Road

One practical aspect of our flexibility was how we approached meals. Stocking up on local bread, cheese, meat, and of course, pastries, allowed us to enjoy delicious meals on the go. This not only saved us time but also enriched our experience with authentic local flavors. While some days called for a sit-down meal, others were perfect for a quick, scenic picnic.

Unplanned Meetings and Hidden Pathways

An example of serendipity was our time in Poland. Originally planned as a short stay, unexpected opportunities arose to meet relatives and explore more than we imagined. These moments weren’t just enriching—they were transformative. Exploring small villages off the typical tourist path enabled us to see parts of Europe few do and forge connections with our past in the most authentic way.

By using resources like booking.com and Airbnb, we found charming accommodations in unexpected places. One tip: always check arrival and check-out times to ensure smooth access to lodging, especially in smaller towns.

A Spirit-led Journey

Marnie embraced the journey with an open heart and no particular expectations, trusting wherever the Spirit led. This openness resulted in discovering an unexpected ancestral connection to Zwingli—something we would have missed had we not been spontaneous. Picking up a simple pamphlet turned into a profound lesson in trusting the journey and being led to remarkable historical ties.

Final Thoughts

Our family history tour was as much about discovering our lineage as it was about letting moments of spontaneity guide us. Whether it’s a historical connection or a charming bakery, the beauty of travel lies in the surprises along the way. We hope our experiences inspire you to incorporate flexibility into your travels, opening doors to unforeseen adventures and memorable connections.

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The Journey Begins

When it comes to exploring your family history, preparation is key. For Dave, this trip was a culmination of lifelong family stories, genealogical records, and countless hours spent piecing together our ancestral trail. My role started almost serendipitously, as an add-on to Dave’s carefully laid plans. A simple, “Let’s visit Switzerland while we’re going to Germany,” turned into, “Wait, I have ancestors there, too!”

Mapping Our Roots

One of our most valuable tools was mapping out the locations of our ancestors. Dave dug deep into genealogical databases like Ancestry and FamilySearch, physically charting where family members lived and moved. Discovering that my Swiss ancestors lived in places like Stein am Rhein only added to the magic—turns out, Dave was eager to visit there, too!

Flexibility and the Power of Serendipity

Although we had planned extensively, we stayed open to unexpected discoveries. While visiting Prague, purely for tourism, we unexpectedly connected with a DNA relative. These serendipitous encounters highlighted the importance of flexibility and being open to new experiences.

Travel Tips for Genealogy Enthusiasts

• Rent a Car: To fully explore remote villages and ancestral sites, we highly recommend renting a car. Public transportation is wonderful but having the freedom to explore less-traveled paths allowed us to visit multiple locations in one day.
• Plan Your Routes: Use tools like MapQuest to drop pins on genealogical sites and create efficient travel routes. Avoid back-and-forth trips by mapping a circular route.
• Pack Wisely: Remember to know how to drive a stick shift and bring euros for unexpected expenses, like gas stations that might not accept U.S. credit cards.

Join Us on This Journey

Proper preparation transformed our trip into a rich tapestry of discovery and connection. We hope these insights inspire your own genealogical travels. Stay tuned for more stories and tips as we continue to unravel the mysteries of our family history.

Watch Us Discuss How We Prepared for Our European Family History Trip

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Why We Embarked on This Journey

This adventure all began with a push from Dave’s dad. A couple of years ago, we discovered where the Kuhns family originated, and he insisted, “You have to go, you have to go!” Inspired by his enthusiasm, we decided to document this unique trip—not as typical tourists, but as explorers of our own family history.

Our journey took us to several countries with deep personal connections, including Germany, Poland, Bavaria, Austria, and Switzerland. But this trip was more than just a sightseeing tour; it was about embracing our lineage, meeting distant relatives, and experiencing a sense of homecoming.

A Tale of Two Journeys

For Dave, the trip was a chance to unearth family stories from the 1800s, tracing the path of ancestors from Europe to Wisconsin. He even met living relatives, which created unforgettable family moments. On the other hand, my journey was more spiritual, reconnecting with ancestors from the 1500s and feeling the echoes of the past in places like Stein am Rhein and Kyburg castle.

Embracing the Unexpected

We learned that a family history tour is as much about setting expectations as it is about being open to surprises. Whether it was exploring Prague or discovering family connections in unexpected places, each experience enriched our journey.

Through this video series, we’ll share how we prepared, the insights we gathered, and the flexibility needed to embrace all possibilities. We hope to inspire you to embark on your own family history journey, filled with meaningful discoveries and connections.

Join Us on This Adventure

Stay tuned for more videos where we’ll dive deeper into our preparation, share tips, and recount the incredible experiences that defined our trip. We hope our story inspires you to explore your roots and embark on a journey of your own.

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We went to church in Schaffhausen, Germany. Dave served 4 months as a missionary there when he was a young man. When he mentioned this to the people who greeted us, the Branch President asked him to speak for a few minutes. He talked about our experiences in researching our family history and used Malachi 4:5-6 as the basis for his comments:

Von Sulz Family at Tiengener Schloss (Castle) Museum

We went from church to the Tiengener Schloss (aka Castle) Museum where my possible Von Sulz 16th great grandmother who married Niklaus Lafenter (or Lafender) would have lived. The von Sulz family were originally from Lichtenstein and most likely royalty there.

They migrated to Rheinau, Switzerland. From there the Kloster at Rheinau authorized them to rule in Tiengener Schloss (aka castle). The town is now called Tiengen-Waldshut, Germany, but it was just Tienegen at the time, and there was no Germany in the 1400’s.

Tiengen was a fiefdom ruled by the von Sultz family from 1429 starting with Hermann von Sulz or possibly his son Rudolf. The von Sulz have been there since that time. The last von Sulz died within the last few years. Now the town of Tiengen owns the castle. The castle and the associated museum are closed this time of year, but Dave arranged for us to have a private tour. (Isn’t he awesome?!)

Von Sulz Coat of Arms

There is a guild that has kept the records of the von Sulz family and Tiengener Schloss over the years. The man who is currently the keeper of the records gave us the private tour. I showed him my genealogy. He was incredibly impressed and said it was a miracle that I was there and could trace my family back to the von Sulz. He even told me that I would be authorized to use the von Sulz shield.

The basic Von Sulz Shield

Von Sulz Coat of Arms on the wall in the Castle

The von Sulz shield in different places in the castle.

Did Niklaus Lafenter Marry a von Sulz?

The historian showed me the pedigree chart for the ruling lines of the von Sulz. The interesting thing is it only shows one son for Hermann von Sulz. His name was Rudolf III, and the museum had Rudolf III’s family tree on the wall. The three daughters that Rudolf III had do not qualify as potential wives for Niklaus Lafenter (note that later descendants will be called Lavater). One of Rudolf III’s daughters was a Mother Superior (aka nun), another had two sons who both died in infancy, and the third was married to another man.

On MyHeritage, some people list Niklaus Lafenter as a son of Hermann von Sulz, as if he were the Von Sulz and not his wife. But, the historian told us that no von Sulz would give up his title and simply go by Lafenter and an illegitimate child would not have the von Sulz name/title.

Also, there is no Niklaus on the pedigree charts at the museum. I’ve since found a daughter named Anna von Sulz (Born 1440) for Hermann von Sulz and Margarete von Hohenberg. Anna von Sulz married before January 8, 1407 to Friedrich XII of Hohenzollern ca 1387-1443. Since my Niklaus Lafenter had a son named Niklaus in 1416, this woman doesn’t work as the woman I’m looking for.

The female von Sulz I’m looking for could have been born somewhere between 1380-1403 – depending upon if she married at an older age or a very young age. She had a child (Niklaus Lafenter) II in about 1416 in Rheinau.

This leaves me with the only possibility I can think of — that Hermann had a daughter not listed on any pedigree chart because she didn’t marry royalty. Or, it’s possible that the von Sulz who married Niklaus Lafenter was Hermann’s sister or some other relative who is unknown because she did not marry into a royal line. I am yet to find any proof that Niklaus Lafenter even married a von Sulz. It’s just on some family trees with no source documents listed.

Someone on Geneanet has a note on Niklaus Lafenter that “he was one of nine judges who handled a dispute between the von Sulz and “On 03.05.1446 he was one of the 9 judges in a dispute between the Count of Sulz and Duke Albrecht of Austria concerning the bailiwick of Rheinau.” That is the only Niklaus Lafenter – von Sulz connection I have been able to locate. If anyone happens to find the marriage connection, please contact me (marnie@marniekuhns.com).

Rheinau, Switzerland in Search of Niklaus Lafenter

After leaving the Tiengener Castle / Klettgau Museum, we headed for Rheinau in hopes of finding some clues as to Niklaus Lafenter I and II since Niklaus I was supposed have been born there in 1390 and married there to the Von Sulz in 1415. He supposedly died there in 1455. Nicklaus Lafenter II is reported to have been born and died in Rhienau (1424-1454). He married a Maulein / Magdalena Broeglin around 1445.

I’m assuming these dates are guesses because I’m yet to find any source documents for these people.

Beautiful Rheinau, Switzerland

Rheinau is one of the most beautiful cities we’ve been to, in my opinion. The Rhein River circles around it and the countryside is gorgeous. The buildings are pretty, and the colors were so vibrant. I loved the vineyard all around the church and cemetery. Unfortunately, the cemetery was a dead end. In Europe they bury new people on the same ground as the old ones and remove the old headstones. So, everyone there was from the 1900’s on. Still, I enjoyed seeing this beautiful city where my ancestors lived.

The Grossmünster in Zurich

Next, we went to Zurich, starting at the Grossmünster.  Hans Rudolph Wonlich (My 13th Great Grandfather) married Susannah Judd (daughter of famous Swiss Reformer Leo Jud) at the Grossmünster in 1553. He also served as the Burgermeister (Mayor) of Zurich and died in Zurich and was buried in the Grossmünster in 1557. We went down in the crypts under the Grossmünster where he may have been buried.

Also, Hans Rudolf Wonlich (my 12th great grandfather) was a Deacon at St Peter’s in Zurich (which we walked to see the outside of). The interior was closed for construction. Hans Rudolf Wonlich also served as an Archdeacon at Grossmünster from 1594 until he died in 1596.

Grossmünster in Zurich where Hans Rudolf Wonlich was a priest in 1554-1556. Hans Rudolph Lavater was buried here.

Statue of Zwingli in Zurich

I’m standing beneath the pulpit my 12th great grandfather Hans Rudolf Wonlich would have preached in the Grossmünster.

We’re standing in front of St. Peters in Zurich where Hans Rudolf Wonlich was a priest in 1553

St. Peters, Zurich

Hans Rudolf Lavater, Mayor of Zurich

One of my favorite stops in Zurich was going to see the street where Hans Rudolph Lavater lived (16 Spiegelgasse, Zurich).

You may remember Hans Rudolf Lavater from my previous blog on Kyburg Castle where he was a Bailiff. He went on to become a senator and then mayor of Zurich.

I stood outside his house (#16) and walked down the street where either his grandson or grandnephew lived – Johan Casper Lavater. Johan was a poet and lived there from 1741-1778. Goethe visited him there in 1775.

This is the street where Hans Rudolph Lavater lived – in #16 (photo to right). Johan Casper Lavater lived down the street.

Overall, it was a day of immersing myself in places my ancestors lived. I’m honestly feeling a bit skeptical about the von Sulz connection since I need to locate a female von Sulz that Niklaus Lafenter would have married, but I’m hopeful somehow the connection will be made… eventually.

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Family History at Stein am Rhein

We spent the day in Stein am Rhein, studying the plaques on the buildings. Most of the marked buildings were there back in the 1500’s when my two ancestors were born (one around 1530 and another around 1590).

The city archive may have more information on my ancestors, but it was closed on Saturday. It’s only open Monday – Friday. We’ll either email or call them and see what they have.

Swiss Reformers: Zwingli and My Ancestors

We spent the day walking the town, reading plaques, and taking a tour of the local St. Georg Kloster museum. I took some of my favorite photographs here. I found the tour very interesting. Included in the tour were some clips from the Zwingli movie which was filmed in the St. Georg Kloster.

Switzerland was Catholic until about 1520 and then the Reformation started with Zwingli who edited the Martin Luther Bible into a regional form of German that ordinary people could understand and added some Apocrypha. He called out the Church for forcing everyone to pay tithes, for the elaborate icons, celibacy of the clergy, intense fasting, etc.

Shortly thereafter, the Catholic monks were forced out of the Kloster. Zurich sent Bailiffs to help govern the area of Stein am Rhein. The Bailiffs moved into the Kloster. The ornate church was stripped of its icons and is plain in comparison to the Catholic cathedrals we’ve seen in Germany thus far.

Leo Jud and Zwingli

By the time my 13th great grandfather, Hans Rudolph Wonlich, was born in Stein am Rhein in 1530, the Reformation had taken hold and was being advocated by the seats of power in Zurich. Hans Rudolph Wonlich’s wife (my 13th great grandmother) was Susanna Jud. Susanna was the daughter of Leo Jud.

Leo Jud was Zwingli’s best friend who helped him translate the Zurich Bible and participated in the “affair of the sausages” where a group of clerical leaders ate sausages during Lent (which was against the law). The two movies about Zwingli show Leo Jud performing the marriage of Zwingli to Anna Reinhard.

Zwingli, Leo Jud, and other priests believed that priests should be able to marry instead of simply impregnating women and then paying a tax to the church for doing so.

Many of these Reformation priests married former nuns. For example, Leo Jud married a former nun Katharina Gmünder and had several children with her (including my 13th great grandmother, Susanna Jud).

My ancestor Leo Jud is prominently featured in this Zwingli Movie:

Zwingli, Hans Rudolph Lavater and the Battle of Kappel

In 1531, Zwingli died at the battle of Kappel, which was a battle between the Reformers and the Catholics.

Interestingly enough, another one of my 13th great grandfathers, Hans Rudolph Lavater, also knew Zwingli. Lavater was a Chief Commander at the battle of Kappel where some poor strategic moves contributed to Zwingli’s death. But it didn’t hurt Lavater’s career. He went on to be a Bailiff at Kyborg Castle (1525), Senator (1536), and Burgemaster (aka Mayor) of Zurich (1545-1556).  

My 13th great grandfather, Hans Rudolph Wonlich (born 1530) became a minister in the Reformed Church and became a Priest at Albisrieden in 1553, a Deacon at St. Peter in Zurich in 1553, A Priest in Rickenbach in 1557 and Archdeacon at Grossmunster in Zurich in 1594.

His grandson, Hans Conradt Wonlich (born 1590 in Stein am Rhein) married Hans Rudolph Lavater’s granddaughter, Ursula Lavater, on 14 December 1612. They are my 11th great grandparents. Hans Conradt Wonlich became the priest of Lustdorf and served for a few decades there.

You can see that there is a lot of Reformation history in this branch of my family tree (Via my mother Betty White Morton’s White-Brown-Ford line.)

After immersing ourselves in the history of Stein am Rhein at the Kloster, we had some hot chocolate and a pastry from the local bakery. I got an apricot pastry, and Dave had a rhubarb one.

They don’t mix the chocolate into the hot chocolate here. They give you a spoon with a big blob of chocolate on it that you mix around in some warm milk until it becomes hot chocolate. It took a bit of time to stir it in, but I did enjoy the flavor of it. Unfortunately, it cooled off while we did all that stirring, so we drank a little and then Dave had them bring us some boiling water to add to it. That heated it up without making it watered down.

We topped off the evening with a concert at the local church. The acoustics were amazing, and I became so immersed that I was moved to tears more than once. After the concert we walked across the bridge over the Rhein River and were awestruck by the sunset. Photos don’t do it justice.

Sunset on the Rhein River

Click here to read my next day’s blog where I cover visiting more areas my relatives lived, including Tiengener Castle and the Grossmünster in Zurich.

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Mozart’s family tree

Dave in the room where Mozart was born

Mozart’s birthplace street

Mozart’s birthplace

Sound of Music

After seeing Mozart’s birthplace, we walked around the older part of the city and took pictures. Then, we went to the Marabelle Fountain that was in The Sound of Music. It’s in the scene where Julie Andrews teaches the Van Trapp children, “Do-Rae-Mi” and they dance around the fountain. They also ride a horse drawn carriage. I got some photos of those as well.

Crossing the Austrian – German Border

My mom also included a photo of herself and her friend Phyllis at the German-Austrian border in her personal history.  As we drove through the border, there were border guards, but they didn’t stop the cars, and there wasn’t a place to get out and have your photo made with a border guard. So, I did the next best thing and snapped a photo of the border crossing and the guards that were there.

We drove about 5.5 hours back into Southwest, Germany to stay in Bohlingen, Kris Sigen. The countryside was gorgeous. We hit a couple bad traffic jams – one before Munich and one after.

My Swiss Ancestors

As we drove, I worked on creating a document that itemized all my relatives and their life events that happened in each city. This way when we go into a city, I can quickly see who was born, lived, married, or buried there. I can also see how they are related to me.

For example, this evening we drove into Stein am Rhein to scope out the older part of the village to get a feel for what we might find there. Dave served in this area as a missionary over 40 years ago. He had been to Stein on Rhein several times and had it on our to-visit list before we even realized I had Swiss relatives.

For example, here is Stein am Rhine:

Hans Rudolf Wonlich – My 13th Great Grandfather

• Born in Stein am Rhein 1530
• Ordained 1552
• Married Susannah Jud on 5 Jan 1553 at the Grossmuenster in Zurich
• Priest at Albisrieden 1553
• Deacon at St. Peter inch Zurich 1553
• Priest in Rickenbach 1557
• Archdeacon at Grossmunster 1594
• Died 1596

Hans Conrad’s Wohnlich – 11th Great Grandfather

• Born 1590 in Stein am Rhein
• Priest at Huttwilen
• Priest at Lustdorf
• Died 1656
• Married Ursula Lavater 14 December 1612 – 11th Great Grandmother – Born 1589 Zurich

Walking with my Ancestors in Stein am Rhein

I had such an amazing experience as we walked through the old part of Stein am Rhein! I was overcome with emotion and had chills wash over my body and tears in my eyes as I stood in the village my 11th and 13th great-grandfathers were born. It felt incredible to see the old buildings with dates in the timeframe of their lifetimes and to know those same buildings were there as they walked the streets. I’ve included a video here of me sharing my experience.

Click here to continue with our visit to Stein am Rhein and the cool family history we discovered on our trip.

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Smetana’s Moldau (aka the Vitava River in Prague)

It’s been at least 40 years since I had heard Smetana’s Moldau, but when I saw his name as someone buried in Prague, along with Dvorak, I instantly thought … “Smetana … wait, Smetana’s Moldau!” Sure enough, when the tour started, they started playing Smetana’s Moldau. (The name of the Vitava River in German is Moldau.)

The Prague boat tour was one of my favorite things we did in Europe. It was a perfect combination for me: boat on the water, birds to photograph, excellent music, incredible scenery, and great company. Can’t beat that, in my book.

Using Credit Cards in Europe

After our boat tour, we headed for Salzburg Austria. As we got into Austria, we stopped at an Aldi that had a Diskount gas next to it. Dave went to pump the gas, and the machine wouldn’t take any of his cards. Normally, he can use an airline Visa card without a problem in Europe, but the pump kept insisting that we give a PIN number for credit cards — which none of our credit cards have. The machines also kept telling us our pins were wrong for our debit cards. We were running low on gas, so obviously, this wasn’t good!

Finally, I pulled out my bank’s business Visa and it worked just fine – didn’t even ask for a pin. Thank heavens! We went in Aldi afterward and their register took Dave’s credit card without a hitch.

One of our biggest hassles on this trip was getting places to take the method of payments we have. For example, Dave went to get our car out of the long-term parking in Prague this morning, and it wouldn’t take any of his cards. Finally, an attendant came along, and Dave was able to use some Euros he had on hand. Good thing he had them!

Word to the wise, if you travel to Europe, get some Euros before you leave the USA. With credit cards you pay a small fee in Europe, but more importantly, you never know when a European gas station or parking lot won’t take your credit cards.

Berchtesgaden, Germany

We checked into our lovely apartment in Anger, Germany (on the border of Austria) this afternoon. The colors are gorgeous here and we took a drive up to Berchtesgaden, Germany. This is somewhere my mother and her first husband went with a couple of their friends back in 1953.

The black and white photo of the group of people going down into the salt mine in Berchtesgaden is my mother’s photograph. The last two people in the picture are Roger Williams (my mom’s first husband) and my mother. Their friends Billy and Phyllis are in front of them. They also went to Mozart’s birthplace in Salzburg. We visited Mozart’s birthplace on Day 11.

We didn’t eat much during the day and saved up for one big meal. When David goes big, he goes big!

We had to check out Berchtesgaden because my mom went here after WWII. The German dictator’s “Eagles Nest” up on the mountain is visible from this village.

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Prague Tip: If you come to Prague, it’s worth the 15-euro investment for two people to have a tram pass. It took me forever to realize … actually Dave did… that there’s a public transportation icon on Google maps that tells you which tram number to get on for your destination. We didn’t realize this until the end of the day when it was time to take a tram back to our flat. This knowledge would have come in handy from the beginning. We were guessing which tram to get on and letting it take us wherever and just riding around.

Moldavite

As you probably know, I’m a rockhound. We stopped by the Moldavite Museum. Moldavite is a cool translucent greenish meteorite that landed in the Czech Republic. It’s supposed to have intense transformative energy. I bought a tiny fleck of it at a gem show in Athens, Georgia a couple years ago for $60/gram. It was significantly more affordable in the Czech Republic — more like $7-$8/gram at this Prague shop. We could have gone and mined it ourselves, but we didn’t have time for that experience.

The moldavite pieces we bought were numbered and certified for their authenticity.

We went to see the oldest astronomical clock in the world. It not only tracks time, but also the phases of the moon. After that, we took time to rest in the cathedral where Mozart and Dvorak once played the organ.

Meeting DNA Relatives in Prague

This afternoon we had lunch with a DNA-match relative for Dave and his father (Gene Kuhns). Gene and this gentleman shared the same 3rd great grandparents. The man brought his daughter Veronika with him who translated from English into Czech and back for us. They were extremely sweet people, and we enjoyed meeting them. They gave us huge gift bag of chocolate and Czech snacks which we munched on for the rest of the trip.

We aren’t sure how Dave’s dad connects with this gentleman. Possibly one of his German relatives moved to Czechoslovakia. More research will need to be done to connect.

Changing of the Guard and Alchemy Museum

After meeting them at a classic Czech restaurant, we went up to the palace and watched the changing of the guard. It was incredibly windy at the top but had an incredible view. The rest of the city was not that windy, but this was intense and cold.

Next, we went to the Alchemy Museum. It was an entertaining and comical look at Alchemy which was popular in Prague in the 1600’s. It featured a very windy spiral staircase that was quite intense climbing. Maybe it wouldn’t have felt so taxing if I hadn’t already walked over 10,000 steps throughout the day.

My leather jacket somehow ripped in the back throughout the trip. So, we popped into a secondhand store and picked up a nice cobalt blue comfortable, warm jacket for 20 Euros. Not bad!

I was so happy to get back to our flat before it got too late so I could relax and rest.

Continue reading about Day 10 in Prague, Germany and Austria.

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