A Multi-Generation Vacation

My two oldest children and I just got back from an amazing 12 day trip to Germany.  The country is beautiful and offers so many things for all of the senses but what made this trip so special was that we were joined by my parents who are both originally from here.

Traveling with people ages nine to sixty eight may seem like a challenge but we had a fantastic time. The five of us were excellent traveling companions.  We all fell into our own little roles. 

My dad was our driver--he was the only one brave enough to tackle the Autobahn, streets that were more like sidewalks and aggressive European drivers.  I was the co-pilot--inputting destinations into our much needed GPS system and repeating "her" directions to my dad "Turn. left. HERE!" My mom was the entertainer--keeping my kids distracted on our sometimes long car rides with "guess what this German word means in English" games (like "ausfahrt" which always prompted giggles and means exit).  And my kids were our hotel critics--giving a thumbs up or down to each hotel we stayed in (the Hotel Schiffmeister with sinks in the room was their favorite).  But the best part, for me, was seeing and experiencing this wonderful country through each generation's eyes. 

My children were eager to go on adventures, learn bits and pieces of the language and try new foods. They were in awe of castles (at least the first 5) and loved the Marionette Museum and Salt Mine tours in Salzburg.  My son who considers catsup a sauce, tried smoked trout, sauerkraut and braised calf cheeks (a supposed German delicacy).  By the second day  "danke," auf wiedersehen" and "bitte" were words that easily rolled off their tongues.  Both my son and daughter came out of their usual quiet, shy shells and gladly joined their cousins for a walk to the park and the innkeeper's kids to see their new kittens.  

For my parents, this trip brought back many childhood memories and their first language (which was rusty at first but soon became polished).  We were able to hear their stories as well as see the settings. My dad told us of how he would walk from one village to the next to play with his friends as we drove into his village.  He shared with us memories of going to church on Christmas Eve with his family as we sat in the very pews he once prayed in.  While visiting the Bodensee, he told us how one of his most prized childhood memories was riding on the boat with his mother on a special trip she arranged just for him.

My mom had similar stories as we visited visited the Black Forest.  She reminisced about walking in the woods during the winter with her sister and leaving hay behind to feed the deer.  She told us how much she enjoyed hunting for wild mushrooms and collecting wild berries as we strolled through the dense woods near Triberg finding berries of our own.  

For me, to relive some of my parent's childhood memories and create new ones along with my children was priceless.  Throughout the trip I was filled with emotion.  I was touched to see my dad take my son and daughter by the hand while walking through his childhood village.  I was stirred to see my father and children admire the ornate details of his church alter.  I was moved listening to my daughter practice German phrases with my mom as we drove through the snowcapped Alps.  I could go on and on.....

This was a vacation that we will all remember for a very long time.  One that was based on childhood experiences from the past and present.  One that I will always cherish and one that I know my parents and children will treasure too.

This is an original post to SVMoms blog.  When Sidney is not longing for another trip to Germany, she can be found blogging at Parent Grapevine or working on her new business Picture This! Fundraising.