The Adventures of Flat Stanley
Flat Stanley came to visit us in Germany, so we took him to see the sights. Unfortunately, when he visited Hohenzollern Castle it was too cold and rainy for Stanley to feel photographic, but he enjoyed the trip nonetheless!
Heidelberg, Germany
Looking at Heidelberg from Heidelberg Castle
Looking at Heidelberg Castle from the Old Bridge
Stanley walking Heidelberg’s Old BridgeParis, France
Stanley seemed very interested in making a trip to France, so we boarded a fast train called the ICE (InterCity Express) and zoomed to Paris in three hours. While there, he got to see the Eiffel Tower, Napoleon’s Tomb at L’Hotel des Invalides, Notre Dame, and the Louvre. He also tried out the Paris subway.
Stanley before climbing up the Eiffel Tower
Stanley took a ride down from the Eiffel Tower
Napoleon’s tomb is really big!
Notre Dame (a church) is on an island in the middle of the Seine River.
He got to see Notre Dame’s huge stained glass windows.
At the Louvre, Stanley hid under an umbrella to avoid the rain but still enjoyed the glass pyramids that are the entrance to this art museum.
Stanley rode many subway trains on his way to and around Paris.Luxembourg
Luxembourg is a small country between Germany, France, and Belgium. Although small, the country has some memorable World War II sights, including Vianden Castle and the American Cemetery for brave soldiers, including General Patton.
Vianden Castle is on the border of Luxembourg and Germany.
War Cemetery and Memorial for American soldiers.
American World War II Cemetery with George Patton’s grave and a World War II memorial in the background.Baden Baden, Germany
After all that traveling, Flat Stanley needed to relax. In Germany, people go to the local baths to feel better, and the nicest baths are in Baden Baden. The water comes from underwater springs and helps relieve stress.
Caracalla Therme means Caracalla Spa and has huge indoor and outdoor pools.
Friedrichsbad is a spa next door to Caracalla and specializes more in massage and other worldy treatments for sore bodies.Wurzburg, Germany
All the World War II history intrigued Stanley, so we visited Wurzburg. This city was almost completely destroyed (80%) right at the end of the war, and it had to be rebuilt.
Stanley visiting the Residence, a big palace that was mostly reconstructed to before the war.
Enjoying the gardens of the ornate Residence palace.
The Residence has its own chapel made with marble and gold. The rest of the palace looks similar to the chapel.
From one of the stone bridges, Flat Stanley watched a barge go through a lock. A lock will lower or raise the water level for the boat to continue along the Main river.Frankfurt, Germany
Flat Stanley spent a liesurely day in Frankfurt, Germany’s large banking city. Taking the train, he spotted several other cities out the train window on his way.
Stanley crosses the Neckar River on his train ride.
Darmstadt is one of many cities Stanley caught a quick glimpse of from the train.
He got a grand welcome (Wilkommen in German) at the main train station in Frankfurt and saw many more trains.
At the Rathaus (city hall), Stanley saw the German and European Union flags.
He also browsed some modern art where a friend paints and displays his artwork.
In the distance was Frankfurt downtown and the Commerz Tower.Duluth, Minnesota
After seeing so much, Flat Stanley was ready to fly back to Minnesota. When he got there, he thought he would do just a little more sight-seeing.
Stanley views Duluth from the hill. Still a little winter-y there!
Stanley had to see the Aerial Lift Bridge, a major landmark in Duluth.