Sunday, the day of rest! That is just what I have done today. After coming through my sleep depravation a day of just sitting in the sun and relaxing was in order before our Journey through Austria, Switzerland and Italy begins.

After Sleeping in a little this morning I headed to church downtown to say my prayers for a good journey and the met up with Thomas and family at his house. The afternoon was filled with eating and playing with the kids.

Around 2:30 we had coffee and cake, I guess this is the equivalent of afternoon tea in Germany....I really like this! Then more friends and family showed up and we had a full on cookout. Brats, steak, chicken, kebabs, potato sald, pasta salad deserts..whew...all I did today was eat from about 2:30 until 6pm. Then the champagne and wisky cokes started to flow. at 8:30 now I am tired and ready to go to bed already. Eating and drinking is a tiring thing.

The weather has been amazingly beautiful. The entire afternoon was spent in Thomas' back garden playing with the children of witch there was 6 present. How is it I always end up being the pony or standing in the middle of the garden like a statue with children climbing all over me. I guess I am just one of those guys, a soon to be good farther right!?

I had forgotten how much I really loved Germany with all the perfectly cleaned streets, agreeable people and an immense amout of time being put forth in conservation. Everyone rides bicycles, hikes. There are always so many children playing in the streets and parks. Families go out and do things outside together. Together is important, family is important. Every mother has a bicycle with a tag along trailer full of children, atleast the ones not riding their own bikes. America has to create environments like this whereas it just is here.

Bamberg is simply beautiful, safe, clean and old. If their was an ocean instead of a river I would live here! I sat wondering for a moment, why I did not decide to live in Europe a year ago and then I remembered; This place may be beautiful, but only because I imagine sharing it with you, my friends and family. Sure you could make new friends, but when you have come to love so many so deeply you really can live anywhere in the world as long as they are near!

Tomorrow, our journey begins. The plan is to head south to Munich and then Innsbruck, Austria before hitting the east coast of Italy eventually riding through Florence and then to Radda in Chianti our final destination. Our Trip back will bring us through Northwestern Italy and then Switzerland...I am so excited. More to come be sure and check out the pictures they will only get better!