Hitler and Dumplings!

Note to myself - read in a magazine on the plane: In your 60s the face loses volume and sags!! ...and with frequent flying skin shrivels: Did not need to know that:). So moving on - today we took the bus from Salzburg to Berchtesgaden to visit Kiehlsteinhaus (Eagle's Nest) which is Hitler's hideout in Austria - very interesting. Cost $150 million to build (was a 50th birthday gift to Hitler) and he visited there 14 times - had no bedrooms - lots of bunkers and gun stuff! He is his "secretary" - long term mistress really Eva Braun married after many years on April 30, 1945 and they committed suicide together in a bunker in Berlin the next day with cyanide and in case that did not work he also shot himself through the head. Our wonderful guide was from London and employed by the Metropolitan Police. He was allowed to do his "hobby" as tour guide 4-6 months of the year - imagine that in your job. View from the bus:

Alter Fuchs restaurant - had the biggest dumpling I ever laid eyes on - and pork roast and cabbage - I'm rather pining for a Neapolitan pizza! Wine is excellent here and cheaper than water...no brainer for me

The walk up to the city of Berchtesgaden from the bus station - feels good that we are so healthy as we see many that are not. Not to say we did not puff a bit.

Great tour - Hitler wrote Mein Kampf with help - now I need to read it. He wanted to be an artist and twice applied to the Vienna Academy of Arts and was denied, at times he lived on the streets and ate at soup kitchens - moved from Vienna to Munich to avoid the WWI draft -in 1914 was declared "too weak to bear arms" - After WWI he became a political officer ultimately becoming quite wealthy and powerful as we all know.

What else but one of my favorite things - cemeteries and it was beautiful! Stones looking like little Alpine houses.

Thought this Jesus was reather cute in the Church of St. Peter and St. John in Berchestegaden - looks happy!

Pictures a bit out of order - ate at a Hofbrauhaus for lunch and I had spaetzle with gravy - ate the whole darn bowl - I'm a good German!

Have met lots of very nice people - having fun - even on the bus ride to 6000 ft on hairpin curves and steep cliffs - there has never been an accident and buses have been doing this since 1952!