Bavaria, Germany

Hearsay, and much more importantly, Rick's cousin Matt, made it out of Iraq safe and sound. From Iraq, Matt escorted Hearsay first to Kuwait and then to Germany, where he's currently stationed. Best of all, Matt's wife, Julie, and their daughter, Savannah, have made the trip to Germany to be with him.

Of course, they sent back pictures of Hearsay from a few of their sightseeing trips.

Hearsay at the Abbey of Ettal, a Benedictine monastery in Bavaria, Germany.


Inside the Ettal monastery ...


Hearsay with some kegs of beer made at the Ettal monastery ...


Garmisch-Partenkirchen, which according to Wikipedia, is a market town in Bavaria ...


At the hotel in Garmisch. Yes ... that's the Alps in the background!!!


Linderhof, Germany ...


The Royal Castle of Linderhof, built between 1863 and 1886 by the reclusive King Ludwig II. The king didn't like being around other people, so the entire estate was designed to minimize contact with the outside world.


The Linderhof Garden. Ol' Ludwig might not have liked being around people, but he surely knew beautiful when he saw it.


The Linderhof Fountain ...


A map of Germany ... Matt, Julie and Savannah are in Baumholder, which is located close to Heidelberg, on the border with France. Bavaria is in the southeastern part of the country. (http://www.lonelyplanet.com/maps/europe/germany/)


TRAVEL FROM BAGHDAD, IRAQ TO KUWAIT, AL KUWAYT, KUWAIT: 346 MILES

TRAVEL FROM KUWAIT, AL KUWAYT, KUWAIT TO FRANKFURT, GERMANY: 7,150 MILES

ROUND TRIP FROM FRANKFURT, GERMANY TO MUNICH, GERMANY: 640 MILES

TOTAL TRAVEL: 48,214 MILES