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Legoland Deutschland

Mike with an old friendMike with an old friend

Mike with an old friend10-Aug-2009 20:44, SONY DSC-W55, 3.2, 8.2mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 100

Eidan enjoying the Water WorksEidan enjoying the Water Works

Eidan enjoying the Water Works10-Aug-2009 21:06, SONY DSC-W55, 5.2, 18.9mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 100

Kai in downtown Frankfurt, MiniLandKai in downtown Frankfurt, MiniLand

Kai in downtown Frankfurt, MiniLand11-Aug-2009 18:15, SONY DSC-W55, 7.1, 6.3mm, 0.004 sec, ISO 100

Neuschwanstein Castle, MiniLand - made from more than 300,000 lego bricksNeuschwanstein Castle, MiniLand – made from more than 300,000 lego bricks

Neuschwanstein Castle, MiniLand – made from more than 300,000 lego bricks11-Aug-2009 18:09, SONY DSC-W55, 7.1, 6.3mm, 0.01 sec, ISO 100

Riding on the German trainsRiding on the German trains

Riding on the German trains12-Aug-2009 21:50, SONY DSC-W55, 2.8, 6.3mm, 0.02 sec, ISO 1000

After Maria’s students returned to the US, we did some traveling outside of Prague before coming home ourselves. Our first destination was Legoland, in rural Günzburg, Germany. After that we went to Munich, then back to the Czech Republic, to the town of Plzeň (where pilsner beer was created) and finally back to Prague. Maria did an excellent job researching the logistics, and we discovered the wonders of the Bayern ticket: a family of up to five can travel all day on a single 2nd class ticket, on any regional trains throughout Bavaria (and into the Czech Republic as well) for the equivalent of about $40. German trains are a lot like Japanese trains, so 2nd class is downright posh compared to any American train.

The only glitch happened when we arrived late in the day in Günzburg, which is in the middle of nowhere. The train station was small, and there was no one around to ask how to get to our hotel, and there were no cabs. We tried to call the hotel but for some reason we couldn’t connect. The only transportation other than the train was a shuttle bus to Legoland that came every 20 minutes. We decided to go even though it was late, figuring someone there could help us. They did help us, and we got to our hotel in the end, but the price we paid was a total meltdown from Eidan. The park was about to close when we got there – standing outside its amazing gate and not being able to go in was too much for him after spending most of the day on trains.

The next two days were great, and the four of us had a blast – check out the pictures!. This is the first theme park I’ve visited that I really got into, probably because of all the time I spent as a kid playing with legos (score one more successful brainwashing by the lego marketers ;-) ). The highlight for me was Captain Nick’s Splash Battle simply because, after more than 10 years together, I got to see a look on Maria’s face I’d never seen before: bloodlust and the thrill of battle. The highlight for Kai was the Bionicle Power Builder ride (he went on it twice), where you get to program your own ride on a touchscreen before climbing aboard a gigantic robotic arm that spins and rotates you according to your programmed instructions. And Eidan pretty much loved all the attractions that involved him getting soaked. Overall though, the most impressive part of the park is MiniLand, featuring large, highly detailed lego scale models of landmarks from all over Europe.

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At the entrance to Legoland in Günzburg, Germany

At the entrance to Legoland in Günzburg, Germany12-Aug-2009 00:25, SONY DSC-W55, 10.0, 12.4mm, 0.01 sec, ISO 100

Kai trying to pull the sword from the stone, in Knights' Kingdom

Kai trying to pull the sword from the stone, in Knights’ Kingdom10-Aug-2009 19:21, SONY DSC-W55, 2.8, 6.3mm, 0.005 sec, ISO 100

Kai and Eidan in the belly of the beast

Kai and Eidan in the belly of the beast10-Aug-2009 19:52, SONY DSC-W55, 7.1, 6.3mm, 0.005 sec, ISO 100

The Bionicle Power Builder ride. You program the ride you want, then strap yourself into a robot arm

The Bionicle Power Builder ride. You program the ride you want, then strap yourself into a robot arm10-Aug-2009 18:29, SONY DSC-W55, 2.8, 6.3mm, 0.025 sec, ISO 320

Eidan at driving school

Eidan at driving school10-Aug-2009 19:40, SONY DSC-W55, 5.2, 18.9mm, 0.004 sec, ISO 100

Mike with an old friend

Mike with an old friend10-Aug-2009 20:44, SONY DSC-W55, 3.2, 8.2mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 100

Mike and Kai enjoying the wave racers . People on the perimeter can shoot at you with water cannons as you spin around

Mike and Kai enjoying the wave racers . People on the perimeter can shoot at you with water cannons as you spin around10-Aug-2009 21:00, SONY DSC-W55, 7.1, 6.3mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 100

Eidan enjoying the Water Works

Eidan enjoying the Water Works10-Aug-2009 21:06, SONY DSC-W55, 5.2, 18.9mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 100

Maria, Eidan and Kai in Captain Nick's Splash Battle. I blasted them with water from the shoreline.

Maria, Eidan and Kai in Captain Nick’s Splash Battle. I blasted them with water from the shoreline.10-Aug-2009 22:14, SONY DSC-W55, 4.5, 14.3mm, 0.008 sec, ISO 100

Mike and Eidan on the Safari Tour

Mike and Eidan on the Safari Tour10-Aug-2009 22:33, SONY DSC-W55, 4.5, 14.3mm, 0.01 sec, ISO 160

An elephant in the Safari Tour

An elephant in the Safari Tour10-Aug-2009 22:33, SONY DSC-W55, 2.8, 6.3mm, 0.005 sec, ISO 100

Zebras on the Safari Tour

Zebras on the Safari Tour10-Aug-2009 22:33, SONY DSC-W55, 2.8, 6.3mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 100

LegoLand Atlantis

LegoLand Atlantis10-Aug-2009 21:56, SONY DSC-W55, 2.8, 6.3mm, 0.04 sec, ISO 1000

Kai races his creation in the Build and Test Center

Kai races his creation in the Build and Test Center11-Aug-2009 00:59, SONY DSC-W55, 2.8, 6.3mm, 0.025 sec, ISO 100

The Allianz Arena - the largest Lego creation in the world - 5 meters across, 1 meter high, 1.5 tons

The Allianz Arena – the largest Lego creation in the world – 5 meters across, 1 meter high, 1.5 tons11-Aug-2009 02:19, SONY DSC-W55, 2.8, 6.3mm, 0.004 sec, ISO 100

The Allianz Arena - the larget lego creation in the world - 5 meters across, 1 meter high, 1.5 tons

The Allianz Arena – the larget lego creation in the world – 5 meters across, 1 meter high, 1.5 tons12-Aug-2009 03:03

Berlin, MiniLand

Berlin, MiniLand11-Aug-2009 17:29, SONY DSC-W55, 7.1, 6.3mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 100

Berlin, MiniLand

Berlin, MiniLand11-Aug-2009 18:00, SONY DSC-W55, 7.1, 6.3mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 100

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One Comment

  1. Dad says:

    Michael,

    Looks like everyone had a good time.

    Dad

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