Christmas all year long

September 10 - The rain did not bother us during the night but Bill was having a lot of trouble breathing with his machine and congestion. I slept with my back to him but by the time I got up this morning I realized it was too late I had already contracted his disease. My big concern is if it goes into my chest and I get bronchitis, I may not clear up before we leave for Ireland the 25th. I’m going to try taking some zinc and pick up some Echinacea when we go into Frankenmuth today. Of course this all happens when we only have one day to go to Frankenmuth. We didn’t get our as early as we had hoped and then it was drizzling out. 

Outside display

Our first stop was Bronners, the World’s Largest Christmas

Inside display

Store.  They aren’t lying! The amount of stuff is overwhelming.  It’s all done very orderly though.  Stockings, Santa suits, light up buildings, everything is together that are like items.  The ornaments are grouped that way also.  All teams, animals, music, woodland animals, and the list goes on and on.  We were there a couple of hours and just as we were ready to leave we ran into the couple me met from Florida at the rally.  They had just arrived.

The Memorial Chapel

Outside there are lots of displays that are there all year long.  There’s a replica of the chapel from Austria where “Silent Night” was first performed.  They had to get permission from Austria to build the replica.  There are placards posted with the song translated into probably 50 languages.  Very impressive!

Time for lunch!  We debated and ended up at the Bavarian Inn where they serve “world famous“ chicken. It’s very nice inside and the servers wear lederhosen and the Bavarian hats.  We were surprised at the menu as it was all dinners and appetizers, then I noticed in small print you can request a luncheon menu.  So I did.  The amount of food and cost for lunch was too much on the regular menu and I really wasn’t all that hungry.  Bill got a 2 piece “famous” chicken meal with mashed potatoes, veggies and a salad.  I had the traditional with schnitzel, sauerbraten and a piece of the famous chicken with sauerkraut and little cheese puff things.  The deal with the chicken is the batter is thin and a little grainy, not like flour and not loaded with coating.

 We saved dessert for   the bakery across the street.  Bill got a strudel and I got a round load of fruit stolen, which was not what I expected it to be.  I was thinking it would be like World Market stollen.  It was getting cooler out and some rain here and there so we decided to head home. 

 Neither of us was feeling all that good and I wasn’t hungry for any more “food” but did have a slice of my bread later.  It started raining out more but nothing like the downpours we’ve had in other places.