On the last full day of our vacation, we drove to Bonn to fulfil a dream. Lizanne is a muso and a massive Beethoven enthusiast. So, when she found out that we could go to his birthplace, she was pretty much out of her skin.

The master’s origins start in the Beethoven-Haus in Bonn, now turned museum, and showcases many of his personal instruments and keepsakes. Even a lock of his hair.

To see her excitement over this place made it worthwhile for all of us, even if we don’t appreciate music on the same level she does. The creaky floors and smaller than average doorframes are notable here, and seeing the instruments caressed by a true virtuoso’s hands was a special privilege.

We couldn’t take photos inside the museum, but we have some shots of the outside.

From there, we hit the road again and went back to Schloss Burg in Solingen. This medieval castle is still one of my favourites to visit in North-Rhine Westphalia. If you ever find yourself in the area, I can’t recommend this enough.

The kids actually enjoyed this one too, especially since we enhanced their moods with waffles before we explored the castle. It’s a pity we couldn’t go everywhere in the castle this visit. You know Germany – the tower was being renovated.

Still, we got some awesome photos and had an amazing time. Fair warning, this is a photo heavy post.

And that’s a wrap on the vacation photos. I have one more post planned for you, showcasing some photos taken in the random moments between all the dedicated sightseeing trips. I’ll share those on Monday.

Hope you have an amazing weekend!

Yolandie.