This Sommerrodelbahn (can you pronounce that?) is like a two-person mini roller coaster, which is controlled with a hand brake, and it is so fun! This picture is Madi and Evan standing in front of the toboggan before we got to ride it. After one ride, we were all pretty much hooked and agreed that we could stay there all day and spend all of our money just riding over and over. We decided not to do that, though, because there were other sights to see in Pottenstein that day.
After the coaster, we went down the street to the Devil's Cave (all of the fun stuff is close together in P-stein. Super convenient!). This is wear things got a little more interesting. You can tour the cave and there is no crawling around, squeezing through tight spaces. However, Robin and I are both pretty afraid of caves. I think I might be a claustrophobe in denial. We decided that we would go in the cave because the husbands really wanted to, and because everyone we talked to who had been said it's really easy and pretty open the entire time. It did seem like it was going to be really open, except for a big wooden door that closes behind you when you start the tour. Robin really hated that!
Here is a picture of Robin and me pretending we aren't scared. We were scared, but Zach helped me get over it by telling us to pretend it was just a fake cave, like a ride at an amusement park. That trickery actually worked for most of the tour. However, there was one part up a stairwell where I really almost panicked. I started thinking, "What if this cave collapses? What if the lights go out? My cellphone light will only last a short time. I have no water. Could I find my way out?" These are the scenarios that crazy people (aka women, mostly mothers) come up with all of the time. If you've ever had an anxiety attack, you probably know that panicky feeling at the onset of one. Luckily, I've gotten pretty good at talking myself out of them. Thank God that worked, because I wanted to bolt out of there, but I would've gotten lost, and looked stupid.
When we weren't thinking about death by spelunking (Zach, that means caving. Stop forgetting the word!), the cave tour was actually really cool. There were really tall stalactites and stalagmites that looked like an orange-ish, melted candle wax. I was expecting them to look more like stone.
The kids weren't scared at all. I don't know that they particularly enjoyed the cave, but they didn't hate it.
The cave tour was just under and hour, and I think Robin and I were relieved to see the sunlight. Even though I was proud that we made it through without a complete freak out, I can say that I do not enjoy caves and would not like to go back into one. They are amazing, but the thought of being stuck in one makes it not worth it for me.
However, I would like to see more rock formations surrounding caves. The scenery in Pottenstein, as in most of Bavaria, is beautiful.
After many, MANY months of one hundred percent cloud cover, it was nice to have a day of sunshine. I love being outside, and in places like this, I feel like I could live outside. I just wanted to build a little cottage right between these rocks. I, of course, would seal up the cave and kick out all of the tourists.
Next up in Pottenstein was what we Americans refer to as Steak on a Stone, but is actually called Gasthof Schuttersmuhle. It's a restaurant where the servers bring you a searing hot stone, and you can cook your choice of meats or fish. Pretty cool idea, huh? Well, guess what; I suck at cooking salmon. Actually it was still good, just look at that beautiful piece of fish, but I did overcook it a little.
Andy and Zach both got exotic plates of meat to try (they don't fry up any strippers, people, don't get too excited). Andy had kangaroo, crocodile, wild hare, and wild boar. We had just tried kangaroo a couple of weeks prior, so we knew that would be pretty good. I surprise myself by saying that the crocodile was my favorite. I could definitely taste that element of it being something that lived in the water, and I enjoyed it. I would eat crocodile again. However, I did not like the wild hare or the wild boar. Andy and Zach both really enjoyed the wild hare. I don't know what's wrong with them because though I can't really describe the taste to you, I can tell you that it wasn't good. The worst of the bunch was the wild boar. If you want to know what wild boar tastes like, you should eat a rotten pork chop. I later learned from Zach's step dad that it was probably a male boar, which you are not supposed to eat unless it's first castrated. Something to do with hormones I guess. Gross! Steak on a Stone was an interesting experience, but next time I'm going to pay a restaurant, they are going to cook the food. Pottenstein is definitely a fun city. We'll go back and ride the Sommerrodelbahn, but I'll skip the cave and the cooking, and enjoy a beer and a bratwurst.
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