Lebkuchen: Can't Help Falling in Love with You

In late 1957, Elvis Presley received his draft notice and in early 1958 was inducted as a U.S. Army private. Presley completed basic training before being posted to Friedberg, Germany, with the 3rd Armored Division, where his service took place from October 1, 1958 until March 2, 1960. He lived not in Friedberg, but in the nearby town of Bad Nauheim. Bad Nauheim couldn't help falling in love with Elvis Presley.

Yesterday on my favorite radio station, Armed Forces Network, the DJ talked about how for the last seven years, Bad Nauheim has hosted a “European Elvis Festival” to mark the anniversary of “the King’s” death on August 16th. This year's festival began Thursday and would continue through Sunday. Bad Nauheim is only 30 minutes away and I informed everyone that we would be attending this festival. Any protests would be ignored.

We could not have asked for better weather as we entered the town. Bad Nauheim is a small, quiet town that during the Elvis Festival becomes a....small, quiet town. It was not exactly bustling with activity. We got a map with an Elvis walking tour from the information office and began walking in Elvis' footsteps.

A fan

Elvis products in a shop display

Praline candies

We asked if we could take a picture of this 1965 Chrysler. The owners were more than happy to show off their car.

They were Elvis fans as well.

Our first point of interest

Strolling down Elvis Presley Boulevard over the Usa creek

Sculpture at the town library. There's nothing like getting drawn into a good book.

The house where Elvis and his entourage eventually settled.

Bad Nauheim has been an internationally renowned spa town since the 19th century when the salt water from the wells of this village of salt producers was recognized as having curative powers.

This 107-year old Inhalatorium is a structure tightly packed with blackthorn twigs through which the salty spring water drips and is converted into vapor. The salty vapors are similar to that of fresh sea air and are believed to be extremely useful in the healing process of lung ailments.

The temperature dropped at least 20 degrees when you stood near the inhalatorium--natural air conditioning. Benches along the structure were full of people enjoying the cool air on this warm day.

We paid the small fee to enter and fully appreciate the inhalatorium experience.

Making our way down to the inhalation room, getting misted by cool vapors along the way

We could only breathe deeply for 10 minutes or so before Rebecca and Becca started getting silly and we needed to leave the other deep breathers in peace.

Enjoying the cool air

Behind the inhalatorium is a cure park. Here was a foot circulation zone.

We did it backwards, but you were supposed to walk, flamingo style (really stretching those legs up and out) in the water, and then walk the same way slowly in and out of the different size gravel sections, around and around until your feet felt warm.

James looks like he is auditioning for the Monty Python skit "The Ministry of Silly Walks."

Walking in the healthy briny water

Keeping your arms in the cold water till they tingle is good for your circulation.

Sampling salt from the spring

A very cool modern fountain

I couldn't believe that the stream of water followed the sinuous lines of the metal structure. Why didn't the water just "fall off?"

A photo of Elvis posing by the town castle gateway was used for the LP cover of "A Big Hunk O’ Love.“

"A Big Hunk O' Love" was recorded in June 1958 in RCA's Nashville, Tennessee studio, while Presley was on leave from the U.S. Army. It was Presley's twelfth number-one hit.

Elvis Presley Square

Just one week after Elvis arrived in Germany, he was followed by his father and grandmother, along with two friends and bodyguards, occupying an entire floor of the Hotel Grunewald. Room 10 – the "Elvis Room“ - remains unchanged to this day.

Right next to the Hotel Grunewald on Elvis Presley Square is the “Elvis Memorial Column“. It has become a popular site of pilgrimage for fans, who leave behind flowers or personal messages in many different languages.

We made our way to a spot in a large park where there was to be some music. Here David is comforting a terrified-of-bees Becca.

We were serenaded by "Elvis meets Soul."

Elvis meets Soul. I was so hoping we would see an Elvis impersonator, still, these two fellows did a great job with the Elvis songs and others from the 60s that were perfect for listening to as you relaxed outside. They piped all the music, except the guitars and sax, out from an ipod.