July 18

Wertheim

Entering Wertheim on the Main River

The town was left untouched in WW II despite the fact that the main Nazi air base for Euro bombings was here. Why? When the Allies came to take it out the valley was enshrouded in fog and they couldn't find the town! They moved on to Wurzburg (where we were yesterday) and the result of that left 3 buildings (THREE) without a roof! Then as the war came to an end Wertheim was in the US Zone, with the Soviet Red Army just 80 miles away. Until the 1990s the people of Wertheim were constantly in fear of being invaded by the Soviets; so much so that the mountain below the castle was a three-level shelter with room for 4,000 people - beds, food, etc!

The narrowest home in Wertheim (left): note, like most houses in town, each floor has a SINGLE room! Can you imagine living like that? The "Leaning Tower of Wertheim" on the right

Entertainment In Medieval Times
Everyone wanted to be or have a view of the town square to find out what was going on! This is the Baker's shop with his apartment above. Note the small window on the left - this allowed the baker's wife to watch everyone and everything and not be seen!

Climbing To The Castle

You can't even imagine how steep and high it was :) But on the left you see Kim climbing the first half, which was at least had steps; on the right you see me "huffing & puffing" up the steep incline, but the view is well worth it.

The panoramic view from the castle entrance

We made it!

The castle up close

Afterwards Kim went for a run - here she poses for a selfie as she crosses the bridge back from Bavaria to Wertheim with our ship, The Lif in the background

 

NOTE:  This afternoon (Saturday) we enter the Rhine River Valley with deep valleys, steep cliffs - with many castles.....but with spotty if any Internet connection.  We'll keep in touch as best as possible! 

July 17

Rothenburg & Wurzburg

Good Morning On The Main River

The Autoban:  No speed limit.....ever

Welcome to Rothenburg
We drove for about an hour on the "Romantic Road" to reach historic Rothenburg

The Castle Wall
The city is completely surrounded by this medieval wall - you can walk the wall, which we did

The Castle Gate
Note the drawbridge chains came out of the square openings on either side of the top

Kim on the wall

Mark on the wall

Stone bridge outside the wall

Sue and Dan

Mark and Kim

Wurzburg: The Bishop's Residenz

The view from the back

The historic staircase with the amazing fresco on the ceiling

The "White Room" - all stucco on the walls (the "curtains" in the corner are paper mache)

The Mirror Room

Kim volunteers for glass-blowing demonstration

She makes our new Christmas Ornament!

Kim Volunteers For Glass Blowing Experience
(9 min)
 

July 16

Bamberg

The Main-Danube Canal

The idea of a canal linking the Danube with the Main - creating a continuous waterway from the Black Sea to the North Sea had been the dream of Charlemagne some 1,200 years ago. In the 18th Century King Ludwig I of Bavaria began consturction of the Ludwig Canal which went from Bamberg to Kelheim, and took ten years to build. But railways became more efficient and after being in use to some degree for 98 years it was for the most part abandoned. The current Main-Danube Canal is 106 miles long, runs from Bamberg on the Main to Kelheim on the Danube. It has a 16 stair-step series of locks to rise some 1,332 feet above sea level.

Bamburg

Bishop's Residence

Cherubs Up Close

European Streets

Cobblestone Streets - Difficult walking surface

Note: Parked vehicles, driving vehicles, walking people, & people eating ALL on the street

Bamburg Cathedral

Tomb of Emperor Henry II and his wife

The Horseman of Bamburg

Kim in the Cathedral's Rose Garden

The Brewery

Tasting 3 Beers - Including "Smoked Beer"

 

July 15

Nuremberg:  WOW What A Day!
The day did NOT start out like planned.....

The ship stopped, dead in the water a little after midnight and when we woke up in the morning we were tied up to the shore just outside Kelheim.  After some phone calls the day went on with the busses arriving at noon to pick us up and take us to Nuremburg for our excursions.  We did not mind the 2 hour trip as we saw a lot of the German countryside.

Scenery along the way

The Nazi Parade Grounds / Zeplin Field:  Currently and in 1938

The largest National Socialist Party (Nazi) building ever built.....and it was never used.

It was intended to be the Congress building and was built to resemble the Roman Coliseum on the outside

Note the inside - never finished - in brick....would have been covered in marble and roofed.  See in the upclose photo the braces coming out of the wall - those would have been to provide supports for the rows of seats.

The Nuremburg Courthouse
Courtroom #600 - site of the Nuremburg Trials

The Courtroom today

After a very emotional and moving lecture we posed for photos

Photos from "Old Nuremburg"

Those who know Kim will appreciate this photo - playing Scrabble against Sue, she asks the guest next to her to help, saying "Please help, I cheat - I like to cheat!"

Nuremburg Visit Video Highlights