Bamberg and Rothenburg pics

Two awesome days

Yesterday was a beautiful sunny day in Bamberg which is one of my favorite places so far and a partly sunny day today in Rothenburg ob der Tauber, which I like almost as much as Bamberg.  Both cities got through WWII relatively unscathed so there are a ton of old buildings. Very cool.  I tried out Bamberg's specialty:  rauchbier, a beer with a smokey flavor. It's awesome!  I'm going to have to research this in the US. There must be some rauchbier somewhere. Enjoyed it while looking down on Bamberg from a hilltop seminary where, I'm told, rauchbier was first made. Fantastic views. It's actually quite cruel of the universe to send me such beautiful days just before I have to go home. Today's highlight would have been pointless in the standard November weather in Germany/Austria. I climbed to the top of the Old Rathaus tower for more magnificent views. The extent of the city walls was especially striking from this viewpoint.  The climb was a bit harrowing. If I had known what the "stairs" would be like and how many there were I would probably have passed, but once I had started I'd have to have been in great fear for my life to quit before the finish.  So, it was scary, but totally worth it. As inspired by my sister's first trip to Australia, I've been trying to do things that my anxieties might normally prompt me to avoid.  I don't want to have any regrets about things I didn't do while I had the chance. That would drive me crazy when I'm stuck back at my desk in DC. So far, I think I've met my goal and there's only one day left so I'm in good shape.

Yep, one day left. I'm very sad about that. I woke up this morning thinking I had to get ready for work and I almost felt sick to my stomach. I guess I won't be going back recharged!  :)  But I'll be happy to see my friends (and family in a few weeks!) and get Buddy back on his regular insulin schedule. And I'll get to see Gizmo!  Some things to look forward to, but all things considered, I'd rather keep traveling.  Oh well, hoping to hit the Heidelberg castle and Christmas market on my way to a hotel near the airport tomorrow.  Then I head home Tuesday morning. :(

Latest iPad pics

I forgot my iPad in the hotel when I went to the market, but I got some pics with my iPhone. I can post those later. These are pics of a gazebo many should recognize, a turkey I saw on Thanksgiving Day but didn't think I could eat, my room and view from my room at Hotel Amadeus in Salzburg, my Regensburg hotel room, and the cathedral in Regensburg. Most of my pics are, as always, on my cameras.

Salzburg Christmas Market

Amazing!  What a great way to spend Thanksgiving while abroad. I'm so glad I stayed for it. The vendors had better stuff than Vienna and, at least while I was there, it was much less of a hangout for young, smoky drunks. Of course, I was there for the "opening ceremonies" so it was more of a family time than I'm sure it became later at night. So I started out browsing and shopping (for small affordable things that might survive the trip home). Then I tried the gluhwein which was a bit sweet for me but much, much better than the punsch I had in Vienna (yuck!). An impulse buy at the gluhwein stand: a thing I thought was a little cinnamon donut.  I asked for one and got one order which was 4 in a little tray with a little wooden tong-type thing so my fingers wouldn't get sticky. Lovely!  Well, it wasn't exactly a donut - I think it was a deep fryed apple slice covered with cinnamon. What I know for sure is that it was one of the best things that ever happened to me. Unbelievably delicious!!!  Not long after enjoying this treat, the ceremony began in front of the cathedral. There was an adorable band and even more adorable folk dancers. They played and danced for quite a while. Then they got in marching formation, followed by maybe 40 dudes with rifles in traditional uniforms and they all marched around the entire marketplace and stopped in the next plaza in front of the unlit Christmas tree. There were a bunch of speeches that were even more boring than at US events because I didn't know what they were saying, but they all seemed to speak well extemporaneously and the crowd seemed engaged. Much to my delight, they repeatedly said "burgermeister" causing me to giggle and think of Burgermeister Meisterburger every time. Meanwhile, the two girls who led the band, who I thought were each carrying an old ceremonial thing and a handful of bells, busted open the things and filled the little "bells" with shots of schnapps for the band members. Why didn't we have that in marching band?!  Then all the dudes fired their rifles and a cannon was fired (both twice).  Luckily, some folks started covering their ears just before each barrage so I was able to follow suit. Since I didn't understand what was being said on stage and wasn't looking at the soldier guys, it could have been a very unpleasant surprise!  The cannon was super loud. Finally, the tree was lit!  I had really been hoping the crowd and band would then belt out "O Tannenbaum" but it didn't happen.  No Christmas songs at all as far as I could tell.  There was a few more songs, folk dances, and schnapps shots for the ceremony participants and that was that. All in all a lot of fun...despite the light rain throughout the event. These people are totally unfazed by rain and cold - they just keep doing things outdoors no matter what. I dig that about them.

No turkey for dinner, so I had pizza.  It seemed as American as I was gonna get. They really like Italian food over here. It seems like 2/3 of all restaurants are Italian. Unexpected, but I nice break from sausage and other pig-based meats from time to time.

This morning, I enjoyed a breakfast buffet and furthered what's likely developing into an unfortunate espresso addiction, bought some mittens and a bottle of Diet Coke, and hit the road. I'm now in Regensburg after a rather slow drive. I don't think Bill sent me the quickest way as I had requested. Bill is my name for the GPS guy. We were never formally introduced and he hasn't mentioned his name but after about three days together, I got the distinct impression that he goes by Bill. He seems to answer to it so I may be right. Tomorrow, I think Bamberg but I still need to figure that out...

More Salzburg pics