Wir fahren nach Heidelberg: Conducimos a Heidelberg: We're driving to Heidelberg

Mike had a meeting to go to at the base in Heidelberg where he used to work. He knew the area from living there so he gave us a run-through of the roads to get to the old town from the base, we dropped him off, found one of a billion parking lots, and started our walk along the river...in the rain once again. I wonder if it's always this rainy in Germany?

Mike jokes with us that every good tourist city has an old bridge, a castle, and a big church. Heidelberg had all of them, but we were denied access to the church because it wasn't open-oh well.

The castle from the plaza in which we stood for 10 minutes while the rain decided to crash down in buckets...luckily we were under the cover of a roof.

"The Red Ox"-legend has it this restaurant was frequented by Samuel Clemens, better known as Mark Twain.

Tom at one of the terraces at the entrance.

Tom, entering the celler...

Tom and Bob from the top of the keg.

Bob and the GINORMOUS Keg. Taxes used to be payed in whatever form of alcohol a farm produced...then all of it was mixed together in this vat. People in the typical home in the town drank about 1 liter of wine per day, but in the castle, the average was 3 liters! The tour guide later told us that they used to add things like mustard to the already nasty mix of different types of beers and wines!

Bob hiding in the cave from the rain as we think about going to the tour in an hour or so.

This tower was sliced in half when attacked in one of the battles. It is one of the first, if not only, times I have literally SEEN the section of a building that we draw so often for architecture. It was really really intriguing. I took lots of pictures, but none of them quite grasp how cool this ruin is...it's as if on half just slid off the other into the ground.

They look like they are up to something!

The castle from the gardens. The gardens were created by the king for his wife, but were a terrible idea because they allowed attacking armies to infiltrate the grounds and take the castle with few problems.

Model of the final additions to the castle before attack and downfall.

Incredible ceiling detailing...in the hallway.

Amazing detailing and color, even in the flooring of the typical room.

Random, but beautifully made, spiral staircase in the corner of the room which goes to all floors of the castle.

Last stop of the tour was the beautiful chapel in the basement of the building made for the King's wife. The carvings above the altar were particularly impressive.

Wurzberg Tag: Dia de Wurzberg: Wurzberg day

Sabo was our alarm clock.

We checked out the Merienkapelle interior while we waited for our host to meet up with us.

Bob shows off his German side with a Beer for our meal with Mike and Rudy.

Mike gave us a tour...and then pulled some strings, I think he gets a kick out of this, and so do we! The main conference room reminded me of the UN, but on a smaller scale, and with a HUGE mural on 3 of the 4 walls depicting German history in different tones of blue and white...QUITE impressive, but my photo-montage of it won't load, so you'll have to ask me about it later on.

We have really gotten into the castles here...and this one is no exception, even in the driving rain in which we climbed the hill, pictured above, and walked in a complete circle around the outside of the fortress just to get in! There were hardly any people and there was no charge, that we know, because the ticket office at the entrance was blocked off. The coolest part, for me, was the well in the center of the castle which was 5 meters wide and deeper than a football field into the center of this huge hill to an underground water source. Unfortunately I don't have pictures of this or any other cool things inside because I neglected to charge my battery and the camera wouldn't turn on.

I did manage to get the camera to work for this picture of Bob and Tom guarding the SECOND fortified wall of the castle...yeah--it was pretty intense. They had the angles of the outside wall calculated so that attackers were visible from all points because the walls were battered, meaning they slant outward at the bottom.

Cool lookout point over the major fortified wall.

This is the city...some of which we are now familiar with, most of which we can't hope to see in the few days we are here.

Went back to the house and cooked dinner for Mike, the boys, and Bob and Tom. Papa rellena-Thanks to Jung-and fried apples with icecream. Good times.

Mike took us to the base tonight. We were technically on American soil...which is weird. They don't even use Euros on the base, but US dollars...I was completely blown away but I refrained from Americanizing my experience here in Europe...or at least tried to. It was eery to be on this almost-empty base at night, to think about home and how this compared, to be on an army base in general was just intriguing. It is its ow secret society in a way. We know about it but we don't, really.

We have to get up early tomorrow to go to Heidlberg.

Nacht: Noche: Night

We made it to the Wurzberg area and our host Mike, who is fantastic! As soon as we got settled, it was time to run into the city to get a general overview, drive-by tour, and some coffee/beer.

The Residence...where the castle-dwelling clergy moved to after the fortress was no longer needed and their home base was changed.

Merienkirche-"Kirche" is German for church-all lit up

The bridge of statues across the river.


Bob and Mike's hunting dog, Sabo (Mike you're gonna have to help me with the spelling here!)

We came back to the house and just talked and chilled and ate cheese and sausage. Talked to the fam. I could get used to this!

Frankfurt: Frankfurt: Frankfurt!

We were only about an hour or two from our final destination for tonight, and we were going to pass right by Frankfurt so why not stop for food? Just because we're hungry, and we can!

The Main Platz in the old city, all lit up.

Tom and Bob at the Italian restaurant in Germany...

and my FANTASTIC strawberry crepe!

The Frankfurt Dom

Mary and Jesus statue

Crucifix statue at entry

Tom in ruins outside the Dom looking at the Model of the old Dom.

Back on the road...we have places to go, people to see!

Romantischer Strasse: Calle Romantica: Romantic Road

So, we hit the road again, heading further south along the Romantic road, where you can't go a mile without seeing a castle...what a tough life, huh?!

Our first and only out-of-the-car-castle-photo-shoot.
The boys, taking in the views.


Bob and the Rhein River

Near the end of the Romantic Road is a mystical place known as Loreley. Legend has it that sailors crashed into a rock here when they were distracted by the voice of a beautiful siren! We had to check it out...obviously.

Apparently we were the ONLY ones who thought this was a good idea.

Team Germany! Bob Tom and Me at the Loreley overlook

It was a long walk up...and what goes up must return down this long, slippery, winding set of stairs...just like Tom and Bob!

"Over Yonder...do you see that siren?" "No...that's an empty Loreley Info Center!"

Not only has we climbed lots of stairs, but those stairs were on top of a large hill/mtn of sorts...which we drove up. On the way down, however, we noticed a path for wanderers...and since we know that in Germany, it is a pasttime to wander...we did.

A HUGE statue of said Loreley siren.

Town of Loreley...which actually respects the water, unlike in good old Espana...in fact--the only buildings they seem to have are within site of the Rhein.

Ok, so we had another photoshoot of the castle at Loreley...but it was only because all of the castles were closed because it's not tourist season here.

PB and J sandwiches made without knives, gummy bears, and some agua...then back on the road toward Wurzberg!

Kolner Dom: Catedral de Koln: Cologne Cathedral

Got a good 12 hours or so of sleep, despite previously suggesting it would be fun to get up to watch the sunrise on the Dom...yeah right. Here are a few snippits of the Dom and surroundings...it's huge...there was a lot to see...my head didn't retain it all. Hopefully photos do some justice to the detail.

An intense facade...that is quite daunting, especially in the rain!

The main aisle

Super-old crucific (not-including base and background) and first known crucifix to show suffering/human Jesus. Also famous for miracle that occurred after wooden cross was cracked in the making and mysteriously healed by a piece of host.
Glorious vaulted ceiling and clerestory (also spelled clearstory, depending on the person).

The main attraction for many pilgrims to this Cathedral: this golden chest supposedly contains the remains of the 3 Magi. Scientists were able to test the materials and to narrow them down to being as far back as at least 200 AD if not older. While this does not prove these to be true relics, it also does not disprove them.

Yeah..just like...a TON of detail--no big feat or anything...and it's huge..did I mention that?

Proof of the size: Bob next to a replica of the tower decoration..yeah. MASSIVE!

Tom...next to Roman ruins from before Christ...as if that's not a big deal?!

Bob between the Dom and the cool canopy of the Koln train station.

The rear view of the Cathedral

What Mike calls "The Postcard Shot to send home to Mom"

And so ended our time in Koln, as we have a date for fun times in Wurzberg tonight at Mike's!