BAMBURG, GERMANY
BAMBURG, GERMANY
We awoke this morning to cloudy skies that threatened rain even though the possibility is low. After breakfast, we headed upstairs to the lounge area set up in front of the sun deck that is low enough for us not to be decapitated as we sail under low bridges.
It is beautiful up here, a gentle breeze blowing and no hot sun. The temperature is 10 degrees C cooler today and it is a welcome relief. We are gliding by farm fields and forests - quite idyllic. We have had to duck down because even seated, the low bridges pass over us with only six inches to spare. Very exciting!
After lunch we are due to arrive in Bamberg. This World Heritage site was not affected by heavy industrialization and miraculously emerged from WWII with hardly a scratch. As well as its historic buildings, it is home to 90 breweries.
We are taking a a walking tour of the lower and upper town as well as an area called Little Venice and a tour of the cathedral and a rose garden. After that we visit the Scheiners Gaststube, a traditional 18th century Franconian tavern for a sampling of classic local brews and a snack.
After dinner there is an Oompah band performance which we think we'll skip after our last experience.
We found Bamburg to be a charming city. The houses were built in medieval times - all half timbered. Many don't appear as such because as styles changed, people stuccoed over the timber structure. In the 20th century, styles changed again and as people renovated their homes, they exposed the half-timbers. We toured the cathedral - a combination of the Romanesque and Gothic styles. After our walking tour, we went to a beer garden to sample the smoky beer which is a specialty of this area. We were the only people on the tour who liked it. We were also served warm pretzels and two types of sausages which are also representative of the region. Delicious! We had to wait 2 1/2 hours for the buses to arrive to take us back to the boat. It had to travel through several locks and wasn't arriving until 5:30. We sat in the tavern for an hour talking with other travellers - then ventured out for a tour of the market area and old city on our own. We joined a couple from Washington State and a gentleman from Australia for dinner. We closed the restaurant and sat upstairs on the wheelhouse deck until dark.
We awoke this morning to cloudy skies that threatened rain even though the possibility is low. After breakfast, we headed upstairs to the lounge area set up in front of the sun deck that is low enough for us not to be decapitated as we sail under low bridges.
It is beautiful up here, a gentle breeze blowing and no hot sun. The temperature is 10 degrees C cooler today and it is a welcome relief. We are gliding by farm fields and forests - quite idyllic. We have had to duck down because even seated, the low bridges pass over us with only six inches to spare. Very exciting!
After lunch we are due to arrive in Bamberg. This World Heritage site was not affected by heavy industrialization and miraculously emerged from WWII with hardly a scratch. As well as its historic buildings, it is home to 90 breweries.
We are taking a a walking tour of the lower and upper town as well as an area called Little Venice and a tour of the cathedral and a rose garden. After that we visit the Scheiners Gaststube, a traditional 18th century Franconian tavern for a sampling of classic local brews and a snack.
After dinner there is an Oompah band performance which we think we'll skip after our last experience.
We found Bamburg to be a charming city. The houses were built in medieval times - all half timbered. Many don't appear as such because as styles changed, people stuccoed over the timber structure. In the 20th century, styles changed again and as people renovated their homes, they exposed the half-timbers. We toured the cathedral - a combination of the Romanesque and Gothic styles. After our walking tour, we went to a beer garden to sample the smoky beer which is a specialty of this area. We were the only people on the tour who liked it. We were also served warm pretzels and two types of sausages which are also representative of the region. Delicious! We had to wait 2 1/2 hours for the buses to arrive to take us back to the boat. It had to travel through several locks and wasn't arriving until 5:30. We sat in the tavern for an hour talking with other travellers - then ventured out for a tour of the market area and old city on our own. We joined a couple from Washington State and a gentleman from Australia for dinner. We closed the restaurant and sat upstairs on the wheelhouse deck until dark.
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