Day 21

            It turned out to be a wonderful day.  We left Wittenberg just as we planned – leaving the hotel at 8:00 a.m. after another hearty breakfast.

            Thank goodness for GPS!  We had little or no trouble finding our way around. It took us about 4 hours to drive from Wittenberg to Bamberg.  It hadn’t been on my list, but Paul strongly recommended that we go there, and it was worth it.  It was quite difficult to find a parking place (the GPS doesn’t understand that need!) but once we found one, we started walking.  The down side of Bamberg is that it is built on very high and steep hills.  And it was warm.  First we found the old Rathaus (city hall).  It dates from the 1100’s, and is very well preserved.  It sits on a little island between a river and a canal, and is lavishly painted.  Only pictures can begin to describe it, so you’ll have to wait!  We stopped in a couple of shops, and found a Kätie Wolfahrt shop – with hundreds of little carved wooden musical angels.  We have already bought several, so we didn’t buy any here, but I sure was tempted!  Did buy Dea a Bamberg bell for her collection. 
            Then we climbed way up the hill to the Marienkirche, the cathedral that dates back also to the 1100-1200 period.  It is absolutely stunning.  Four steeples.  Several beautiful organs (wish we could have heard them), lots of statues, graves, and decorations.  Found some really funny carvings above one of the outside doors.

            Then we headed up the hill once more – a long, steep hike to see the monastery (St. Michaels)  When we got to the monastery church, we discovered that there was a prayer service going on, and we weren’t allowed to explore the church until it was over.  I understand that.  But it never ended!  They just kept on praying for over half an hour, so we finally bought a few postcards and went on.  There’s a beautiful little path and staircase that goes straight down the hill to the main part of town again – much easier than the climb up to the top.

            We decided it was time to head for Feucht (a suburb of Nuremberg) where we are staying with some of Paul’s friends for 3 nights.  They are delightful people.  But before we got there, we were afraid we would run out of gas, and didn’t see any stations from the autobahn.  The good old GPS came through again – you can tell it you need gas, and it will find a gas station and then get you back on your original destination route again.  Great gadget!

            We arrived at Paul’s friends close to 6:00, sat and got acquainted over a beer, were shown to our rooms, then went for an excursion.  Egon (our host, 73 years old) took us to the Feucht Little Grand Canyon.  It’s a large park.  Back in the 1800’s, the Germans dug a shipping canal to join the Main river with another river.  At Feucht, it had to cross another river.  So there is a bridge carrying the canal at the top of the canyon, and the existing river running below it.  We marveled at the ingenuity of it all.  Then Egon, Paul, and I took a hike into the “Little Grand Canyon” going for about a kilometer or so on a narrow, muddy trail.  It was beautiful.

            After the walk in the canyon, we went to an honest-to-goodness beer garden in the park.  It was crowded with people, many just drinking beer, which we also did, and then had supper.  Egon showed us a little more of the town, and now we are getting ready for bed, accompanied by a bit of thunder.

            Tomorrow the plan is to take the train into Nuremberg and play tourist.  Sounds like a fascinating place.