NO time for boredom today

Author: sdninaanderson

  • Wertheim Is Much More Than a Quaint German Town

    I loved all the genuinely old buildings of Wertheim but I also enjoyed seeing the local townspeople shop and interact with each other. We were lucky to be there for a Wednesday morning Market when several specialty merchants were there to sell produce, meats, seafood and other products such as olives. Business was brisk. The weather was nice so lots of locals sat in the outdoor cafes enjoying coffees and pastries, too. Prices at the local clothing shops were reasonable so many of our fellow travelers on the Baldur enjoyed shopping.

    Besides taking an overview tour of the city, we enjoyed a second tour which went into the Jewish atrocities during WWII. Our tour guide took us to specific buildings and had photos from the Nazi era showing Nazis removing Jews from their homes as well as Nazi soldiers standing guard in front of Jewish-owned businesses to prevent sales.

    We ended our visit to Wertheim with a visit to the oldest bakery in town and bought several pastries. We sat outside and spit a a chocolate and almond type of cake that I have never seen before. It was delicious and not too sweet. We shared a linzer torte later that was also fantastic. I am glad that I am averaging between 12,000 and 14,000 steps per day; I am hoping that it will help me burn off some calories.

    Wednesday’s Community Market
    Local Shops in Wertheim
    Charming Street
    Wednesday Community Market
    The Food Selection in a Tiny Town Is Impressive
    Wednesday Market Day
    Really Quaint Downtown
    The Exterior of the Oldest Bakery
    Interior of the Oldest Bakery
    The Baked Goods Are Spectacular
    Some of the Artisans Had a Vicious Sense of Humor
    An Old Gentry House That’s Now City Hall
    Abandoned Castle
    A Mexican Restaurant
    No German Tacos for Us In Wertheim
    Memorial for the Jews Murdered by the Nazis
    This Tour Guide Gave a Great Tour Re the Town’s Jews During WWII
    Town Center Fountain
    Previous Jewish-Owned Home Confiscated By the Nazis
    Wertheim Under the Nazis
    Wertheim Under the Nazis
    Gnome Mascot for Town
    Gnome Mascot Adopted During COVID
    The Main Town Church Built in 1384
    A Reminder That No Matter Your Wealth, We Are Equal In Death
    An Older Building in the City
    Still a Private Residence in Town
    Very Lush Landscape
    View from the River
    Fun Detail on One of the Older Houses
    View from the River
    The Central Section of Town
    A few Fun purchases from Wertheim
    Our Viking Ship the Baldur
    Our Viking Ship the Baldur

  • Wurzburg Has Something for Everyone!

    Front Entrance and Fountain at the Bishop’s Palace
    At the Bishop’s Palace
    Venetian Glass Chandelier from Murano Island
    Bishop’s Palace
    Hall of Mirrors
    Hall of Mirrors
    Hall of Mirrors
    Bishop’s Palace
    Top of the Main Staircase at the Bishop’s Palace
    Main Staircase at the Bishop’s Palace
    Bishop’s Palace
    Garden at the Bishop’s Palace
    Garden at the Bishop’s Palace
    Garden at the Bishop’s Palace
    Garden at the Bishop’s Palace
    Garden at the Bishop’s Palace
    The Great Seated Man
    Double Bell Tower
    Center City Bakery
    Center City Tram
    The Pre-Christmas Market Has Started
    Old Wine Bar
    Marienkapelle Gothic Church
    Fun “Refueling” Stop Near the Bridge
    Local Cafe on the Bridge
    Center Ciy Fountain
    Local Grocery Store
    View of Original Bishop’s Palace and Grape Vines
    View from the Bridge
    Wine Bar on the Bridge
    The Bridge
    View from Canal Walkway
    Locks left in Memory
    Museum im Kultur Speicher
    Inside the Museum
    Inside the Museum
    Painting by Joseph Oppenheimer of the Hall of Mirrors at the Bishop’s Palace
    Painting of the Old Bishop’s Palace and Vines
    Old Main Bridgehead at Wurzburg
    Modern Painting at the Museum

    We had one of our best travel days today in Wurzburg. There is much to do and the town is so manageable.

    Like Nuremberg, the town was heavily bombed during WWII. Much of the area was rebuilt post WWII. Our first stop today was the Bishop’s Palace. Several of the rooms are original but much of the palace had to be restored after the war – including the Hall of Mirrors. The Palace has an exhibit that goes into the details of restoring the palace. The locals take tremendous pride in the palace and boast that it is more impressive than Versailles. Having visited Versailles, I disagree with the locals but this is a very impressive palace.

    We then had a very pleasant walk from the palace to the downtown portion of Wurzburg. Like Bamberg, the town economically relies upon tourism, the university and about 100 other schools. In addition, Wurzburg holds many festivals and other special events. Everyone from Elton John to Michael Jackson has performed in Wurzburg. We were fortunate to experience an early Christmas market. The vendors included typical German arts and crafts as well as all kinds of food and beverages. I have to admit I was surprised to see a booth selling churros.

    The area grows the largest amount of grapes in Germany and Wurzburg is known for its local white wines. Wine bars are everywhere and wine is definitely more popular than beer in this German town. There is even a wine bar on the bridge that serves its wines in glasses; my husband and I watched both Germans and tourists strolling the bridge with wine glasses in hand. We opted for coffee and pastries at a nearby cafe but those on our ship who partook said that the wines were really good.

    I am really enjoying the Bavarian part of Germany.

  • Bamberg – Stepping Back In Time

    Founded in the 11th century, Bamberg is the most picturesque town in Germany with medieval architecture. It managed to escape the Allied bombs during WWII so it really is like stepping back in time. It is a small town with approximately 80,000 people. The university and tourism essentially support the town. There are a nice variety of stores and restaurants but, interestingly, there is only one tourism store that sells post cards and other typical tourist items.

    It is famous for its smoked beer. Once we heard it described as beer infused with an ashtray, my husband and I opted to pass on sampling this delicacy. Among those on our ship who did, most were not too enthusiastic. Beer, in general, became popular in Germany out of necessity. The local waters were polluted and made the people ill. Beer was a safe and cheap beverage that did not make one sick. The wealthier opted for the more expensive wine as their beverage of choice.

    The outer area used to be called Little Italy or Venice due to the multi-level homes that are on the canal. The fishermen used to reside in these homes – it was considered the poorest part of Bamberg. The bottom level frequently flooded so most fishermen used it for boat parking. These days, the homes go on the market infrequently but when they do…they sell for well over $2,000,000.

    The Old Hospital
    Little Italy – Where the Fishermen Lived
    Old Pub Known for Serving Smoked Beer
    Sign for Beer Pub Featuring Image of a Previous Owner
    Saint Peters’s & Saint George’s Cathedral
    Original Bishop’s Palace
    Bishop’s Palace
    Rose Garden
    Rose Garden at Bishop’s Palace
    Overview from Rose Garden at Bishop’s Palace
    Lower Bridge and Town Hall
    Old Store in Central Bamberg
    One of several dedicated Christmas stores in town
    Latte German Style
    Central Bamberg
    Popular Modern Sculpture

  • Nuremberg: So Much More Than What I Thought….

    Saint Sebaldus
    Saint Sebaldus
    Saint Sebaldus
    Saint Sebaldus
    Interior of Saint Sebaldus
    Nuremberg Courts
    Castle Tower
    Bridge to the Castle
    Tunnel to the Castle
    The Castle
    View from the Castle
    View from the Castle
    View from the Castle
    Newest Structure at the Castle
    City Hall
    Famous Downtown Fountain
    Underground Site Where Artwork Was Hidden During WWII
    Underground Site Where Artwork Was Hidden During WWII
    Nuremberg Gingerbread Shop
    Nuremberg Gingerbread
    Church of Our Lady
    Church of Our Lady
    Church of Our Lady
    Church of Our Lady
    In Front of Church of Our Lady of

    I wasn’t sure what to expect from Nuremberg. During WWII, over 90 percent of the city was destroyed. What survived is a miracle. The rest was rebuilt and is very attractive. Hitler saw Nuremberg as his ideal German city so it is no surprise that the Allies went after it so aggressively. In addition, much of the German military manufacturing was based in Nuremberg.

    Nuremberg did a better job preparing for bombing during WWII than other German cities. Consequently, despite aggressive bombing by the Allies, the city lost far less residents than other cities. The city used its numerous underground beer storage sites to shelter both people and their artwork.

    Luckily, we were able to take a tour of the places where the Nazis hid artwork during WWII, including stolen pieces. It was fascinating. Unlike the majority of Nuremberg’s buildings, these underground hiding spaces remained intact and safe from the bombings. One of the most miraculous things saved were all the stained glass windows from Saint Sebaldus. Much of the cathedral was damaged by the Allied bombing. After the war, the Germans rebuilt the cathedral and reinstalled the original glass panes.

    Unfortunately, we visited Nuremberg on a Sunday – In Germany, most stores are closed on Sundays. Luckily, two specialty stores for German gingerbread (more like a spice cookie) remain open on Sundays. The store we entered was packed with both local Germans and tourists. It was our only experience with an unhappy shop owner. Everywhere else has been so incredibly friendly. Most Germans not only speak English but do so with an American accent. As we travel along the rivers and canals, the German people have been so incredibly helpful and hospitable.

  • Regensburg – Home of the Oldest Fast-Food Joint

    The minute we approached Regensburg, I knew I was in for a great experience. Luckily, Regensburg escaped bombing during WW II and most of the old buildings survived. For example, the Stone Bridge dates back to the 12th Century. My only disappointment was a certain amount of graffiti. This is not exclusive to Regensburg. We have spotted quite a bit of it in Vienna and Passau, too.

    The cathedral is especially meaningful as it is the former home of the late Pope Benedict XVI. The cathedral has been under constant renovation with scaffolding surrounding the exterior for decades. Apparently, for the Pope’s visit to the cathedral the town temporarily removed the scaffolding for one week in 2006.

    The highlight of the day was our visit to the Sausage Kitchen. The place has been in business for 900 years and, on average, the restaurant sells 6,000 sausages a day. We both ordered sausage sandwiches on rolls with sweet sauerkraut and the Sausage Kitchen’s amazing sweet mustard. We both agreed that it was the best version of this combination we’ve ever eaten. I was really excited to find bottles of this mustard for sale at a nearby store.

    Amazing Fall Colors
    Beer House
    Structure with Part of the Old Roman Wall
    The 12th Century Stone Bridge
    Standing on a Bridge over the Danube
    The Famous Sausage Kitchen
    The Sausage Kitchen
    Ordering At the Sausage Kitchen
    The Sandwich At the Sausage Kitchen
    Chocolate – Ready for Christmas
    Quaint Part of Regensburg
    Very Old Nobility House
    Saint Peter’s Cathedral
    In Front of Saint Peters’s
    Interior of Saint Peters’s
    Interior of Saint Peters’s
    Interior of Saint Peters’s
    View from the Stone Bridge
    Market Stalls Near Saint Peters’s

  • Discovering Passau: A Quaint Bavarian Town

    We arrived in Passau early this morning. It’s a border town adjacent to Austria. The town has a population of 44,000 and we were able to tour the town in less than two hours.

    Apparently, the town was in dire economic condition until a university was founded in town in 1973. It is the youngest university in the Bavarian region of Germany with a strong academic reputation. Today, it ranks in the top 30% of universities worldwide.

    The real treat in town is the Baroque cathedral – Saint Stephen’s. The plaster workmanship inside the cathedral is impressive.

    Before our visit, I knew nothing about Passau. John and I really enjoyed our brief time walking the cobblestone streets of this Bavarian town.

    The Inn River
    View of Passau
    Original Salt Tower
    Our Group Walking Along the Inn River
    Bishop’s Residence
    Saint Stephen’s Exterior
    Adorable Pastry Shop
    Halloween Reaches Passau
    Typical Residential Housing
    Artist Section of Passau
    Das Oberhaus
    Information Office with Water Flood Marks for Major Floods
    Our new friends we met on our cruise
    Alter at Saint Stephen’s Cathedral
    Interior of Saint Stephen’s Cathedral
    Interior of Saint Stephen’s Cathedral
    Interior of Saint Stephen’s Cathedral
    Interior of Saint Stephen’s Cathedral
    This Cracked Us Up – A Texas Steak House in a tiny German Town

  • Vienna In The Early Hours

    In the morning, we took a brief overview tour of Vienna via Viking. It is a wonderful city filled with beautiful buildings and traditions. It is also a dense city with quite a bit of traffic and graffiti. The graffiti surprised me. According to our guide, graffiti is a protected form of art.

    I feel like a got a decent overview of Vienna but I probably need to go back. It has museums that are legendary. We did visit the absolutely stunning Saint Stephen’s Cathedral . It is gothic and powerful looking. It is also extremely crowded inside. Everyone wants to snap a few photos. Fortunately, the church charges $7 Euros per person if you want to see the center portion of the church. We did and it was a wise decision. Most people are too frugal to do so. We were were able to escape the feeling of being shoulder to shoulder.

    For us, the highlight was seeing the famous ferris wheel that was used in the 1949 Orson Welles movie The Third Man. It’s located in an outer area of Vienna and still has the eerie feeling captured in the movie. No one in Vienna knows about the movie The Sound of Music (filmed in Prague for budget reasons) but everyone knows about The Third Man.

    Empress Maria Theresa
    Standing in Front of Empress Maria Theresa
    Front of Sisi Museum
    Downtown Center Vienna
    Exterior of Saint Stephen’s
    Exterior of Saint Stephen’s
    Interior of Saint Stephen’s
    Interior of Saint Stephen’s
    Interior of Saint Stephen’s
    Interior of Saint Stephen’s

  • Melk Abbey and the Best Chocolate Ever!

    For our second day in Austria, we spent a fun morning on the roof deck enjoying the scenery as we sailed the Danube. It was cold so we were all bundled up and the Viking staff served us shots of wonderful apricot snaps made locally.

    Bundled Up
    Viking Serving Snaps
    Cheers
    Breathtaking Scenery
    5-Star Hotel Where Princess Diana Frequented
    Grape Growing for Wine

    In the afternoon, we had the opportunity to visit the Melk Abbey and it did not disappoint! It’s a Benedictine monastery that goes back to 1089. The architecture was beautiful as was the church. We were not allowed to photograph the interior of the church but it was exquisite. Our tour guide told us that there is over 11 pounds of gold inside and I have no doubt about this claim. The tour included both a museum as well as the opportunity to see some of the rooms the Hapsburg family occasionally used when visiting the area.

    We ended our visit with a quick stop at the gift shop to purchase some amazing fruit-filled chocolate someone told me about as well a visit to the gardens. Others in our group used the opportunity to purchase some of the local wines produced in the area. The gift shops all had impressive displays of wine for sale.

    Stairs between parking and Abbey
    Gift Shop
    Gift Shop
    Second Floor Balcony

  • The Schonbrunn Palace: A Bit of Viennese Magic

    The only unfortunate part of my visit was that the palace is getting the site ready for the annual Christmas markets so the front area looked like it was partially under construction. That said, this is an amazing place to visit. My husband and I were totally enchanted. We have both visited many palaces, including Versailles, Buckingham and Windsor, this one really excited both of us.

    The name of the palace translates to beautiful spring. Its location was chosen for access to fresh water when there were health concerns about the water near the winter palace. Both the location and look of the palace are impressive. This was the Habsburgs summer palace. When it was originally built, the location was in the remote countryside away from the city of Vienna and winter palace. Over the years, Vienna has expanded and the palace is in the city.

    The Schonbrunn is Austria’s number one tourist destination and I understand why. It has something for everyone. It is popular with both Austrians and foreign visitors.

    The palace itself is huge. In its heyday, it accommodated over 2,000 people. The royal apartment rooms are impressive. The palace even has the bed where Empress Maria Theresa delivered all of her 16 children. The Empress Elizabeth, known as Sisi, lived there, too. Lately, between recent books and the mini series about Sisi, there is a renewed interest in the Hapsburg dynasty.

    Interestingly, the Austrian government actually rents out some of the apartments to people. Our tour guide knows someone who rents one of the apartments. In addition, we spotted a bride and groom with a photographer taking their wedding photos. As we were wrapping up our visit, people were getting one of the larger reception rooms ready for a music concert.

    In addition to the extensive gardens, there is even a zoo on the palace grounds that dates back to 1752 and is the world’s oldest.

    We spent several hours at the palace and were able to see everything we wanted to. The only thing we missed was enjoying coffee and cake at the cafe on site.

  • Apple Strudel Viking Style

    I just attended my first Viking River cruise cooking demonstration. The chef and his assistant chef taught us to make apple strudel from scratch! Based on what I saw, I think I can do this at home.

    Naturally, the staff served us Mozart coffee while we waited for the demonstration to begin.

    The two big takeaways from our chef:

    1. Use vinegar when combining the dry ingredients to make the dough elastic.
    2. Place a cloth towel underneath the dough to keep it from sticking to the counter or other surface.

    The best part was enjoying freshly baked apple strudel which the staff served with a delicious vanilla sauce.

    The finished product
    The Baldur Ship Recipe
    The chef Teaching a Guest
    Mozart Coffee
    The Viking Cruise Recipe