NO time for boredom today

Category: International travel, German food, German culture, historic buildings

  • 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.