Month: July 2016

July 1, 2016—Happy Birthday Canada

Regensburg, Germany –Written late night on July 1–published on July 2, 2016 

We are on day six of our adventure on the rivers of Europe.  It was our least planned day and the best and most fun so far. Our walking tour was again over cobbles that have been used for hundreds of years in Bavaria for roads and sidewalks.  Pretty to look at from a distance and very difficult to walk on if you are over 25.

Our guided tour took in the history of the region.  Regensburg was not destroyed during either of the World Wars and except for several early  fires is a true medieval town.  The town has over 30 medieval towers from that period.  Mostly they are fake  buildings above the second or third floor.  They were created to demonstrate the importance and wealth of the owner.  Our guide said if you were a young man coming to town, you looked for the tallest tower and then would court the daughter of the owner for he was the richest!

We passed the office of the town government on our tour and witnessed four couples exiting from their civil wedding ceremony.  Bubbles, balloons, and rice filled the air along with Champaign. All couples who want to marry must have a civil service to be officially married by the state. Most happen on Thursday or Friday.  They can have a church wedding, usually on Saturday.

At St. Peter’s Cathedral we were able to see the cardinal give a lecture to a group of  5^th  or 6^th graders at the front of the Nave. Their organ has suspended pipes and the organist must take an elevator in order to play. Under the Sanctuary are the original supports for the building from about 950 AD along with the tombs of several of the bishops of the cathedral.

Today we had our first real meal off the ship. We ate an outside “Beer Garden”  I hope I can send photographs of the meal. This was probably one of our only chances to shop, so we did!! I just hope my suitcase will hold my purchases.

When we left town, I was concerned about the fact that we went down the Danube River for about 2 miles then backed-up!  I was afraid that we had left someone back in town or that we might have to get off the ship because of the high water.  Well I was not correct.  We first backed-up from the dock to then go forward into the Danube-Main-Rhine Canal.  Our ship is too long to turn around in this river and the canal is easier to travel than the Danube from this point on because of low bridges.  Our travel is much smoother and the reflections on the water are beautiful.

Tomorrow is Nuremberg.  We will take a motor coach into town at 1:00 because the ship will not arrive at the dock in town until 5:00.  Using the motor coach gives us 4 extra hours in town.

More later!! See photos below!

Weddings July 1, 2016

Lunch off the ship!

Medieval Towers in Regensburg