Rothenburg --> Munich

---

I had a quick breakfast and hurried to St. Jakob's Church. It was smaller than expected, and it required visitors to pay! Well, after all it's a famous thourist spot there, so fair enough. Built over a lane, the construction work of this Protestant church started in 1311, and is famous for its altars, principally the "Heilig Blut Altar" (Holy Blood Altar) by Tilman Riemenschneider. The altar depicts the Last Supper, Christ's entry into Jerusalem and the scene at the Mount of Olives, and is one of the most magnificent altars in southern Germany. Other remarkable works include the Altar of the Twelve Apostles as well as the large organ with 69 registers and 5,500 pipes.

I got out from the church at 10:30 and went to Reichsstadtmuseum (Imperial City Museum). I must say the museum is a large one, given that it has been existing since the 13th century. Following the direction on the walls, I started with the left from the entrance where I soon reached some stone sculptures, then I went up the first floor, passed the room where nuns used to reside, and came to a large room where weapons and armours were displayed. Besides, there were crafts, gold and tins, as well as a picture gallery before you went back to the ground floor. There's another room amused me -- a completely preserved priory kitchen dates back to Middle Ages, wow.

Then I came to Mittelalterliches Krimminalmuseum (The Medieval Crime Museum). It gave me an insight to 1000 years of European legal history. Not only it displayed the torture tools like wheels and neck-violin, but also it explained the procedures of questioning and judgement. There was also charity belt, which I have heard of it for long but never seen a real one.

It was about 12:30 when I got out from the Medieval Crime and Punishment Museum, so I decided to take a short break. I bought myself a schnellball, a piece of cake and a cup of tea in a cafe, before visiting Town Hall and the Tower. I couldn't really find the entrance of Town Hall, so I guessed I missed it (or went into some almost empty rooms without paying?) After that, I climbed up the tower, where in former times it accommodated the sentries who were to warn the city of fires and approaching enemies. Maybe because the tower was built on top of the gable, staircases were steeper and narrower as I climbed higher. 15 minutes later, I reached the observatinon deck. OMG it's amazing! I saw the whole view of Rothenburg. Though a bit cold and windy, it worth paying a visit definitely.

After Town Hall, I took a break again. After all I was enjoying my vacation in a small town, so I should slow down my pace, haha. I wrote some postcards in an ice-cream cafe, where I ordered a cup of hot dark chocolate. Wow, I felt like drinking melted dark chocolate. It's just so rich.

Next I hanged around Puppen- und Spielzeugmuseum (The Doll and Toy Museum), a tiny museum with so many toys displayed. Besides dolls from the 18th century, there were barbies and some contemporary toy blocks (probably that's how lego was invented, I guess). Now I started to miss my own dolls at home, as well as my bygone childhood.

Lastly I headed to the Town Wall before leaving this lovely medieval town. To raise the fund of wall maintenance after partly destroyed during WWII, the government started a campaign of Benefaction for the Preservation of the Historical Town Wall of Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Names and hometown of donators of 1000 Euro were found on the wall. What a shame I couldn't find anyone from Hong Kong.

I went back to Market Square to enjoy my last moment under sunset, trying to capture town in the early evening. Then I took the train at 18:06 to Munich. It was already 21:30 when I arrived at Euro Youth Hostel. After settling down, I met an English, Brat, in the pub of the hostel. We talked for a while, then got ourselves in a pub nearby. It was a nice evening (hehe I didn't needa pay), and good to meet someone who could communicate in English finally.

---