Advertisement
Published: October 28th 2008
Edit Blog Post
Resting or Posing?
Albert, Sara and Paul sit above the Danube as it churns and turns through the high cliffs near Kelheim. After 8 days or so in Kelheim it's about time we share what we've been up to. The Anzinger family, being so kind to offer us a room in their house, have been exceptional hosts, and we can't begin to share our experiences here with them without first thanking them for their hospitality. It's been so great staying here with them. Thank you so much Albert, Rosemarie, Albert, Anna-Lena, Matthias for welcoming us into your home for the last few days. We also have to thank Antonia, Albert's girlfriend, for showing us around Kelheim as well, and for making us a delicious Bavarian Brotzeit. Thank you all so very much!
Now, what have we been up to?
Tuesday
On our first day here in Kelheim we (Albert and the two of us) made an attempt to catch a ferry across the Danube to check out the monestary at Weltenburg. This monestary is the home of the world's oldest brewery (that is still in operation). The monks have been brewing beer here since the year 1050. After waiting for the fery for some time we decided it was not going to come, so we walked 2 miles
Nürnberg
This old castle is a patchwork of natural sandstone formations and man made bricks. or so back to Albert's house through gold and orange forests and apple orchards. Later that evening we drove over to Antonia's house for the much anticipated traditional Bayerische Brotzeit! What an enormous and delicious spread!
Wednesday
The next morning we woke up early to hitch a ride into Nürnberg with Albert's father. He had to drive there for work that day. This worked out well for us as we got to spend a whole day there. We started out with a visit to the Albrecht Dürer house. This is the house where the famed 16th century aritist lived and worked. While the museum doesn't have any of his works it does a great job of showing how Dürer and his wife lived and worked.
We were also able to catch an exhibition of Kiki Smith's work in a gallery in Nürnberg. She is one of Sara's favorite artists. We were very exciting to stumble upon this gallery.
Nürnberg is a very nice, very old city and we had a lot of fun just walking around town, despite the fact the it was a bit rainy.
Thursday
The next day
Steinernebrücke
Regensburg's Medieval marvel. we spent in Regensburg. Every Thursday Albert has a long day of classes at University in Regensburg, so we hitched a ride with him and got to see this beautiful city. We started with a tour of the town hall which was used extensively by very important men for several hundred years. The rooms inside are decorated with beautiful woodwork and tapestries. In the basement we saw the torture chamber and prisons. The torture instruments were especially scary becase we were able to touch some of these original objects which had been used in the past. This was rather unsettling.
Regensburg is also home to a very impressive stone bridge across the Danube. It was built in the Middle Ages with little knowledge of bridge building technology except for what could be gleaned from exisiting Roman architecture. It was an architectural marvel at the time and was inspiration for the Charles Bridge in Prague.
Friday
Friday marked the weekend for Albert and so we made a little excursion to the Befreiungshalle (Hall of Liberation). This monument overlooks Kelheim from a hill between the Danube and Altmühl rivers. It was built after the Germans defeated Napoleon
Peaches
Paul, Antonia and Albert prepare to indulge in Peaches' finest exotic cocktails. and regained their independence. The view from the top of the monument was quite impressive despite the slight fogginess.
After returning home we drove out to the Monestary at Weltenburg to have a look. Unfortunately everything was closed. The church, however was open, so were able to marvel at its elaborately decorated Baroque interior.
Later that evening we drove to Regensburg with Albert and Antonia for Mexican food. The food was delicious, but the European interpretation of Mexican cuisine is distinctly different from the American. A couple "exotic" drinks at Peaches followed (but not for the driver of course. Thanks Antonia!)
Saturday
The next morning we made "American Breakfast" for Albert and Antonia. Bacon, eggs, and potatoes O'brien. "Potatoes for breakfast?!" they asked.
Later that evening we watched Albert's handball game. His brother and sister, Antonia, and the two of us cheered his team on as they smashed their opponents with a 9 point lead! Celebrations of the victory followed. Go Kelheim!
Sunday
On Sunday we drove to Munich to celebrate Florian's (Albert's brother) birthday. Sara and I baked a banana bread for the party. Nobody had ever heard
Befreiungshalle Interior
Angels surround the interior along with bronze shields made from melted cannons. of banana bread before, but they all seemed to like it.
Monday
The next day we made a trip to Schulerloch. This is a cave near Kelheim with a one-of-a-kind treasure in side of it. A stone bowl forms below a group of stalagtites hanging in the cave. As the water spills over the bowl, calcium deposits cause it to grow larger. There are a couple in this cave. A very small one with a water depth of almost one centimeter is over 1000 years old. The bigger one took 100,000 years to form! It's quite amazing.
This week has been a blast! And now we are preparing to leave Kelheim and our wonderful hosts. Tomorrow we'll be riding down the Danube!
-Paul and Sara
Advertisement
Tot: 0.173s; Tpl: 0.041s; cc: 5; qc: 44; dbt: 0.0458s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.6mb