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Published: October 22nd 2017
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Geo: 50.3118, 11.7712
(Erin here.) Sean did such a thorough job of the trip to Frankfurt that I get to just begin with the fun stuff. We left the airport and almost immediately our tour guide, Manuel, announced (rather nonchalantly) that we were driving on the Autobhan. Most of the students erupted in a frenzy, yanking out their cameras to snap pics of the road signs or the Audis and BMWs—anything to verify their journey along the world-famous highway. We also laughed at the Mack trucks that were labeled instead, simply, "MAN," which quickly became a game of “There's another ManTruck!” And of course we marveled at the rolling green landscape and kept declaring “We're in Germany!” to each other, as if trying to validate for each other where we really were. After a year of preparation and anticipation, it was hard to believe we had finally made it.
Our first stop after riding on the bus for a couple of hours was the quaint, quintessentially rural town of Wϋrzburg. Imagine red, terra-cotta colored rooftops, a sluggish green river skirting the edge of the town, and cobblestone streets and you'll be pretty close to picturing the town. We first crossed an arced bridge
lined on both sides by 20-foot statues of various popes, and ventured into the central square that has served as such for hundreds of years. There was a lively farmer's market with its fresh produce on display: tiny red grapes, cherries, white asparagus, and jars of honey and jellies with long German labels.
On one end of the square was a gothic church with its soaring red spires and ornate décor. It was next to this church where we found an outdoor restaurant that seemed to fit our taste and budget. Cream-colored umbrellas for shade and all natural wood tables created an earthy, organic feel, and the menu was filled with fresh items from which to order. Most of our group ordered chicken sandwiches while I opted for tuna, and when served, we found them to be just delightful: fresh bread (crispy on the outside and so soft on the inside), juicy tomatoes, and a bit of arugula (just the right hint of peppery-bite), and bits of shredded parmesan cheese. We each had a glass of water with lemon (“without gas”😉, and felt immediately satiated by the meal. Rick Steves knew what he was talking about when he advised that
jetlag hates sun, exercise, and food. For dessert, Sean and I sampled a German pastry called Mohn Strueselkuchen, which is a cheesecake-like pastry, but topped in “mohn,” a ground blend of poppy seeds and sugar. Yum!
Our final destination for Day 1 was Rothenburg (pronounced Rōten-berg), a city of the 12th century with its fortified walls, turrets, and amphitheater still intact. We visited St. Jacobs Church to view the Altar of the Holy Blood, which reputedly contains a drop of Christ's blood. It was a wooden carving in incredible, finite detail over 20 feet high, showcasing the Last Supper in the main panel, with Christ's arrival in Jerusalem, and Christ praying in the garden of Gethsemane on the left and right panels, respectively. What La Pieta accomplishes marble, this altar accomplishes in wood.
After some schneeballs (pastry-balls covered in chocolate or powdered sugar or maple), we walked around the fortified city walls with a view of the city and the feeling of having passed back in time 1,000 years. By the time dinner rolled around, we tried not to fall asleep in our pork entrees. What a long day! I think we were all asleep within moments of hitting the pillow.
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Dad
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Now that reads like a great day touring, in spite of the lack of sleep! I almost feel like I'm there with you. Great pics too!!Thanks for the time to update the blog. As always it's amazing.