Nuremberg Trip

25 July - Visited Nuremberg. We stayed at the Hotel Ibis in the Old city (Altstadt). We arrived on 25 July and walked around the city. It was a little warmer than it had been. We visited the St Lorenz Church (Kirche) and the market. Nuremberg has a VERY large christmas market in December time frame. The old city has a wall around it and a river running in the middle. We had dinner at a local resturant. It was a hot night and our room was on the 4th floor above the outdoor tables outside a bar on a Friday night. You can figure that we did not sleep well.


26 July - James got up early and did a very nice long run around the city at 0645. no one was out and it was very beautiful (schoenes) and still (stilles). We had our first German Breakfast (fruhstucke) of sliced meat, cheese, jams, cereals, fruit (obst), boiled eggs, juice, yogart, rolls (brotchen), and coffee. It was really good. After breakfast, we walked to the Kings Castle (Kaiserberg) that began construction in 1100. Very nice tour in German (we had a an English book so we kept up). The crucifix in the chapel was carved in 1500 - yes 8 years after COLUMBUS landed. This is where the German rulers and kings of the Holy roman Rnpire ruled for hundreds of years. We saw the deep well dug through limestone, climbed the watch tower for a great view of ALL of nuremberg, and there was a wedding going on. Jamie also visited the Youth Hostel - 21 euro for 3 nights and breakfast. She can stay at these when she visits in College and brings her friends back for a month to hike across Europe since she will be able to speak the lingo!!!


Then we toured the old jail under the City Hall (Rathaus). This is where they kept the prisoners and did the "interrogations". It is all underground, no light, no ventillation. The torture chamber is still there. After hearing how they tortured people, no one should complain about Guantanamo Bay Prison!! and this was the church doing it too.... We had lunch across the street and had traditional Nuremburg wurst, pretzels and soup.


After lunch, we toured the Albrecht Duerer House. He is the most famous Nuremberger. He was a famoud painter in the 1475-1519. He did paintings and copper and wood prints. It was a very interesting tour with the guide being his wife Agnes. Very informative. Durer brought the Renassainse to Germany from Italy where he studied. You have seen his famous sketch of Praying hands that is on alot of religious post cards, etc.


We then drove home using our new TomTom GPS for directions. It was a really good weekend.


Jamie also likes the Rest Stops (restplatz) on the Autobahn where they have clean bathrooms and resturants.



Jamie at the River in Nuremberg


Jamie and Kim in the Kaiser Berg.


Jamie making a print on a press like Durer used to make prints. Agnus Durer in the background. Jamie got to keep the print!!