Day 3: Germany- Ebestadt, Heidelberg, Speyer (July 11)

11:15 11-Jul-12

Eberstadt

We spent the first part of the morning playing with Maja. She wasn't sure what to make of us, especially since I didn't know how to talk to her. She was adorable, and I loved seeing her express her (many!) opinions. Rahel was a wonderful mother, and did so well balancing a strong will with limitations.

14-month-old Maja.
She was playing with the brush, sometimes brushing her mom's hair.

She stuck pretty close to her mom, but she would smile and play with me from a distance.

 Heidelberg

Travis with a "panorama" view of Schloss Heidelberg, the city below, and the altbrüke across the river.

Tobias borrowed a car from his grandparents and drove us to Heidelberg! He was awesome!

Travis with Schloss Heidelberg in the background.

He dropped us off at the top of the castle (schloss). We walked down to the gardens outside the castle. There were some amazing scenic views of the castle and the city.
  

 
9:50 12-Jul-12

We then took a guided tour of the castle, learned about the Fear Tower (in ruins) where prisoners were lowered by rope; often peasants who couldn't pay taxes. We heard about the tower built overnight for Princess Elizabeth for her 19th birthday (she had 13 kids by her 30th!) made possible because it was "prefabbed" elsewhere and assembled overnight. We saw the wine pump from the 55,000 gallon keg, the statues of the 5 of 7 Virtues, the statues of the princes who each constructed a building/part of the castle, a treasure chest, and the little doorways where servants put wood into the stoves without entering the rooms of royalty.

Nadine in front of Schloss Heidelberg.

Travis with the armory tower of the castle.
At one point during the castle's history,
the French attacked the castle and set this tower on fire.
The gunpowder stored there exploded, blowing 1/2 the tower away, 

where it has lain since.

Courtyard of the castle.

It wasn't hard to imagine how people might have lived and worked here 400+ years ago.

I loved the sun dial and the clock, the Elizabeth Tower and the miniature replicas of the castle before its destruction by fire (lightening strike) and its current ruins. We also walked through the Apotheke Museum, located inside of the the castle buildings.

One of my favorite things to find on this trip were all the clocks!
This one is a sundial on the side of a south-facing facade of the castle.

Another clock tower, on the north wall facing into the courtyard.
There was an identical clock on the other side facing the castle entrance.

Cherubim over the doorway entering one of the castles (maybe where the chapel used to be?)

From the second story, overlooking the courtyard. Behind me to the left are five of the seven virtues.

The Five of Seven Virtues
In the middle row, from Left to Right:
Strength, Faith, Charity, Hope, Justice.
Not imaged as a statue on this wall were Moderation and Chastity.

Travis standing under the Elizabeth Gate, the (old) entrance to the castle.

After our tour, we headed to the Altstadt, or Old City, passing through Korn Markt, and then to the main Markt with the Dom (cathedral). We bought sandwiches and ate them as we walked the short distance to the altbrüke, old bridge.

Walking down the many steps that lead from the castle to the Altstadt (old city).

It is amazing how far away everything seems on a map, but how short a walk the way. Or maybe it's because we don't have to be anywhere at any time and we don't have kids to worry about or because we are on vacation. But, distances seem very short in space (and sometimes time).

These maps were posted throughout the town to help people navigate.
Everything was so close together that it took less than 10 minutes to stroll from the castle (bottom right) to the altbrüke, the middle (yellow) bridge on the map.

I'm standing in the Korn Markt
You can see the castle behind me.

The altbrüke, or old bridge, that was the only bridge for many centuries that led into the city of Heidelberg. The bridge itself was beautiful, but also afforded amazing views of the castle and the city.

The altbrüke taken while standing on the bridge.

See that castle in the background?
See that handsome man in the foreground?

The sun did amazing things with the shadows and colors on the river and hills and city.

It was a little windy on the bridge, too.
Oh, and see those locks behind me? Couples would buy them, inscribe their initials/names and date on it, lock it to the bridge and throw the keys into the water, signifying that their love was locked forever (or as long as the keys weren't found).

Looking up the Neckar River.

Taken from the north side of the altbrüke, a panorama of Heidelberg.

Although we felt a few drops, and the clouds were grey, they were fast-moving and with many breaks to let the sun shine plenty. It was 24C, just perfect for lots of walking.

Travis and I decided to not try the Philosepheweg and instead looked for the Universistadt Platz. We tried calling the girls (who were at the Rose Park splash pad), bought an umbrella (it was threatening rain), and slowly made our way to the rendezvous with the Megner's.

This was only one small example of all the amazing window boxes on buildings,
narrow streets, and closely parked cars that we saw in Germany.

These were the postcards we mailed home to the girls showing them the castle we visited.

Schloss Heidelberg on the top with the fountain, Elizabeth Gate, and the Virtues on the bottom.

Same view we had from the old bridge... well, almost. This was probably an aerial shot.

Travis and I walked all along the major shopping area. H&M, Espirit, and many shoe and clothing stores, lots of optometry stores, and even fruit stands. It was all walking traffic, which gave it a totally different feel. We even stopped in a Christmas store, but I didn't buy anything because I was afraid I wouldn't be able to get it home intact!

Tobias, Rahel, and Maja picked us up and we  to Speyer, about a 45 minute drive.

Speyer

Maja does NOT like sitting, especially in a car seat, so Rahel and I tried to distract her as we talked some- I only speak maybe 15 German words ('hallo', and 'bitte'), but she speaks some English very well.

Maja in her car seat.

It was a challenge entertaining her!

Maja with her dolls- a bear and a baby.

Getting ready for the walk.
It never ceases to make me laugh that moms bring strollers-
to carry everything but the baby!

Travis and the Megner's.

Maja loved walking with her parents.

In Speyer, we walked by the flat where Travis lived when he was a missionary. Travis has a picture of Rahel and her siblings climbing in the window of the flat, and I got a picture of her and Travis outside the same window.

This is the window Rahel and her siblings climbed through to see "Elder Bailey".
I'll have to see if I can get a copy of the old photograph.

We then made our way to the hapstrasse to meet up wtih Rahel's brother, David, and his new wife Katherine (Kat-a-ree-nah) and her mother and father (Betine and Andreas).

Betine saying 'hallo' to her granddaughter.

Walking down the main street in Speyer.
Travis said he tried to do street contacting here.

Andreas had driven in from Munich and met us downtown.

Betine explaining about liverwurst and pretzels.

We wandered to the other end of the strasse, buying postcards (us), hair tie (Rahel), Subway sandwich and drink (David and Katherine), liverwurst (a gift for us from Betine), and ice cream (Rahel, Tobias).

Travis and I guestimated the amount of water/wine a fountain in front of the church could hold. Travis used 50-gallon drums, I used a full bath of 80 galls). We both came to the conclusion of 1600 liters (yes we converted gallons to liters). You can look at the fountain in a picture below and maybe guess how many liters.

Can you tell how many liters this fountain would hold?
This would be filled with wine when there was a new Bishop in town.
This fountain is located just in front of the Speyer Basilica.

We walked through the amazing (but austere) Speyer Dom. It was HUGE, but not very intricate with decorations. You can read more about it on Wikipedia. I wonder if that is more from being bombed during the wars and rebuilding, or if it's more from the national feel for simplicity?

Travis in front of the doors into the Speyer Basilica.
On the doors are stories from the Bible. We were able to determine which ones,
all except for the picture with the grapes. Any ideas?

We wandered back toward our car and paused for a while before saying 'Tschusse' and walking with the Megner's back to the car. On the way Betine saw a bee she thought was a cartoon bee, named Maja, and was pointing it out to her granddaughter (with the same name). I didn't see this bee until later, but seeing it throughout Germany reminded me of the sweet, but fiesty, little 15-month-old girl.

Maja loved playing on this chair. I was afraid she would tumble out!

Chillin'

David and Katherine

Rahel "cuddling" with her wiggly daughter.

We rode in this tiny Pugeot (French car). I was surprised all 5 of us fit in there, especially with a car seat!

But, even squished together in the back seat, we did fit!

I could've spent days and days in Speyer, walking and wandering and reading and visiting the old churches. It was an impressive (and walk-able) place.

Part of a brochure I picked up about the Speyer Cathedral.

That main road that ends at the Speyer Cathedral (bottom center with green roof)
is the street we walked along with the Neideck's.

We drove home, singing with Maja, looking at pictures on the camera. We filled up the gas tank and if you think gas is expensive in your end of town, just think about the Germans who are paying $8/gallon!

Travis and I went grocery shopping while Tobias and Rahel got Maja ready for bed and dinner made. We had chicken in a red pepper cream sauce over rice/pasta and a carrot salad (oil & lemon over grated carrots). For dessert, we provided Himbeeren (raspberries) and cream with Ferraro Rocher knock-off chocolates. It was a perfect dinner!

We got to skype with our girls and they sang "Happy  Birthday" to Travis, and danced and goofed around. Zoë was mopey and I think seeing us made her a little sad, but the other 3 were happy and doing great.

I cannot even begin to thank the Megner's for all their kindness and hospitality. They were wonderful, kind, helpful, and I am glad to know them and hope our friendhsip will only grow. Thank you for all your gifts and kindness, my dear new friends!

Travis said he had a good birthday sans cake and presents. :)


If you want to know, the fountain holds 1580 Liters. Andreas was very surprised that we had guessed so closely to the actual number!