Our last town was Bad Wimpfen. We walked around and I bought quite a few scarves and other goodies that would fit in my backpack. As I did when I traveled through Europe two years ago, I did all my birthday and Christmas shopping for friends and family at the various shops in the different towns we visited.
I haven't really much to say about Bad Wimpfen other than it is one of the many medieval towns along the Rhine and Nekkar rivers, snaking through the heartland of Germany. It is a historic spa town where people came to bathe in the mineral waters, hoping to improve their health. It was settled first by Celts around 450 B.C., was conquered by Domitian and became a Roman province around 98 A.D. It came to Fraconia at 500 A.D. where Christianity bloomed and today holds some of the oldest Christian buildings, originating from this time. It was a focal point of the Reformation with Erhard Schnepf being the most prominent preacher who spoke there. There are many extremely old historic buildings, some of the oldest we saw on this trip.
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| Half-timbered buildings in the town square. |
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| Half-timbered house |
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| Josh showing our state of mind after eight days and biking 240 miles from Koblenz to Bad Wimpfen. |
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| Home of Johannes Denner (1655-1707), musician, maker of musical instruments and inventor of the clarinet. |
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| As with Ebersbach, the town was built onto the side of the hill. Josh and I had very little energy to climb up and down after a day of biking but managed somehow. I'm sure we earned some kind of trooper award, but we were ready to quit. |
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| Friends we had made from Germany, Denmark and Norway climbed the steeple to the top of the church. We didn't. |
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| Translation: Former Inn Quarters of General Tilly vor der Schlacht during the Thirty Years War in 1622 |
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| Translation: Attention drivers: Beware of the dog. |
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| Nekkar River |
And that is the last day of our tour. The next day we got on a bus, then a train and returned to Frankfurt. After spending several hours at the airport we discovered that we had a bought a ticket with the wrong date (wrong month!) Thus began a race to cross the airport, buy two more tickets on the only available plane back to Dublin in order to catch our flight the next day back to the States.
So many mishaps to add to the tension. The attendant behind the counter couldn't get our tickets to print out for, oh 45 minutes. Then we got stuck behind someone at the customs line that the officer wouldn't pass through. Actually we were several people behind him. We asked the others if we could cut which they all graciously allowed us to do.
Back in Dublin there wasn't time to get a hotel so we stayed the night at the airport. There was NO place to sit except at one available table. I kept reminding myself that I was quite adept at sleeping in an upright position at a desk in high school, but still wasn't successful.
And here we are safe and sound back in Texas and considering our next destination. We were thinking Athens and Paris next Christmas. What's your opinion?
12 comments:
More great pictures Sharon.
As for Athens or Paris, if you have not visited either yet I vote Paris. But I think that you would not go wrong with either destination.
my opinion...skip Athens and Paris. Go straight to Israel.
We are seriously considering Israel and Turkey, Phyllis. I have wanted to go there for years.
Hi Brian! I've already been to Paris but there was so much I didn't get to see or want to see again. I've always wanted to see the Parthenon.
Quite amazing! Thanks for a little picture tour of home. Welcome back!annegret
Hi Annegret. I'm glad you enjoyed it. I didn't know you were from the Rhine region of Germany.
Wow! First of all, regarding your last question: I could not decide - I've not been to either (I've not been out of the States, except Mexico) - because I would want to visit both! So, sorry I cannot help.
Second, I was just wondering if the people who live in these areas you visited and took pictures appreciate their beautiful environment. I'd love to wake up to those scenes every day. I don't see anyone from Germany coming to my neighborhood and thinking, "Wow, I could wake up to this scenery every day. (Well, I live in a desert, and it's quite dull.)
Finally, I bet your experience overall makes all of those mishaps tolerable. I imagine I'd be stressed out or in a straight jacket. But someday I'd love to travel like that with my husband. (He already does for business all year long, and next month he's going to Germany, Sweden, England, Spain, and Portugal in eleven days. Crazy!)
A wonderful finale! I love the river and the Roman arch.
As interesting as Athens is culturally, I've heard that it's quite dirty and busy. I went to Paris a number of years ago and loved it, but I loved all the smaller cities I visited in France much more. What about (with either place) spending a week in the capital and the rest of your time somewhere else? It depends on what's most important to you, but I find the "flavour" of countries are often found outside the big cities. However, I'm certain that with whatever you choose, it will be a great adventure!
HI Ruth! Wow! Your husband must have an interesting job.
I was thinking the same thing about the beauty. What must it be like to live in houses that are literally hundreds of years old surrounded by vineyards and castles. Would I take it for granted after a while?
Hi Cleopatra. I think that's a good idea about visiting the surrounding area outside of Paris. We'll have to consider it.
Really, the only reason I'd want to go to Athens is because of the Parthenon. I don't have any other reason for visiting there.
At least we have a year to decide. We've decided to go in the winter when it will be less crowded.
Hi Sharon, these are fabulous pictures. Thank you for sharing with us. I will vote for Turkey, and Israel too. :)
Thanks, Deepika! I would love to visit India as well. One day perhaps...
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