I passed the police at 160 km/hour...

And didn't get stopped!

Or, welcome to the world of the German Autobahn!

Oh the fun - be it ever so infrequent and short - of flying along the freeway.

In Germany when it isn't posted otherwise there are no speed limits - a fact that suited me today
on a day where I had a lot of road (literally) to cover. Also weather conditions were ideal - no moisture and the sun at my back.

Love my little car's performance as I whizzed past the trucks, the trailers, the others who dared not. No wind in my hair, but my brain was buzzing.

Now all this didn't happen frequently (maybe was able to sustain 160 km/hour for 20 minutes of the over 4 hours) as contrary to what many think, there are more posted speed limits in Germany than not, ranging from 60 km/hour (yes! there are a ton of work spots where lanes are shut) to 130 km/hour (that is in the posted zones).  But it was lots of fun while it lasted.

I discovered that speed is fun but that it also takes an enormous amount of concentration (making sure that no one from the right lane is about to pull into one's path; making sure that no one else behind one wants to go even faster; at high speeds one needs to be even more aware of brake lights in the distance).

Maybe I was a test pilot or race driver in some other life: can't wait to be headed home on Sunday when the trucks will be off the road and life much simpler as long as the weather holds. Our regular maximum in Switzerland of 120 km/hour and seems mighty slow at this point.

Proud of my little car, but with my sense of ecology must also admit that I checked and higher speeds burn more gas - a little pleasure that I am allowing myself for the thrill of the ride.

You will notice that I post no photos - at those speeds one doesn't do anything stupid!

A free download of a German Police Car - not the one sitting off to the side of the freeway today!

Regensburg - Day 6

We were able to adopt a slightly more leisurely pace this morning as we weren’t docking in Regensburg until around noon.  However, Grand Circle Tours doesn’t let their guests lack for activities should they so wish: this morning we had a very thorough and informative talk on the Rhine-Main-Danube Canal before a lesson in the German language (I did choose not to attend), followed by a special cocktail introduction for those of us traveling solo (or independent travelers as they call us – great title). By then it was noon and time for an early

lunch so that we could get off on our walking City Tour promptly.

Another good guide (I mean as her name was Julia how could she have possibly been bad, I ask you), and somewhat less distance to walk – although here too I can highly recommend GCT for their accompanying personnel: we are always giving clear instructions – instructions that are printed in the morning, told to us in port talks the night before and yet again repeated throughout the program as needed.

Docked on the Danube

The High water mark

The group with City Tour Guide

Julia

The old Stone Bridge - 12th century

The oldest Sausage store in Germany

And, I just realized, no Glockenspiel. No Regensburg’s claim to fame is even more impressive than that (in my eyes) – Germany’s heaviest suspended organ, which is in St. Peter’s Cathedral – also my favorite so far. Another of their “famous” points – the oldest sausage house in Germany (Nuremburg and Regensburg were fighting legally about the matter of the oldest sausage and finally agree that Nuremburg could claim the first sausage production and Regensburg the first building dedicated to sausages). This is in the vicinity of Germany’s oldest stone bridge – currently under renovation. Then it was on to City Hall, the famous measuring “sticks” and, of course, the Christmas Market.

City Hall windows

Arches leading to the stone bridge

David and Goliath

The house was built in the 13th century but the fresco was only added in 1573 by Melchior Bocksberger. Very recently renovated

Measuring instruments

As the town was part of the trading along the Danube they had their own measuring instruments at City hall: all of which are much larger even than the body parts they are supposed to represent (the one of the far right is supposed to be the equivalent of 2 forearms - the guide could easily get in three)

Former private home and courtyard

Cherry tree in the protected courtyard

A sign of wealth - a private tower

The above pictures are from a private home in what was the wealthiest district: now the wooden windows denote a dormitory, the cherry tree is so protected that it was actually blooming and the outside tower was built by the wealthy to signal their richness: the tower has no floors, was never used as living quarters and only has a stairwell going up to the top.

Cathedral spires of St. Peter

This cathedral was rebuilt in high gothic style in the 13th century on a spot where the first bishop's church had been in the 700s. The Carolingian church built in the 1100s burnt twice, thus the new edifice. King Ludwig I added his renovationsin the 1800s. Another element was added in 2009: The organ weighs 36 tons and is carried by 4 steel ropes, thus granting it the title of the largest free-hanging organ in the world.

the nave of St. Peter's Cathedral

the new 2009 organ - the largest hanging organ in the world

St.Mary

St.Peter's from the rear entrance.

St.Peter's at night

I then checked out directions to Thurn & Taxis Christmas Market for later that evening, wandered into a few department stores and headed back to the ship.   
 

A cheery little fellow in a tree in front ot the Thurn & Taxis castle

A memorial marker

One of the numerous reminders of war, deprivation and murder: "Here lived Klara Jakob, born Koltonsky in the year 1886, deported 1942, Piaski - murdered"

The crown on the Thurn & Taxis castle

It was a full schedule as we had early Port Talk and dinner in order to go back out to the Niedermünster church for a concert: magical.   

Niedermünster

Those who were up for it then continued to the Thurn and Taxis Christmas Market – by and far the most elegant and beautiful that I have seen! The current countess designed the booths and their emplacement on her grounds and also picks those allowed to pay for a booth. She also charges an entry fee, thus keeping out without ever needing to say anything those who simply want to eat and drink. All the entry fees and booth rental fees are given to charity.  So many lovely handicrafts.

The poster for the Thurn & Taxis Christmas Market

The family wealth came from postal services throughout Europe

 And we have them to thank for "taxis" - also their function with the name being used throughout the world yet today.

Inner Courtyard of their residence

middle part of the inner courtyard

left-hand wing of the inner courtyard

Weaver

I spoke several minutes with this man: he was the only child of 10 who was interested in the craft and was taught by his grandfather. He spends most of the year on the road and still gets enormous pleasure out of making his various items (there were some cute woven rocking horses). Unfortunately although he had one daughter who was interested, she had to earn a living so the art will die out with him.

Map of the T&T Christmas market - huge

Outside the castle walls

smoked salmon

I came across this at the very end, wasn't hungry, but was able to get a picture of the next to the last one that he took off the smoker. Thoughts of my brother-in-law, my sons and my nephews who fish salmon summers in Alaska - wish I could have done taste test!

G. and I stayed until they shut down at 23:00, walked the 20 minutes back to the boat and went off to our dreams of beauty more than ready.

One of many wrought-iron lanterns

Six and a half hours by foot – Munich 2

Took it leisurely today as did not join the excursion to Ludwig II’s fairy castle of Neuschwanstein: that is in getting up and in having breakfast.

The day then proceeded to get physically more strenuous!

Bought a day card for the public transport system and headed in to the center of town. Had I not kept notes, there would be no way of recalling most of it: churches are mixed up in my mind, all the streets and paths stayed in my legs but not my brains, the Christmas markets are all starting to seem the same, but it was a great day.

And here is how it went: U4 to Odeonsplatz where I proceeded to walk down Ludwigstrasse past the City (and University) library, past many of the university buildings and to the Siegestor before returning and taking a side street to walk through part of the English garden.

The Bavarian State's Library

One of the most important research libraries in the world it holds almost ten million books!

The Ludwigskirche

The Ludwigskirche was used as a model for several churches throughout the world - the mosaic tiles on the roof are modelled after the original ones (redone in 2007-2009). It also holds the frescoes of Peter von Cornelius, which are arguably among the most important murals of modern times.

rental bikes

part of the Maximilian University

The Siegestor - a monument dedicated to peace

Commissioned by Ludwig I of Bavaria it was originally dedicated to the glory of the Bavarian army, but after its almost total destruction in WW II it was reconstructed and restored only partially (in the manner of the Berlin church dedicated to the memory of peace). The inscription now reads "Dem Sieg geweiht, vom Krieg zerstört, zum Frieden mahnend, "Dedicated to victory, destroyed by war, urging peace".

Then through the English gardens...

 

Bench dedications are popular - this one in English!

 "You're never too old to rock 'n' roll, and you are never too young to die".

local geese

courting mallards (in the end she pushed him away)

one of the entries of water into the park

Back on the city streets past the Haus der Kunst which was the old museum and auction halls where my parents-in-law bought many of the art pieces they possessed, including my Ice Fishermen – I had to have a photo of the steps they walked down after that purchase. 

A short stroll further brought me to one of the more unusual sites in this city: a part of the Isar canal that on its way into the English gardens hits concrete creating a short width of great waves for, of all things, surfing! Always someone around in a wet suit trying their luck staying on top of, and riding the wave.

From there I caught a surface bus back to the Hofgarten and on to Marienplatz where today I visited the cathedral (Dom) and Sr. Michael’s.

St. Marienplatz from a different angle than that of yesterday

Entry from the side to the Dom

Inside the main cathedral

St. Michael's

side chapel to St.Mary

Carved wood nativity - from Oberamergau

detail of the nativity

 For a short break, a slice of the local cheese cake: Käseschnitte, which is lighter than American Cheese cake but probably has just as many calories.

On foot to St. Peter’s church and its gold painted cornices.

 

St.Peter's

Then there was the farmer's market (always open not just a Christmas event) and another beer Christmas market.

Farmer's Market advertising

fountain in the Farmer's Market

wooden statue in the beer Christmas stalls

The Holy Ghost bar...

 This was truly one of the more interesting sights - I mean calling a bar the Holy Spirits! Surprised they weren't shut down for blasphemy.

The Holy Spirit church

 

Before leaving back to the hotel another stroll through the Christmas market that we had seen last night: Hofgarten

bar tables were wooden trees... great idea

And a couple more oddities for those who might be interested: The Maserati store on the main boulevard and part of a wall in the underground.

The also had Panetone as decorations!

beautiful wall at the Odeonsplatz subway stop

 

Weary and ready to move on to the next sights, sounds and tastes: Christmas market’s cruise – we’ll be on board our ship tomorrow night (well tonight actually as I have written these the day after, but pretended for sanity and chronologies sake that it was the day they were experienced – I may soon have you as confused as I am).