Experiencing the Best of Europe
Day 5: The Search for a Biergarten in the Afternoon
“Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Best Moments
1. Leisure lunch shared with great people
2. Searching for a Germany shirt for the big soccer game (Germany vs. Italy)
3. Beer at the beer garden and Rick helping me finish it
4. Following a Nightwatchman through the medieval town
5. Walking the wall and overlooking the town
6. Rainy night watching the soccer game and Rene getting poured on by a waterfall of water
Daily Recap
*Of course the morning started with my last early walk through Bacharach. I feel a connection to this town and I am sad to be leaving. The hospitality of the people was so much more than I expected.
*Sad to see one town go, but happy to see another, we headed for Rothenburg. The medieval town is one of the best preserved in Germany.
*One of the great features of the city is the ramparts. We hiked up to the top of the wall and made our way around the town. To repair the damaged wall, people have donated money, and in return they have plaques thanking them for their donations. Each of us was looking for our hometowns on the wall. Some of us came pretty close.
*I felt my German blood bubble through as we cheered for Germany in the football game against Italy. Although they lost, I wasn't too disappointed. Next we go onto Italy to cheer for them. Yes, I'm one of those fans.
Personal Connections
*Upon arrival in Rothenburg, a group of us was determined to find a biergarten. I am not a beer drinker, but while in Germany, I tried to become one. Each attempt we made was unsuccessful. Apparently they are not midday drinkers. So instead, we found a quiet restaurant on a terrace. We took our time as we shared dishes and sipped on rose wine.
*Our local tour in Rothenburg was lead by the Nightwatchman. With his hellebarde in hand, we walked with about 100 other people down the streets. His voice immediately hooks you with its fluctuating tone. We learned about protecting the city and other local history. We even learned about hell (which is a bar).
*As the evening approached, it was time to put on our game faces. We decorated our cheeks with the colors of the German flag, and I put on my Germany shirt. Our hotel was showing the game in the courtyard. We all gathered to watch, but the waterfalls from the rain made it a wet experience.
Stub Hub
Once we arrived and settled into our boutique hotel, we met in the town square to orient ourselves. Having a local map is key to providing an overview of the town. Luckily the town is surrounded by walls, so you can't wander off too far. In our welcoming walk we tasted a little schneeballen and learned about what we could check out while here.
A group of us decided to explore together. Our list of sights included the wall, biergarten, crime and punishment museum, a climb to the tower, and the Christmas shops. We achieved most of the items on our list, but were not completely successful. The town seemed to close up early due to the game. I guess this means we will just have to return.
Visiting the Christmas shops was a little overwhelming for June. I never knew so much Christmas could be in one place.
The best shop we stopped in was Anneliese Friese's gift shop. She has a fun mixture of Christmas decorations and Rothenburg souvenirs. The best part about this quaint little store is Anneliese. She is a bubbly little grandma full of stories that she can't wait to share. She shared her pictures with her and Rick Steves, and talked to us about Rothenburg and whatever else came to mind.
I also enjoyed talking to her son. He shared a story about the wall and his little piece of it. To celebrate his anniversary with his wife, he bought a piece of the wall as a gift. The problem was that his wife was afraid of heights and didn't want to go up to the wall. He finally convinced her to go and she was shocked when she saw their town up there. Once she read the names above the town, she was even more surprised.
Some of the snacks we munched on came with fun football player stickers. We considered trading players, but I decided to stick with Bender. The next time I go back to Europe, I want to try to actually go to a game. It is an awesome experience to be with the locals as we all come together to cheer on the same cause. Talk about getting to know a country better. Might as well go watch the game since everything closed up early anyway.