Hotel number 10 has internet access so I am back or one last post!
We left Salzburg and headed for Rothenburg. The drive should have taken about 2 1/2-3 hous and it took 5..lots of construction and traffic. Of course hotel number 9 of 10 is where we run into our first hotel problem. We find the hotel after driving 5 hours so we are a little annoyed. As I walk into the hotel I see a board that says todays arrivals...and guess whose name was not listed. The owner comes out to tell me that he made a mistake and booked our hotel for the wrong day and he does not have a room....BOO...He had made other arrangements for us and gave us our tickets for the night watchman tour. He walked us about 2 blocks to the Pension Elke. it was very nice and I could tell the owner of the original place felt very bad..not quite sure how that happened..since i booked in January and reconfimed the week before we left...But after two weeks on vacation you are abel to just let these things slid off your back and move on.
We wandered around town and found the gardens which overlooked the town. Very nice! We found the world famous Christmas shop which is enormous..room after room of Christmas! We bought a few things and then found another shop that Rick Steeves recommended better selction..better service and lower prices. The owner was very friendly and asked us if we found it because of Rick Steeves. Of course we had! He said that he would give us a 10% discount and gave me a map of Rothenburg that his mother drew and she signes some every morning. Now of couse we had to buy something. Prices were really good and he kept throwing things in.
The owner fo the christmas shop recommended a place for dinner whcih was good german food. Then it was 8pm and time for the Nighwatchman tour. The tour meets in the main square at 8pm each evening for a tour in English. At about 745 the entire square is full! I think this tour is pretty much something you must do when in Rothenburg. The tour last about an hour and you make about 7 stops for a little history of the city and the job of the nightwatchman. He was a great guide and very funny. At the end you kind of pay on an honor system. It is only 7E per person and I am sure there are a few people that skip but I think everyone feels it is well worth it and pays.
After the tour we went to Hell..ha ha ha..yes the bar is named hell..On the tour the nightwatchman says..when somone tell you to go to Hell it is a good recommenation!
We sat with a couple from Amsterdam who were travelling by motorcycle for two weeks around Germany. Off ot bed at 11pm.
Our last drive was from Rothenburg to Rudeshiem. The drive was about 2 hours. Rudeshiem is located along the Rhine river in the heart of Wine counrty. It was quite rainy on the drive and all morning but cleared up by the time we were ready to explore the area. We found the cable car which goes to the top of the mountain with a great view of the Rhine and a few towns..then a stop for lunch and a little more wandering around old town...We are very sad that our vacation is coming to an end, it seemed to go by so fast! We are even more sad that we will not be taaing naps every afternoon...which is where we are now...330pm. Time for a nap!
We are flying home tomorrow and desperatly hoping for a business class upgrade!
See you when we get home!
No comments:
Post a Comment