Bamberg, Germany - Take Two

When people come to visit us, which hasn't been that often, we like to go to Bamberg.  We visited Bamberg back in October, but it was cold and gray on that day, and it was warm and sunny on this day!  It's a pretty well preserved Medieval walled city that was first mentioned in 902 AD, with plenty of canals that sometimes travelers call, "The Venice of the North."  

As we tried to find the tourist office (because you know Todd, aka: Rick Steves, Jr. loves a good tourist office!), the kids spotted a playground.  Of course.  We must play for a bit!

Right near the Geyerswörthstag (a bridge that crosses the Linker Regnitzarm) is a small iron statue depicting the city. The kids thought this was cool, until we got overrun by a bunch of elderly German people! (You can see them coming across the bridge ha ha!)

On the Geyerswörthstag with Helen, with the Rathaus (Town Hall) in the background. It's built on an island in the middle of the river, and legend has it that in the mid 1400s, the Bishop of Bamberg did not give the town any money or land to build a town hall, so the local people built it right in the middle of the river!

Helen and Todd at the Bamberg Rathaus.

Our next stop was the famous Schlenkerla, for their famous Rauchbier.

Have you ever had a Rauchbier?  Some people really love it!  Todd (see above) enjoyed his.  Helen and I actually ordered wine because I CANNOT STAND RAUCHBIER.  It's like drinking liquid smoked sausage. SO nasty.  Admittedly, this rauchbier was a little better than the one I tried in Washington DC years ago with Chip and Dara Dirth... but it's still not good enough to order one and drink the whole thing.  Rotwein, bitte!

Meanwhile, this was going on.  Something tells me Nauni is going to be a bad influence in a few years ha ha!  Don't worry... Natalie is just smelling the wine!

Grant was whining that he was starving and we arrived at Schlenkerla not realizing that they didn't have much for little boys to eat, so we went over to the Hofbräu to eat lunch. They gave me this teeny tiny Heinz ketchup! It reminded me of the ones they used to give you in first class on Delta!

Ahhh I love German color and architecture!

After some quick Eis, we decided to take Helen to the Bamberg Cathedral.  March on, troops!

Here is Natalie with what used to be a lion!  Ummm, ok?

Yep.  This is about right for him.

Cuties saying prayers for Miss Carla at the Bamberg Cathedral.

"Don't forget to look up, because there's so much to see!" If I didn't follow my own advice, I wouldn't have noticed these gremliny looking guys on the ceiling.  They are there to ward off the evil spirits!

Lots of colors and half timber in Bamberg.

Roaming the streets, looking for our Gondola.

AHHHH I was obsessed with these roses!  I mean, LOOK AT THEM!!!!

Strolling along the Linker Regnitzarm (just a split off of the Regnitz River).

This bicycle fascinates me.  How did it get here?  Clearly it was in the water, but why?  How did it get IN the water?  And who pulled it out?  Why was it just left here?  I totally love it!

To go to the other side of the river, you can take the little ferry (on the left).  We didn't take it but what a fun little way to travel!  There aren't really any nearby bridges in this area, so this is convenient for people.

Wait... what is this doing here!  Yep.  A gondola ride!  Brought directly from Venice!  We booked the next ride and then went off in search of some water!

Walking along the empty streets along the Linker Regnitzarm.

We found water!  And kisses!

Ok so you know how my husband is obsessed with creepy baby doll heads?  Well as we were walking back to the gondola area, Helen spotted THIS.  THIS.  I mean, does it get any weirder than this?  What's with the weird utensil leg?  Or the random hair taped to the other leg?  This one might win the prize for most bizarre.

On a gondola, floating down the Linker Regnitzarm with Nauni.

This part of the river was so quiet and peaceful.  Much moreso than in Venice!

We passed by this little place that was having a wedding reception.  The two ladies that were on the gondola with us yelled in German, "KISS HER!"  Todd said, "Is that like the German version of clinking your fork on a glass!?"

Todd just looked incredibly handsome in this picture, so I wanted to share it with you!  Just lounging around on a gondola....

Kind of loved this bag, even if I love eating cows!

Pastels, galore!  Another fun time was had in Bamberg, and we got to see some things we hadn't seen the first time!  (Note to self: NO MORE RAUCHBIER!)

Until next time, Bamberg!