Wednesday 18th May
Early start for a road trip of about three and a half hours to Nuremberg (or Nurnberg as the Germans call it)
The hotel we were staying at was ‘different’ – later found it was an old meat-works, but still an impressive parking area.
Nuremberg is (in)famous for the big Nazi rallies on Hitler’s road to power. Each of these annual rallies, attended by hundreds of thousands, had a theme.
The rally of 1939 was cancelled due to the imminent invasion of Poland. Ironically the theme of this rally was ‘World Peace’.
Nuremberg is a medieval walled city, and most of the walls, gates and towers remain in good repair, even surviving the allied bombing during WW2.
We started in the main square, a market square. Unfortunately one of the iconic features in Nuremberg – the wedding fountain, is under repair and was hidden behind hoardings.
Beside the square is an ordinary looking church (well by European standards) – the Church of Our Lady, but venturing within it has an exquisite interior. It is filled with a wonderful natural light, and golden statues, very old images and beautiful stained glass windows.
Inside the city is a beautiful canal, leading to a hospital.
Also scattered through the city are interesting statues and fountains, some with a different take on the little boy peeing:
Inside the city walls, at the gateway leading to the railway is a small craft complex.
The time was way too short here. I could spend days exploring Nuremberg, a truly intriguing city.
Back on the road again. One of the things that strikes me constantly is the wonderful gold of the canola fields – giving an almost ethereal glow to the landscape, and the absolute farms of extended solar panels.
Prague
After a long drive, we finally reach Prague (or Praha to the locals)
Self-serve portage, as the lobby is crowded with other groups, and we need a quick turn around.
First thing in Prague is a dinner cruise on the river (no more than three drinks each – bummer)
Our local guide Peter is quite a character, and is complemented by the piano-accordian player.
We are a bit early for or a night lit skyline, but it is impressive none the less. The cruise is followed by a quick tram ride, then a walking tour of old Prague at night.
One of the things I have grown to hate is the cobblestones – hard on the feet, hard on the ankles and slippery – I have a whole new respect for the Tour de France riders when they say they hit the cobblestones.
And of course what would Prague be without Wenceslaus
And finally St John – cast into the River Vitava to drown. They recovered his body because they could see the stars shining around him under the water, hence all his statues have a ring of stars.
