Nuremberg, Germany

For those of us who did not want to pass up the opportunity to see Nuremberg, Uniworld arranged buses to take us into the city from Regensburg which was as far as the river level was going to let us go by riverboat. The bus ride was about an hour and a half and then we were to have a tour with a guide followed by two hours of free time before we had to head back to Regensburg. It was a plan and it worked well.

Our bus let us out at a high point, the Nuremberg Imperial Castle. It was again a chilly morning and being up on a hill made it a bit windier which added to the wind chill. The castle area was very interesting and had great views of the city. 

The Nuremberg property is first mentioned in documents in 1050. In the Middle Ages the city had developed into a great location for great Imperial Diets (no not that kind of diet, a legislative meeting of sorts). As with most important castles and palaces, this too went through many changes with the passing of time and powerful leaders.

From the castle, we walked down into the old town and past several buildings that had significance but I'm sorry to say as I write this I can't remember it all. If I don't write while it's absolutely fresh, the old brain just doesn't pull it out again. As I've said before, there was just too much information thrown at us each day. Too much to process. 

Albrecht Durer home

We stood in a very busy place while the guide pointed out several buildings including one that Albrecht Durer, one of Germany's most famous artists lived in the early to mid 1500s. 

We eventually found ourselves in the old town square where there was a fall market going on. Lots of fall decorations and handcrafts as well as snacks and treats. 

St. Sebaldus got a nod as we walked past and we decided we would return during our free time and take a peek inside. Sebaldus is the patron saint of the city.

Church with Glockenspiel

Our guided tour ended at the market square after our guide pointed out the glockenspiel on The Church Of Our Lady and told us it was worth waiting ten more minutes for the noon time playing of the clock. We wandered the market a bit and then as the crowd began to grow for the glockenspiel's performance, we found a spot and claimed it.

At noon, the chimes rang and the music played and the figures surrounding the emperor seated on his throne began to move. Eventually the seven electors parade around the emperor twice giving him honor and then disappear.

When the clock's performance ended, we walked back to a place that the guide had recommended for sausages and beer. The place was packed and extremely noisy. We walked in and right out again and wandered around the corner toward the church we wanted to peek into. We found a lovely restaurant with the same kind of local sausage as the other place offered and we could sit quietly inside amid a very Bavarian atmosphere of old wood and designs. My sausage was perfect accompanied by some sauerkraut--Bob's had potato salad.

After our lunch, we wandered around a bit, of course looking into the church of St. Sebaldus. Eventually we found ourselves in an ice cream/gelato shop and indulged while we waited for our appointed time to meet the ship's director and find our way back to the buses.

I wish we could have done Nuremberg on our own but at least we got a taste of it. Perhaps another time...