A wake-up look out the French balcony patio door of our stateroom. Look down you see this…
and look up you see something like the view below.
Our ship docked in Regensburg, Germany, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, following an overnight cruise.
We crossed under at least a hundred styles of bridges it seemed.
After breakfast, Daisy and I had previously decided to forego the local walking tour and to take a full-day optional excursion to Munich in a van with a dozen of our shipmates. We liked getting away from the port cities and exploring the countryside in a smaller group, in this case to a major city.
Day 8, Saturday, 22 July
Breakfast options on our ship each day included an extensive buffet of both hot and cold dishes, and there was also a chef to prepare eggs to order. This morning, Daisy had him prepare an omelet with lots of veggies as well as bacon. With it, she added fruit, and some delicious crab salad from the buffet, made with fresh lump crabmeat and capers.
While we were having breakfast, we saw this structure on the river bank and wondered if during the night we had entered some transporter location and time machine and had been magically relocated to ancient Greece. However, we were still in Germany in 2017. Between 1830 and 1841, Ludwig I constructed the Valhalla high over the Danube, downriver from Regensburg. Modeled after the Parthenon in Athens, the Valhalla was conceived as a Hall of Fame for the German Nation.
The distance from Regensburg to Munich is about 80 miles (130 kilometers) and most of the drive was on the autobahn. German autobahns have no federally mandated speed limit except in areas that are urbanized, substandard, or under construction. On speed-unrestricted stretches, an “advisory” upper speed of 130 kilometers per hour (80 mph) applies.
As with interstate highways in the US, traveling on the autobahn is faster, but the scenery sometimes isn’t as interesting as on the small highways.
Bavaria (Bayern) is the largest German state by land area, and most of the area is unsuitable to growing grapes. In compensation, more than half of Germany’s 1,250 breweries are located in Bavaria. An area near Regensburg, called the Hallertau, has the largest hops plantations anywhere in Europe. We had never seen hops growing in the field and at first we thought these looked like giant-sized (20 feet) tall racks of pole beans.
Our guide had samples of barley and hops for us to look at.
After a 2-hour drive, our first stop was the BMW museum and visitor center (read potty break), which is adjacent to the site of the 1972 Munich Olympics.
The impressive modern building features many models of automobiles and motorcycles, and people who have ordered new BMWs can come here to accept delivery.
I enjoyed getting the feel of this BMW motorcycle. Daisy thought I looked hot on it. That doesn’t mean that we are in the market to buy one, Daisy pointed out to me.
It felt so good!
So I will just dream like my little riding partner here. Maybe someday?
Daisy thought this Rolls Royce would suit her better! Notice that it has what they used to call “suicide doors.” Actually, this style would probably make it easier for us older folks to get in and out. We won’t be purchasing one of these either, I pointed out. I did however give her an opinion that she would look cute in a Rolls.
Just perfect for Daisy and her purse!
Bavaria’s capital Munich (Munchen) is Germany’s third largest city. At the center of the city is a large open square called the Marienplatz. In previous centuries, markets and tournaments were held in the square.
The key things to see in this plaza are the New Town Hall, the Old Town Hall, the Column of St. Mary, and the the Glockenspiel. The tower of the New Town Hall contains the Rathaus-Glockenspiel, consisting of 43 bells and 32 life-sized figures. Three times a day, at 11 a.m., 12 p.m., and 5 p.m., the glockenspiel chimes and re-enacts two stories from the 16th century, to the amusement of crowds of tourists and locals.
We got to the square in just enough time to see the show from the tower—the performance of motorized figurines which dance, joust, and twirl around the inside of the tower. The performance lasts 12 minutes and ends with the chirp of a cuckoo bird coming out above the display.
This is the New Town Hall, which looks very old. Actually, the New Town Hall is more Gothic and medieval looking than the whitewashed Old Town Hall. Go figure.
The Old Town Hall has a gabled roof and bell tower.
The column is topped by a golden statue of the Virgin Mary standing on a crescent moon as the Queen of Heaven, created in 1590.
St. Peter’s Church
This photo shows one view of the interior of St. Peter’s Church, the oldest parish church in Munich. The basic structure of the current building was dedicated in 1368, with additions over the intervening centuries. The amazing ceiling fresco was painted in 1753-1756 and restored in 1999-2000.
This sculpture depicts Shakespeare's famous Juliet Capulet from his play Romeo and Juliet as a young woman, standing and wearing a long thin gown. The bronze work is life sized, and the figure's right breast is a different hue due to people rubbing the work for good luck. So when in Rome.., er, Munich….
On a side street leading to our restaurant, our local guide pointed out another plaque that is also supposed to bring luck will you rub its nose. Its discoloration indicates it gets lots of use. So…
We should be getting pretty lucky. Or actually, we already are!
Our lunch stop beckons! The renowned Ratskeller!
We had a traditional German lunch (roast pork and bratwurst) at the Ratskeller, which has a 140-year history, making it one of the oldest restaurants in Munich.
Then we had some free time to browse the city’s most popular market, the Viktualienmarkt. We decided to go to the Hofbrauhaus, arguably the most famous beer hall worldwide, to search for a souvenir magnet and gingerbread of course.
We were a month too early for Octoberfest (September 15 to October 2 this year), but of course we had to try the local brews. Munich is famous for its Weissbier (wheat beer), and that is my favorite. Daisy had the dark beer, Dunkles, which gets it color from roasted malt.
Daisy bought a Lebkuchen, a spicy gingerbread cookie, decorated in the Bavarian colors of blue and white. It was similar to the recipe that was a Christmas tradition in her family that they still make each year. She says she felt like she was reconnecting with part of her German heritage.
We had to hustle to meet with our guide to walk to our van pickup point. Our ship was departing from today’s starting point at 5:30 pm and we had to be there.
Hops and grains
It was a quiet van ride as we made our way back to Regensburg. This medieval town had suffered little damage from allied bombing in WWII and is rich in architectural value. It is known as the largest medieval town north of the Alps.
St. Peter’s Cathedral in Regensburg
We got back to Regensburg and took a 15-minute walking tour from our dropoff point to the ship.
The walk was through narrow, cobblestone streets and near sidewalk-café and market-lined plazas.
Back on board the ship, we took the steps to the lounge and paused at the top.
Focus on this picture until the warrior image on the left is clearer to you.
There is a sign at the top of these stairs to the lounge describing this picture of the character for whom this longship was named. It says:
Magni
Magni is the Norse god of strength. Son of Thor, he is said to be the only god stronger than his father.
No sooner had we boarded and checked in than we cast off, headed upriver.
We weren't the only river users that day.
The ship’s Program Director asked to join us for dinner. We had a great visit and picked up an idea for future travel.
For dinner selections, we both chose as our first course Poached Asparagus with Prosciutto and a Poached Quail Egg, then Blackened Red Snapper and Saffron Clam Broth for the main course, and for dessert, Creme Schnitte Cake for Daisy and Raspberry Sorbet for me.
We went to the lounge to listen to some music, share visitation experiences with our friends, and talk about the day to come. More adventures to follow!
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