Wurzburg and Rothenburg

We didn't dock this morning but the ship let us off after breakfast and will continued on.  We are going to see the impressive baroque Bishops' Residenz, one of Germany's  largest and most ornate palaces.

This picture was taken in the gardens where I enjoyed that they were growing simple old-fashioned garden varieties.

The Palace.

The gardens.

Lots of statues.

The entrance.

A view of the castle from below.

After the castle we left by bus for the optional Rothenburg tour while those going back to the boat were picked up for lunch.
We traveled along the "Romantic Road" through Franconia passing idyllic towns and peaceful landscapes.  It is called such as it a product of the romantic period of history.

Rothenburg still has most of its castle wall.  There are towers like this at the corners.

The town is very beautiful.

Some of our gang walking up the hill.

A street in the city center.  We soon came to a restaurant where our lunch had been arranged.  We had sausage and sweet sauerkraut.

Where would be be without windows.

and window boxes.

An old house.

Half timbered houses were everywhere.  They are called such because the timbers you see in the walls is all the wood there is in the walls.  The spaces between the wood is stone and plaster.  This is a cheaper way to build.  Wealthy people made their houses from stone.

Lots of tiny windows popping out of the roof.

From a viewpoint above the town.

One of the gates outside the town wall.

A step roof is also a common sight.

This building  is a coo-coo clock.  On the hour a caricature of the mayor at the time comes to the window and drinks a glass of beer until the chiming is done.

The white building is a church.

The entrance through one of the towers.

Inside one of the oldest buildings.  It was a combination home and shop in a four story building.  It was primitive but able to be made comfortable and warm.

There is a famous pastry we were told to try called Schneeballen, or snow balls.  It is made from strips of pie dough rolled together and flavored in various ways.  These ones have icing sugar on them.
The tour guide warned us that they weren't that good and she were right.

This store only sells Schneeballen so the locals must like them.

This town contains the original Christmas Store which now has shops around the world.  Here you see a lovely animated display from the store.

While we were in Rothenburg the boat made its way here and it stopped in a temporary landing place to pick us up.

We will sail during the night and next morning to Bamberg, Germany.