Today we went on a tour of Würzburgs main attraction Residenz . It’s a beautiful 18th century castle? Mansion? Hard to describe. It has like 180 rooms. It was the home of the archbishop/Prince of something or other. He hired Italian designers who did all these cool frescoes and beautiful marble. The building was almost completely destroyed in 20 minutes in World War II. And thanks to collaboration between German and believe it or not. American preservationist it was put back together in is really magnificent. We got a English-speaking tour guide which only happens I guess on Sunday and that was really nice. Then we just wandered around the place for a long time. Amazing stuff each room very different. We even got to see the room where Napoleon slept. 

After we left there, we walked down to find this really nice coffee shop that Gabe and I had found during my last trip. It’s run by an Albanian guy and his mom. Their whole theme is cheesecakes, though all of the cakes are very very different. We had a combination of things like trace Le cheesecake some sort of raspberry cake. I don’t remember exactly but it was delicious and so was the coffee.

Germany is very political so there was lots of posters around about the around war and other stuff. Germans pay very close attention to the news.

Then back to the house for a short bit some paperwork for the car purchase and soem picture hanging .

then we headed out walking distance to a sushi place that gabe had heard about. Couldn’t believe that there was a sushi place in walking distance from his home ,  and … It was absolutely delicious. Good is Japanese food. I’ve had anywhere in the world. It’s in this kind of weird Office complex. I can’t imagine how it stays in business, but I hope it does.

Been a beautiful walk home on this clear night. The moon and planes  were in a configuration that is always special to me.

http://johncohn.org/base/2012/03/26/monday-night-moon-and-venus/

 

We got home to find pictures from our friends, Sumner and G.. they got married this weekend !!!!!

It was a nice way to end the day. Tomorrow we buy the car Tuesday we leave for the Home.

nite all, nite sam
-me

day started out with breakfast salad.. a creation by Diane. Weird but good !

we drove to Bamberg.. about an hour away.. and about an hour to park !
beautiful city right on the river Main like Würzburg.   
One of its distinctions is that it was hardly bombed in WWII .. so many of the medieval structures are still standing.   Whereas Würzburg was supposedly the most damaged in the war.. with 77% of older uildings badly damaged..   Always weird to read that stuff

Its ‘Asparagus time’ all over the country. there are stands everywhere selling homegrown asparagus. But our quest was for the famous. Rauchtbeir (smoked bier) that Bimberg was famous for. We found it and it was delicious!

we went for a nice longish walk along the public gardens on one of the tributaries of the Main.. it was beautiful and quiet

Nova still doesnt speak german.. but she’s stilll finding ways to commincate witht he locals 

I’ve seen a sign some so we back there. It was kind of a fun band two guys and a girl playing old American pop songs and kind of a bluegrass way.

Then back home to Gerbrunn..

super nice day !

nite all, nite sam
-me

Today was the day we aarrainged the insurance for gabes car. .. normally not fun.. but in this case it was

We wnet to our  new freind and owner of Kara Auto , Talat. his son was there.. and he spoke Englidh wheich was nice .. so far i’ve been doign all this car shopping in German. I continued in Grman.. and Talats son did the tranlation for Diane.. it was fun and funny 

then a quick stop at the hardware store.. with a rainbow of dog poop bags .. and lots of sticky things to keep your plants from fallign over . We sent Gabe pictures so he could choose the sticl of his dreams 

Mid afternoon we picked up gabe and went downtown and met with really nice woman at Alianz insurance company… She also spoke English, which was really nice because they were all sorts of trade-offs and stuff that Gabe had to make, and that would’ve been clunky for me to do in German

then afterwards we went to the weird but nice Greek restaurant that’s in an old town soccer hall where kids soccer is still played. It’s the weirdest place. It’s decorated with 1970 kids soccer medals

We had a great meal and luckily they forgot one of our dishes cause we were stuffed. On the way home we went by this really cool refrigerated/freeze vending machine and got some ice mochi.

now that we have the insurance binder Gabe can do the car purchase and registration and get the license plates. It is quite a process here in Germany… Gotta love it.

Nite all nite sam

-me

 

First a hike.. then down to busienss

so we’ve been doing research.. and gabe and we feel that the 2009 golf is liek the perfect car for him.. We’ve really enjoyed workign with Herr Kara,,  and owrkign with him has been fun. It’s been a greta workout for my german,.. and I know he’s enjoyed it too.. 

we went back there today to get some info about the VIN m the inspection a, etc..  in prep for getting an insurance binder

we did soem shopping on the way home .. and relaly had to admire the wall of bacon that they havd at the store.. these folks really love their meat.. especially pork !

On the way home we walked down Stuckacher Strase.. and heard Gabe playing mandolin out on his balcony.. it was beutiful.. 

the plan for tonight was to go hike up to the capella Chapel with Nova and eat up there // It was a beutiful night and a beautiful hike 

the hike up had a very eleaborate stations of the cross theme 

what a view !

the pub next to the capella had a great view and great food .. souch a nie  way to spend an eveing !

we’re Gettign to love this city !

nite all, nite sam
-me