Nov 2007

The Lutheran Cathedral in Ulm – I’ve heard it is the tallest steeple in the world. I’ll have to look that up.
Looking out of a bakery and coffee shop window in Dinkelsbuhl. Back to Rothenburg – the truck on the right was parked, the other one made it through the tower.
Our country hotel is “garni”, meaning they serve breakfast only, they have no restaurant – and neither does anyone else in town – except for this enterprising pizza vendor!
HAPPY THANKSGIVING, EVERYONE!

Luther is honored here in Worms, where at the Diet of Worms (1521) he refused to recant his beliefs saying, “Here I stand, I can do no other”.
In Speyer an ancient imperial town, this Luther statue stands in the entrance to the Memorial Church built around 1900. The church was built as a memorial to the world’s Protestants. It was in Speyer that the name “Protestant” was first used in 1529.
Speyer has set up a skating rink – it sure is cold enough!
Mmmm…. A Speyer buttered pretzel.
Rothenburg ob de Tauber, enchanting in the twilight.

We are staying in the little town of Kirchheim, east of Stuttgart – in a wonderful Guest House.
The towns are all getting decorated – Germans know how to “do” Christmas! We visited Nordlingen, a medieval town getting dressed for Christmas. We walked on the walls of the town – can’t get enough of those half-timbered houses!

Prague “Praha” is a photographer's dream. Cobblestone streets, trams, magnificent buildings at every turn, the mighty river and restaurants and pubs galore.
After an Anglican worship service (the church is reflected in the glass across the street) and a Brazilian meat-fest for Sunday dinner we strolled across the famous Charles Bridge and on up to St. Vitus Cathedral.
Our Prague finale – a production of “Romeo and Juliet” by the Monte Carlo Ballet at the National Theatre of Prague. Bravo!

Saturday the weather turned cloudy and damp – what better time to tour a 14th century castle? We took a train to the castle, named for its founder, Charles (Karel) IV, King of Bohemia and Holy Roman Emperor.
We have been enjoying leaving our car at our hotel in Prague and relying on trains and our feet for locomotion. Paul is our tour guide – and he picks out great restaurants too!