Bamberg

Wednesday 7th August
Bamberg
Overnight we travelled the 63 km and we woke in Bamberg. Yes another 'berg'. Some seem to be burg and others berg, but the meaning of a walled/fortified or even a city with a moat is the meaning so obviously in this area of Bavarian and Franconian Germany protecting your town from invaders was very necessary.
It was just a short bus ride from the boat to the centre of this famously beautiful medieval city. Parts of the town date back to 1000ad. Our guide took us on a walking tour through the Old Town of Bamberg. It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage primarily because of its authentic medieval appearance, and also that the market gardens are part of the city not set around or outside the city. Every day there is a farmers market in Green Square with local produce of fruit, vegetables, flowers etc. being sold.
We were warned to be very careful walking through the city - the footpaths and the roads are made of the same cobble stones and the only way you can see where one ends and the other begins is with small silver dots set about 18 inches apart marking the edge of the footpath. The most dangerous part also of the tour is the cyclists who as our guide told us 'take no prisoners' as they speed through the city. They have right of way and even the cars seem a bit intimidated by them.
Our walk took us over a small stone bridge. The city hall was built in the middle of the river. The original built in 1386 was of great pride to the residents until someone came up with the idea of storing explosives in the basement - so after the explosion this new replacement was built soon after and explosives stored else where. Also from the bridge you can see a delightful row of little terrace style cottages built on the rivers edge. This was once the very poor part of town where the fishermen lived when the houses were not flooded. The next house along is built on arches like a bridge - this was the slaughter house and any thing unwanted was dumped into the river and float past the fishermen's houses, another reason why these were the poor area. Now the houses are some of the most expensive and sought after, the flooding problem resolved and the area is known as 'little Venice'. Not at all like Venice except the water was close by. Facing the bridge is one of the most photographed houses. It is in Baroque style, painted blue with very decortive white lace shapes place around the doors and windows.
We walked on to, yes that's right, it was ABC time (another bloody church) but in this case it was a cathedral. Bamberg is celebrating this year that they have had a cathedral in the city for 1,000 years. The original one lasted 200 years but the one built on the ruins of the original is 800 years old. It was different inside because it had just the plain stone work and not dripping in gold and excessively decorated. Close by was the original palace. These days the Old Palace is a museum and just a stroll away is the the New Palace built in 1698. It was originally going to be built with two long sides and a shorter back joining it into a horseshoe like the Palace of Versaise, and the Old Palace demolished. There is even the key stones to connect the side wing, that was never built, jutting out down the side of the cross wall. You enter the new palace through this back section and come to a terrace area planted with a huge collection of roses. The terrace looks out over the city of Bamberg. It is quite beautiful.
From here it was free time to wander around the town, dodge the cyclists, get beeped at by the cars, and try not to get too lost. Den and I took a wrong turn and had a tour of some of the lesser visited areas of Bamberg!!!! It was a rather nice place to get lost even if it was for only a few minutes.
Back onto the bus to the boat where lunch awaited us. The boat headed off soon after lunch time and by 4.30 we were no longer on the Danube but on the River Main. There are lots of camp sites along the river. People with a tent or a caravan, fishing rods poked into the river side, while the people themselves laze back on camp chairs and read books. School holiday time still in Germany.
Tonight was our turn to go to the Portobello Restraunt. It was a seven course meal especially cooked for the 20 passengers. It was a very tasty meal. The sweets was apple tart with blue cheese, a little bit more apple and it would have been delicous. Tonights entertainment was the Liars Club. Our team only manged 2 out of 5 correct but believe it or not we did a lot better than most of the teams. More dancing to complete what had been a very enjoyable day.
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