We have officially started our road trip with a walking tour in Nuremberg to end up in Bamberg.

Considering that Nuremberg was 90% destroyed in the final days of WW2, they have done a great job making this a beautiful city. A massive job of either repairing, restoring, or building new from the devastation. It all depended on the value of the building and level of destruction. When they decided to repair or restore the structure, it was made very obvious what was done

From our tennis group we were introduced to FreeTour.com, a website where you can find a walking tour of the city that you’re in…and well, it’s free! The expectation is that you give a gratuity at the end of the tour; the better the tour guide, the bigger the gratuity.

Before we even leave the meeting point, we learn about the world’s oldest globe. It’s right here in Nuremberg and is celebrated with this fresco on the side of the building. It was created in 1492 and even though the New World has already been ‘discovered’, word traveled too slow so the Americas are missing from it.

Then it’s up the hill to Nuremberg Castle. It’s been continually occupied since the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, to Napoleon, and notably the Third Reich. It offers great views of the City, and within the little house in the middle boasts a 45m water well which took three guys 7 years to dig. I guess that’s one way to make sure to survive a siege.

Coming down from the hilltop we stop at what was the finest blacksmith shop in town, and one of the 10% of buildings to survive WW2. Here it was explained why all ground floors are stone, while the upper floors can be wooden. It was mandatory the ground floor be made of stone to protect the city from floods and fire. What also helped were the uneven rooflines and that the church towers doubled watch towers. It worked as Nuremberg never suffered a large fire like London did.

One of the last stops on the tour is a very popular postcard of Nuremberg, a fairy tale setting. A beautiful medieval bridge preserved through the ravages of time. Also just happened to be the residence of the local executioner. This makes locals giggle as most tourists have no idea.

With the tour over (and gratuity happily given) the clouds really come out and the wind picks up, so we seek refuge in one of the several churches in the city. This one was originally Catholic and built during the Holy Roman Empire; then in the 15th (?) century Martin Luther was making his rounds through Europe and convinced the people change the church to be Protestant.

On the way out Janelle spun these two rings – a black one and a brass one – and made a wish. I know it came true since we’re still together!

Our plan now is to walk to the courthouse where the Nuremberg Trials were conducted following WW2. But wouldn’t you know it, closed today. Plan B – walk to Way of Human Rights. A project undertaken to encapsulate different human rights contributed by 30 different countries. Each one is enscribed on one of the 30 columns in German and the country’s native script. A pretty moving sight.

Never to miss a fruit stand, we find some for the hour drive to Bamberg

With the car parked, luggage in our room for the night, it’s time to head out to have what Bamberg is famous for.

Now this is a first, and I don’t know why. I like beer, and I like things smoked. Why am I today year’s old to have for the first time smoked beer? Add a plate of baked onion with mined pork wrapped in bacon, plus mashed potatoes all in a smoked beer gravy…what’s not to love?!