Storming Fortress Marienberg

We didn't actually storm Fortress Marienberg but we did enter it during the middle of a stormy downpour hence again the low number of photos.

View from Fortress Marienberg towards our next target for the day, the Käppele  or Pilgrimage Church.

Interior of the Pilgrimage Church

Exterior of the Pilgrimage Church

We stopped off at this lovely restaurant for lunch on our way back to Wurzburg. It was really nice although one of the interior features distracted some of the group members from working out what they had for lunch.

I came across this rucksack in town, obviously left by one of the giant ogres that roam the hills around Wurzburg. I was just glad that we didn't encounter him on our walk up and down the hills today.

We were shown this interesting stone in Lusamgärtchen, Wurzburg yesterday by the tour guide. This is the tomb of Walther von der Vogelweide a 12th century love-poet. It was said that in his last wish he asked for four bowls to be filled with food and water and left on his tomb so that wild birds could feed from his grave.  Legend has it that if anyone is broken-hearted they should lay a flower on the tomb and when the flower dies the broken heart will be healed.

I was determined today to put flowers on his tomb but had great difficulty in finding the location in the dark. I went into a local florist and asked if they knew where the tomb was. I was given directions by staff and customers and purchased two roses to place on the tomb. As I was leaving the shop I noticed a member of staff putting on her coat and waiting by the doorway. She then offered to walk me all the way to the tomb. I placed the roses, one for myself and one for my daughter, Anja on the tomb. I never fail to be amazed by the kindness of strangers particularly in Germany.

It was a rainy day in Wurzburg...

Sorry for the small amount of photos today but it rained all day and the light was bad and it's going to rain tomorrow but at least you get to see the group (or most of them).

This is the crypt under the cathedral containing the remains of three Irish missionaries who are now saints.

This is a model of what Wurzburg looked after 90% of it was destroyed by RAF bombers in March 1945. You can see the walk leader along with our tour guide for the day

This must be one of the most specialised retail establishments in the world. It makes and sells tassels.

This beautiful restaurant is underneath Wurzburg's town hall (Rathaus)

These are the toilet signs in the restaurant today - any idea which one is female and which one is female? Answers on a postcard please or just leave a comment in the blog.

This is a photograph of the walking group at tonight's restaurant minus one hidden face who wishes to remain anonymous. Also can you spot which member of the group is the troublemaker?

First Day in Wurzburg

Our Hotel in Wurzburg

This happy chap guards the entrance to the Christmas Market. He looks happy because he is carrying a large beer stein (or it could be a flask of coffee - can't imagine that making anyone happy)

Another shot of the entrance to the Christmas Market

The market has a range of Christmas related trinkets, food and wine

This stall has a mixture of confectionary and gluhwein (more on that later)

More Christmas confectionary

Can't remember the name of this breed of dog (comments are welcome) but he was absolutely gorgeous

Did you realise that this Christmas Market blog was going to have so many photos of Christmas Markets?

Now back to the gluhwein... Gluhwein is a hot (incredibly hot) red wine suffused with spices served in a cup which you can keep if you don't want your deposit back

Here is a photo of my gluhwein (I returned the cup)

Just one more photo to captivate you

Colourful tram passing the market

Alter Kranen (I think it means old crane) is very old,  about 250 years old. You can see the Fortress Marienberg in the distance