Miltenberg or Mildenberg

Absolutely my favorite of the trip so far.  Totally preserved Medieval town, half timbered houses and shops with overhanging second stories.  Not as pronounced as in The Shambles but used for the same purposes of emptying chamber pots and hanging hams.

We arrived to see the picture perfect town nestled on the outside curve of the Main.  A Claudia, our guide, led us through the narrow streets and told us many, many stories about Medieval life.  Especially of interest of me were how the stories of Grimm's Fairy tales are really clear representations of historical necessities of the hard life the average, poor people lived.  Hansel and Gretle would surely have been sent to the woods in time of amine in order for the rest of the family to survive.  No mystery that if the stepmother could only feed some of the children her born ones who were younger would be preferred.

I loved the stories of the witches as well and how witch hunting ended forever in all of this area.  A ninety - two year old lady, knowing she would soon die anyway, answered all the questions of the court with a not necessarily honest reply but very effective.  When asked if she was a witch, she said "yes."  Do you practice the craft -yes; do you go with other witches -yes; and so on and so forth.  In a final surge of great pride knowing that at last they, as council men, had found the key to who was practicing witchcraft they asked the last question ever asked of anyone to be accused of withcraft.  "Will you name these other witches with whom you consort?".  The old lady slowly raised her hand, extended her finger and and said "yes."  As she pointed to each of the, and priests, and bishops she called out each of their names.  Every accuser was now named to be a witch and it was decided that witches should not be punished and that was the end of witch hunts in Bavaria!

In World War II the mayor saved the town, evn though he himself was Jewish.  He risked his life to confront the tanks, one man alone, and was successful in changing their plans. To him we owe the preservation of the town and the lifestyle.

And why did I give the town two names?  Because here in Franconia the German language is lasier, softer.  Much like in our own Southland.  Since everything was not written out people thought it was one way or the other according to their own accent.  And so in the town, signs are different.

Miltenberg is a quaint and peaceful must see for a German tour.  If you like to camp all along all the rivers of Germany are tenting camps and caravan parks.  No one can live permanently in a mobile home but the accomodations could not be more beautiful for the casual or serious vacation camper/hiker/biker.

As members of the Viking Explorer Society we were invited to join the captain for a private cocktail party with only a few of the other guests.  The Hotel Manager joined us and we had a quite nice chat before heading into dinner.  It was interesting and I must say that all of the food has not been to my liking.  I can always find enough to enjoy the meal and the company and since this is a small ship, only 132 passengers, there is not as much exercise as an ocean cruiser so overeating is not highly recommended.  No pool!

The entertainment was provided by a young man who comes from a long line of glassblowers which is the major industry in this region.  His grandfather was the teacher of Dale Chilhuly.  Peter Falk used to come here every year to get a new glass eye from his father.  His skill was great and nothing like what you see at a kiosk in a mall or carnival.

They have 'bing-bonged' for dinner and so I must go.  Dinner is done as a set serve and so one must be on time!