Regansburg

Yesterday started out to appear quite grim.  Rocky cliffs rose above the shrouded trees and wayside chapels perched among the clouds.  The beautiful, blue Danube was winding and raindrops rippled the sparkling surface.  We were met at the ship by a lively guide who led us along the stony path to the old stone bridge.

Wiki will tell you "The main attraction of Regensburg is its excellently preserved medieval city centre with the cathedral and the stone bridge being the highlights. As one of the few cities in Germany largely undamaged during the Second World War, Regensburg boasts the largest preserved medieval city centre in Germany. It is sometimes called "the northernmost city of Italy" due to the lively places and streets with lovely outdoor cafes during summer, as well as the large number of Italian-style medieval merchant houses and towers. The historic centre lies next to the river Danube (Donau), and crossing the medieval stone bridge into the town provides a perfect entrance to the city."

Did you know that you now get a 'salary' because at one time salt was the most valued currency of exchange?  That is why you would say someone is 'not worth his salt.'  Regansburg was key to this salt trade because of it's location at the mid point of Europe and because it had the only stone bridge!  It became a very rich city.  Merchants, who had traveled for trade, mimiced Tuscan towers to demonstrate their wealth.  These towers are among the many buildings remaining from Medieval times as Regansburg did not have armaments during World Was II and so was not a prime Allied target.

We are not getting the least bit tired of seeing these marvelous remnants of history.  In this case not remnant at all as the existing buildings are extensive.  This is the town where Benedict the XVI was a professor at the university for so many years.  He lived here longer than anywhere else in his adult life and still has a home where the house keeper cares for his cat.  Cats are not allowed in the Vatican.  His brother also still lives here.

Because of his recent visit the cathedral has been cleaned.  Sort of a power washing without the power as that would damage the delicate and ornate surafces of the facade.  The stained glass windows which must be forty feet high by twenty feet wide are original from the early 1300's.  The delicate glass of each is comprised of thousands of tiny pieces leaded together to make fantastic biblical representations to educate the illiterate during the Masses.

On the way back to the ship I took a solitary stoll through a lovely green garden.  Most interesting was the female Esche Tree (Fraxinus excelsior) with cascading blooms.    I then took a nosy little look around the Viking Legend which was parked next to us.  It is newer and had larger, more spacious rooms, both public and staterooms.  It did not have the outside half - promanade that we have and they have not been able to use their sundeck at all because of the low bridges.  Since I have taken advantage of both of those things, I think I prefer our little boat!

After dinner entertainment was provided by a trio of local singers called The Sound Of Europe.  Very lovely voices singing mostly classical operal and operaetta, but a nice change.