Heidelberg

We have visitors!!!

We have lived in Germany for three months and we finally got our first American guests. Julie's parents planned a European vacation starting in Germany and ending with a drive through the Alsace Wine Region. They arrived early in the week and while Julie worked I took the role of tour guide - bringing them to see city of Trier, a familiar site Julie and I have visited before. Friday was the first day the family unit traveled together and the first item on our itinerary, Heidelberg. The attractions selected for the day were, Heidelberger Schloss, Alte Brücke, Kornmarkt, and cruise the Neckar River.

After the two hour drive from Homburg we arrived in the early afternoon and decided to start our tour with lunch. We headed to the Market Square (Marktplatz) and selected a restaurant with outdoor seating in front of the Rathaus (Town Hall). While enjoying our meals, we were surprisingly entertained with four wedding recessionals exiting the Rathaus. Luckily, drinking in public is tolerated in Germany and each wedding party had celebratory libations in the Marktplatz before moving to another location for their reception (sometimes a dinner at a restaurant, Julie and I were under-dressed for a reception we inadvertently attended at a local restaurant in Jägersburg).

It was a lively day, the weather was perfect, tour groups were strewn throughout the square, and the anticipation of Die Mannschaft's Quarterfinal match against France was palpable. We enjoyed schnitzel and salads for lunch and then made our way to the Heidelberg Castle. The next few hours were spent enjoying the remaining attractions on our list, once stopping for an afternoon coffee and pastry break in the Kornmarkt. However, time flew by in Heidelberg, early evening approached and the Quarterfinal match was minutes away. We needed dinner and a television, the latter may have only served a need of mine, but would only last 90-120 or so minutes.

As we walked parallel to the Neckar River, we found our needs satiated at the Heidelberger Schnitzelhaus - schnitzel for lunch and dinner, an impressive feat few Germans attempt themselves (presumably). Fortunately, the restaurant boasts a menu with 101 varieties of schnitzel, clearly there was something for every schnitzel lover. Everyone enjoyed their meal and the game ended with a glorious victory for Die Mannschaft. We departed quickly after the final whistle and narrowly avoided the guaranteed traffic to be caused by the 30,000+ fans exiting the public viewing area. Our exit was perfectly timed and we were still able to honk our horn at every person along the way - a tradition after all World Cup victories.

Market Square (Marktplatz)