Wertheim

Wertheim

It is impossible to describe the breathtaking scenery on this trip.  When we awoke this morning, the sun was out with mist rising from the river.  The multicolored trees were an inverted reflection in the water. The snowfall yesterday was very unusual for October.  Usually by the time the snow comes, the trees no longer have leaves.  Our guide told us that the weight of the snow on the leaves uprooted some of the trees on the hillside.

 This area is known for glass blowing and we listened to a presentation from a glassmaker who two months out of the year teaches for Chihuly, the premier glassmaker in the world.  Not only were his presentation and information fascinating, but he also was as funny as a stand-up comedian.

After lunch we went to Wertheim, a charming town (population 24,000) at the confluence of 2 rivers, the Main and the Tauber.  Vantage, our tour group, has figured out that the people on the trip go at 2 speeds:  cheetahs and snails.  For the last 2 tours, they let us sign up for a faster tour, thank goodness!   The architecture in Wertheim  is well preserved, and the narrow, twisted streets are lined with pretty half timbered houses, mostly dating from the 16^th century. The town has kept the atmosphere of a small Franconian town.  I’m still trying to understand the different regions in Germany.  So far we have been in the state of Bavaria until today when we were in Baden-Württembug.  Franconia is a region in these states.   Franconians evidently don’t like to be called Bavarians.  I think it’s something like the Catalans in Spain?????

We walked through the town on the way to the ruins of the castle.  Because it was Sunday and we were in a very Catholic part of Germany, ALL the stores were closed.

I liked the quiet Sunday feel of this charming town.  At the castle, we were treated to drinks and a type of cheesecake.  We had the choice of eating inside (where it was warm) or outside overlooking the beautiful view.  Even though it was very cold, Dan and I chose to eat outside with blankets on our laps. 

There had been a large American army base here—to prevent the Russians from making an incursion into West Germany.  Our guide told us that as a result, we would see Halloween decoration around town, and we did:  skeletons, tombstones, carved pumpkins.

A single man on the tour (Loren) accompanied me as Dan and I went on our own walking tour.  We found an old Jewish cemetery that was quite large and quite beautiful with lovely autumn trees.  Dan went off to photograph trains (surprise!), and Richard and I wandered around and discovered quaint narrow streets, more charming houses, and a path along the river.

It was a low key but lovely day.