I was walking to the bakery this morning and I got the feeling that something wasn’t right. Took me a minute to figure it out, that the sun was shining and even a few birds were singing. Spent the past weekend down in Regensburg, but the camera never made it out of the backpack. On Friday I will be “flying into winter” for a few days, more when I get back.
Picture: Auerbach Rathaus (city hall).
Last light of 2008 over Regensburg.
Nuremberg Christmas market last night (Friday).
Christmas markets here are quite popular and a large and historic one like Nuremberg’s draws tourists from all over. Hot Glühwein is a popular drink which helps keep off the cold and every stall selling it always has a huge crowd standing around and talking with friends in the crisp winter air. Lots of cool little crafts to see along with all the cookies as sweets to be bought.
Saturday…
Nice day on Sunday, so what better way to spend part of the day at a German Volksfest.
Historic note: The large building in the background is the old Nazi congress hall. The largest building remaining from that era and is part of the larger complex of the Reichsparteitagsgelände (nazi party rally grounds)
…That it is supposed to be spring!
View out the window this evening
Can hardly believe I’ve been here in Germany nearly three weeks and tomorrow it is already time to go home again.
Took this while on the roof in 50-60mph winds. 10 stops of neutral density for a 30 second daylight exposure. Not the most technically perfect shot, but gives a good mood for this past weekends weather… Bad weather is still a novelty for me, I guess I’m a bit spoiled…
The stone watchman sits gazing towards the cathedral in Regensburg, keeping an eye on its progress.
The legend goes:
There was a competition between the bridge maker and the cathedral maker on who would finish first. The Devil heard of this and approached the bridge maker. In exchange for the soul of the first to cross the completed bridge, he would help the bridge maker finish first. The bridge maker accepted the deal. However, being a bridge maker, it was his duty to be the first across the bridge to show that it wouldn’t fall apart. Some years later the day finally came, the bridge was finished, well before the cathedral. So there the bridge maker stood, looking at his new masterpiece as it gracefully spanned the mighty Danube, remembering his deal with the Devil. Now, The bridge maker was no stupid man and had no intention of giving his soul to the Devil. He took off his hat and through it across the bridge; his dog quickly running after it, the first to cross the bridge…
Regensburg is a cool city that I’ve visited a few times now, as it is only about an hour away, and has really good pizza! The city itself was spared “remodeling” during the war, so unlike Nürnberg or Berlin, the city center is pretty much in original condition, and even includes the remains of old Roman walls from the 2nd century.
Despite the blue skies, I don’t think the temp has risen much above freezing since I’ve been here. Sunday morning was a nice and cool 14 degrees, the coldest so far, I think (or at least that I’ve been outside for). But the sun is out, so I shouldn’t complain too much. I still haven’t found the motivation to go for a run, maybe a few more days to adjust to the temperature…
Still a bit jet lagged the other night, took this out of the bedroom window at about 5:00am
