Regensburg and Walhalla, again

Saturday…

Cody Duncan travel photo: stone bridge across Danube river, Regensburg, Germany. © 2008 Cody Duncan photography

Cody Duncan travel photo: Danube river near Regensburg, Germany. © 2008 Cody Duncan photography

Cody Duncan travel photo: Walhalla temple near Regensburg, Germany. © 2008 Cody Duncan photography

Cody Duncan travel photo: Walhalla temple near Regensburg, Germany. © 2008 Cody Duncan photography

Nürnberger Frühlingsfest

Nice day on Sunday, so what better way to spend part of the day at a German Volksfest.

Cody Duncan travel photography: Nürnberger Frühlingsfest volksfest 2008. © Cody Duncan photography

Cody Duncan travel photography: Nürnberger Frühlingsfest volksfest 2008. © Cody Duncan photography

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)

Cody Duncan travel photography: Nürnberger Frühlingsfest volksfest 2008. © Cody Duncan photography

Friday = Sun

View out the window as of about five minutes ago:

Cody Duncan travel photography: Sunny skies in Auerbach, Germany. © 2008 Cody Duncan Photography

Start of the day:

Cody Duncan travel photography: rooftop view at sunrise in Auerbach, Germany. © 2008 Cody Duncan Photography

Cody Duncan travel photography: snowy soccer field in Auerbach, Germany. © 2008 Cody Duncan Photography

Cody Duncan travel photography: snowy farm field in Auerbach, Germany. © 2008 Cody Duncan Photography

I guess Germany never got the news…

…That it is supposed to be spring!

View out the window this evening

Cody Duncan travel photo: March snow in Bavaria, Germany. © 2008 Cody Duncan Photography

Taking Bids…

…On soon to be imported German chocolate and assorted sweets. It’ll all be in my carry-on, so lets hope it doesn’t get eaten in my 20 hours of travel between Auerbach and Santa Barbara. I’ll have half a dozen Aldi pretzels fresh out of the oven to keep my stomach full, so it should all make it. No promises though.

chocolate.jpg

Time

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…

Germany travel stock photo: Stormy skies over small Bavarian town. © Cody Duncan Photography

The Watchman

German travel photo: statue of watchman on stone bridge over Danube, Regensburg, Germany. © Cody Duncan Photography

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…

German travel photo: stone bridge over Danube, Regensburg, Germany. © Cody Duncan Photography

Regensburg

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.

German travel photography: colorful architecture in Regensburg. © Cody Duncan Photography

German travel photography: historic architecture in Regensburg, Germany. © Cody Duncan Photography

German travel photography: Street sign, Regensburg, Germany. © Cody Duncan Photography

German travel photography: crowd of people watching street performers, Regensburg, Germany. © Cody Duncan Photography

German travel photography: interior of Dom cathedral Regensburg, Germany. © Cody Duncan Photography

German travel photography: night time exterior of Dom cathedral Regensburg, Germany. © Cody Duncan Photography

Walhalla

“Who built this thing?” I ask, as the Walhalla appears on a hill in the distance.

“Ohhh, some 19th century megalomaniac Bavarian king…” Sabine replies, as if I should now be used to odd structures made by 19th century Bavarian kings with minor psychological problems.

So, who would have ever thought that there is a giant copy of the Greek Parthenon overlooking the Danube. Anyhow, its a pretty cool place, albeit a bit crowded on a nicer that average February Sunday. The local farmer’s wife was sure making a killing charging 1.50 Euro for the parking…

Germany travel photo: Walhalla temple in Bavaria.  © Cody Duncan Photography

Germany travel photo: Walhalla temple in Bavaria.  © Cody Duncan Photography

Germany travel photo: Walhalla temple in Bavaria.  © Cody Duncan Photography

Germany travel photo: Walhalla temple in Bavaria.  © Cody Duncan Photography