We set the alarm for an early wake up this morning as we were both booked to go on the optional excursion to a local Brauhaus ( brewery). However, my cold was at its peak and I was feeling very seedy so decided to stay on the boat for the morning instead. Neil had a wonderful surprise for me today, a beautiful pendant to mark the day, exactly 40 years since our first date. i felt very spoiled 😁And much loved. ❤️
My lovely surprise
The boat stopped briefly at Kelheim to drop off the brewery people so I waved Neil off with Greg and Steve. From the boat we could see the Befreiunshalle ( Hall of Liberation) up on the hill. It was built by Ludwig 1 of Bavaria as a memorial to soldiers who died fighting Napoleons troops in 1815.
After that I settled down again for a quiet cuppa and a snooze in the pool lounge.Followed that with a bit of hand washing and another quiet snooze in our room. Just what I needed!
We docked around 12.15 in Regensburg and the Brahaus Boys arrived back from their tour just in time for lunch. They’d had an excellent time and Im sure Neil will have lots of info in his blog On Tour.
The ship was running the usual organised walking tour but in Regensburg we had the benefit of our own private guides. Jo and Steve’s son, Daniel, had spent a year in Regensburg studying towards his Bachelor of International Studies and they had visited them here during that time. So off we set on the short walk to the Old Town centre, Steve holding an umbrella up instead of the usual flag and Both he and Jo providing titbits of knowledge from their memories and the guidebook. It was lovely to move along at a brisker pace than usual.
Tour guide Steve
First we stopped at the Old Bridge, the Steiner Brucke. Its one of Europes oldest surviving bridges, built in the 1100s. From here we could look back at the Historische Wurstkuche, one of the oldest sausage houses thats renowkned for its little sausages served with only bread and sauerkraut. We didnt stop there but made a plan to come back later.
The wurst kitchen by the bridge
On the old bridge looking back towards the old town
We walked past a huge painting of Goliath and David ( which looks a lot older than it is! ) before resching the huge Cathedral of St Peter. Dating from the 1100s , its amazing to see so much intact medieval stained glass. Regensburgs old town was mot damaged at all during WWII so unlike many other German cities, everything we saw was original rather than reconstructed.
David and Goliath
Cathedral
fter that they took us to find a quiet little gem, the Alte Kappele, totally ordinary from the outside but a Baroque beauty on glorious white snd gold inside.
Steve then led us up through a series of little lanes and pretty courtyards past some of the ancient roman ruins than were incorporated into later structures.
Gae and a Neil in a pretty courtyard
Then we carried on to to see the Rathaus ( Town Hall) where there were rose petals scattered on the ground from a recent wedding. A brief stop inside the hall there and a bit of fun taking photos…
Me taking Bob taking Steve taking Gae taking a picture of Greg with a fine looking Regensburg dignitary
…before we decided it was time to sample Regensburgs famous sausages, sauerkraut and beer. The snags snd sauerkraut were delicious but I wasnt too keen onthe beer at this one, a bit too “hoppy” for my taste.
Yum!
I had to head back to the boat as I had a massage booked in for 5pm. It was wonderful, a real treat! Hoever it meant I missed the Bavarian Oom Pa Band that came on the biat to entertain the crowd, but judging by the comments of the others I was probably better off.
We had an earlyish night after dinner which was a good thing as we had another busy day tomorrow, in Passau.
