Nuremburg

We got a bit lost on the way to Nuremburg and the blinding snowstorm slowed us down a bit so we didn’t get to see much of the Nazi Party grounds (Richsparteitagsgelände--those Germans really love long, long, long, words) We did wander around a bit, tried to practice skidding out in the empty snowy parking lots without much success but then gave up on adventures for the day, heading for our bed and breakfast.

 

It was very nice and we left the next morning to go back to town and see the Toy Museum. 

I now covet this fabulous mini foos-ball game they had there called the weykick.  I did some research on it and it costs about 89 Euros for one – and it seems they are only available through mail order (how antiquated) but it was so much fun to play!

We then headed back through town to see a few of the more famous tourist destinations like the Kaiserburg Castle, St. Lorenz, St. Sebaldus and Leibfrauenkirsch (Church of our Lady)

Of course, I couldn’t resist taking photos of the amazing views and exciting shops we also strolled past:

 

 

 

The last 5 photos are of the large church at Hauptmarkt – the Church of our Lady.  We were impressed by the fact that this church looked as ancient as any other we had been in, but had, as a matter of fact, been bombed heavily during the second world war (evidenced in last photo above).  I thought it was particularly ironic since the site of this church was originally built on top of the Jewish temple the city razed to the ground after a terrible pogram.  “The church was built in the grand market, in place of the former Jewish synagogue, which was destroyed during the pogrom of 1349 (which followed an outbreak of Black Death).”  I’d think they’d maybe build a mini-temple in repentence or something after the war, but nope, they rebuilt the entire cathedral so the average visitor would never be able to tell it was not the original

But, by far, my favorite thing at the Hauptmarkt was the traditional, world famous gingerbread or  Lebkuchen.  Amazingly delicious and also, somehow, gluten free (so they said)!  I did some research and the top recipes listed under Lebkuchen were not gluten free, researched Nuremberger Lebkuchen with the same results – even gluten free Lebkuchen has rice flour listed as an ingredient so I’m not sure what the story is – but Griffin ate it and loved it and didn’t get sick so who knows?  I think I’ll just try this recipe or this one and see….. We even bought some to take along to Berlin and share with our friends.

We hit the road again and enjoyed the thrill of speed on the Autobahn.  Mr. Liberty, despite his age, flies along with the best of them and André reveled in trying to top 180 km/hr – which would be 110 miles per hour!  (This is totally legal, but not safe at all) Watch out Leipzig, here we come!