Heidelberg, Germany

Heidelberg is a city in southwest Germany. The fifth-largest city in the State of Baden-Württemberg. Heidelberg is part of the densely populated Rhine-Neckar Metropolitan Region.  In 2009, over 145,000 people lived in the city. Heidelberg lies on the River Neckar in a steep valley in the Odenwald.

It is at this point we must pause and address something that must be understood when traveling in Germany or points close by.  In the past few posts, you have probably seen me mispell places ending in -berg and -burg. 

So, is it:

-BERG  or -BURG ?

When spoken by most Americans, -burg and -berg sound the same (kind of like "burr g"), and incorrectly spoken, by the way. 

A fortified town was called a Burg (pr. bourk).

A mountain is a Berg (pr. beark).

When named, Salzburg and Rothenburg were fortified towns (Rothenburg still is). On the other hand Nürnberg was so named for the castle that sits on a hill.

This is important because much of the software for searches and train schedule won't come up with the right place if you spell it incorrectly. Put in Salzburg on the Bahn query site, and you'll get Mozart's birth town. Put in Salzberg, and you'll get a pulldown menu with bunch of choices. The first few will be towns in Baden-Württemberg or Hessen; the town in Austria will be well down the list.

Also, those two little dots over the vowel, called an umlaut, are important. Füssen is NOT Fussen! However, using "ue" for "ü" works (and is, technically, correct). So, if looking for a route to Neuschwanstein, use "Fuessen Bahnhof".

Got it?

Great.  We'll move on.

This is where the place Burgberg must be introduced.

Confused ? 

Good.

These signs prove to be equally confusing for non-German-speaking-Americans.

One of the first sights on our walk was this place. 
Does anyone remember thePannekoeken Huis in Bartlesville ? 
This was my first thought when I saw the windmill. 
My second thought was the fluffy cinnamon apple pancakes the restaurant served.

No stroll through the streets of Heidelberg can be endured without a hot drink.

This one has a bit more 'kick' to it.

Turbo Gluhwein ?  Is that gluhwein with Red Bull ?

Do you see what I see ?

Keeping up with three children in the crowd is no easy task. 
Especially when two of them make it a game to hide.

Boleslawiec Pottery can be found everywhere. 

 

So far we still have the three kiddos with us.

The streets look like this.

This scene is reminiscent of Venice Beach.

Heidelberg is not without its magnificent churches.

There are Chrismas Pyramids everywhere.

 

And it makes a beautiful backdrop for a family photos.

Pops is intrigued with the unique way food is prepared. 
Especially potatoes.

 

Heidelberger Schloss looms above the goings-on of the Christmas Market below.

Is this Flick or Charlie ?

I triple dog dare you . . .

Ice skating in Heidelberg probably requires very strong ankles just like anywhere else in the world.

Pops continues his quest to try all the foods.

The expressions on these faces . . .

. . . tell a story all their own.

In the meantime, Reese locates a pondering Polar Bear.

There is more history in this photo than my brain can possibly comprehend.

A German oom-pah-pah band.

Another church.

The  Germans have a unique way of keeping people from sitting or standing in particular places.

That little silver strip contains very sharp teeth that would gnarl a person's behind if one chose to sit there.

.

Moser Glassware that we recognized in this window.

And last but not least, yes these places can be found on many corners in Germany.

I have no idea what theses boxes are below OR how to get rid of them.

 

Comments

[Pamela]

I miss the "like" button . (*sigh)
typepad is giving you some kind of a table format. I don't know anything about typepad. I do know typepad lets me comment. (Wordpress wants me to open a wordpress account and provide a Wordpress password.)

[lis]

Wow, what an amazing trip!!!

[Molly]

I am glad that you are still blogging. You seem to be on a wonderful trip in Europe. How grand.