Actually, there is no need for guessing. It has been weeks!
I left Budapest at the end of August, and flew to Berlin for the last of my travel adventures before returning to Canada. These adventures took me through four countries and one principality, ending in Budapest for my final trek to Ferihegy Airport.
We began in Berlin, and drove south to a small German town named Rottenburg. Rottenburg is the quintessential German town, complete with a clock in the town square that chimed every hour, greeting visitors with two marionettes that drank fake wine while the bells chimed. Apparently, way back when (European timelines, so the 16th century), the mayor of Rottenburg was given an ultimatum during the sieging of the city. Drink a gallon of wine or the city would remain under siege. He drank of wine, saved the city and remains immortalized in the city's clock, and in Rottenburg's top 10 must sees.
Rottenburg
is also home to the Kathe Wohlfarht store, a year round Christmas store, filled with all the yule tide treasure you can imagine. and then some more. You were allowed to take pictures in the store, but I snapped this one just before we went in. The store is three floors, and has a large Christmas tree in the centre of it. There was a section of standard Christmas things, like ornaments, garland, and nut crackers, and then there was a large section devoted to these small (and large) wood, sculpture things, with wind mills arms like things on the top. When you put a candle in it, the heat from the candle moves the arms and causes a whole scene to start. Some had Santa Clause, some had the wise men, and others had carousel like horses. Super duper neat-o. Especially since they were all hand crafted, wood carved. the details were fantastic. It was like FAO Swartz, Christmas style. It must see tons of tourists, because all the major 'rules' of the store (like DO NOT TOUCH, or NO PICTURES), were written in four different languages. The staff also spoke English, which was a plus!
After the clock, the Christmas store, a short coffee break and some aimless wondering, we headed to the town's history museum. This town was founded somewhere in year 100 (back when t
he Roman's were in charge), and so, it has of history---and some pretty cool weapons to show for it. Here is what most of the museum looks like (with the exception of the creepy dungeon, complete with torture chamber). I obviously did not take good enough notes for this one, but the flag in the photo is so old that it
is being held together by a second piece of cloth sewn into it. The mannequins were slightly creepy.
We spent the rest of the afternoon wondering around the city and the city wall itself (you could
walk all across it). From the tiny windows you could see for miles outside the city, including small vineyards, forests and, er...the motor way...but still, a nice sight. After we were finished scaling the walls, taken ample photos, and bought two bottles of local wines, we got back in the car and continued driving south. Destination: St. Gallen, Switzerland.
