Travis and Alazda's European Adventure: Rothenburg ob der Tauber

We left Amsterdam early in the morning heading towards Germany. On our way we took a brief stop in Koln for an hour of sightseeing. Right outside the train station stands the massive Koln Cathedral. We were able to go inside and see some of the truly amazing architecture and stained glass. Also not far from the train station is an old Roman Archway from the period of the Roman Empire. Though we had only stopped for an hour we were quite impressed with the sights we were able to see.

Next stop was Rothenburg, a beautiful medieval city preserved as if it was locked away in a time capsule. This city was a real treat! We wish we could bottle up the city charm and take it home, but souvenirs will have to do. Upon arrival, we entered the village walls and began touring the streets which were lined with quaint shops and various cafes. We ventured to our little hotel which was in a beautiful cottage within the protected walls of the village.

Later in the evening, we grabbed dinner at a little Italian restaurant off the main square and enjoyed some local drinks. Travis had a Landwher-Brau Dunkel which was a darker German brew served at room temp while Alazda enjoyed some white wines made locally.

After dinner, we ventured towards the town square for the Night Watchman tour. In medieval times, six watchmen would look over the city during the night to protect the city from outside threats and alarm for fires. Our Night Watchman came equiped with a long axe and a candle lantern as he guided us through the historic village, stopping along the way to tell witty stories of the city's history. After the tour, we enjoyed an ice cream treat in front of town hall before heading back to our hotel for rest.

In the morning, we toured the city a bit more. Stops included St. Jacob's Cathedral, the City Hall Bell Tower for a birds-eye view of the city, and a bit of shopping. We found various shops and picked up a few souvenirs such as a traditional German bier-stien, Christmas ornaments and a cuckoo clock which was hand carved with wood from Germany's Black Forest.

Rothenburg was an incredible city and we tried to soak up the history and culture as much as possible. We left the city in awe as we board the train en-route to our next destination - Munich.

- Travis and Alazda