Rothenburg ob der Tauber - Day 5

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

Large gothic cathedral in Koln

Rothenburg's beautiful medieval streets

Our hotel

Our quaint hotel room

Drinks and dinner

Alazda with the Night Watchman

Town square at dusk

Shopping for German bier steins

Enjoying the views!

Travis on our walk around the walled perimeter of the city 

Amsterdam - Day 4

We arrived in Amsterdam very late and spent our first night just getting our bearings with the local tram service, street signs, and city layout.  This was our first day not speaking the local language which made getting around a bit more interesting.  Once we found our hotel we decided to stay in and enjoy a late night drink at the hotel bar before bed.

The next morning, we grabbed a muffin, fresh squeezed orange juice and 'koffie' from a corner store and set off to the city center.  Our first stop was to the Anne Frank Huis.  This is a museum located in the same house the Frank family used as a hiding place during WWII.  The tour was quite touching as we were able to tour the 'Secret Annex', a small apartment hid behind a bookshelf which housed the family for over two years before their capture by the Nazis.  We also viewed Anne's original diaries and learned more about the Frank family.

As we continued to tour the city, we noted the countless canals which weave throughout the city streets.  The primary mode of transportation for locals is by bicycle and you can see thousands of bikes lining the city streets. The sidewalks are lined with shops and houses making Amsterdam quite peaceful as roadways are fairly non-congested.

After the Anne Frank Huis, we walked through the city center and viewed many Amsterdam sights such as Dam Square, the Red Light District, and Saint Nicholas' Church.  The church was a  large gothic style church and named after Saint Nicholas, the saint of travelers, quite fitting for our trip.  

In the afternoon, we visited the Heineken Brewery Experience, enjoying learning about the brewing process while sipping some of the famous local brew.  The facility is located in the original brewing factory which was renovated to serve as a large, interactive tour.  It was a very enjoyable stop!

To wrap up the day after dinner, we settled back near our hotel and found a small corner pub perfect for enjoying a few Heinekens and recapping our Amsterdam experience.  

Crossing one of the many Amsterdam canals which weave through the city

Lots and lots of bikes!

Saint Nicolas' Church

One of the many canals in the city

Outside the Heineken Brewery Experience

Enjoying some free Heineken samples after the tour :-)