Day 320- Neuhausen and Nurtlingen

It was cloudy and gloomy outside but not very cold.  We got a late start to our day.  We contemplated going to one of the towns on the Romantic road but shelved the idea because of the lateness of the day.  I would rather go when it's sunny and nice out and warmer!

Instead, we decided to go for a  drive through some of the small towns near our village.  We went back through Neuhausen and this time I was able to get a few shots of the banners (and clothing). 

At first, we thought the banners were for "carnival" (mardi gras) that's coming up.  I don't exactly know when it is, though, since it's not something we celebrate.

At first Ted thought these were the townfolks clothes and they were drying them but then we saw how many there were and we realized it couldn't be!








We turned around to go back the way we came and realized the red T-shirts had something written on them.  It looked like it read "40 Jahre" which means 40 years.  It must be some sort of town anniversary!  Mystery solved!







We ended up in the town of Nurtlingen, parked the car and got out to walk.  I brought my camera and too kphotos.  Ted commented that if we didn't get out and walk, we would have missed a lot of the interesting spots that we shot.  It wasn't very cold so the walk  was nice.  Below are some photos from our walk.  It was starting to get late so the sun's light was not so good.  I had to fiddle with the contrast so you could see what we saw and how we saw them!

We think this building must be some sort city building.  Ted thought he saw something that said Notary on it.  Based on the size of this building and the turret, it must have once been some sort of palace.  It would be interesting to find out the history of some of these wonderful buildings!

Another one of the beautiful timbered houses.  I think they are beautiful and quaint. 

This particular home has a very french look to it!  There are tons of homes on the French border town of Strasbourg that have this same kind of look!

This house sat back from the street.  Ted really liked the red shutters and I liked that it sat back from the street.  There's a stone paved area leading up to it.














Ted and I joke that Mama Maria's is like our neighborhood "Cheers" place...but it was surprising to actually see a place called "Cheers" here in  Germany and not too far from our home.  (See the logo on the auto.)

We walked up the stairs but there is a paved walkway leading up to the plaza where the Cathedral stands.  It was a steep climb and we started up the pathway but decided it was better if we used the steps instead!  You can't see it in this photo but on the right, just below the little stone area, were areas where the town women once washed clothes on stones!   The orange building on the left is an antique store!









I loved this archway.  Unfortunately the light was going so I had to brighten up the shot.  It turns out this  is the entrance to some sort of secondary (or University) compound.













This is the Cathedral tower.  All churches and Cathedrals (the Germans prefer that we call them Cathedrals) have clock towers.  

The entrance to the Cathedral is on the side of the building.  This is the view of the church from the top of the stairway of those stairs we came up in the photo above.













At first Ted thought this window was open and so did I!  But upon further inspection, it was actually closed!  It's an optical illusion.  I find it interesting that the builders were able to achieve this illusion.  I wonder if it was by accident or by design! 

This is the view from the back of the Cathedral.  The stained glass panels must be where the altar is.  I didn't think the doors were open so I didn't even try to go inside.











On the way to dinner, we stopped at the yarn store in Plattenhardt.   They were closed of course, but I had a chance to find out their hours and to look in the windows.

We decided to have dinner at the Capri restuarant.  The menu is much smaller than Amalfi's menu and their specialty is fish and meat.   Ted said it was THE best fish pizza he had ever eaten.  It had clams, shark, octopus, "sepia" (I don't know what that is in English).  I had their homeade cheese and spinach ravioli.  The place is small but the ambience is great.  It is owned by the same family that owned Amalfi Pizzeria in Bonlanden.  I thought they had sold it and then I thought the husband and wife separated.  But I was wrong on BOTH counts.  I felt better that 1) they didn't sell the restaurant and 2) they were still married.  It appears that they decided to open a second  more formal and quaint restaurant!  I also found out that they let that odious waiter go!  Now we are free to go back to Amalfi!!  We're happy campers.

We  came home and watched a few episodes of NCIS and then went to bed.  I can't wait for summer to come so  we can go galavanting around the countryside!  I'm tired for gloomy and overcast weather.

Saturday 2/06/10