We were up and out the door this morning after breakfast to find the laundry place. It took about 20 miniutes walking to get there only for us to realize it was €7.50 (more than 10 bucks!) for a wash and dry that would take at least two hours... Urgh... Such a huge pain... But we really had no other options and I wanted a break from washing in the sink (and Jeff hadn't done laundry in about two weeks!). We put our stuff in and got it going with the help of the lady running the place - it sure was busy so that must be the cost of doing laundry here. We wandered down some street and killed about 40 minutes before making it back, thankfully there were only 9 minutes to go. Our walk was calm and slow, just taking in the sight and sounds of this little piece of Germany. We're beginning to notice chain stores and other things since we've been here for awhile. The laundry lady offered to put our stuff in the dryer for us as it would be awhile, so we took off to the old town where we were yesterday.
We visited the Student Prison where Heidelberg University (the oldest in Germany) had "autonomous jurisdiction over students for its first five hundred years (500 years!!!). Beginning in 1886, however, this right to render judgements against students was curtailed. Since then, the university's jurisdiction has been limited to internal disciplinary matters.
Depending on the seriousnss of student's offense, imprisonment could last from two days to four weeks. Students were, in theory, still permitted to attend lectures during confinement. Yet life in the prison was considered fairly comfortable, with students making use of their jail time - if at all - to cut classes or immortalise themselves on the walls and ceilings via paintings and poems.
We take great care to preserve for future generations this legacy graffiti, which bears unique witness to the times and a very special kind of prison life." University of Heidelberg visitor information
It was neat! Nearly every square inch of three floors and four rooms were covered in graffiti. I wish I could have understood what all the writing said! There were a lot of silhouttes done and drawings... The oldest date I could find was from 1880. The place was dark and gloomy but the graffiti really made it a unique. Some of the offenses that could get you there included public drunkeness or obnoxiousness, harrassing the police, etc. Jeff read somewhere that at some point students considered it an achievement or honour or credit to spend a night in the student prison, even if they only got bread and water the first two nights (and then afterward whatever they wanted, including beer! Not too shabby really. They could even rent blankets or pillows or bring their own.)
After the student prison we went to this gorgeous lecture hall, the Great Hall. It used to be used as an actual lecture hall with desks and seats for students but is now used for ceremonial events such as the annual celebration (of the univerisity I presume), inagural and farewell lectures and graduation ceremonies. It was quite the room done in "neo-Renaissance style" (whatever that is!).
We stopped in a grassy area we found (there aren't many) for a break before heading out to find some lunch. I had a brautwurst sausage and fries and Jeff had a subway sub; I think it is sitting in his belly so far which is good! We stopped at a pharmacy and got some herbal stuff for his stomach and so far no scary gurgling noises.
We picked up our laundry after getting some souvenirs and then hopped on the bus back home. We've got our shoes off and are taking a break. We'll have to pop downstairs to the supermarket to figure out dinner; all I need is a vegetable to go with my leftovers :)
Tomorrow we've got a three hour train ride to Munich to explore Oktoberfest, and everyone we meet who has gone says it is nuts and that a litre of beer is nearly $14! So, who knows how this will go, at the very least we'll wander around where we can and if we can find a seat somewhere, bonus!
Hope you're having a good morning,
Chat soon,
Amanda
P.S. It's a little hard to believe that we arrived to Europe three weeks ago today. We sure have been busy and have been doing and seeing lots, without getting caught up in the "just do it because we're here" (i.e. Stuff we don't really care to see). Still five whole weeks to go, which is awesome and lots more planned!
We'll be in Munich from Sept 28-29
Then Nuremberg from Sept 30 - Oct 2,
Then Prague from Oct 3-6,
Then Cesky Krumlov from Oct 7-9
And then we'll book for Austria and Italy!
So much more excitement to come :)
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