Canadians in Nurnberg

Finally our internet is working but I still have to be downstairs in the lounge to blog... Oh well.

To recap yesterday;

We walked approximately two kilometers to the Fascination and Horror Exhibit at the Documention Centre, or Kongresshall. We could have easily spent hours there but unfortunately only had just over one (it opened at 10am and we had to be out of our room for noon, with a 45 min walk back). We arrived eary and sat by a small lake to wait. We were surprised there were a number of others who arrived early too, including a group of youth and a tour group. We dashed inside, knowing we had to see it quickly. Jeff and I each got an English handheld device that had a speaker on one end that was circular (to hold up and around your entire ear). Each panel of information that we came across throughout the exhibit had a corresponding number that once you put into your device would talk to you about. You had to hold it to your ear which was neat. It also picked up any films that were playing in a room you were in and played it in your language. There were 19 rooms in total and tons of panels so we just picked the ones that looked the most interesting to us.

The whole exhibit was about Hitler's rise to power and how Nurnberg hosted the Nazi Party Rallies. From what I gathered after the whole thing was that Hitler had way too much power appointed to him and that people believed the myths that surrounded him which afforded him his power. It was unbelievable. It talked about "community versus society" and building a community without any discrepencies in race, beliefs, etc. which is why people got branded with labels, such as the Jewish star.

According to Hitler, Nurnberg was considered the most German city in Germany and was supposed to become "Germania", the capitol of the world. I did not know that. I also learned about the Nurnberg trials (that I had no idea about) that convicted a number of people to death, some to life in prison, and others to many years an prison for their particiption in Hitler's regime.

It was quite the interesting place to check out, even though a lot of the polticial pieces were lost on me... I need it basic and there was just way too much information, not to mention that we were a little rushed.

It took us bout 40 min or so to walk back to our place and to check out. We headed to the subway station and headed back to the main station we had been the day before. Our hostel is in the walls of the old town, which is really neat. It's definitely a backpacker's place with a lounge, communal kitchen, worn furniture and funky painted walls. We're staying in the room "Dionysos' Garden", which I have learned is the wine and party god...? lol. The rooms have funny names here, like, the "Wrong Room" or "Twilight Zone". It's rather amusing. The downside is the lack of soap in the washrooms (again!) and gender neutral washrooms that I just am not used to.

We arrived early so had to drop our luggage in a room for a few hours before we could check in. We headed out with our map and found the local market, Hauptmrkt, a couple of churches, a beautiful fountain, the local gingerbread cookie place and then generally just wandered around for a few hours. Jeff's back to eating regularly so he had a sausage from the market and was thoroughly pleased and I had gelato with gingerbread in it, so good!

We checked in to our place and had a nap as we were tired from all the walking we had done already. Afterward we headed to the supermarket (the super cheap one) and picked up a few things (Jeff bought Oktoberfest beer, that I had at the first hall when he wasn't drinking, to try some) but because we didn't take a good look at the kitchen beforehand we weren't sure what we had to work with (e.g. No microwave) so we ended up going out for dinner anyway. Jeff got Burger King, lol (after a week of eating so little I said, eat whatever you want!) and I had a doner... Another one... Althought it was good and cheap. :)

We sat downstairs for the rest of the night once we had met a nice couple of Canadians, Shawn and Andrea who live in the same area as us and went to the same school! Small world eh? They had arrived to Nurnberg that day from Munich with no plans and were waiting to see if they could get a room. They didn't get in until 11:15pm and after Shawn had said this happens often when they just show up he's thinking of planning ahead a bit more. I'm really glad we plan ahead, threre is so much less stress that way.

We made plans with them to hangout the next day and to explore the town.

This morning I had a shower that resulted in me soaking everything around me without getting me wet! The hand hose thingy went buck wild when I turned the water on and sprayed me in the face, my towel that was hanging, the wall and everything else as it bounced off the walls because it wasn't secure in the holder. Now, this didn't happen just once but three times!! Urgh. I really should have learned. The water was only on for five seconds at a time so I kept putting it back on the holder so I could wash... It was funny and irritating, lol

We had a quick breakfast that we had picked up from the store the previous day (yogurt) and then met Shawn and Andrea in the lounge. We wandered through town, taking them to a few of the places we had been the day before, one of which included the "Beautiful Fountain". We noticed a number of people yesterday touching a small gold ring and turning it in circles but had no idea what it meant, so today I did it too and so did Andrea. I later learned that you were supposed to make a wish as you were doing it, oh well! lol

We visited the town's imperial castle and took lots of great photos and then went through the town's medieval dungeons (even though we had to take a German tour because they don't offer it in English). The tour guide gave us English pamphlets and because he spoke English he checked up on us throughout the tour (as we hung in the back) to see if we had any questions or anything, he was very kind. It was neat to see and yet disturbing. They were seriously dark and creepy. I would not have wanted to be anywhere those things when they were in use! We even got to read about what reasons people would have been tortured and exectued... Disturbing stuff and yet fascinating to see.

Something we noticed today from yesterday and saw again today was a man dressed as a monk (or jedi!) and for a magic trick he was set up to look like he was floating in mid air, only connected to the ground by a walking stick. Although we think we understand how it's being done, it looks really cool! I took lots of pictures and gave him a little bit of change. The street performers are everywhere!

We had deep fried mushrooms at the market with garlic sauce that were so good and Jeff and I shared a glass of apple cider wine that was made locally (we met the maker) and it was really good! We also had a little white wine and it was delicious as well - I don't even like wine! Maybe that's changing?

The four of us stopped for a beer in the afternoon before heading to the train station. Shawn and Andrea took off to the exhibit we saw yesterday after we told them about it and Jeff and I bought our bus tickets for tomorrow's journey to Prague. Once the other two get back we'll probably go looking for dinner. As it's Sunday, the town is pretty quiet, unlike yesterday where we were twisting and diving between people constantly, so the grocery store was not an option.

We're sad to be leaving Germany as it's been great (for the most part) and we would come back, especially for Oktoberfest...Jeff even said he could see himself living here, but other adventures await us tomorrow in the Czech Republic.

Anyway, I've been writing for awhile and Jeff's gone to go read for a bit. I'm going to join him before the others get back and we head out to dinner.

Have a fabulous day and congratulations to my brother for graduating today from the trade school!!

With love,

Amanda