{"id":3560,"date":"2015-09-01T15:11:31","date_gmt":"2015-09-01T20:11:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zurekbrau.com\/blogs\/richsblog\/?p=3560"},"modified":"2015-09-01T15:11:31","modified_gmt":"2015-09-01T20:11:31","slug":"european-vacation-day-4-american-tourists-on-the-loose","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zurekbrau.com\/blogs\/richsblog\/?p=3560","title":{"rendered":"European Vacation Day 4 American Tourists on the Loose"},"content":{"rendered":"

We woke up in Augsburg this morning!\u00a0 And it was still hot.<\/p>\n

We showered and dressed.\u00a0 The first task was get breakfast downstairs.\u00a0 The breakfast room has a buffet of all types of luncheon meats, cheeses, hard boiled eggs, breads, and toasty things.\u00a0 The coffee pots was a push button number that no one seemed to be able to work right.\u00a0 I overran my cup and had to switch it out mid stream to capture all of the coffee. I saw others having the same problem.\u00a0 I had no solution for tomorrow.<\/p>\n

The ladies serving and keeping things stocked were very nice.\u00a0 They didn\u2019t seem to speak much English.\u00a0 We managed though.\u00a0 Rich got his favorite breakfast again.\u00a0 He said he did miss the Air Force coffee with Uncle Max though.<\/p>\n

First on the list of tourist sights was to find the Man in the Wall.\u00a0 There is an ancient wall that surrounds the hilltop that old Augsburg is built on.\u00a0 I believe it was built before the Romans, but fortified by them.\u00a0 There is a status of a man on the outer wall.\u00a0 I\u2019m not sure of his purpose in old days, but he is an attraction for people to go and find.<\/p>\n

We stopped at the front desk and the young man gave us really good directions to find the wall our first sighting.\u00a0 He said to walk down the alleyway to the first walk street and turn left.\u00a0 When this walk street ends, turn right and follow the road as it curves around the buildings.\u00a0 The wall will be in front of you.\u00a0 Walk along the outside of the wall to find the man.<\/p>\n

Turns out the Man in the Wall was very close to the hotel.\u00a0 This area is one of the oldest surviving parts of the city.\u00a0 A hotel on this spot was first used in 1508 by the Cardinal for Dom Cathedral to house important visitors.\u00a0 The building has been destroyed and rebuild several times to stay as a hotel for guests of the cathedral.\u00a0 At some point, it became a hotel for outside guests.<\/p>\n

Using the directions given, we found the man.\u00a0 He was standing at attention in his alcove.\u00a0 Over the years, his nose rubbed away and they have replaced it.\u00a0 It looks rather shabby, but what can you do over the centuries.\u00a0 I\u2019d look tired also.<\/p>\n

We wondered back to the hotel and on toward the administrative part of the old town.\u00a0 We had seen the Rathaus last night.\u00a0 We walked in that direction until we found the large, open market square.\u00a0 Rich recognized the Augustus fountain there.\u00a0 This fountain was erected in 1588 and still survives today and spills out water in unusual places on human anatomy.<\/p>\n

The market square there is huge.\u00a0 Rich says the Christkindlmarket takes place there in the Christmas season.\u00a0 I could image a very large one out there.\u00a0 I noticed the tourism building along the left side of the square.\u00a0 We wonder in hoping for cool and some information.\u00a0 There are plenty of pamphlets in English.<\/p>\n

From here, we head down to the Fuggerei.\u00a0 This is a large social neighborhood that was started back in 1516 as an experiment in trying to help people help themselves.\u00a0 The neighborhood is still in use today.\u00a0 People live in the simple apartments for very little in exchange for work and the commitment to pray three times a day.\u00a0 Then the tourists help to support the neighborhood by paying to wandering around.<\/p>\n

The neighborhood is very quiet, clean, and orderly.\u00a0 Specific apartments are called out for you.\u00a0 There is one where Mozart\u2019s great-grandfather lived as he worked in the neighborhood.\u00a0 There was the apartment of a lady first accused of witchcraft.\u00a0 She was burned at the stake and then beheaded.\u00a0 Not a nice way to go.<\/p>\n

We left the Fuggerei and walked back up the hill to the market square.\u00a0 On the other side of the square were smaller platz for Hans Fugger and Martin Luther.\u00a0 We saw the permanent beer hall on the other side of Fugger Platz called the Zeughaus.\u00a0 It was very ornate on the outside.\u00a0 We followed the platz on along to St Anna Church.\u00a0 Unfortunately, the church was closed for renovations.\u00a0 It was all locked up.<\/p>\n

Time to turn toward the Plarrerfest grounds and get some lunch.\u00a0 Standing in front of St. Anna Church, we were trying to decide which direction to head.\u00a0 To the left would take out to the main road quickly.\u00a0 The road to our right would wind by the stadt market (city market) and on around to the main road.\u00a0 We opted to go right and see the stadt market.\u00a0 Unfortunately, it was closed and the gates were locked.\u00a0 We peeked inside, but couldn\u2019t see much.<\/p>\n

At the main road, we turned toward the Plarrerfest grounds and ambled our way through town.\u00a0 The trip was pretty uneventful, but hot.\u00a0 There was hardly a breeze and only the traffic created a ripple of wind.\u00a0 We went into one of the side gates instead of the front.\u00a0 Rich thought it would be good for variety.\u00a0 This is from the most major change agent I know.<\/p>\n

We wondered through the fest.\u00a0 At the Binswanger tent, a line of draft horses were delivering the kegs for the day of drinking.\u00a0 I think it was more ceremonious than actual.\u00a0 The lead horse on the right had its mane braided into very long pigtails all over its head.\u00a0 I suspect this was a female horse.\u00a0 Does that make the other lead horse a male?\u00a0 I think there is Polish joke about this, but I\u2019m not sure I can tell if here.<\/p>\n

Rich had decided to have lunch at the Thor tent today.\u00a0 This is the Thorbrau Bier tent hosted by the Held family.\u00a0 Apparently, the Thor tent is where Rich used to go for his single day at the fest.\u00a0 The fest hall was too hot to inside and eat.\u00a0 We went around to the patio.\u00a0 The heat here wasn\u2019t so bad.\u00a0 There might have been a breeze now and then.<\/p>\n

The bar maid approached the table and welcomed us to the patio.\u00a0 We let her know we spoke English and she quickly switched gears to answer us in English.\u00a0 Rich ordered the Scheinaxen with potato salad.\u00a0 I wanted something cool and went with the Wurstsalat.\u00a0 This is a bologna-like sausage, but much tastier.\u00a0 It was cut up with onions and pickles in a vinegar sauce.\u00a0 It was delicious.\u00a0 I believe Rich said his ham hocks was also delicious.<\/p>\n

Everyone around us were sweating.\u00a0 Guys were showing off their soaked shirts proudly.\u00a0 The ladies were fanning themselves like crazy with menus and anything else that could create a breeze.\u00a0 We ordered water and beers.\u00a0 I forgot to order the correct water though.\u00a0 Mineral water is very popular in Europe.\u00a0 You have to say still or natural to get just regular water without the bubbles.\u00a0 I haven\u2019t gotten myself trained to do it yet.<\/p>\n

After lunch, we decided to just head back toward the hotel. \u00a0We attempted to go down to the garden, but the doors were locked. \u00a0So we hung out in our room. \u00a0I wrote up blogs while Rich napped. \u00a0I got a lot of work done, but it was really too hot. \u00a0Will the weather ever break?<\/p>\n

After napping and working, we decided to get something for dinner. \u00a0Since it was so hot, we decided to return to the Bayerishes Haus for more Bavarian cuisine. \u00a0Unfortunately, we couldn’t sit outside on the patio. \u00a0It was packed with everyone else looking to stay cool. \u00a0We sat inside, where it was very warm. \u00a0We had the advantage of not having too many people in their. \u00a0The food was so good. \u00a0We hung out as long as we could. \u00a0I felt sorry for the servers. \u00a0It must be unbearable to work in a kitchen and rushing around to customers. \u00a0No one here is used to this type of heat.<\/p>\n

We wandered back to the hotel by way of the cathedral grounds. \u00a0It was after 8:00 PM and not much foot traffic. \u00a0It gave the place a kind of otherworldliness. \u00a0We looked at the archeological excavation and samples of what they dug up. \u00a0It was just a little cooler, but not by much. \u00a0We finally found our way back to the hotel and settled in for the night. \u00a0I finished my last blog and pictures and crawled into bed. \u00a0It was midnight at the hotel, but only 5:00 PM at home. \u00a0Time to call it a day.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Breakfast<\/a>
Breakfast at the Dom Hotel.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Alleyway<\/a>
Alleyway we took to the Man in the Wall.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Ancient<\/a>
Ancient wall of the city of Augsburg<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Joy<\/a>
Joy with the Man in the Wall.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"Roman<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Entrance<\/a>
Entrance to the Dom Cathedral<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Carved<\/a>
Carved door at Dom Cathedral<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Augustus<\/a>
Augustus Fountain in the market square<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"Zueghaus<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Mozart's<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Each<\/a>
Each bell pull at the Fuggerei are different so you know when you go home in the dark.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Bunker<\/a>
Bunker created for WW II at the Fuggerei<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Draft<\/a>
Draft horses bringing in the beer for the fest hall for the day.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"Rich<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Rich<\/a><\/p>\n

\"That's<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Rich<\/a>
Rich back at Bayerisches Haus for dinner<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We woke up in Augsburg this morning!\u00a0 And it was still hot. We showered and dressed.\u00a0 The first task was get breakfast downstairs.\u00a0 The breakfast room has a buffet of all types of luncheon meats, cheeses, hard boiled eggs, breads, and toasty things.\u00a0 The coffee pots was a push button number that no one seemed […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/zurekbrau.com\/blogs\/richsblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3560"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/zurekbrau.com\/blogs\/richsblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/zurekbrau.com\/blogs\/richsblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zurekbrau.com\/blogs\/richsblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zurekbrau.com\/blogs\/richsblog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3560"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/zurekbrau.com\/blogs\/richsblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3560\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3586,"href":"https:\/\/zurekbrau.com\/blogs\/richsblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3560\/revisions\/3586"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/zurekbrau.com\/blogs\/richsblog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3560"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zurekbrau.com\/blogs\/richsblog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3560"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zurekbrau.com\/blogs\/richsblog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3560"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}