Rothenburg: Sept. 30th - Oct. 2nd

Our time in the medieval town of Rothenburg was quiet and fun. Our first night was spent wandering the town and enjoying the sights within the walled-city. We had dinner at a traditional restaurant where three generations of family were present. In keeping consistent with much of the town, this family owned the restaurant on the main floor and hotel in the floors above. For such a small town, we certainly noticed the entrepreneurial spirit. For dinner, Ben had a traditional feast of bratwurst, sauerkraut and bread. Liya, on the other hand, was happy to steer in another direction and enjoyed a plate of spaghetti. Dessert was a highlight for the day. A small dessert parlor helped us close our stomachs for the evening with a slice of tiramisu and a bowl of gelato (hazelnut, amaretto, & pistachio) - totally delicious!

The next morning, another breakfast of rolls, jam, honey, meats and cheeses prepared us for another day to see the town. We began our day by browsing the small boutiques and souvenir shops scattered throughout. Much of the stores sold similar items - porcelain dolls, Christmas decorations and ornaments, schneeballs (traditional Rothenburg pastry), local jewelry, and stuffed animals. After lots of walking and picture taking, we returned to the hotel for a short siesta.

Our search for a good place to eat dinner brought us all the way back to our own hotel, The Golden Rose. Again, the owner of the hotel also ran the restaurant below where we enjoyed a meal with chicken, schnitzel, french fries, soup and salad. After dinner, we walked to the main town square and participated in the "Night Watchman's Tour." Us and 90 other tourists walked the town at night with the "Night Watchman" dressed and talking the part. He took us through the town and explained the history of Rothenburg - the good, the bad, and the ugly.

It was a good stay in Rothenburg overall. This quaint town has a lot of character, a rich history, and now is strongly dependent on tourism. We felt it was similar to Cesky Krumlov in the Czech Republic, a previous stop for us.

Next stop will bring the polar opposite - Berlin.