We're watching you!

Last night we went into town for dinner and went to a traditional German restaurant. We were seated at a large table where one man was already seated. There were several clues that we weren’t in Italy anymore. Family seating in restaurants and smoking in restaurants. The menu was “very” German and we were having trouble figuring out exactly what we were ordering, so when the waitress came over, I said we were having a little trouble reading and wondered if she could help. She said, “Oh, didn’t I give you the English menus?” Well, they were MUCH easier to read! (I happened to notice that the prices were all about 10% higher too!)

By the time our food arrived, the man at our table had left and a new man was seated at our table. He asked if we were English, and we slowly started having conversation. He started out with the normal “What do you think of George Bush” topic (which all Europeans seem to like to talk about). We did the usual “yeah, what can we say?” response hoping he would change the subject but then he told us a George Bush joke, and we laughed. He went on about his life but always went back to Pres. Bush. And he just seemed to go on and on! Then he said, “How would you like a unique souvenir from Germany?” We said sure thinking he would tell us where to go and buy it and he proceeded to take the watch off his wrist and give it to us! We tried to refuse, but he insisted, saying he two more identical watches and they were just promotions watches from the newspaper. But someday they were going to be collectibles!

The rest of the dinner felt a little uncomfortable with the conversation and the watch, but he soon paid his bill and said goodbye and left. We then paid our bill and left as well. Outside, Maridee says, “what are we going to do with this watch?” I never thought about it, but Maridee said, “Remember the questions they ask you at the airport—about whether anyone has asked you to carry anything for them? There could be drugs hidden in there or a bomb or something!” So we went over to a bench and sat down and put the watch on the bench, and got up and left! And that’s the end of the watch story!

Today, we got up early, and after another great breakfast, went down the street to the laundry and did our wash before starting the cruise. We came back, checked out of the hotel, left our bags there, and went back into the city. The streets were full of people with lots of sidewalk shops open. We went into the cathedral again and they were rehearsing for a concert. It was pretty amazing seeing all of the old relics in the church and listening to a full orchestra and choir playing and singing classical music.

There is another church nearby that is famous for it animated clock that performs everyday at noon. It has a statue of Jesus with a parade of eleven figures who circle around paying homage. We also went to the old city castle. There is a second competing cathedral in town we went into and it was full of pictures taken after the damage of World War II. It was amazing to see the damage done to the cathedral and then to see it all rebuilt like it was original.

Nurnberg was a favorite city of Hitler. He held his summer rally’s in Nurnberg. Because of his attachment to Nurnberg, the city was hit hard during WWII.


We went to another traditional restaurant for lunch where everyone sits at tables together and were given a German menu again with no translation. We decided to have a large platter dish thinking it was sausages. The waitress came by, saw that we had German menus and got us an English menu. We then saw what we had ordered: pork knuckles, pork shoulder, Nurnberg sausages and Franconian duck (whatever that is) sauerkraut, red cabbage, bread dumplings and potato dumplings. Usually any kind of potato is great but these were a little strange. They were large round balls the size of a small orange and were very starchy and not very potato tasting. The rest of the dinner was great though. We made it through without any watch incidents!

We got a cab to take us back to the hotel to pick up our bags and take us to the cruise ship. It was out on the outskirts of town and the driver took us right to it. It was about 3pm and there weren’t too many people around. We went in and they said sure we could check in. On the river cruises, there isn’t a cruise terminal. There is just a ramp to walk onboard and you check in at the reception desk. It was a non-event!

Our room is very nice. We got unpacked and had a very nice dinner. We don’t go anywhere tonight. Tomorrow, there is a tour back into Nurnberg, back to the boat for lunch and then a tour to Rothenberg. Then tomorrow night the ship sails to our next port. Print this post