He is Stone Rich

Stone Tower in Regensburg, Germany

This is one of the medieval tower buildings in Regensburg, Germany that once belonged to a rich and powerful patrician family.

The actual living space was on the main level.

The upper stories were only a façade, with small storage rooms behind the upper windows.

Stone was expensive, so prosperity was displayed by the height of the tower you owned – the higher the tower, the more stones required and the wealthier the merchant.

Germans still say of someone they think is wealthy, “He is stone rich.”

Many such buildings remain in Regensburg and some owners have invested in renovating the upper levels and adding electricity.  They can then rent the tiny spaces to students who are able and willing to climb the ladders between floors.

Note the varying window styles on the different levels of this tower.

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How Can a Town Hall be Romantic?

Bamburg, Germany Town Hall – Photo by Dor

Thinking of marrying in City Hall?

Can a Town Hall ever be romantic?

Take a look at this one in Bamburg, Germany!

It actually houses government offices.

This photo in Archives: http://city.1-themes.com

 

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Are You Sleeping Yet?

 

From: http://www.cliparthut.com

I keep blogging about our trip to Germany and now beginning to envision

blank faces,

yawns

and vacant stares.

Constant reviews of recently returning tourists can even be sleep inducing.

This will therefore be the last post on my visit to “the old country.”

That is, unless there is something special that must be shared – like a castle built by Mad Ludwig II.

Swan Lake below Neuchwanstein Castle

 

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Food for the Soul

There is a lot to see in Germany, many places to visit, much history and charm, but there is something utterly irresistible about German beer, bread, chocolate, cheese, and pastries!

Here, a bakery window holds self-indulgent memories.

 

 

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We Were Sailing Along

We were drifting along a river and the journey was quiet and smooth (if you don’t count the Locks the first night).

There is something surreal and other-worldly about sailing down a river past story book villages.

I was expecting to see the worn out industrial sides of German towns like from a bus or a train in the U.S.  But we must have passed those city undersides at night because the views were of the never-to-be-forgotten other-worldly variety.

There was a song written in 1912 entitled “Moonlight Bay” often sung in a Barbershop Quartet style.  It  was one of a number of early 20th century songs used as titles for musical films made by Doris Day in the late 1940s and 50s.

The Chorus of that song kept going through my head as we made our way:

We were sailing along

On Moonlight Bay

We could hear the voices ringing

They seemed to say:

“You have stolen her heart”

“Now don’t go ‘way!”

As we sang Love’s Old Sweet Song

On Moonlight Bay

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A Virginian Visits the Old World

 

 

We were on our way to the “old country!”

En route I spotted a ghostly cloud in the shape of a sister-jet following along for good luck.

This is what I saw through our plane window.

 

Bill and I were on our way to a riverboat cruise featuring the Highlights of Germany.

And there are now 193 photographs awaiting your viewing pleasure!

No, please don’t worry.  This is a Virginia blog after all and the subject is always Virginia Views.

I will only share the best of the best of cathedrals, castles, and narrow streets.   Now they have already  blended into one delightful memory.  The truth is, we can’t remember where we have been!  At least that’s what Bill says.  After awhile one castle looks a lot like the last one.

But I’m baaaaaack!  The called for “Time Out” is over.

And now, tradition has it that I must post a wayward witch’s photo to celebrate the season.

It was not taken in Germany but a few years ago “down the street” right here in the neighborhood.

Many thanks to the neighbor who took the time to put up this funny lady.

They don’t make much of Halloween in the Germany we visited and I am glad to be back among all the U.S. pumpkins, gourds, and all the anticipation in the air about costumes, tricks and treats.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN my friends!

It’s good to be home.

She must have been texting!

 

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