Sightseeing With James

James and I decided that we would go on a couple of sightseeing excursions before he had to fly back to Canada. We only had a couple of days, so decided to make the most of them.
Of course this meant we must use the train system, but I decided to suck-it-up, and make it work. I discovered (no surprise) that James is more of a "just go with it" traveler, and I (as if I didn't know this) really need to know where I am going, and how to get there.
Major frustrations aside, both trips were very good. Also, now that I've done them once I can do them again, no problem, with the next person.   >^_^<

For the first day we decided to go to Heidelberg. Our plan was to wander around alte Stadt (old town) first, then go up to the castle. However we soon discovered it was a state holiday that day - so quite a few of the shops were closed!
Plan B: go into the cathedral in the alter Marktplatz (old town market place), then up to the castle.
James and I both lit a prayer candle in the church - he for Elias, and me for... many. 

Then we walked up to the castle.  This door  ↑  was on the way up - I like it; has a spooky Granny house feel.

During the walk up and into the castle I was appreciating the ruins and remains, not realizing some of the history that goes along with it. This is the castle Mark Twain wrote about in his 1880 travel book A Tramp Abroad:
"A ruin must be rightly situated, to be effective. This one could not have been better placed. It stands upon a commanding elevation, it is buried in green woods, there is no level ground about it, but, on the contrary, there are wooded terraces upon terraces, and one looks down through shining leaves into profound chasms and abysses where twilight reigns and the sun cannot intrude. Nature knows how to garnish a ruin to get the best effect. One of these old towers is split down the middle, and one half has tumbled aside. It tumbled in such a way as to establish itself in a picturesque attitude. Then all it lacked was a fitting drapery, and Nature has furnished that; she has robed the rugged mass in flowers and verdure, and made it a charm to the eye. The standing half exposes its arched and cavernous rooms to you, like open, toothless mouths; there, too, the vines and flowers have done their work of grace. The rear portion of the tower has not been neglected, either, but is clothed with a clinging garment of polished ivy which hides the wounds and stains of time. Even the top is not left bare, but is crowned with a flourishing group of trees & shrubs. Misfortune has done for this old tower what it has done for the human character sometimes – improved it."  Mark Twain
Awesome!

The entrance to the courtyard is very impressive, no? Yes!

James and I both thought the same thing after we went through the gate, into the center: "Wow, would love to have seen this in the height of it's time!"

It was beautiful, and in great shape!
We enjoyed the fact that, even though it was a state holiday, there were not very many people there.

This sundial made me think of Dean immediately → →
- so I had to take a photo of it; he loves them.

One of the young university age men on our tour said "I want to ask the guide about that clock." James responded "It's a sundial, it tells the time of day." The boy looked at James with a you're stupid look, and said, "yes, but I want to know what else it says, there are astrological markings on it." James said, "That sundial tells the time, that's all."
Again, with the you're stupid look, and he went to the guide to ask him about it. The guide looked at him, looked at the sundial, looked back at him and said "It tells the time of day, that's all. Anything else is just to look at."
I almost laughed out loud - James just looked at me, shrugged, and kept walking.

Another cool door - I like interesting doors, and love photographing them; I have many from over the years.

← Apparently this is what the castle looked like in the 1700s.

Then →
after a couple of lightning strikes, and a wee war in 1693 (oh those French) the castle looked like this, and was not restored at all until 1898, at which point only some restoration in the center of the castle was done; the outer rim and the turrets were never restored. The castle as you see it now is how it has been since then; it was never damaged in WW2 because apparently some of the US army men took a liking to Heidelberg and saw to it that no damage was done to this town.

It was very neat to see it, and to know that the state that we were seeing it in was the state it has been in for over a hundred years!

It was also neat to go and see it with James.
It was a fun day, in spite the frustrating beginning... and end. I just do not do well on public transportation if I don't know exactly what is going on! He's fine with it - me not so much  >^_^<

This is a section of the castle which came with a love story attached!
All summed up:  The prince fell in love with his arranged wife to be, from England, so built her a special section in the castle, unbeknownst to her.  
He married her on Valentines day, and when he was bringing her back to the castle, she was horrified to see people living in such primitive homes - then: ta-da, he presented her with her section of the castle which was built in her victorian style.
See, how romantic is that?!!
wuv, tru wuv...

There are still parts of the castle still being used today, like the ballroom for instance. You can rent this room for weddings, or celebrations of any sort if you would like - Heidelberg high school graduations celebrations are usually held in this room every year. Now that would be cool!
When we entered into this room during the tour, there was a lady practicing on the piano (baby grand) it sounded very nice, good acoustics.  

There were statues of former "important people" all throughout the castle, like this one of a gentleman who fancied himself an accomplished hunter - and drinker... he used to go hunting and make his scribe write down all his kills, as well as the large amount of alcohol he consumed during the hunt! Great accomplishments!? Pfttt, dufus.

This was a guy on the →
tour with us... whoa! He's 210.3 cm (6ft 9in) tall! Even in a castle with tall doors, he still had to duck! Man, nothing would fit a person that height - doors, beds, cars, rooms; nothing at all. Not nice. Super nice guy though.

When we finished up the tour, the sun was setting (which happens very early these days) and it was beginning to get chilly. It's a very pretty time of day, so I caught a few more shots, then we headed home.

End of a nice day, with an interesting and informative tour of the town (it's a city) of Heidelberg. 

The next day we toured Frankfurt - I will post those pictures next; I am sure you're tired of this post for now.