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EuroVicki
I woke up by accident just before 6am. Since it doesn't happen often, I took a picture. Mannheim is a young city only 400 years old. Also known as the city of squares. Not a medieval city by any stretch, very few medieval buildings Insurance company with one of the tallest buildings. First a castle then a palace - now a university all in one; 25k students and 1400 windows. The Palace was originally in Heidelberg but the prince wanted a new modern palace so he moved to Mannheim and built one. Prince elector Karl Freidrich: the 13th century Palatine electorate resided in Heidelberg for 400 years. Friedrich was most interested in music and arts, had novel ideas about equality for all. Mozart was here but there were already 3 conductors here so he didn't have a job, and he needed money. Despite falling in love with a young opera singer his father said get to work so he left Mannheim for Paris. Many years later he met up with his first love's sister who was unmarried - so he married her. Red sandstone comes from Nekkar valley is soft; catholic Jesuit style church. Part of the church was destroyed in WW2 but the organ was not damaged; Mozart played the organ here. After the church we walk to the main square where we were told there was a bathroom available on the 2nd floor of the department store on the corner, so we broke off and walked on our own after taking advantage of the facility. I then found an optic store across the street and spent time browsing. We then searched for a pin store, found Nespresso! and walked back to the ship. Lunch, rest, Speyer is 30,000 population largest Romanesque church in Europe. In 1020s German emperor korat started building. The church and it took 30 years - finished not by his successor, but by the third successor . When we arrived there was a violinist practicing inside and the acoustics were glorious ! I hope it comes through. Former Jewish section was supposed to be to the left of the church but we couldn't find it. We walked a bit more, ran into others from the ship and sat with them for local wine and a bit of food. It started to drizzle so we tucked a bit farther under the awnings and watched the street scene. Headed back to the ship where dinner was served, then a little show - skits performed by the crew that had tears running down my face!! Today's Pacer app clocked the most steps I have ever tracked- 15,144 steps - 6 miles!! My knees and feet ache..
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LOTTE the bonus of getting up early, ha ha.Very picturesque. xox
JJ & Rebecca We definitely need to print and frame this one too!!! I love it!!