Day 6 was here already.  I was a little lazy with my photos today.  Maybe I was getting tired, maybe I put the phone down for a bit and experienced more than snapping pics.  I was off from Cologne to Heidelberg, Germany for the day.  It was a 2 hour train trip down the Rhine River.  I had not planned on doing this as a day trip until a buddy of mine and his family went earlier in the year and it looked outstanding.  It didn't disappoint.

 

The main feature of the city is the Heidelberg Castle.  I didn't have a good overall picture of it, so thank you internet.  It is a site of ruined castles that apparently started in the mid-12th century and has been added on, destructed, and re-built over and over throughout the years.  It sits on a hill overlooking the city and appears omnipresent as you walk through the city.  It is a massive complex.

 

 

I arrived at the main train station on the west end of Heidelberg and the castle is on the east end, a 2 mile walk for those counting.  I will admit, I do stubbornly like to walk to attractions a lot.  When a toe falls off I will learn, but I call it my urban hiking.  About once a trip, I seem to question this position, but I like exploring cities and areas this way.  Heidelberg is a very beautiful city with hidden gems around every corner.  It made the walk easier and by the time I got to the castle the clouds had parted some.  I think this was the first time on the trip that it wasn't listed as 'gray' in my weather app.

 

 

Loved the University Library Building.

 

As you start up the hill toward the castle, the houses become stunning.

 

And that climb.....

 

 

 

Yeah, it is on a hill as they say.  But it is well worth it.  The detailing of certain elements of this complex was great.  From the lookout towers...

 

 

to the gates...

 

to the window views of the city below...

 

it was well worth it.

 

This was one of those structures that has a great combination of ruins, museums, occupied space, etc.  I can't say that I fully saw it all, but it had turned out to be a beautiful day and it was fun just exploring this place.

 

 

 

Oh, and that view... wow.  Sure was a nice place to hang out and have a lunch.

 

 

My journey back to the train station took me through the main part of the city (right of the church you see in the picture above.)  That whole area is a pedestrian only streets and absolutely amazing.  I would say it is over a mile of shops along their main street.  So much better than our malls and having to jump in and out of a car.  On my walk, I started redesigning Charlotte and trying to figure out how to incorporate the European city model into a new American city.  I think some of the older US cities make it work, but they still don't have the feel of what I experienced here.  Yeah, this is where I was lazy with pics.  (none, ha).  Could have been the tea, or the ice cream, or the shopping...excuses.  Here are a couple courtesy of the internet again.

 

 

The interior is stunning, but I like the exterior more of this one.  Not sure why exactly, but I wasn't feeling it on the interior.  It is amazing, don't get me wrong, but I guess I had seen the interior a bunch before and it didn't surprise me like the Trier Cathedral or have as much significance to me as Notre Dame.  It does have a unique history though.  It started construction around 1250 and was built on for about 200 years, then halted for 400 years half done and with a huge crane left in the air.  (and I worry about my projects at times? 400 year halt, ha).  It was restarted in the 19th century and completed in 1880.  Then bombed in the big war, but remained while the rest of the city was pretty much flattened.  What a history, even paraphrased.

 

 

 

Yeah, not too many pictures.  After that it was another night of exploring Cologne and its glory, plus a little beer.