Danube
River Christmas Markets Cruise
Part 2 : Cruising along the Danube
in Germany - Nuremberg and Regensburg
A Photo Journal of the 2007 Travel
Insider Cruise
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Click the map to have a larger and more detailed version open in a new window
(Note - the route wanted to
use roads, not canals! So I've tried to get the route
on the roads closest to the waterways we traveled on.) |
We joined the ship in
Nuremberg, then after sightseeing there cruised on to
Regensburg, then continued on to Passau and in to Austria.
Part 2 of a four part Photo
Journal of the 2007 Travel Insider Christmas Markets Tour.
Click the links for other pages in this series.
Part 1 :
Munich, Bavaria and the Amadagio
Part 2 :
Along the Danube in Germany
Part 3 :
Beautiful Austria
Part 4 :
Hungary, Slovakia and The Czech Republic |
Partially for my own pleasure and memories, and of course,
partially to help you understand what to expect on a
Christmas Markets cruise, here's a 'photo journal' of
memories from my 2007 cruise along the Danube from Nuremberg
to Budapest, with pre-cruise touring in Bavaria and
post-cruise touring in the Czech Republic.
I've tried to make this different to a typical travelogue by
concentrating on sights and impressions that are either
quirky or of particular interest to Christmas Market
cruises.
I hope it may encourage you to come join me on one of these
cruises. After reading through these remembrances and
perusing the images, I hope you'll better understand why it
is that these cruises are my absolute favorite of all the many different
cruises I do.
Chances are you'll enjoy one of these enchanting cruises
too.
Click here for details of
the amazing bargain prices now available for this year's Christmas
cruise.
Photojournal Part 2 - Nuremberg
and Regensburg, Germany
Note - the small images below
can all be clicked on and this will open a larger image,
sometimes showing more of the picture, too, in a new
window. Simply close the window after enjoying the image
to return back to this page.
Nuremberg |
Okay, so I'm about as politically incorrect as they come.
It struck me as being a funny (naughty) picture to give a
Hitler type salute in front of the main reviewing rostrum at
Zeppelin Field in Nuremberg, where the largest Nazi Party
rallies were given. But before I had a chance to click
my heels and raise my right arm, a local got very cross with
me and this was the closest I was able to get - more like a
wave than a salute. Perhaps just as well.
Nuremberg is an uncomfortable amalgam of new and old
alongside each other.
The ornate structure is actually the top of a fountain at
the entrance to the main Town Square and the markets that
fill the square every Christmas season.
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Like much of Germany, it takes a bit of an effort to
filter out the new buildings in Nuremberg and to appreciate
what remains of its historic past. Much of most German
cities was destroyed during Allied bombing missions in World
War Two.
Nuremberg has a strong association with the Nazi Germany
period. As one of the most influential parts of
Germany, and one of the most historic parts, Hitler wanted
to put his mark on Nuremberg to affirm his role as Germany's
new leader.
We got to see several of the stadiums built during the 1930s
for the famous annual party rallies. What astonished
me was how poorly they were built. Quite the opposite
to what we might have thought, much of the construction was
done in haste and poorly - definitely not designed to last
for the full thousand years that Hitler projected the Third
Reich would last!
Trying to talk to 'normal' Germans about the Hitler period
and how it is viewed these days is extremely difficult.
We as foreigners can probably only dimly guess as to how
Germans feel about this period, although of course,
increasingly, it is relegated to the history books as fewer
and fewer Germans have any personal knowledge of the period
between the early 1930s and 1945.
Nuremberg has a nice castle and a huge Christmas market. |
Regensburg |
Sitting enjoying yet another mug of Gluhwein (of course) at
the wonderful Thurn und Taxis Palace markets. Although
this wasn't an official part of the Amawaterways tour, their
cruise director very kindly escorted those of us who wished
to go visit them up to the markets (so we wouldn't get lost)
and then paid for the admission into the Palace grounds too.
All the other markets we visited have no admission charge,
fortunately.
This Travel Journal is telling you more about me than the
places visited, I fear. Yes - it's true. If I'm
not drinking Gluhwein, I'm probably to be found enjoying
some of the lovely items for sale at the market food stalls
instead - in this case, gorgeous rotisserie smoked meats.
It was a fairly cold day, but neither snowing nor raining.
Around the palace grounds were open fires which people would
gather around to warm up, and adding to the wintry festive
atmosphere.
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Regensburg is one of my favorite stops along the Danube.
The town was fortunate to suffer virtually no damage in
World War II and so is perhaps Germany's best-preserved
medieval city. A pleasant walking tour took us around
the heart of the town - a town enjoying a resurgence of fame
as being Pope Benedict's chosen hometown. He was a
professor at the university, and his brother, who still
lives there, was the Music Director at Regensburg Cathedral.
There are several different markets in the town, but for me,
the best market - perhaps of the entire cruise - is the one
five minutes further walk, set in the grounds of the
impressive Thurn und Taxis
Palace. The craft market there features traditional
handicrafts from the region, some of which are made in front of you, and wonderful meats
(including wild boar)
are spit-roasted in the food stalls.
After Regensburg, we cruised on to Passau (see the next part
of the Photo Journal). |
Part 2 of a four part Photo Journal of the 2007 Travel Insider
Christmas Markets Tour. Click the links for other pages in
this series.
Part 1 :
Munich, Bavaria and the Amadagio
Part 2 : Along
the Danube in Germany
Part 3 :
Beautiful Austria
Part 4 :
Hungary, Slovakia and The Czech Republic
Why not come and join us for this year's
Christmas Markets Cruise
along the Danube.
Please click the link for details of this year's itinerary and
the special deal currently on offer.
Click here for the full
details of this cruise and the booking form to confirm your
interest.
Originally published
26 Sep 2008, last update
03 Jun 2021
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