Landshut an der Isar

This is a small city about the same age as Munich. Roughly. Unlike Regensburg, which was a Roman outpost 2,000 years ago. Historically, the most important name in Landshut is George the Rich. He did everything apparently. The way the history books tell it, Landshut is on the map only because of his benevolence. Every four years they re-enact the wedding that this ruler had with his wife who was a Polish princess. It's called the Landshuter Hochzeit (Wedding). The townspeople take part in the festivities much like the citizens down in Oberammergau put on their little Passionspiel. The Landshuter Hochzeitisn't nearly as big a deal as the Passionspiel, but they make as much out of it as they can. They do ok.




The first two photos are from the Burg (castle/fort)on the hill, and the third one below is the Late-Gothic St Martin's Cathedral, as well as the main drag in town.

Rooftop fit for a Fischkopf

This rooftop always looks like it belongs in Hamburg. but it's not. It's in Blutenburg Straße in Munich. Wild, eh?

David and Goliath Mural in Regensburg

I've written about Regensburg on this blog before, but wanted to expand it a little bit. You're walking around this city that's so crucial to the history of the Church and Bavaria, as well as Germany, and have just seen a wall that's been around since Roman times. Can you fathom that? Really?

For me, that still floors me. A wall that's been standing there since the third century. Then you walk along and see this mural of David and Goliath. In Bavaria, they do this on the walls of many old buildings. You know the stories that matter to a Bavarian by which paintings he pus on his wall. In Regensburg (for the fellow who owned this house), David and Goliath were important. Everytime I round the corner and see this again, I smile a Cheshire grin. This big.

Model of Munich's Frauenkirche

This model is sitting outside of the actual cathedral, and there's a plaque that says it's here for the blind to be able to enjoy the architecture. How unbelievably cool is that? That they went to so much trouble to make our blind brothers and sisters *see* this beautiful city.

Sometimes I really like people. Sometimes.

Regensburg on the Danube

Munich's regal Maximillian Straße

Wilde Kaiser right over the border

This is a restaurant near the peak of one of the mountains that make up the Wilde Kaiser (wild emperor) mountain range. To get there, you drive south out of Bavaria into the border town of Kufstein, Austria, to the trail head and up. up and away...

St Mary on the exterior of the St Laurenz church in Nürnberg

A Ukranian catherdral in the heart of Munich

Bamberg masonry

The train to Paris

One of the best places in Bavaria.

Kufstein across the Austrian border

This isn't technically Bavaria, but it's one of the nicest photos I have of me and the dogs in the mountains.

Louis, Ella and me in Passau

Passau is a small city in Niederbayern (Lower Bavaria) where three rivers come together. Just like in Pittsburgh, right? Yeah, Passau is nothing like Pittsburgh. Nothing.

It's near both the borders to Austria and the Czech Republic, and before the borders came down, you could expect to be checked by the jack-booted thug police on any train in or out of Passau. The relaxing of the borders in Europe has really made travel more of a pleasure.

St Benno

Bamberg

Mittenwald

Blankenstein

Eismeer in Pestalozzi street

From the crypt of the Bamberger Dom

In the gothic cathedral of Bamberg is a crypt. In the crypt are the remains of some bishop. I'm not very interested, actually. But this guy caught my eye, and I decided to snap a photo of him. I think his facial expression is hilarious. Probably not intended, but funny it is.

Slinking around Munich-Neuhausen

Catherdral in Regensburg

Power plant with penguins

Munich's Marien Platz