Summer in Germany -5- Weltenburge

[singlepic id=168 w=320 h=240 float=left]In Germany, many famouse bear brands came from Monestries. The oldest one is the Weltenburge, which is said that started the brewing from year 1000.
Our plan today was going to visit the old monestry and enjoy the beer and food. This cannot be accessed by car, only by boat or on foot, bike.
The monerstry is on the bank of river Donau. Normally there’re many boats taking people to the monestery, but today there’s a sign out showing most boats are not running since the low level of the water. But we don’t mind walking at all. Actually it’s quite enjoyable walking next to the Donau river in such a beautiful summer day! The trail is covered by trees, easy to walk, but just one part is steep at the end.
[singlepic id=165 w=320 h=240 float=left]Walking into the court yard of the monastery, I found out the less boat taking people here didn’t stop people coming out here. Many people already sitting in the beer garden enjoying the monastery self brewed dark beer and food. I got a radler and “schweinhaxen”, which means “pig leg” in English. Look at it, it arouse your appetite if someone like to eat meat! It’s such a big chunk of mean with bone in it. The “pig leg” turns out to be great! It’s soft inside with crispy skin. This is definitely not the last one I was going to have.

After the lunch, a boat took us down the Donau river.It was so great to sit in the boat floating down the Donau. I had another wish completed.

[singlepic id=169 w=320 h=240 float=left] On the way back we had a look of this beautiful “hall of libarition”, “Befreiungshalle” in German, which is build on a green hill, with beautiful view of Donau. This monument was built for the war with Napoleon in 17 Century.
[singlepic id=171 w=320 h=240 float=left] Inside there’re many goddesses status holding hands making a circle, making major battles of the war.

Summer in Germany -4

It’s such beautiful summer day today, but the temprature was very comfortable. Some white clouds was floating in the blue sky. We rode bikes along the Nobb river. There’s a bike lane and people don’t need to worry about the cars. The meadow was bloomed with wild flowers, the river was flowing slowly in the summer sun. Sometimes there’re colorful canos or kayak so in the river. It reminded me how beautiful a summer day can be.

After passing a few villages on the way, we sat down at a beer garden and enjoyed our Rudler. Beer+lemonade is such a good invention. It’s not strong and taste fresh and sweet. I think I totally understand why it’s so popular here.

After came back to our village, we made another detour before going back to home. It’s for the ice cream! Having the ice cream in hand, we sat on the bank of the Nobb river and watching people feeding swans and ducks. I’ve never seen young swans before. They are not like their grown-ups, which have white feather, but with grey feather. Maybe that’s why there’s story of “Ugly ducking”, since they are not so beautiful before growing up!

Summer in Germany -3

[singlepic id=135 w=320 h=240 float=left]Regensburg means “castle of rain”. I felt it’s such a poetic name. The city itself, is extremely beautiful too. It’s said one of the most well preserved medieval city in Germany.

[singlepic id=137 w=320 h=240 float=left] The famous river Donau runs through of it. How exiting I am standing on the bank of it! I started hearing the “The Blue Danube Waltz” in my mind.

[singlepic id=139 w=320 h=240 float=left] San Peter Cathedral has a long history started from mid-700. It’s rebuilt into Gothic style from mid-1200. The construction continued for 600 years and finally finished. Standing inside and look up the high arch ceiling, I was thinking people living in hundreds years ago were looking at the same ceiling too, and imaging Bishops in red robes and noble man and woman praying here.

In the middle of the old town, there’re many lovely bear gardens and cafes. We had some Bavarian food and radler, which is a drink mixed with half beer and half lemonade. It tastes a little bit sweet and fruity from the lemonade, but still has beer flavor, which is fresh and easy to drink.

Summer in Germany -2

[singlepic id=247 w=320 h=240 float=left] This Picture::The village and the river and the castle on the top of the hill.

The little village has a ruin of a very old castle on the top of the hill. It is said the castle was build around 1200! It’s amazing such old building is still preserved like this. It was said to be destroyed during the 30 years war around 1650 in Europe by Swidish (need to read history about this…) . The bridge is said built back in Roman time. It’s amazing to see cars driving on it all the time! It has better quality than some bridges built in 20 centrury!

[singlepic id=129 w=320 h=240 float=left] Walking up to the hill was a nice work out. And as soon as we got there, we were rewarded by such beautiful view of the village! The houses with red roofs looked so small from distance, as if they are from a fairy tale. The lovely little village has 2 rivers running by/through. The rivers add a a lot beauty to the it.

Summer in Germany – 1

[singlepic id=245 w=320 h=240 float=left]After 11 hours flight from Los Angeles, finally we were close to our destination, Munich. From the air, my first view of Germany was extremely beautiful. Green or brown farm fields extended, spotted with small villages with red roofs. I felt the tiring flight was worth it already! I didn’t expect to see so many farms here since Germany is famous for its car and machinery industry. On the way driving to the village, there were corn fields, also forests. What a lovely countryside scenery of Germany!