Upon leaving Epernay we begin our 5 hour drive to Heidelberg Germany. This ends up not being as long as you would think. It was funny how almost as soon as you pass the border between France and Germany the hills become filled with pine trees. Just how I imagined Germany. Castles and ruins are seen along the highway at most every turn it is amazing, this hold true for most every area we drove through.
It is in Germany that we hit the Autobahn and Mark is in his heyday. He just loves driving at these speeds with other drivers that know how to drive in the correct lane. Here in the US there are too many infuriating slow drivers in the passing lane but not the case in Germany or really any part of Europe we drove through. If you dared drive slow in the passing lane they wouldn't hesitate to let you know. Don't be surprised to be passed so fast by a Porsche that you can barely make out the color as it blurs past.
We soon learn that an auhsfart is not what you would think it is. It's German for exit. we giggle over this for several days as we did the danktunnel sign.
It is sunny and beautiful with the crab apple trees and spring flowers in full bloom when we arrived in Heidelberg, a happy sight for those of us tired of the cold winter. Tom Tom gets us to the campground we wanted to stay at since it had a bus stop right out front that would take you the few miles to Altstadt (old town) and the schloss (castle). As we pull up to the campground there is a chain blocking the drive. What the hell they were suppose to be open the middle of March. So we continue driving as to not block traffic. We pull off down the road some and discuss alternatives. There was another campground across the river that we could stay at so we start back tracking to get to the bridge to cross over to it. As we pass the original campground we see a couple working out back so Mark pulls off to the side and I walk down to talk to them. The lady says they will open tomorrow. I ask if it's possible to stay tonight and she says no and she recommends one 5 miles down the road an the same side of the river that we were already on. So we now have two campgrounds to choose from. We decide to hit Altstadt now and then go find a campground.
In Alstadt we discover parking an RV in this area is no easier then it was in Epernay and after driving through a couple of times I hop out and walk down to the information center as Mark continues driving around. I find out from the information center where the tour busses park. I head back out to the road just in time for Mark to pass by. He slams on the brakes and in I jump and off we go. We're starting to get pretty good at this.
After parking the RV we walk into alstadt and have lunch at an outdoor cafe in the market square with a gorgeous view of the Church of the Holy Ghost on one side and the Town Hall on the other. This square has been used for public proceedings since the middle ages. Witches were burned at the stake here, and citizens charged with petty crimes served their time hanging in a cage. But on this bright warm sunny day we enjoyed a few ice cold Heidelberger beirs and our first real German Brats and Kraut for me and Mark a schnitzel. Though we wanted to stay and have a few more beirs we really needed to get up to the castle.
Lunch in Market Square
We took the funicular up to the castle and walked the grounds for a few hours. Really enjoyed the views. To soon it was time to head down and out of town to the campground in Neckargemund.
View of the castle from Alstadt.
Dreaded love locks can be found everywhere now
We passed Gundle bakery and our eyes got wide as saucers as we saw their Kurfurstenkugels. A descripition from their website ( The Heidelberg elector ball, handmade is one of your famous specialities and a symbol of the history of Heidelberg after traditional original recipes of the Heidelberg Castle Hill sphere since 1896. Mohr head fine, Bisque, coated inside with a core of Nugatcréme and outside delicious marzipan and chocolate). My description is a creamy center surrounded by sponge cake and coated with a marzipan chocolate. Now when I see a pastry in the shape of a ball the size of my fist I must try it. So we get a milk chocolate one and a white chocolate one. We didn't eat these for a couple of days maybe we would have liked them better had we eaten them then and there. They really weren't very fresh or really that tasty. But they sure looked great.
We find the campground in Neckargemund easy enough and in a short time are parked by the Neckar river for the night. It's time to put on some shorts and t-shirts as it is probably over 80 and then we head up to the campground bar. We get a couple of Heidelberger beirs 24 oz for 2.50 euro each. We found out quickly that it is cheaper to drink beir then water. We have a few beirs here with several of the locals and make quick friends with the owners of the campground. What great folks. Before we know it it's time for dinner and after a quick garment change we're off walking the streets searching for the owners recommendations. We find the restaurant and though they speak little English Mark and I have become very good at pointing to the menu items. The food was great Mark and I both order cheese schnitzels that were awesome along with spatzel and of course another bier. It is after 11pm by the time we make it back to the camper and hit the bed. Another wonderful day in Europe.
We had a great spot on the river and made friends quickly with the local wild life
The restaurant we ate at and a bell tower across the road
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