heidelberg

chip & I landed in frankfurt just 30 minutes before nick & corinne. our timing couldn’t have been better: while we waited at baggage claim, I saw xzibit, a famous rapper and host of a show on mtv called “pimp my ride.” it was kind of exciting and a bit strange to see an american celebrity walking around the frankfurt airport. after nick & corinne arrived, I immediately pointed out the celebrity (corinne is also into celebrities and entertainment) and she and I walked up to him like two giggling schoolgirls and asked for a picture. what a great start to the next part of our trip.

after catching the train to heidelberg, we walked around the university, grabbed a bite at a local cafe, and took in the views along the neckar river. since nick & corinne were fighting jet-lag, we went to bed early. the next morning we headed to breakfast in the hotel where nick was introduced to nutella, a chocolate hazelnut spread for toast or croissants. nick grabbed several packets of nutella just in case his blood sugar got too low (wink wink). after breakfast we climbed philosophenweg (philosopher's walk) where we photographed stunning views of the neckar river and of heidelberg schloss (heidelberg castle). we then crossed the alte brücke (old bridge) to the castle and took a cog train up the hill for a tour. after working up an appetite from the tour and steep walk down from the castle, we sat down to eat outside at a restaurant near the heiliggeistkirche (church of the holy ghost). our ate flame pies & sausages were delicious, and nick's liter of beer (2 pints) was served in a very authentic (and huge!) beer stein.

we then walked back to our hotel through altstadt (old town) via haupt strasse, the longest pedestrian street in europe. after a quick stop at the local supermarket for supplies, we crossed the river again to picnic in the park as we waited for the schlossbeleuchtung (castle lighting), the fireworks celebration that marks the 3 times in history the castle went up in flames.

-anne & chip