The train took a bit over an hour to traverse the distance from Muenchen to Regensburg. I had thought this place would be the most interesting town in Germany, and certainly the most interesting I'd ever seen.
Firstly, it is so old. And looks it! In some ways a bustling modern town of about 150, 000 but still it can't help but reflect days gone by. It has been built to last, and so far, has.
The streets are cobblestone, the houses old structures with old windows, roofs and doors. Many powerful groups and families have had some influence on the town's development, from the Romans to the Tunis and Taxis families. The latter had had hunting grounds in the area, which now form a huge parkland. The current Pope, Benedict XV1, has strong ties with Regensburg, having been the Chancellor the University amongst many other connections.
The hop on-off tram service that takes you around the town is superb...every carriage caters for a different language group, and there were four carriages, I think. After the trip, I purchased a DVD of the town, and sat drinking coffee, and admiring the view of the amazing Dom.
Lying on the Donau River, the town has had access to many natural. Modern shops abound in the towns streets and malls, but there seems to be a distinct lack of garishness often associated with the modernisation of old towns.
I had been trying to contact my internet friend Reimar, a resident, but found this task daunting, so gave up and took a room in the Hotel Karmeliten. Reimar and I caught up later in the early evening, going for a walk around the streets nearby, and eventually stopping at a well-known Bavarian restaurant for the local fare and beer.
Tired after another long day, I didn't find it hard to get to sleep.
No comments:
Post a Comment