Ulm

Ulm was the last place we stopped on our way home from Austria. We arrived in the evening and decided to stay in the center of town in the hub-bub of things. Being a university town and a Sunday evening, the restaurants were full of students. But we heard music from down the street, so we went to investigate. As we walked, we came upon the fishing district that was built on a stream. Very old houses sat right on top of the stream, being supported by beams beneath. We even happened upon the famous Schiefes House while wandering. It is a crooked house from the 15th century that they have secured and opened as a hotel.

We soon found the source of the music. It was a fest, complete with a brass band playing traditional tunes and all kinds of German goodies to eat. We got ourselves some dinner and sat down to enjoy the raucous. It was fun. By this point though, we were absolutely exhausted from the trip as a whole, so off to bed we went.

The next morning, we repacked the car after a fabulous breakfast which was complete with fresh fruit, deli meats and breads, eggs, cheese, cookies, chocolates and German marshmallows.

We then walked a couple blocks to find the Ulm Muenster. It has the world's tallest spire in the world, completed around 1900. It was absolutely gorgeous. It had a bunch of saints on the outside- too much detail to take in both because of the height and because of the sun in my eyes.

Inside you could pay a couple of Euros to climb the stairs up the steeple. We didn't attempt that.

The sanctuary was just lovely. It had stain glass windows that were narrow and tall- maybe close to 3 stories tall. I wish there was a better way to photograph the windows and paintings, but lighting is such an issue, and camera flashes are not usually allowed. Everything inside here was gorgeous. And the detail on the choir seats and loft was amazing. Beautiful carvings.

Ulm also has produced several profitable people to the existence of mankind, most notably, Albert Einstein. This is where is home was. I say was because Ulm was absolutely devasted in the firebombings of WWII.

There are a few memorials to him, but none that we consider do his contributions to this world justice.

Ulm was a great place to visit. Dustan wants to go back and experience the many museums. We shall see if we ever make it again. But it would well be worth it.