HAMBACHER -NEUSTADT
HAMBACHER SCHLOSS
HAMBACHER SCHLOSS MUSEUM
This morning we called our good friends the Peter's and asked if they would like some visitors for the day? We wanted to see them as well as peruse their basement for any clothes in my size. You are probably wondering how I could be so nosey, but Marianne and her daughter Simone go to the flo (flea) market and sell clothes. Their basement is full of clothes, what better place to find something on the spur of the moment.
Right now the weather is too cold to work outside, so they were happy to get our business. They kept bringing things for Gene and I to try on. Gene found 2 jackets, a suit and two sweaters. I found so many things, I could not count them all. It was fun, I made Gene check to see if they were okay. Are you kidding me? We had the biggest laugh over a lot of things that obviously didn't fit.
We arrived at 11:00 PM and they promptly made lunch for us. Ham roast, vegetable gravy with spatzel (Schwabian food) and a tossed green salad. They are both very good cooks. When they come to see us in California, they said they would do all the cooking. Ah, German food everyday. We will have to do a "Tip Top" run for many things. (That is a German restaurant and deli in Carlsbad.)
After lunch they took us to see the Hambacher Schloss in Hambach, a suburb of Neustadt. It was a political History museum of Germany during WWI & WWII, very interesting. As you can see, Elder Walters was rather tired and took advantage of the quiet time. I took a picture for posterity. Here is a little info on the castle. Hambach Castle is the symbol of the German Democracy movement, because of the Hambacher Fest which occurred in 1832. It is on the outskirts of the Palatine Forest which is filled with sweet chestnut trees. We got some good shots of the towns in the valley from the top of the Castle.
It was also an estate used for protection as well as a robber baron castle over the trade roads. It was used as early as Roman times from 1090 until the 18th Cen. It was owned by the Bishopric of Speyer. In 1982 the Castle was completely restored for 6 million euros for the 150th Anniversary of the Hambacher Festival.
We took the long way around the castle which was a mistake, as it was 20 degrees F. Our faces and ears were so cold. The castle was on a high hill that over looks a huge valley. It looks nothing like a European castle in form. It looks more like a palace for King Herod. The stones are all square cut with smooth edges. Very interesting architecture. Check out the photos. All in all it was a very happy day for us.
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