Heidelberg (3/2/2013)

Saturday, March 2, 2013
We were promised sun for today! Together we walked to the Mannheim train station to purchase a one-way ticket to Heidelberg and boarded a train. Ten minutes later we were in Heidelberg, Germany.
The train station (1955):

Bicycle parking at the station:

KSS

Giraffe sculpture across from station:

Lindingerbrunnen/fountain (no water in the winter):

Otto von Bismarck (1815-1898), German statesman:

Bayer, competitor of BASF:

Kent with "The Reader:"

Hauptstrasse/Main Street:

Another fountain:

Akadamieplatz doorway:

Tamiko points out the missing button on the coat of Robert Bunsen:

Main Street clock:

KSS

Interesting shop window:

Knife holder:

Perkeo Restaurant:

Perkeo was a court jester:

Stadthalle/City Exhibition Hall:

Busts of university professors and famous artists:

Looking across the Neckar River:

Wrought-iron sign:

Schiffgasse/Ship Lane:

Marstall/Former royal stable:

Marstall gate detail:

Marstall courtyard:

The Marstall is currently the cafeteria for Heidelberg IUniversity.
Marstall Tower:

Collectible ornament shop:

Lion Fountain (and the sun came out!):

Alte Universität/Old University:

Student detention hall:

KSS

Detention hall potty:

KSS

 Old lecture hall:

Jesuitenkirche/Jesuit Church (1759):

Façade:

Interior:

Pietà (1905) by Julius Seitz:

Kornmarkt/Grain Market with Madonna Fountain:

Karlsplatz view of the castle:

Karlsplatz Sebastian Münster (a German cartographer) Fountain:

Zum Roten Ochsen/The Red Ox Tavern (student hangout was closed at lunch):

We had lunch at Pizza Paniz, a Middle Eastern eatery:

(We had falafel.)
The famous Elector-Prince balls:

The Bergbahn/Mountain funicular was not operating today:

So we climbed the Bergweg/Mountain path:

(Looking back down the path.)
Heidelberg Schloss/Castle turret:

View from the castle:

Karl Theodor Bridge:

Castle's Hexagonal Tower:

Kent with a very large tun/wine cask:

Wine press?

An even bigger tun that can hold 220,000 liters/48,400 gallons:

Perkeo always seems to be around wine:

Neue Hof/New Court section of the castle:

Friedrichsbau/Frederick's Building:

Alte Bau/Old Building:

Ottosbau/Otto's Building:

Ruprechtsbau/Ruprecht's Building:

Upper Prince's Springhouse:

Castle garden terrace:

Gesprengte Turm/Broken Tower:

Watchtower and castle bridge:

Numbered steps up to the castle:

Kornmarkt view of the castle:

Marktplatz/Market Square Hercules Fountain:

Rathaus/City Hall:

Haus zum Ritter/Knight's Hall:

Heiliggeistkirche/Church of the Holy Spirit:

Interior:

Living statue:

Bench on Main Street:

 Karl Theodor Bridge Towers:

"Bridge Monkey" (1979) by Gernot Rumpf:

More love locks on the bridge:

View of Schlangenweg/Snake Path up to Philosophenweg/Philosopher's Path:

View back towards the castle:

Karl Theodor Bridge:

Schlangenweg/Snake Path:

View from Philosoper's Path:

Matthäus Merian etching (1620) of a similar view:

Former vineyards:

Wild Bee Info Center:

Croci:

Philosopher's Garden:

At the end of Philosopher's Path, we caught a tram to go back to Mannheim, a 40-minute trip.
Mannheim's Water Tower in the sunshine:

Topped by the goddess Amphitrite, wife of Poseidon:

That's it for this trip to Germany.