Hipolstein, Eckersmuehlen, Leerstetten, and Aquarium Class…

We are heading from Regensburg to Nuremburg and onward via the Main-Danube Canal, leaving behind the Danube River and eventually entering the Main River. This morning we passed through the three deepest locks of the whole trip, the Hipolstein, Eckersmuehlen, and Leerstetten locks, each of which is 25 meters (81 feet) deep. From now on, the deepest lock will be 19 meters and almost all will be seven meters deep or less.

The upcoming lock is Eiobach, a portion of the canal that goes OVER the road. It was, I must say, less than exciting. More exciting was being on the upper deck while going under a bridge where the ship’s bridge was lowered to its lowest position and it was suggested to those of us on the upper deck that we remain seated and facing forward. Why the facing forward suggestion, I don’t know as it is more than a little scary to actually watch as the really, really low bridge approaches. I could have reached up from my seated position and touched the underside of the bridge! Everything on the top of the ship is lowered to its max-low position, even the roof of the sunroom! I’m going to try to get a lowered/normal position comparative photos. It’s just that I have to remember to do that before they raise the sunroom again. I think it’s going to stay down until Frankfort; at least we are not allowed on the portion of the deck that is aft of the bridge. Aren’t you impressed? I know which direction is aft! I even know port from starboard. Our cabin is on the port side of the ship. I’m pretty sure of that.

At least part of our cabin window/door is often above the level of the walls of the smallest lock so we aren’t usually in the dark from the lock walls towering above us—except this morning when the walls were looming far, far above us! But Kathy & Ken and Greg & Yolanda are in what Kathy is calling Aquarium Class where the water is often lapping just under their window!

Randy, waiting for everybody to get off the ship and start on the tour of Bamburg

After tasting the "green" beer (young beer, not ready for sending to bars, but drinkable)

Where we did the first beer tasting

We tasted three kinds of beer in Bamburg

Where we had sausages and more beer

The large square in Bamburg

The ship had to make a very temporary stop to pick up the beer tasters

Even though it's temporary, they still have to take all the precautions of normal docking

We interrupted the filming of a commercial for the German Red Cross. Note the costume. We have no idea what the story line of the commercial could be. They were NOT happy that our ship docked in the middle of their filming.

This is what a temporary docking looks like. Note the crane that lifted the walkway in place. They have the crane because these temporary dockings are not unusual.

Bamburg street scene

Every town, it seems, has a town square with lots of food shops.

Stephanie was our guide for the walking tour as well as for the beer tasting tour.

What gorgeous foods are available

Kathy is not having any fun at all!

OK, try to straighten this photo!

Kathy and Ken in Bamburg

A building with some relief features

The Bamburg Cathedral. ABC. Another Bloody Church.

Ken, Greg, Kathy studying the cathedral. Kathy had done so much homework she could have been a guide!

The tomb of Emperor Henry II and Empress Cunigund, the only emperor/ess to be canonized

Probably the 11th century Hungarian king Stephen I, but nobody really knows who it is.

Beautiful organ in the Cathedral

One of the stations of the cross in the cathedral

Clement II died after only a year of popeness and wanted to be buried in Bamberg Cathedral. It is the site of the only papal burial outside of Italy and France. He was exhumed recently and it was discovered that he was actually murdered.

Kathy and Ken outside the cathedral

Beautiful door in the cathedral

Panorama of Bamburg

View from one of the many bridges in Bamburg

Randy and, guess what? Another beer!

Greg trying to intrude on a formal portrait of Randy.

This has been entered for the Guinness Book of Records

Our guide and Yolanda in Nuremburg (or Nurmburg or Nurnburg or other spellings)

Kathy and Ken went on another tour, the WWII tour, we were on the Nuremburg City tour

The castle in Nuremburg

Just a pretty courtyard

An homage to Albrecht Durer

Such beautiful places to eat and drink!

Randy and Greg at an eating establishment

Yolanda moving the brass ring on the fountain. There's a story to the ring that's too long to tell here.

Yolanda, Patsy, Jim, and Greg. Patsy is the person who wrote a poem to me on my birthday. You can read it in this http://pamryanstravels.blogspot.nl/2014/05/hatches-matches-and-dispatches.html