Timing is Everything

Due to the risk of rain, Seglinde, Gayle and I, decided on a impromptu visit to Nuremberg to visit one church we missed the last time and to go shopping. As soon as we started wandering about the city we ran into a French Day Market. There were crepes, glistening olives, giant wheels of cheese, and of course table clothes. Gayle was delighted to purchase another for our table.

Then we ambled over to the church St Lorenz whose construction spanned 200 years starting in 1270. There is a linden carved annunciation scene hanging from the roof that looks like a Bavarian Christmas ornament. Also there is a stone pillar that was extensively carved with Biblical scenes cascading down the column. Near the bottom, the sculptor kneels holding up the work on his shoulder, tools at the ready to added the finishing touches. As we were getting ready to leave they announced that a wedding would be starting in the next few minutes and to either leave or sit and watch the show.

We decide to stay and soak in the thundering organ wedding music, Gayle and Sieglinde “ohhing” and “awwing” over the tiny bride and tall groom. At the altar, small child like chairs were provided for the couple as they listened to the serious words from the priest. Then the groom a member of a famous Bach choir, sang a wonderful song, his bride spanning the gap between child chairs to comfort him as he sung about his true love.

We snuck out of the wedding and immediately ran into a football rally between the Nuremberg and the Dusseldorf teams. Grunts, wild accusations, and drum beating all lubricated with beer, came from all corners of the central square. We all decided that we must surely leave before the game got ended as our town seemed destined to lose and the confrontations would get beery, beery, bad before the night was over.

We sat for a quick bratwurst that came in pewter plates shaped like a bell. The brats heaped with sweet and sour kraut that is so good here. Half way through our meal the heavens unleashed a might shower or rain, raining so hard that the rain drops leaped back off the cobblestones 10” or more. Meal finished and rain done for the day, we wandered on.

We decided to go an see a IMAX 3D movie about whales and dolphins. On our way over we ran into throngs of people lining the street. "Wow a parade or football pre-game show" we figured. As we snuck to the front, we heard cars coming, and who was there, the Dali Lama, waving to us from his sedan. I am fairly certain his lips said, “Oh my there is Bob and Gayle from Sequim”.

The IMAX 3D was awesome and I recommend doing it. The whales, dolphins, and tiny fish surrounded us, beckoning to be touched. Peering down into a sperm whales eye from 6” away was beyond description.

We wandered around a bit more after the movie and ran into the “Spargel Day’s” (Asparagus Day) complete with Spargel Queen and peeling contest. Standing 6 people deep, we were amazed at how fast one could cut and peel the monster white spargels.

After visiting a few stores, we made our way back just as the soccer ball was put into play in the big game. The walkways were safe from screaming fans, our timing was once again perfect.