Return to Nuremberg

There are some cities which demand multiple visits.  Such is the case with Nuremberg.

Our first order of business was to buy me a new camera.  I'm grateful to my friends for indulging me in that request.  As I told them, I absolutely required a camera for this part of the trip (meaning my visit to the camps).  We checked Karstadt, a big department store in Nuremberg, but to no avail.  A clerk there sent us to Saturn, an electronics store similar to Best Buy.  The clerk who helped me was excellent, but I was surprised I couldn't use my credit card.  That was unfortunate, because I have to pay for my last (and most expensive) room with cash, and I'll have to fill up the tank of my rental car by paying with cash.  I won't have much left at the end of the trip.

We managed to get the camera and get to the Frauenkirche for his noon "greeting".  The clock reminded me a lot of the Astronomical Clock of Prague.  They are very similar, but from what I could tell, the moving parts of the Orloj were made in the 17th century.  The clock itself was built in the 15th century.  The "Männleinlaufen" was built in the 16th century.  Still, it's similarly fascinating and charming.
 
At the strike of noon the trumpeters raise their trumpets, drummers (unseen in this photo) drum, a flautist raises his flute, another set of characters ring bells and one more raises a book.  Then, the seven electors come before the Emperor and bow.  They make three circuits.

The Schöner Brunnen (beautiful fountain) is another wonderful attraction on the grand marketplace across from the Frauenkirche.



There is a superstition that if one rotates a golden ring built in to the fence surrounding the fountain one's wish will come true.


From there we went up to the castle.  As we had done the last time I was in Germany, we saw the "hoofprints" of the robber knight Eppelein von Gailingen's horse.  The myth says that  when given his last wish, he asked to ride his steed one last time and jumped over the the wall across a moat..


This spot is close to the five-cornered tower which is the oldest structure in the castle and the city.  The story is that there was a miscalculation as the builders were constructing the tower, yet they managed to make the interior square.

We walked by the Tiefer Brunnen, or deep well, but didn't go inside.  Apparently, there's a cost.  At that point, it was time to eat.  Robert had an idea as to where he wanted to go,  but it was closed.  After a few other strikes, we ended up at a nice place near the hanging bridge.

We then made our way to the 13th century Lorenzkirche.

We also went in to the Sebalduskirche, but my new camera need to have its battery charged, so I didn't get any photos.

When I visited in 2008, I went to the Doku  Zentrum and the Zeppelinfeld.  There was no time for that on this trip.

Downtown on its own has many attractions.  I will need to make another trip. This display is in front of a procelain store, selling this guy in much smaller sizes.

The first four photos come from the internet.