Today was Bamberg day. Our charming Cruise Director Janos said it is actually pronounced BumBag.

Well that was what I heard.

Bamberg sits in the Upper Franconia district of Bavaria Germany, where the rivers Regnitz and Main basically join. Population about 80,000 with 12,000 students. According to our on shore tour guide Ray. Of course Ray isn’t his name, I actually have no idea what his name is. I think I was tuned to Channel 40 when he said his name. We were on Channel 37. From hereonin he shall be known as Ray.

Ray told us lots of stuff about Bamberg, most of which I can’t remember. I did take notes as I do. I feel quite rude to my tour guides when I do that, but seriously I can’t remember what I did an hour ago let alone 4 or 5 hours ago. I tell myself I will tell them at the end of the tour that I am taking notes for my ‘famous blog’ but I never do. I just meekly (cause I am timid), say thankyou and hurry away.

So, here is what my memory and notes tell me. Bamberg was not deemed important enough to be bombed during the war so they were lucky enough to escape with only about 4.5% destruction via bombings. There are a few other stories as to why Bamberg wasn’t heavily bombed. One being the British pilots would never bomb a town filled with breweries. The other being that the Empress spread her veil thickly over the area creating a fog, hence the planes turned away.

The hospital, turned 4 star hotel, pictured below, was the most modern hospital in Germany and was built in 1789. The Surgeon who was employed to run the place decided to look at the cause of the health issues rather than just treat the issues. This was a major turning point in the health services here.

Monks made the beer. We knew that from previous tours. But we didn’t know they used flat bottles so they could carry the beer discreetly in their robes. I guess they could have a little nip whenever they wanted. Where there is a church, yes you guessed it, there is a brewery. In my previous blog I talked about the Star of David hanging outside the tavern indicating fresh beer. Ray told us a slightly different story. It’s not quite the Star of David. It’s two triangles. The upwards triangle signifies one part of the brewing process – fire. The downwards triangle signifies the water involved in brewing. It is hung outside to indicate they brew their own beer.

There was a very rich Jewish community until ‘Hitlers horrible ideology’. Direct, and totally agreeable with us, quote from Ray. There were 1000 Jewish hop brewers. One night the Jewish Synagogue was burnt down. On the same night the whole Jewish community disappeared. Overnight terror. Like many of the stories we hear about during this horrendous period in the history of the world. There is now a new Synagogue and a Jewish community of about 900.

There is a tradition that during Lent, children walk the streets with incense blessing the houses. Particularly those with obvious religious statues on their doors or front walls. In return they receive money for charities. This tradition continues today.

Before I go on, here are some pics from our two hour walk with Ray.

In the Market Square there is a Statue of Neptune. A popular meeting place but don’t tell a local to meet at the Neptune Statue. They call it the man with the fork. Of course. I forgot to take a photo of the man with the fork.

Market Square is essentially on an island, they call the surrounding areas little Venice. The market runs every day except Sunday. On Sunday everyone goes to Church. Much of the community is currently practicing Lent. There are 14 Church’s in the area, 75% Catholic and 25% Protestant. Which means I guess, 14 breweries.

In the market, we found some Spargel. White Asparagus.

One thousand years ago a large wall was constructed to surround the Bishops Palace.

It’s a pretty impressive place up there. Its up a hill. In the courtyard was the site where 1000 witches were burned at the stake. If you were accused of being a witch and denied it you would be tortured until you died. If you admitted it you would be burnt. Pretty damn horrific.

To take your mind off that horror, they have a huge rose garden with 4800 roses and 50 different varieties. Of course none of them are in bloom at this time of year. One would hope the rose garden might have been there during the witch burning. Just to provide your senses with something more pleasant. If you know what I mean.

This little place won an European Award for Conservation, due to the lady who bought it not trying to straighten the whole thing up.

Post our tour we had a couple of hours to wander the town. The men were invited to try the local beer “Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier”. Smokey Beer. Smoked with ham.

Ok. I shall be honest. The women wanted to shop and encouraged the men to try a beer which they had been told was totally horrible but a ‘must’ to try when in Bamberg. Just to reinforce that, I saw some advertising for said beer:

“Even if the brew tastes somewhat strange at the first swallow, do not stop, because soon you will realize that your thirst will not decrease and your pleasure will visibly increase.”

MoD was not a fan assuring me there was no pleasure in that beer.

After a successful shopping excursion we all met up and headed back to the boat for the evening meal and a night of Music Trivia.

Our group of now ten (new besties Rob and Sal included) were split in two. We felt we would do well given the vast musical knowledge amongst us. According to us. We did not.

So with our tails between our legs we head to bed. Tomorrow is Nuremberg.