Baden Baden turns out to be quite the party town on a Saturday night. I don't know how it's going to be tonight, but it was raucous last night up until 6 am this morning. I am usually not a light sleeper, but these guys were loud, and it seemed they were right under my window. Oh well, you never know what you're going to get. I did get some sleep on and off, but I guess I had enough because I was up early and raring to go.
There was so much to photograph and enjoy yesterday, but it was crowded everywhere. So, I thought I'd get up early and get some good shots in before the crowds started happening. It's Sunday, so I didn't expect people to be up early. They were probably all still asleep from partying until 6 am or in church (right).
The hotel includes breakfast for an extra fee, so I signed on, and I'm glad I did. It was generous and very tasty. The cafe/bistro is part of the hotel, so they go all out to make their guests feel welcome. I've had a couple of issues, especially with the slow wifi, but what are you going to do? The other was using credit cards vs. cash. I don't like to carry cash for obvious reasons, so I tend to use my card a lot - which also helps me track my spending, etc. - Anyway, it's difficult to find places that accept cards in the towns I've visited in Germany, and in this place particularly. And even if they post that they accept cards, they still indicate that you have to spend a minimum in order for them to accept them. Very frustrating 'cause that info isn't always posted. I really would rather not have to bring foreign currency back home with me. On the other hand, it might help to have a stash - for the next trip (hmmmmm). My personal rant, and that's all for today.
So I took the river walk again, but this time I started in the other direction. As predicted there was hardly anyone out this early in the morning, so I had the city mostly all to myself. The day was perfect, too, and it was that way all day long.
Along the way, I also discovered a beautiful formal rose garden. I never would have found it had I decided not to do this walk today - and that would have been a disappointment.
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| It's nice to see people honoring their pets. |
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| I liked the way the water reflected |
I really had no idea how long the walk was, but it eventually brought me to another "suburb." In fact it led me right to a Cistercian nunnery - http://www.wikiwand.com/en/Lichtenthal_Abbey - the church was closed, but it had a very pretty little courtyard.
I then started walking back to the city via another route, and took some pictures along the way.
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| An American flag in Baden Baden - that's nice. |
It occurred to me that I was able to get to my next destination from where I was. So, I started walking in that direction. It really was a trek because I was climbing uphill all the way, but I really enjoyed seeing a part of town most people probably don't get to see, and it was a beautiful day for a walk.
My next destination was Merkur mountain - http://www.wikiwand.com/en/Merkur_%28mountain%29 - All of the guidebooks recommend going up to the summit for the view. There is a funicular that goes up and down and costs 2 Euro each way, so it is quite a bargain. Most people drive from the city or take a bus because it is a distance, but I decided to do the walk. I wasn't disappointed.
When I got on the funicular, it was crowded with lots of sightseers, most of them non-German, and it took all of 7 minutes or less for us to get to the top.
Once there, there is a little cafe at the top serving wine and appetizers, and people are taking pictures and moving around getting better angles, etc. There are also bikers and hikers who don't take the funicular and ride or trek all the way up to the top. I don't think I could do the walk up, but I certainly wanted to do the walk down.
So, I headed back down, and once again, I was not disappointed. Some places were steep, but it was every bit the forest experience you could imagine. The trees were majestic; there were plants and animals everywhere, birds singing, you name it! I did run in to some people biking or hiking up, and they seemed real determined. There were also a lot of older folk trekking (with ski poles) up and down putting me to shame. One lady was all dressed in white and walking her poodle. Now that was a big jarring.
My map app came in real handy because it also identified all the trails I was taking and kept me on the right track. Believe me, I'm glad I had it because there were a lot of "forks in the road," and I really didn't want to get lost in the forest - remember Hansel and Gretel?????? It took me a good half hour to reach the place where I caught the funicular, and then another half hour to get to my next destination.
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| I have no idea what this sign says, but I am sure it's important. |
I walked past him and stopped to consult my map, and he caught up with me and asked if I needed directions (I was wearing my American uniform, so it was pretty easy to tell I needed to be addressed in English). Anyway, we started talking, and 15 minutes later, I'm back on track. Very nice guy. He shared that he had recently taken his family on vacation to New York City, so we had a lot to talk about. Funny, too, but a lot of people I've talked to understand that New Mexico is part of the US. He even knew that Santa Fe is our capital. I am very impressed.
When I get down to the city, I am near my destination, but I'm also very hungry, so I stop to get a bite. Wow what a bite. The restaurant where I stopped is Czech and they had lots of food from that region. But as I walked past, I noticed some of the diners were having sausage and sauerkraut - one of my favorite dishes. So I sat down, and pointed to what the other were having and asked for a plate too. The food has been great during this adventure. After lunch, the waitress bring me out a piece of cake with strawberries and ice cream, and she tells me it's on the house. What a nice gesture. I noticed that everyone was getting the same. Talk about building your business!
Okay, I promised you nudity, but I'm sorry to say (or maybe not), there are no pictures.
My last adventure for the day was a visit to Friedrichsbad - http://www.carasana.de/en/friedrichsbad/home/ - I had heard about this place from watching Rick Steve's videos about this area. In fact, his little piece on Baden Baden was one of the reasons I chose to come visit.
I was back and forth about whether or not I really wanted to be naked with the people of Baden Baden, but after all the walking I've done, I decided I needed a spa day. I've never been shy about my body, so I decided to check it out.
Now there are two spas in town, one is the Caracalla Spa (which is very modern), and the other is the Friedrichsbad. They are right next to each other. The difference is that the Caracalla is more family oriented (limited nudity for adults in one section only) and 95% of the facility allows children - it's a big spa/swimming experience - for adults and children.
The Friedrichsbad, however, is a little older, and they cater to adults, but it is all nude and it is mixed. There are certain days when men and women will have certain areas to themselves if that is what they choose, but even then, there is a communal area where both men and women can enjoy the baths together.
Well, today was a mixed day.
I paid my entry fee and got my instructions from the nice lady, who kept telling me, "you know this is no-clothes place, right?" I tried to help her understand that I was aware, and I still wanted to go get spa'd.
It was all very professional, and all of the staff spoke English, which was great because it was a little confusing at times. There are approximately 16 steps, each has its own special room, and you have a time period that you are "supposed" to be in each room - for health reasons. Makes sense.
As you go through the 16 steps, people move in and out - you are not regimented, and you can repeat an area if you are so inclined. But with my OCD, I figured I could only get in trouble if I tried to "wing it."
There were lots of people on my special day, and they came in all ages, sizes, sexes, and humors. There were some couples, but there were several single people there as well (whew....). I had two favorite areas. One where you actually get soaped and scrubbed down with a gentle massage thrown in for good measure. The pretty young girl who got me spoke very little English, but she was very good at her job. The other part I really enjoyed was the last part. You go into a dark, quiet room with lots of beds, and they wrap you up like a tamale and leave you alone for 30 minutes. I took a nap. The whole experience was so relaxing and got me centered again.
Now I'm ready to take on the next few adventures I have left on this trip.
I hope you enjoy the pics.
Steve
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