Rottenburg and Wurtzburg

   Still feeling rather under the weather but went to tennis anyway. It was very hot and humid and I barely made it through two sets. We had a little party for one of our founding members on his 90th birthday - and he's still playing tennis! Hope I am able to last that long. There was a delicious cake, fruit, cheese,  crackers and genuine macaroons. Jasmin does treat us well. I didn't need lunch!

From the city wall in Rottenburg.

   Early start (8:30) next day on the cruise as we took a bus ride for a tour of Rottenburg. It was an interesting place with a well preserved medieval wall around the centre. I had a walk around it with some great views. After we left the boat it sailed to Wurtzburg where the bus took us, arriving for lunch. It was rather a rushed meal as we were leaving at 2:30 for a tour of the town and the Bishop's Palace there. It's a UNESCO site with a beautiful garden and well worth the visit. A very busy day (really too much for one day) and we were ready for a quiet night. The boat sailed at 6;30 and we were able to use the sundeck for watching the scenery pass by. We would reach the Rhine the next day.

We couldn't take photos inside the baroque Palace but the gardens were a photographer's dream

Bamberg, Germany

   Spent the weekend in bed with a stomach bug - had to be close to the toilet. I spent most of the time sleeping which is a shame as it was a lovely weekend. I managed to eat something today and felt well enough to go to Bridge. I left early as I was bushed but got someone to take my spot. Will try to have some dinner tonight but it will be another early night.

   Next stop on the cruise was Bamberg where we had a culinary walking tour so I had a light breakfast. We had liverwurst and a kind of meatloaf at a butchers, a croissant and rhubarb cake at a bakery. Next stop was a brewery but I didn't sample the beer - too dark and frothy! Last stop was a street vendor where we had a sausage in a bun. We had a little free time for a walk around the town and met back in the main square just as it started to rain. It was the coolest day so far. The rain became quite heavy but we couldn't use the sundeck anyway as it is still closed for the low bridges.

The town centre is on an island and this is one side of the river.

   

First Tomatoes

   Loads of tomatoes on my six plants and I have picked a few cherry tomatoes. I should start getting some of the big ones in the next week or two.

    The day started overcast and a bit windy but by noon the skies had cleared and the wind dropped. Two sets of tennis then home for a swim, lunch and a nap. More gardening and another swim - this is getting to be my regular routine. Fried fish with lemon and peas for dinner. I enjoyed it but found that my usual choice of fish, Basa, is quite high in cholesterol and salt. I will have to check the nutrients chart more carefully. 

   More about the cruise tomorrow.

Murphy's Law

   I'm not sure if this qualifies as Murphy's Law but you be the judge. Yesterday the pool guy left me a note to add 2 inches of water to the pool (we use the metric system here, believe it or not!). So I dutifully did so. This morning we had a couple of hours of really heavy rain which added another two inches to the pool so now it is up to the brim. I could have saved myself the money and the bother if I had been a bit lazy and just waited until today. Luckily water here is not very expensive - we have so much of it.

   Lunch with the RODEO ladies today at Bluffer's Restaurant down by the lake. I had a seafood quiche with a Caesar salad - all very delicious. Still stuffed so just soup and a sandwich for dinner tonight.

   Next stop on the cruise was Nuremberg - a bus tour that included stops at the Justice Court House (where the Nuremberg trials were held) and the castle, which we only viewed from the outside - rather underwhelming. We had the option to return in the afternoon but I declined - and avoided a soaking as there was heavy rain. That evening my quiz team shared a bottle of "bubbly", our prize for winning the quiz the other night!

The courtyard of the castle - didn't realize the crane was in my view!

The view of the town from the castle ramparts.

The rooms in the Court House where the trials were held.