Bamberg, Germany

In Bamberg I was very fortunate to be able to meet up with a lovely German lady whom I had met on my first ship, the Queen Mary. She had gone on a round-the-world voyage, while I was on it for just two months of that journey, from Australia to Naples.

We had a great catch-up about everything we had been doing since then. We chatted non-stop over coffee and then during a stroll around the town, which has other little rivers running through it as well, we saw so many picturesque bridges. There was a very old cathedral on top of the hill, but it was too much in shade for a good photo. However, there was an exceptionally old building next to it, which was very worth capturing on film. I also loved the frescoes on some of the old buildings. 

It is just great when you know someone in town. It makes it all the more personal somehow as they show you their home town. We chatted so much I barely noticed how much we had climbed to reach the cathedral (over cobblestones, of course). 

I should mention that as it was a Sunday, lots of people were out enjoying the sunshine and the outdoor cafes and beer houses - university students, mums and dads and children in strollers, cyclists and, of course, tourists. This is a university town as are many German towns. In fact our local guide was a lovely university student. I left her early to meet my friend, but before I did she talked about how all German students learn about the history of WW2, which is very painful to them. They particularly feel very badly about how the Jews were treated. And she said something very interesting - she felt that the Germans of the time did it not only out of racism, but also out of envy, since the Jewish people were mostly wealthy money lenders. And then she added - when the Jews came there they were not permitted to follow their trades, so all they had left to support their families was to be money lenders. They just happened to be very good at it. 

A lot of our German guides also have raised the topic of WW2. They want people to know they are appalled by what their forefathers did, and they are very glad they now can have friendly, happy relationships with each other and with people across the world. Like many Australians of my generation, my father was involved in WW2. His service affected our family in many ways for years, although he would only talk about the funny things. I am so glad that we now all enjoy a wonderful relationship with German people. All those I have met are delightful!  And I am really glad that dreadful wall in Berlin separating the people was finally removed and now all Germans are free to travel around and to enjoy outdoor cafes, music and laughter, and bright colours. (I saw East Germany in 1980 and was deeply shocked by everything I saw.)

Inside a beer house.

The outdoor cafes were full of chattering people enjoying each other's company. 

Crossing over to the oldest part of the town.

There were many picturesque little streams and bridges.

This building was covered on all sides by lovely frescoes.

The end of the same building was much older and formed part of the bridge next to it.

I called this the 'Wedgwood' building.

Part of a huge administration building near the cathedral.

The very old building next to the cathedral.

The very old building that formed part of the bridge.