"What's so special about that place?"

  Bad Windsheim, Germany
Thursday, January 3, 2008

countryside

Today I decided to take a bicycle and ride into downtown Bad Windseim. So I packed a map and camera, took the baby seat of my mother's bike (harder to do than I thought), and set off. I had no destination in mind. I just wanted to ride around, see what I could see, and maybe talk to a local or two. One of the best ways to tour a small town in my opinion.

Let's talk about the boring stuff for a moment.. A bit of information on Bad Windsheim. Bad Windsheim is a small historic town. It is best known for it's salt water spring, hence the German word Bad. And I guess it is also known for someone or something named Winid. Windsheim translates to 'To the home of Winid.' The town is also known for it's spa, Franken-Therme (whatever the heck that is), and it's museum. I hope to visit the museum next week but I think it might be closed in the winter.

i think this is the museum

Whew, now that all that is out of the way we can get on to my trip! I road on a bike path for the fist little bit but once that ended it was on to the street for me. I wouldn't be nervous about this if I was back in the US but since I'm visiting a country I've never visited before and since I have no idea what the traffic laws are I was a bit worried about getting run over. But as I'm sure you could have guessed I made it back safe and sound.

grocery store sign

The first thing of interest I came across was a little grocery store. From the outside it looked just like any you would see back in the states, minus all the German words and such. If I had had some Euros on me I would have shopped around a bit and maybe bought a drink or something but I didn't so I didn't. I watched a train go by and then I rode on. I then came to the restaurant my family ate at the first night they were in Germany. I did what any tourist would do, I whipped out my camera! Much to my Surprise an man walked up to me and started speaking in German. I searched my mind franticly for the only German phrase I know...
"Spreken zie English?" I asked in a confused voice.
"Yeah," he replied to my relief. Then he said something I found kinda funny for some reason. "What's so special about that place?"

resaurant

I told him it was the restaurant my parents are in the first night they were in Germany. And that was the end of that conversation. We said our pleasant goodbyes and he was off. But that wouldn't be the last time we would meet on the streets of this little town. I saw him again on my way back, he waved and smiled.

Light was beginning to run out and my shutter finger was itching to do some clicking. I had to pick a street that looked interesting to ride down and do it fast. I guess i should have made this trip earlier in the day. No matter, I picked the perfect street... Pastorius Strasse. It's history time again boys and girls! This particular street was named after Franz Daniel Pastorius, and that is all the history I have for you about that because the only website I could find about him is in German. Pastorius Strasse seems to me to be a pretty popular street. There were many people of all ages walking up and down it, visiting the various shops.

Pastorius Strasse

I saw a bakery, some restaurants, some clothing stores, and a tailor.

Then I came to the most interesting part of todays trip. Roland the mighty, protector of Windseim, slayer of her enemies, and safeguard of her secrets. Actually it was just a big statue with a sign on one side that says "Roland" and some big things on the other side that have a bunch of names and dates. Again the only information I could find about this brave knight was in German. But I did find out that it is a war memorial of some kind. I think it's pretty cool looking.

It was now getting very dark so I figured I better be heading back. The bike ride from here on out was much easier because it was almost all down hill. After getting lost once I found my way back to my parents house. I now eagerly await tomorrows destination... Berlin.

roland