Sunday Sip 🇩🇪 A Germany Dispatch

Rick Steves, Sausages, and Splinters

When this dispatch hits your mailbox, we will be almost two weeks into our Germany adventure, and Oktoberfest will be a delightful memory in our rearview mirror. 

If you’ve already read Chuck’s Sunday Sip from September 29, you know all the details about why we embarked on this journey. So I won’t bore you by repeating old news. Instead, I thought I’d share a few of the unexpected and delightful highlights from our trip so far.

One of the most surprising—and amusing—parts of our adventure was discovering that Rick Steves had secretly tagged along! Well, sort of. My sister Dianne had him stashed away in her sling bag. It wasn’t until she pulled out her well-worn copy of his guidebook for “Germany” and started reading aloud that I realized Rick himself was along for the ride.

Dianne chose to unveil a nugget of Rick’s wisdom as she walked out of St. Jakob Lutheran Church in Rothenburg. I had opted to sit outside with Jeff and Angie while the rest of our group toured the church. 

Channeling Rick Steves, Dianne read from his guidebook: “Here you will find the artistic highlight of Rothenburg and perhaps the most wonderful wood carving in all of Germany: the glorious 500-year-old, 35-foot-high Altar of the Holy Blood.” 

Rick and Dianne’s enthusiasm for wood carvings made me briefly question my choice to skip the church. I was feeling a little FOMO (fear of missing out for the uninitiated).

The next day, those of us who’d passed on St. Jakob Church the day before decided to pop in and see what the fuss was about. I made a beeline for the painted panels on the main altar to catch a glimpse of Peter performing a circumcision. Rick’s comment about it had me curious, “Ever see Peter with spectacles?” 

I must say, his quirky, humorous comments added a layer of fun to an otherwise solemn church visit, making me appreciate the odd details I’d have otherwise missed. 

Nurnberg, Germany

Here is a taste of Rick’s restaurant humor! (Opposed to bathroom humor.) 

Yes, we ate our fair share of the little buggers. They are definitely better with mustard and reminded me of Jimmy Dean’s breakfast sausage. 

Rothenburg, Germany

According to Rick Steves, “The Night Watchman tour is flat-out the most entertaining hour of medieval wonder in all of Germany and the best evening activity in town. The Night Watchman (a.k.a. Hans-Georg Baumgartner) jokes like a medieval John Cleese.”

Rick's description was spot on. 

We stayed at the Gasthof Goldener Greifen in Rothenburg, and Rick’s description was, again, spot on: "A big, traditional, 650-year-old place with 14 spacious rooms and the comforts. It’s run by a helpful family staff and creaks with rustic splendor.”

Rick didn’t mention that Squiggy’s doppelganger also worked there. If you have never watched Laverne & Shirley (A 70s Sitcom), this reference will make no sense. 

Rick’s entry about the Rothenburg wall walk had us wondering what he had been smoking, “This walk can be done by those under six feet tall in less than an hour. The hike requires no special sense of balance.”

What he failed to mention was to beware of the handrails! Dianne caught a giant splinter between her fingers. I nearly puked when she showed me. Thanks, Rick.

Nordlingen, Germany 

Rick suggested we make the climb in the Nordlingen's church tower (which locals call the Daniel). “The rickety 350-step climb up the tower rewards you with the very best view of the city walls. You'll twist up a tight stone staircase, then tackle several fights of wooden ones.”  I’m still not sure if it was a warning or an enticement. 

Unfortunately Frau Wendelstein, a cat that wandered up the 350-steps in 2010 had retired. We enjoyed the view sans-cat.

Augsburg, Germany

During breakfast in Augsburg, I caught our adorable waiter’s eye. He dashed over and said, “Do you have a wish?” I felt like I’d just been cast in a Disney movie. “I’m already here for you,” he continued. Isn’t he just the sweetest? I can still hear his sing-song voice and shy giggle. 

“I have a wish.” Is my new favorite saying. I’m not sure it is one of Chuck’s. 

That is all for now. You’ll need to tune in next week to get the  low-down on the Oktoberfest! 

Fans with Bands

I bet you didn’t see this coming: another Fans with Bands episode, DROPPED, this week. In this episode, Chuck talks with James and Brian from Head Full Of Ghosts. He said, “It was great to talk with them about their band, their latest album called 10.23, their influences, and more. This band puts a new spin on the 90’s rock and grunge stylings. In some way, I felt like I was listening to new Filter, Seven Mary Three, or Our Lady Peace when listening to Head Full Of Ghosts. It wouldn’t be Fans With Bands without talking about first concerts and pizza toppings.”

Substack Restack! 

Looking for a sweet read? Then I’ve got a Substack recommendation for you. In a delightful story from Courtney’ Burk’s days working in a wine bar, and shares a peanut butter cookie recipe. 

Upcoming Events  

Chuck always shares a comprehensive list of events you should check out. I take a focused approach. I’ve got just one! GIG! Get your tickets before they are gone.

Stay Safe Friends

And stay tuned for more stories from the road! Until then, Prost!