The ship stops in Speyer

 When we awake in the morning, we are docked in Speyer, our last town in Germany.

It was a beautiful day yesterday as we were cruising on a most scenic part of the Rhine.  But today, we start out on our guided city walk in rain

Speyer was founded by the Romans approximately 2,000 years ago.  It flourished during the Middle Ages but much of it was destroyed in the 17th century during the Palatine War of Succession.

The rain didn't last long and by the time we reached the city cathedral, it had stopped and the umbrellas were put down.

First we walked through the Cathedral's Gardens with strange statues.  This one depicts some of the kings who are buried in the cathedral.

This Kaiserdom, or Imperial Cathedral, did survive through the centuries.  It was built between 1030 and 1125 and set a new architectural standard for the era--the greatest building of its time and the largest Romanesque church in the world.

It did have damage through the years from fires and wars and was brought back to its original shape during a restoration in the late 1950s.

Next to the church is the Mount of Olives

It is a huge sculpted scene of Jesus praying on the Mount of Olives.

 

We went around to the front of the church to enter

 

Inside, looking down the main aisle.  The church contains the royal tombs of four emperors, three empresses, and four German kings, as well as a row of bishops' tombs.  It is huge inside--we only saw the main nave with the pink and white sandstone.

 

 

 

Leaving the church, we strolled down the main street, the Maximillianstrasse through the shopping area.

 

We pass by the Heilliggeistkirche, or Trinity Church.  It is the protestant church in Speyer.
 

In front of the church is a statue of a pilgrim making his way to Santiago de Compostela in Spain.  For hundreds of years the bishops would allow these pilgrims to sleep in the cathedral. 

In front of a cafe is the town's maypole, usually erected as part of the folk festival.

It displays emblems depicting the local crafts and industry available in the town.

 

The Altportel, or Old Gate, stands at the end of Maximillianstrasse.   It is one of the most important town gates in Germany, as it is one of the largest and most architecturally significant of the remaining city gates.

The pink building next to the gate was once the Old Mint; today it is a cafe.

 

During our free time in the afternoon, we chose to go to the Technik Museum.  I believe this was Terry's favorite of all we have seen and done so far.  It was a great exhibition of all sorts of technology from days gone by to the present.

Before we even entered the museum, Terry noticed this turbine.  He quickly ran over to it for a photo.  He worked many years in a power plant that used turbines like this.

We spent all afternoon wandering through the various exhibits.

Here is just a few of what we saw...

Vehicles of every kind and airplanes hanging from the ceiling.

A submarine.

And then we went outside--that's a 747

We stood on the wing...

and went inside.

 

There is also a submarine

and a ship to go into.

And another whole building dedicated to space exploration.

I must admit it was all very interesting and we could have spent an entire day here.  Terry was definitely in his happy place!

I think we were one of the last ones out of the museum before it closed.

Returning to the ship, we should have set sail for Strasbourg, France after dinner but things changed today--the river is now blocked.  It seems that a Viking Cruise Line ship and a cargo ship collided, blocking the river which is now impassable.    

 

Our Program Directors have assured us that we will continue on with itinerary to Strasbourg, but we will have to travel by bus as the ship must stay in Speyer.

To continue reading, scroll down and click on "Newer Post", and at least you will be quickly transported to Strasbourg.