Day 38 Ochsenfurt to Rothenburg ob der Tauber - by train

We're very confident walkers. Happy to mix things up and change the route to suit ourselves - either to shorten the official route or to take a more scenic path.

We're not at all confident when using public transport though. Thanks to several people who helped us, we trained from Ochsenfurt to Rothenburg ob der Tauber without problem: the women at the Information Centre in Ochsenfurt who wrote out the train times, and explained that we had to change trains, the woman at the train station who helped us buy our tickets using the ticket machine, and the young guy who showed us how to validate our tickets. 

Leaving our accommodation in Ochsenfurt this morning. 

The Rathaus in Ochsenfurt. 

We walked past the pharmacy where we asked about seeing a doctor & later had my prescription made up.

...and we walked past the doctors' rooms where I was given so much help. The entrance was through the arched doorway. 

...and past the town gate, on our way to the Railway Station. 

The Ochsenfurt Station. 

Everything went well and we, along with many cyclists and their bikes, were in Rothenburg ob der Tauber 50 minutes later. 

Our train at the Rothenburg ob der Tauber Station. 

A few photos taken when walking into Rothenburg:
 

Two things struck us as soon as we arrived. One was that it was very hot - it got to 29°C today - the second one was that Rothenburg ob der Tauber is full of tourists. People of all nationalities everywhere, stopping every few steps to take photos or trying to find somewhere shaded - us included. All shaded outdoor seating at the cafes, eiscafes, bakeries and restaurant and bars were taken. 

We went straight to our accommodation where we were fortunate to be able to leave our packs until check-in time which meant we didn't have to carry them around, in the heat, for nearly 4 hours.

We were also fortunate, a little while later, in finding a seat in the shade at a small café where we enjoyed refreshing cold drinks - an eiskaffee, ice coffee, for Jeff, and a refreshing lime and mint drink for me. 

Eventually we were able to check-in, shower, do a massive hand-wash - which is now strung up around our room - and put our feet up and relax.

Later we found a bar/restaurant/café which wouldn't be out of place in Raglan. Comfortably low key and relaxed with a very simple but tasty menu, away from the extremely busy Marktplatz. 

Our great find where we had a tasty early dinner. 

I liked the wall art.

Some photos taken from our window tonight:

And some very poor photos of a band dressed in period costume that marched past below our window - the photos are blurred due to my hurry to capture them before they marched past.

Rothenburg is one of only three German towns which are still completely encircled by medieval walls - the other two are Nördlingen and Dinkelsbühl.

Rothenburg ob der Tauber is a town located in the district of Ansbach of Mittelfranken (Middle Franconia), the Franconia region of Bavaria, Germany. It is well known for its well-preserved medieval old town, a destination for tourists from around the world. It is part of the popular Romantic Road through southern Germany. Today it is one of only four towns in Germany that still have completely intact city walls, the other three being Nördlingen, Dinkelsbühl and Berching, all in Bavaria.

Population 11,335

Source: Wikipedia 

Day 37 Eibelstadt to Ochsenfurt - by bus

Another day where our plans didn't work out as we expected because of the problem I have with my left foot. 

Today we took a short bus ride from Eibelstadt to Ochsenfurt as I knew that I couldn't go any further without seeing a doctor and we had been told that there is a very good medical clinic in Ochsenfurt, so that was our aim for today.

Eibelstadt this morning.

Across the road from the bus stop in Eibelstadt. We love the rooflines. 

The bus trip to Ochsenfurt took only 20 minutes - not that it actually went into Ochsenfurt. It had a stop across the river from the town then carried on past. Luckily, at the last second, we realised that we needed to get off there, rather than ending up somewhere else. 

The Mainbrücke - the bridge over the River Main. 

On the bridge. 

A Swiss cruise boat on the Main. 

Walking into Ochsenfurt. 

Stunning flowers in Ochsenfurt, there are several of these in the main street. 

As we walked over the River Main, where the bus dropped us off, and into Ochsenfurt we spotted a pharmacy so I suggested we ask for help there as a starting point. The pharmacist very kindly pointed out two doctor practices across the road. As we were deciding which one we would try first a woman, who had been in the pharmacy when I asked, rushed up to us and told us the doctors immediately across the road was the best.

I had to use my best German as the receptionist didn't speak English. 'Entschuldigen Sie bitte. Ich habe kein termin aber ich brauche eine Arzt sehen.' (Excuse me please. I don't have an appointment but I need to see a doctor.)

Luckily the receptionist understood me. She spoke with a doctor who had very good English and within five minutes he called me into his room. He said that the tendon on the outside of my ankle is inflamed and prescribed me some gentle anti inflammatory tablets and some medication in case they upset my stomach. He also said that I needed to get a compression ankle brace and wrote a prescription for one from a podiatry orthotics.

Getting the prescribed medications was easy but after a lengthy walk to the podiatry orthotics that we had been directed to, we found that it closed. A pharmacy next-door to it redirected us to another practice where I was measured and given the correct brace. 

The doctor also said that I need to rest for 2 or 3 days before continuing on with our pilgrimage. With this in mind we've changed our plans yet again and will go by train to Rothenburg ob der Tauber tomorrow and stay there for three nights before, hopefully, continuing on with our walk. 

When we had everything sorted we could finally relax and bought a filled roll and hot chocolates and sat outside in the shade. The afternoon temperature was 28°C. Way hotter than what we had been used to. 

Where we bought our lunch things  

In Ochsenfurt. 

Since 1592.

One of the main streets in Ochsenfurt. 

This sign above one of buildings says 1268.

Tonight we're staying in a very old guest house right in Ochsenfurt. It's gorgeous. Full of heavy old beams, small windows and old wooden stairs. 

A seating area in the guest house. 

We will have breakfast here tomorrow morning. 

We had a cold drink here.

Some wall art in Ochsenfurt:

Ochsenfurt is a town in the district of Würzburg, in Bavaria, Germany. Ochsenfurt is located on the left bank of the River Main and has around 11,000 inhabitants. This makes it the largest town in Würzburg district.

Population 11,434

Source: Wikipedia 

Day 36 Eibelstadt - rest day

The rain from yesterday and last night cleared and we've had a sunny day here in Eibelstadt. 

Today is Christi Himmelfahrt, Ascension Day, a public holiday in Germany which is celebrated in two ways as it's also Father's Day. 

We went to Mass in Katholische Pfarrkirche St Nikolaus. It was a very formal Mass with about twenty altar servers, great organ music and much singing.   

Katholische Pfarrkirche St Nikolaus.

Mass ended with a procession through town, complete with a brass band. Most of the congregation were in the procession, as we were too, but I couldn't walk the whole route.

At one stage the procession stopped for prayers and singing ...and a little girl scattered rose petals.

As I couldn't keep up with the procession we wandered off towards our accommodation and the procession passed us. 

The Father's Day aspect of the public holiday involves men, fathers or not, getting out and enjoying the outdoors, often complete with decorated carts full of beer.

A German website questions the two different ways this public holiday is celebrated:

Some random photos of Eibelstadt:

The Rathaus. 

Some Eibelstadt ladies.