After a grueling three and half hour drive, and a rest stop at McD's to use the bathroom, we arrived within the small walled city in the late afternoon. We stayed at the Holiday Inn where parking and checking-in was a breeze. We had a nice view of the street below where we were able to watch antics take place.

As soon as we were settled in we decided to head to the Museum of Germanic Art & Culture. because we knew they closed soon and didn't want to miss it. We had a difficult time finding the main entrance, and it felt like we were wandering all over the place aimlessly. Once we did find it, and we did... find it. We walked to the counter where we were pleasantly surprised to find out that they do not charge for tickets within the last two hours of business. It was perfect since we love seeing antiquities, but I don't love spending hours reading the little plaques because realistically it goes in one way and out the other.

Afterward, we stopped back by the hotel to ensured we had everything we needed for the chilly night out. Our evening walk accidentally led us right through the red-light district as we followed the dark road around the edge of the town for a little ways. Eventually we decided to cut back in towards the center of the city. There we found the main shopping area that was just south of the river, so we wandered through, explored a bit, and had the pleasure of finding an almost fully living Nativity, meaning the animals were alive and the people were mannequins. The double humped camel, named Ivan, clearly found Brad to be interesting as he came right up to him almost smacking their heads together. It was hilarious!

As we strolled through town we came to the river, a truly beautiful site all lit up at night. It was a great place to stop for photos, and there were many different vantage points to choose from.

Dinner time was approaching, and I could feel myself starting to lose my cool. I wanted pizza. Pizza Hut, which we had seen earlier that afternoon, sounded fine to me because I just needed my fix, but Brad insisted that we push onward in search of something better. I was starting to get irritated, but thankfully as my mood began to worsen about Brad's persistence the Heavens smiled down upon him relieving him of my building fury. He found for us Provenza near the Hauptmarkt which is where the Christmas Market was set up, and it was hopping! . The food was exquisite...

With full bellies we were able to endulge in the Christmas Market that was just steps away from the restaurant. We got to admire the beautiful glass ornaments, smell the hot beverages, and soak in all the merriment. Our night was not over but we were getting a little burnt out on the Christmas Markets( I also knew that when we got to Rothenburg we would be going to Kathe Wohlfahrt Christmas shop, so I was holding out!), so we decided to move on.

With the market crossed off our list we continued north, and uphill, toward the Imperial Castle of Nuremberg. With curious spirits we made our way through the winding cobblestone streets, and climbed to the top. The view was rewarding. We enjoyed staring out over the skyline, and seeing how far we had come. We could not get enough, so we continued wandering throughout the open Castle passage ways and found a small staircase that was not blocked off that allowed us to head down into what I imagine was once a mote. It was huge, and a little bit creepy, and so worth the exploration. I enjoyed seeing how deep the mote once was, and experiencing how small I felt inside standing next to its massive walls that once were filled with water. We eventually found our way out as the road in the mote eventually led us to a street corner. We followed the road for a ways on the outside of the city wall, but once again eventually cut back in as it was more familiar, and more visually pleasing. When we reached the river once again, we took a seat on a bench to rest our feet. It was peaceful, and it was beautiful. Even in the dark, the glow of city lights in the winter air seem to overwhelm my body with a sense of relaxation. Brad was wildly exhausted, so eventually we decided to remove ourselves, and we took the familiar path, eager for sleep, and exhilarated to the see this beautiful Germanic city in the day light.

The next morning we awoke fairly early. We dressed & repacked our bags, and headed out in search of breakfast. It was cold and raining, so we went with something familiar and easy, Starbucks. We didn't feel like aggressively hunting, and not many places had opened yet. The quiet Starbucks, still awaiting its morning rush was the perfect spot for us to warm up for the day.

A tea, a coffee, and a couple pastries, and we were set. We took our time, as Brad perused CNBC, and I worked on trying to get my Christmas music uploaded onto my phone. As we sat there, we waited for the rain to ease up. Finally, it began to clear. So a little bit warmer and a little bit drier we ventured back out. The city was quiet in the early daylight. It was beautiful. We took a left near the front of St. Lorenz Church, and it led us right back to the river where I was able to grab some beautiful and idyllic photos. From there we pressed on, crossing the old wooden bridge and winding our way through cobblestone streets lined with colorful homes and buildings. It was one of those moments where you think, "I'd live here", and then you remember the brisk cold that you are barely surviving.

We were satisfied with Nuremberg even though we had been in the city for less than 24 hours, we found it to be sensational, but with our pressing schedule, it was time to move forward with the itinerary. We quickly scampered back to the hotel to collect our things, and in a flash were in the car headed to the Nazi Party Rally Grounds, which is now a museum documenting the Hitler & Nazi Regime and their crimes committed.

Originally, This tour wasn't at the top of my list. I'm not a big history buff, but I knew Brad would enjoy it, and I knew there were things that I would find interesting. However, now that I have gone, I believe that EVERYONE SHOULD GO DO THIS. This was a truly emotional and moving experience. It held my attention pretty much all the way through. There were a few parts where I kind of skipped ahead, or just didn't listen to the audio guide, but the museum was impeccably put together and worth the affordable ticket price. The nice thing is that it was quiet, and easy to move through. A truly incredible experience.

After a few hours of gaining insight on what of history’s greatest tragedies & wanting to cry at the sight of food-deprived bodies in a ditch, I needed food to renew my spirit and stop my stomach from grumbling before we continued our road trip. So, one quick fast food meal later, we were back in the car headed to Rothenburg. I couldn't wait!

ISSUE 13: Nuremberg, Germany 2015