Wurzburg- A city rebuilt

Overcast and rain  -  cold
Wurzburg  bound, if we can maneuver some 33 locks during the night and today. The Main Canal was beautiful, yet cold this morning as we sat on the bridge and enjoyed the quiet serene sounds of nature almost as if floating up the river.








Arrived in Wurzburg about 2:15pm.  Did a short walk thru the city and admired all the spires of churches in this city.  High on the hill, is the first castle of the Prince-Bishop.  Later on this afternoon, we visited and toured the Residenz of the Prince-Bishop.  This was a magnificent large building, built to impress foreign dignitaries who would come and visit. Interesting to note the opinions in the 1700's when they constructed the Residence.  The Prince-Bishop engaged the services of a mural painter, who captured the important people of the time in the ceiling mural of the Grand Staircase, along with a representation of the four continents (Europe, Asia, Africa, and America). America at the time is depicted as having natives but little symbols demonstrate that they knew America would be wealthy. Australia had yet to be discovered and thus missing. Funny how time changes things.  The main figures in the mural representing the four continents are all pointing, of course, to the Bishop. 

Wurzburg was heavily bombed in the last few weeks of the war.  It was an act to break the morale of the people, according to those you talk to in Germany.  90% of the city was destroyed and had to be rebuilt.  It was the women who rebuilt the city to obtain food stamps to feed their families. Of course, the men were few due to the circumstances of the war.  The city is remarkably restored and many, including the Residenz, has been restored to nearly perfection.  Of course, my Cheryl just fell in love with the city or someone.

 The Residenz was a remarkable building that at one time Mozart played in.  He commented that the room that he played in was so ornately distracting that he found it difficult to perform.  The rooms are amazing with décor, paintings, sculptures, mirrors and gold.   The gardens also were impressive and beautiful to stroll through (okay jog thru, after all we did have a bus to catch). 

 With the first Residenz lit up for the evening we retired to the ship and were  entertained by a German Shanty Choir with a conductor who played the accordion. Enjoy our drunken sailor show.