Nuremberg is just a hop skip and a
jump away from Anbach, and I was able to enjoy this unique city on both a
recent weekend trip and an evening adventure this weekend. I love Nuremberg because, like so many other
German towns, it has so much to offer: gorgeous
architecture, historical relevance, delicious food, and vivacious culture. This
little city is something special though, with its authentic and comfortable
atmosphere contrasted with its wild side of fiery festivals and events.
Last weekend Casey and I explored the
blue-skied Nuremberg with its bustling Easter Market. We sampled wonderful
cheeses (my favorite was covered in purple wildflowers) and browsed the artesian
Easter goods. We enjoyed a visit to the Nuremberg zoo, which was nestled into a
forested hillside, and even got to visit the Nazi Rally Grounds, where Hitler
gave some of his most famous speeches. We closed the day at a festive beer hall,
where our waiter offered us our evening beverage selection: “beer or no beer?”
I never liked beer until I tried real German beer, cool and thick in a frosted
pint glass. The beer hall turned out to be the gathering place of dramatic fans
from the day’s football (soccer) game. Fans flooded the hall sporting their team’s
colors, and proceeded to celebrate their team’s victory or morn their loss, filling
the rustic building with passionate chants and songs, tears, and even a couple
of rival fights.
This weekend I headed back to Nuremberg for an evening at the Nuremberg Volksfest—an outdoor folk
festival reminiscent of a mini-Oktoberfest. The air was filled with the rich
scent of roasting nuts and pulled pork, and modern and spectacular carnival
rides towered above colorful carnival games. Some of the most popular attractions
of this two-week-long festival are the Festhalles, which are filled to brimming
with fresh-pulled pints and singing party-goers, who are more likely to dance
on the table tops and benches than on the ground. The atmosphere in our
Festhalle was festive to the extreme—I don’t think I've ever been around so
many happy, laughing, dancing people at one time. The Volksfest was a truly
memorable experience, and a delicious taste of the wonderful festivals that Germany
is known for. Nuremberg is a wonderful
city to have so close by.
