Walking Through Esslingen

 After the Rathaus, Tom took us on a meandering walk through Esslingen side streets, pointing out different historical houses, Little Venice (canals with houses all around), a part of a building that overhangs the alley and was used as an outhouse, the oldest street with half-timbered houses in Germany, the PostMichel fountain and legend, which is a great story.

The weather was spitting rain, some on, some off.  So, the photos aren't great, but here's several.

Behind us is a five story bridge.

One of the older houses in town.

The oldest row of half-timbered

houses in Germany, built between

1328 and 1331.

A heron

And another.  These last two photos may

look like my kayaking pics, but they are not.

Tom took us past the large building where the first Sekt was made, and continues to be made since the beginning of the 1800s.  It's German champagne, which of course can not be called champagne.  The building is the Seitkellerie Kessler, which was started by a German who had lived for some years in Champagne and learned how to make it.  Later that night, we had a bottle of Sekt and it was quite good.  So, whether it is Cava, Prosecco, Sekt, or other sparkling wine, it gives champagne a run for its money.  Except Dom, nothing gives Dom Perignon a run for its money.

Seitkellerie Kessler.  Apologies for

the raindrops on the camera lens.

From there, we went out of the cold and rain, just into the cold.  We went into the Parish Church of St. Dionysius, built in the 13th and 14th centuries.  It is famous for the connecting walkway between the two towers built around 1600 to keep the towers from tipping over.  

Tom actually got the chance to cross

the walkway this year.  He said it

was a bit scary.

Stained glass from the 1300s.

Not quite a Tilman Reimanschneider, but

still a very cool work of wood carving.

In the choir pews.

Tom's tour was supposed to last 100 to 110 minutes, but we went nearly an hour over as he got into it.  I think he liked our interest and questions.  Carol and Julia ask most of the questions on these walking tours, as I'm busy taking photos (I do ask a handful).  Can't recommend Tom enough.  Can't recommend Esslingen enough.

I call Carol "the Guide Whisperer."  She asks a lot of interesting questions and pays attention 100% of the time.  And guess what?  People like it when you listen to them, are interested in what they have to say, and ask questions about their topic!

We were an hour late for our lunch reservation.  When we showed up at 2pm, the maitre d' curtly told us the restaurant was closing.  So we skipped lunch and had leftover pizza, prosciutto, and toast after getting back to Ludwigsburg.  It was well worth skipping lunch for the extra hour of touring (and yes, I tipped Tom well).

One last half timbered Esslingen house.

That night, we had dinner at a brewery/restaurant in Ludwigsburg, Rossknecht am Reithausplatz.  It was an enjoyable end to an excellent day.  After a rocky start in Wurzburg, and an okay time on the Romantic Road, both Rothenburg and Esslingen could not have been better.

(Editor's Note: Well, there could have been Christmas markets!  Writer: Sigh.