Viking Cruise #27: German Dinner Night and Intro to Breisach, Germany

 Today's blog highlights the Viking Cruise and a special dinner night. It also includes a bit about our next cruise stop, Briesach, Germany. 

VIKING CRUISE DINNERS - The dinners on the Viking Cruise were all amazing. For lunch and dinners, they offer local menu options and a standard American fare menu for those of us who are less daring. One night, the staff all dressed up in German garb, and the tables were set with checkered tablecloths. Tables were adorned with German pretzels and other appetizers. It was really awesome.  

All of the food was fantastic. 

Breakfasts could be light, or you could have eggs, bacon, sausage, toast, fruit, yogurt, oatmeal, coffee, tea, and well, the list goes on. Also, you could have a chef prepare you eggs any way you'd like. 

The waitstaff is amazing. They quickly learn your names and preferences. They are all efficient, friendly, and attentive. 

ABOUT BREISACH - Breisach is a town with approximately 16,500 inhabitants, situated along the Rhine in the Rhine Valley, in the district Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.   There's also a "Lower town" and an "Upper town." The upper town contains a large church and some houses, while the lower town has many shops.

WHAT DOES "BREISACH" MEAN? - Its name is Celtic and means "breakwater." The town used to be on an island until the 1800s, when that part of the Rhine River changed course and the city became located on a river bank.

STONE WALL ETCHING - On the beginning of our climb to the Upper Town (Next blog), we saw this stone carving of the upper and lower town. It was mounted on a stone wall.

WHAT IS BREISACH KNOWN FOR? Located on the Rhine River sits the small town of Breisach, well-known as the gateway to Germany's Black Forest. Despite 85% of th town being flattened during World War II, it has been successfully restored.

OUR OBSERVATIONS OF THE LOWER TOWN - It was very quaint and a farmer's market had set up when we were there. After running into so many English-speaking Germans in every city, we found it odd that none of the shop owners knew any English.. 

ST. MARTIN'S HOSPITAL CHURCH - I'm unsure what a "hospital church" means, but the building we saw had that name. It was part of the former Holy Ghost Hospital from the 17th and 18th centuries. It was destroyed during World War II, and partially rebuilt. Today it serves as a place for municipal events and small concerts.

THE HOUSE OF MYSTERY - The photo of the house here at the end of this blog is a mystery to me, because I forgot to write down its significance. I think, perhaps, I was drawn to the mural painted on the side of the house. Regardless, it's a nice example of the buildings in the lower town.

NEXT: The Long Climb to the "Upper Town" and the Gateways