Heidelberg is a picturesque German city situated on the Neckar River. As the trip to Heidelberg (and Germany, for that matter) was not originally on the itinerary, it proved to be all the more of a pleasant surprise, with quaint red tile-roofed buildings nestled between the river and densely-forested hills dotted with old castles. The city is home to the renowned Heidelberg University, and manages to convey a bit of the college town feel. I was lucky in that I was able to stay with two university students; I was further lucky in that the female student, Utta, was introduced to me as the "best-looking girl in all of Heidelberg" (and who am I to disagree...)
Favourite spots:
Heidelberg is known for its famous castle, which overlooks the city's Old Town. A trip up to the castle affords a good view of the city and its photogenic bridge over the Neckar, whose form, with its multi-arch support structure, is reminiscent of a Roman aqueduct, and whose tower-flanked entrance was said to have inspired Walt Disney in his design of the Magic Kingdom. The Philosophenweg (Philosophers' Walk), across the river from the Old Town section, is another way to view the city and some of the older castles upriver.
What's really great:
A short drive upriver from Heidelberg is a small town (I don't recall the name) that features an interesting style of architecture that struck me as very Bavarian, where the walls of the buildings have exposed support beams generally painted in dark hues that stood out in stark contrast to the white or pastel walls which, not surprisingly, also seemed reminiscent of the Magic Kingdom. The trip up to the town took us passed a few old and generally smallish castles that were just a short hike up from the road. Given the forested surroundings and the particularly gray skies that day, it was easy to imagine that you had stepped back a few centuries in time.
Hangouts:
We knocked back a few at a 200-year-old tavern with thick-whitewashed stone walls and exposed rafters. I highly recommend the Heidelberger Alt.
Restaurants:
As the people I was traveling with considered this a local delicacy, we dined on spinach pizza at a restaurant whose name escapes me. Suffice it to say that there is no lack of pastry shops filled with all sorts of rich goodies, in addition to numerous ice cafes in Heidelberg (and who am I to complain...)
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