Day 11 - Back to the Slums

The day after the birthday bash, we mostly lazed around Jane’s crib, loving up Gerald, eating leftovers and watching Robot Chicken on DVD. I sat on the balcony and read and exercised my arm, and while I did I got to observe a bird feeding on sunflower seeds on a balcony above me. Also, I heard some music from one of the other apartments. It was lovely jazz, accompanied by bongo drums. It sounded live. It was - at least the bongos. After a while the nice music stopped, and the gorilla babies started playing on the bongos. It was awful. So much for a quiet Sunday on the balcony, enjoying nature.

Finally got packed up and headed for Heidelberg. We made a detour so Mike could see the castle at Hochberg.

Later on our way to Heidelberg, before we got back onto the big highway, we spotted another castle ruin atop the village of Hecklingen. Jane said it was privately owned but available to see by appointment. We stopped for a photo op. I have been unable to find any more information on the castle since returning home.

Got back on the highway and I saw at least 6 castle ruins before I lost count.

We decided to eat before we got to Heidelberg, so Jane's British GPS wench, Brigitte, sent off on a side road in Bruchsal. It was pretty nice out and we thought we could find a Biergarten and eat outside, plus, I saw a sign for a castle. First we saw a Pizzaria called "McFly's", so naturally we had to make U-Turn and get photos. We found several nice Biergartens in a platz, but by the time we parked the car and got out, something distracted us. There was a fabulous smell coming from a Greek restaurant. And it had gotten a little cooler. So we went Greek. They served us a lame-ass iceberg lettuce salad (should I say complimentary watered-down Greek salad?) and we were concerned about what was to come. We had ordered one dish for 2 and a third dish, with plans to share everything. When the food finally came, it was super. The meats were so flavorful, and there were potatoes and rice, and tzaziki…a very nice meal which we ate with good beer. We never made it to the castle.

Mike came with us to the Dismal Swamp to get his guitar and help us bring in our stuff. I think he has decided against leaving his hotel. We hung out for a short time and then took Mike back to his hotel, via the road behind the castle. The castle was lit up and very cool. Jane & I came back, watched 15 minutes of City Slickers and went to bed.