My only fear about this trip was a concern that it would become as ABC trip (Another Bleeping Cathedral/Castle or in this case Christmas Market.) That was a serious possibility until Regensburg. The Christmas Market at Thurn and Taxis Palace was the real deal. It was the opposite of the same thi
ng once again. The little shops were individually made of wood, and fires built for warmth burned in fire pits with adjoining seating or in fire barrels with bar tops throughout the market.
In previous markets we had to search amongst the mass made junk to find a few treasures. Here, the items were all handmade and local. The vendors had genuine smiles, and joked with the buyers and with each other. There was a group of carolers singing in the interior square of the palace. It was a good sized market – not too small and not overly huge, and the pathway through the stalls wound through the woods surrounding the palace. Both the setting and the feel were what I had hoped for when we booked this trip.
We had all day in Regensburg, and it was the first time since we got on the water that we had the opportunity to spend as much time as we wanted. The day began with a city tour, and this time they divided up the cruise guests into active, normal, and gentle walkers groups. I opted for active, Larry opted for gentle, and we each had the perfect experience. The guide for my group was hysterical, with some great stories to interject along the way of the ‘official’ tour. At least one of them was off color, (but not at all inappropriate). At the end of the tour, the groups met in the square in front of the cathedral. Larry and I wandered off to find the nearest biergarten (not surprisingly one of the couples we have become friends with found the same one moments later and we shared lunch). We had free time for the rest of the day. We wandered aimlessly through the streets of Regensburg after the Christmas Market, and ended up back onboard about sunset.
I have added Regensburg to the list of places I would like to return to and spend more time in. It’s a lovely little town, and not overly commercialized. Its setting, perched alongside the Danube and surrounded by hills covered with the Bavarian Forest, is beautiful.