Tomcats 2012 trip to Central Europe: June 26th, 2012 Garmisch via Dinkelsbuhl to Rothenburg Germany

After our wet day at Garmisch yesterday the clouds lifted and the sun came out in the evening. I looked out over our balcony and with glee saw the mountains for the first time. Too late with weather to do the mountain train trip but at least we have seen the mountains before we left this morning. So pleased as I would have hated leaving without seeing them at all. As you can see they are very rugged and stoney.

Last nights shot from our balcony.

We got ready and left the hotel by 8.30pm to go to this viewing spot before we left Garmish. Just had to see more of these mountains before we left.

Leaving Garmisch we decided to take a secondary route rather than go up the Autobahn so we could enjoy the countryside and the great little villages better. Started off winding over a hill but not for too long, then over flat rolling country side.

Everything looked so neat and tidy beautiful farms such a contrast to the last nine days with the lakes and all the mountains we have been crossing. We really enjoyed the experience driving through the mountains although it was a challenge for Pete as it takes lots of concentration on these snake like roads. He is probably glad that's all behind him. He looks a little more relaxed today.

Everything was going well on our way north to Rothenberg when the road ahead had been closed and we had to be detoured all up the really back roads. Hard for the tourist as don't know where to go as we couldn't read all the detour instructions. Added another hours driving to the day but we got there in the end.

Steffi and Torsten will laugh, we asked a chap if we were going the right way and he explain to look out for umleitung, and you will get the signs for Dinkelsbuhl where we were heading for. We thought that umleitung was a town and was looking for it but after realise that, was the word for 'detour', well we think it is as we saw this name everywhere after that. You are always learning when you are travelling.

We have eventually reached Dinkelsbuhl for a stop to walk through the village before we moved on. This photo is taken just outside the walled town. The bridge in the background is where we walked to enter through the wall.

The buildings are just such an elegant style with all their fine detail and vivid colours. All so old.

Wandering through the cobbled streets.

What a great old church. We couldn't find a date on it, but wonderful old building.

Inside the church. Look at the fine work. Just beautiful.

Just look at these buildings.

The rolling pastures we have been driving through today. Little different from the mountains. The colours don't do it justice, they are much brighter green and yellow. Nice contrast. Taken through the glass window of the car while we flashed by trying to keep up with these fast driving Germans.

Now arrived at Rothenberg. We drove through this entrance of the walled town to our hotel just beyond this crooked old building on the right.

Quick walk around town looking for a laundrette. Needed it urgently. Seemed to walk for miles just to find it way outside the wall.

Town square.

This is the view from my desk looking over the Tauber valley. On the back of the hotel which is very peaceful but disappointing and they have given us a very small, I mean very small room. Nothing like the photos in Booking.com so I went down and check. He wasn't too pleased as I had asked for a view of the valley and he told me that the view rooms are small. He didn't have a bigger room available until tomorrow so he said we can change then but would be in the front of the hotel. We are going to change as we feel it is false advertising to not give what they advertise.

The main road is all ripped up, looks like they are doing new drains which has spoilt the look of town. This happened to us in Banff Canada and Norfolk Island. Makes everything very messy and noisey.