23 Juli-- Day 29

Okey dokey. So saturday in Bamberg. We were supposed to do this 2 hour city tour, but we had already seen most of it the night before, and the tour would have been in german, so we weren't really super duper excited for it. However, it was included in our Bamberg Card thing. I said 'supposed to'. Why? Because we saw THESE GUYS:

And the men had bells on their calves. Couldn't pass that up- we sat there for like a half hour. So excellent.

I think it was a British folk dance troupe though? Wasn't too clear myself.

Anyway, after that, we we checked out a fairly unremarkable porcelain museum, and then decided to take the bus to a nearby schloss- Schloss Seehof. Absolutely gorgeous. We did a tour of the inside, which was decorated in a Baroque style with a Rococo garden, and was really quite gorgeous. Here's some pictures.

Seehof from the back

Part of a huge ceiling mural-- this one shows Diana, goddess of the hunt + the moon

They kept the original stone and wood flooring, so they requested that we wear these huge slippers.
The tour guide: "We request that you wear these slippers: to protect the floor, and to make the tour more fun."
We obliged.

After wandering around in there a bit longer, we decided to head back and see the Bamberg sights. There's a huge cathedral... which I didn't understand all the hype about. I think in the crypt or whatever, there were some saints relics or something, but that honestly wasn't too interesting. What I really liked was right across the Platz: Neue Residenz and the Rosengarten there.

Bamberg Cathedral (Dom)

Inside the Neue Residenz

In the room above, there's a bunch of paintings of Emperors. One of theme was a drag queen, apparently.

Rose garden

The Neue Residenz was a lot like the Schloss- same type of rooms, paintings, furnishings, etc. However.... they were all a little grander. Apparently the people who lived in the Neue Residenz had wanted the oh-so-wonderful title of "people with the best chambers for the Emperor to stay in when he visits." Unfortunately... the Emperor never did come to visit.

Favorite hallway

The doors looked pretty cool

Weirdass muscles. Looks like cellulite

Normal people sat in the simple chairs.
Beloved people sat in the chairs with armrests.
Important people (read: Emperor) sat in the big chair.
It's good to know where you stand.

MC then went to church, and G and I went to go see the St. Michael's cloister. It was closed for the night, since it was past 6 at that point, and so we just enjoyed the view and ate some unknown and unripe apples. (save your garden of eden jokes, please)

Apple + view

While I was waiting for the bus, I put my sunglasses lens in front of my camera.
I was pleased.

After a lovely, and long, dinner at an Irish pub (with frankish specialties), we slowly made our way back to the hotel. I would also like to warn my readers-- never eat a Döner that hasn't been cooked enough. Your stomach will NOT enjoy it, and you will have to make many trips to the bathroom at the Irish pub. Unrelated, but fun fact- kids announce the names of the bus stops in Bamberg. It was sooo cute "Nächste Haltestelle: Domplatz"... but with a kid's voice. Adorable.