Bamberg

Bamberg came through the war unscathed by bombs. It is a maze of twisting old streets with buildings from the 12th century to the present. It is one of the prettiest of German cities. It has a population of only 70,000 but it has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The river Regnitz runs through it along with several canals diverted from the river. Tanning was once a major trade here. The crown of the seven hills of Bamberg is the cathedral of Sts. Peter and George with its four towers. The church has an altar at each end, a somewhat unique arrangement. It is Late Romanesque, dating from the 12th and 13th centuries. Across the Platz is the Bishop's Palace, a magnificent Baroque structure. I suspect one could wander the streets of Bamberg for weeks and always find new architectural treasures. One of the most famous is the Altes Rathaus, built on an island in the river and handsomely decorated.
Soccer again. Nearly every restaurant and café has mounted a flat screen tv outside so that people can follow the progress of the World Cup. Soccer is not just about a sport, it's about tribal identity and national pride. I see the German national colors everywhere, proudly displayed from balconies and fluttering from car antennas. On the radio I have learned that on Sunday it's Germany vs England, two strong teams. It will be shown live at 4 PM (I have heard this bit of info about fifty times now). Everybody in the country will be watching. Everybody, that is, except me. Someone invented a kind of plastic horn for the games, the vuvuzela. Virtually every South African must have one. These ghastly things are blown non-stop creating a wall of noise. It is driving the Europeans and South Americans crazy. It sounds like you're inside an enormous wasp nest that has just been hit by a rock. Buzzzzzzzz.