On our way from Nuremberg to Bamberg, we stopped in Regensburg. This is probably not the route you would choose if you were driving and bothered to look at a map. Southeast from Nuremberg to Regensburg, then northwest from Regensburg to Bamberg, right past Nuremberg again.
This was one of the many back and forth trips that we made by bus. The countryside is beautiful, but the Germans have a special way to hide the view. Whenever there is a village or other houses near the autobahn, gigantic sound barriers block not only the sound of trucks, buses, and cars for the local residents, but they also do a great job of blocking the view of the countryside for travelers on the autobahn.
So many hours on the bus forces everyone to look for bits of humor in order to pass the time. Here’s an example of some crude American humor. In German, this sign wishes the traveler a pleasant trip. In perverted English, is says something quite different.
Several cities seem to have their own bridge legend. In the Regensburg legend, the bridge builder and the cathedral builder had a bet as to who would finish first. The bridge builder makes a deal with the Devil, in which the Devil would exchange help for the souls of the first three to cross the bridge. After the bridge was quickly built, the builder sent a roster, a hen, and a dog across the bridge. The Devil was not happy.
Lunch was in a restaurant next to the river. We weren’t sure whether the radishes were a center decoration or an horderve. We ate them anyhow.
Then back on the bus to continue our trip to Bamberg.