We leave early from Munich for the two-hour drive to Rothenburg, Germany's best-preserved walled town. According to Rick Steves, no other German village holds a candle to Rothenburg as the king of medieval cuteness. In the Middle Ages, when Frankfurt and Munich were just wide spots in the road, Rothenburg was Germany's second-largest city, with a whopping population of 6,000. Today it is Europe's most exciting medieval town, enjoying tremendous tourist popularity.
We hit all the highlights in Rothenburg--the Käthe Wohlfahrt Christmas Store; the glorious 500-year-old Riemenschneider altarpiece in St. Jacob's Church, made by the Michelangelo of German woodcarvers; the fascinating Medieval Crime and Punishment Museum; a walk around the ramparts, as well as a climb to the top of the tower, which provides unbelievable views of the city and for miles beyond.
We drive back to Munich along the Romantic Road through the quaint villages of Germany's medieval heartland. We stop for dinner in Augsburg, where Rhonda's father was stationed during his army days. Rhonda says "Hi, Augsburg!" from Ron.
