Worms, Germany – 11 FEB 2011

One of my students recommended several nearby historic sites I should visit. The first was Worms, in 1521, Martin Luther made a statement here that caused the Holy Roman Emperor to declare him an outlaw and the Pope to excommunicate him…thus, the Protestant Reformation was born. Here’s some of the sights of Worms:
One of the oldest towns in Germany, settled by the Celts and later in 14 BC the Romans arrived. This is the Cathedral of St. Peter, parts of it dates back to 1018: I keep seeing chicken wind vanes…so I had to do some research. In the ninth century, Pope Nicholas decreed that a rooster would be displayed from every church steeple as a weather vane. They were to remind people of Peter’s three denials of Christ before the cock crowed.

A model of an older version of the Cathedral:

Floor grating:

David and Goliath:

Moses:

Another Adler eagle sign:

Heidelberg Altstadt (Old Town), Germany – 6 FEB 2011

On the way to the Alstadt, I passed this building with a plaque which stated: Bergheimerstrasse 20, Dr. Jose Rizal (1861-1896), Philippine national hero practiced his Rizal eye medicine here, from February to August 1886 under Professor Dr. Otto Becker director of the University Eye-clinic. This was one of the panels on a door, it was about 5"x5":

Then I reached the Alstadt...about 10 blocks from my hotel, it is the oldest section of town that is now a shopping/walking/eating area.

The door below, struck me like the Bierstadt painting in the National Gallery (MvAdler.com 1/8/2011 ) a place I could sit for hours and record people interacting.

Fresh roasted chestnuts vendor:

Translated: The central gate stood here from the early Middle Ages to 1827.
I always thought some people were religious about their Starbucks…now I have proof.

By the time I reached the end I was so exhausted, I had to take a cab back to the hotel…it cost $14.00.