Miltenberg, Lower Franconia, Bavaria

Port number 3 of the Grand European Tour on the Viking Skirnir, November, 2024

 

Judging from the fountain that greeted us just outside of the public restrooms, the folks in the town of Miltenberg (pop. 9400, more or less) have a sense of humor. Note: Miltenberg residents are referred to as "group pissers" by the people in the surrounding towns. 

Alter Marktplatz

Town Square

I am always fascinated by the way Europeans blend modern shops with medieval structures

This statue indicates "Here is a Catholic settlement"

Memorial brasses set into the sidewalk in front of the houses where Jews lived and were taken away by the Nazis. The brasses tell when they were taken and when/where they died in the death camps. 

Built in 1333

The same building as above; you can see how the oak beams have warped over the centuries as the building has settled

Hotel Zum Riesen/Inn of the Giant/The Giant Hotel

Said to be the oldest in Germany

Built in 1411, according to our tour guide; but I found places online saying parts of it date from 1158

Elvis Presley stayed there when he was in the U.S. Army and stationed in Germany

Old Town Hall, sandstone building from the 14th century

It is still used for cultural events and concerts

Yellow building now housing a butcher shop, Miltenberg. 

Note, as pointed out by the tour guide: During the witchcraft trials, butchers (and bakers) were never accused of witchcraft--possibly because they were so essential to the townspeople.

Germany has over 1000 kinds of sausage and 3000 kinds of bread.

The Flag Pin Controversy

Here is a quote from a blog that I just found. To read the rest of this post, please go to the wonderfully-named Don't Tell the Children.

I am fascinated by this outbreak of American flag pins in men's lapels. What does it mean? How did the movement get started? I suppose it must be a means of identification: as in, "I am an American citizen" as opposed to "I am an Egyptian citizen" and that is helpful to dispel confusion. What happens if you are a man, in a suit, and don't have an American flag pin displayed in the lapel? I have heard, although I did not see this, that a reporter on TV asked a candidate why he was not wearing an American flag pin - ( I heard that this reporter was that sweet-faced George Stephanopolis). The implication must be that if one does not consistently wear a flag pin, one must be a terrorist sympathizer. Is this what George Stephanopolis meant?

...Wearing ribbons and other insignia to show your backing of a particular cause (usually health related) is not new but the negative connotation of this one (Where is your flagpin?") is new. We are all Americans, so there is nothing identifying those wearing them from the rest of us unless they are "super-Americans." Not since Nazi Germany has the wearing of a badge, or not wearing a badge, meant trouble. Remember how brave it was for the King of Denmark to wear a yellow star to show that he and his country were one,and if the Nazis took any Jews they would have to take him?? That was a lapel pin that meant something.

Postscript from clairz: I was interested to find that the story of King Christian of Denmark wearing the yellow star in support of his country's Jews is not true in its specifics, although true in spirit, according to snopes.com. In checking further, I found that the children's book by Carmen Agra Deedy that I am familiar with is named The Yellow Star: The Legend of King Christian X of Denmark.