Hi, kids! It’s me, Flat Stanley Brayden, back with another amazing day in Nuremberg. Today was so much fun—I learned all about castles, famous artists, and even got to eat gingerbread fresh from the oven. Let’s dive into the day!
Breakfast in My Cabin
I started my morning with breakfast right in the cabin. It was so cozy watching the river while I munched on toast and sipped orange juice. Afterward, I got ready for a big adventure—a tour called Splendors of Nuremberg that took me all around this amazing city.
The Founding of Nuremberg
Did you know Nuremberg is almost 1,000 years old? It was founded way back in 1050 because it was in a great spot for trade. People used to travel with wagons full of goods, and Nuremberg became a busy marketplace where people traded things like cloth, spices, and tools.
The city had two giant walls built to protect it. The first one went up in 1170, but the city grew so much that they had to build a second wall in the 1300s! The walls are still standing, and they’re so tall and strong that you can imagine knights protecting the city long ago.
A Visit to Nuremberg Castle
Our first stop on the tour was the Nuremberg Castle, which sits high on a hill overlooking the city. This castle was super important in the Middle Ages because it protected the people and showed how powerful Nuremberg was.
The castle has tall towers and thick stone walls, and I felt like a knight exploring the grounds. From the top of the hill, I could see all of Nuremberg—it looked like a patchwork quilt of red rooftops and cobblestone streets. Did you know that kings and queens used to stay here when they visited the city?
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| What a view |
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| That's a lock! |
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And that's a door
Albrecht Dürer: Nuremberg’s Famous ArtistNext, I visited the Albrecht Dürer House, which is where Nuremberg’s most famous artist lived. Albrecht Dürer was born here in 1471, and he became one of the most important artists of the Renaissance. That’s a time about 500 years ago when art and science were super popular in Europe. Dürer made detailed paintings, engravings, and woodcuts. One of his most famous works is called Young Hare, a drawing of a rabbit that looks so real it’s like it could hop off the page! Outside his house, there’s a big Rabbit Statue inspired by that drawing. It’s funny because the statue’s ears are huge, and it looks a little silly, but it’s a cool way to remember his art. |
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Building Advent Calendar
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| 1st Day of Advent and the Christmas Angel |
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| 2nd day of Advent and Durer's Rabbit |
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| Albrecht Durer's house |
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| Haus is House in German |
More sites on walk down the hill.
Giant Churches and a Special Clock
After the castle, I walked downhill into the Old Town to visit two giant churches. The first was St. Sebald’s Church, which is over 800 years old! It’s made of stone and has beautiful stained-glass windows. During World War II, the church was damaged, but the people of Nuremberg worked hard to rebuild it, so now it’s as beautiful as ever.
Next, I saw the Church of Our Lady (Frauenkirche) in the market square. This church has a special clock called the Männleinlaufen, which means "the little men walk." Every day at noon, the clock comes to life, and tiny figurines spin around. It’s like a giant, fancy version of a cuckoo clock!
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| I keep telling my mom that I am an angel, so is this proof! |
A Gingerbread Treat at the Christmas Market
The tour ended at the Christkindlesmarkt, Nuremberg’s famous Christmas market. While wandering around, I found a building where they were baking fresh lebkuchen, a type of gingerbread Nuremberg is known for. The smell was so good I couldn’t resist trying one fresh from the oven. It was warm, soft, and full of spices like cinnamon and cloves. YUM!
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| He glazed our cookie for us right out of the oven. |
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| Fresh Gingerbread cookie, still warm after coming out of the oven |
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| Well, Chestnuts roasted on a grill, not an open fire in the middle of a crowded market. |
Lunch and a Canal Adventure
After the tour, I went back to the ship for lunch, which was delicious as always. In the afternoon, I had two choices: go back to the Christmas market or stay on the ship and ride down the canal. I picked the canal ride because I’d already spent lots of time at the market.
The ship passed through something called locks, which are like giant water elevators for boats. When the ship enters the lock, the water level changes to lift or lower it so it can continue along the canal. The crew even had to lower the bridge on the Sun Deck so the ship could fit under low-clearance areas. They warned us, “Watch your heads!” as we entered the lock. It was so cool watching the ship rise and fall with the water.
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| The Avalon Illumination's Bell |
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| Entering the Locks |
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| Toni watching as we enter the 1st lock |
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| Toni ducking |
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| Plenty of room |
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| Entering the Locks |
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| The Door of the locks is HUGE!! |
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| There is only inches between the ship and wall of the Locks |
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| Exiting the locks |
Evening Fun on the Ship
After the lock adventure, I rested for a while before heading to Happy Hour in the lounge. Dinner was fantastic, and I got to talk with other travelers about everything we’d seen.
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| Everyone is happy at happy hour |
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| The entire Southern Maryland Crew |
At night, the ship kept passing through locks, which made little splashing sounds as the water moved. I fell asleep thinking about castles, clocks, and that yummy gingerbread. Tomorrow, we’re setting sail for our next stop along the Danube River. I can’t wait to tell you all about it!
Educational Notes for Kids
What’s a Lock?
A lock is like a giant bathtub for boats! It helps boats move up or down between two different water levels. Engineers build locks so boats can travel across rivers and canals with hills and valleys.
Who Was Albrecht Dürer?
Albrecht Dürer was a super-famous artist from Nuremberg during the Renaissance (a time when art, music, and science were really important). He was one of the first artists to make money selling prints of his work, kind of like an artist selling posters today!
What’s Lebkuchen?
Lebkuchen is a German gingerbread that’s soft, spicy, and full of flavor. It’s been a holiday tradition in Nuremberg for over 600 years.
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