Ulm.

This past Sunday, with no specific plans ahead of me, I decided to take advantage of the German train system and take a trip in Bayern. Given the city's hour trip away from Kempten, I ended up in Ulm (and rode through 'Neu Ulm', for my Grandma and Grandpa's sake). The city on the Donau river has been a major trade center throughout history, and is home to the Ulm Cathedral - which has the highest church tower in the world as it's peak (161, 53 Meters). I climbed all 763 steps to the top of the tower, which gave me a beautiful view over the city of Ulm and the Donau all the way to the Alps. I wouldn't say it didn't leave you feeling slightly tired afterward though - The Stairs of Death at Wolf Ridge look like kid's stuff after climbing those dizzying flights. The gothic church is beautiful though - drafty like most churches from older times, but huge and beautiful. It was actually built and paid for by the people of Ulm, which is pretty cool.

At the top of Ulmer Münster ( Ulm Cathedral).

Looking at down at the other side of the church.

The central city of Ulm - the circular white building is the city center, and the dark triangular buildings on the left is 'Neubau', now the police station. The small white tents below were part of a farmers/spring market taking place while I was there.

Looking out over the Donau.

Inside the tower.

Ulmer Münster from the back.

Stained glass windows in the altar.

Inside the church (which is one of the few extremely well-known churches in Europe that's Evangelical (protestant)).

Looking up at the organ, which (I believe) is the second biggest in the world.

After seeing the church and buying some dried cranberries, I took a tour of the city. Above is a picture of the 'Ulmer Spatz', or Sparrow which is all over the city and has become a symbol for the people of Ulm. I liked the handprints and music relations on this one.

The Rathaus in Ulm. The building was originally built as a department store for the people of Ulm to have a place fore their markets and to go shopping, but was later turned into the city hall. The entire outside is painted in this mustard yellow, and is incredibly intricate. I found it quite cool. Above is the clock sitting on one of the sides of the buliding - it has about 5 different hands and many more interpretations including the normal time, the 'official' time of Ulm determined cosmically or something with Arabic numbers, the Zodiac season, and other things. A normal clock stands above it (so the people of Ulm didn't have to think so hard when they just wanted to know the time), and a sundial as well.

One of the Fachwerk houses in Butcher's square. The gray/blue coverings on the windows were once part of a system where the shopping was down right to and from the houses, and goods were carried up on a pully system. The Butchers were able to transport their meat right from this square area, given it stood next to the Donau river.

In front of the Butcher's square - walking on the city wall.

'Metzgerturm' - the Butcher's tower. The tower stands along the city wall, and leans incredible to the side (to the point where you dont know if it will stay in place or not - although proof has been given that it hasn't moved in years). The story goes that, given the tower was the home to prisoners for a while, when the Hangman came to take the prisoners away they got so scared and all moved to one side of the tower, causing it to lean on it's side given most of them were Butchers and therefore always had something good to eat.

Looking out at the traditional houses from the city wall.

das 'schiefes Haus' - known in the Guinness Book of World Records as the most slanting/crooked/leaning house and/or hotel in the world, because the people who had originally built it built their foundation on the loose sand of the river that has now caused it to sink 40 cm into the river. The house is now a hotel with special furniture for the slanting floor that helps you to sleep straight. There was a small Cafe right on the river in front, and it was fun to sit and have a cappuccino along the 'Blue' river - an area in Ulm that is called 'little Venice' because of its small canals formed by the Little and Big Blue rivers (called blue because of their depth which turns their color and deep blue) that run into the Donau.

Walking along the small streets of Ulm - this one is called 'Küsschen' (little kiss) street, because the houses are so warped that they now almost touch eachother at the top.

The 'Schwörhaus' in Ulm (1300s), where the mayor gives a speech each July about the city and what has happened in the last year.

"Art is like creation
and is essential on the first day
and on the last day. " - Paul Klee

Visiting an art exhibit about 'Paul Klee and the Romantics'. I like the colors and abstract ideas of Paul Klee, but his sketches and work aren't one of my favorites. I did get to see paintings from Picasso, Kandinsky and Franz Marc though, which was pretty cool. Marc is one of my favorites, for both his interest in the 'earth idea' and use of color. And Picasso is, of course, amazing.

Beautiful trees in the gardens along the city wall.

At the end of my day I spent some time to lay my feet in the Donau river before taking the train home.

Oh, although he only lived in Ulm for a year or so, Albert Einstein was actually born in the city. I looked for his house, but was dissapointed to find I either was to confused to figure out where it was, or it had been ruined during the bombings in WWII, like many buildings.