Heidelberg #3 - Side trip to Schwetzingen

It is an absolutely beautiful day today. No clouds, sunny, and pleasant temperature. Kim told us about a nice place she and Billy visited yesterday - Schwetzingen - a nearby town and palace. It is just 10 km. from Heidelberg so we take a taxi arriving in front of the palace about 9:45. Schwetzingen is Germany's asparagus center although no asparagus at this time of year. There is a big festival here in the spring and local restaurants feature dishes with asparagus. 

Schwetzingen is famous for its Schlöss, a formal palace constructed as a summer residence by the Palatinate electors. The rose-colored palace is imposing and harmonious and is surrounded by an extensive park that blends formal French and informal English styles. It even has a exotic mosque and a "classical ruin" that were de rigeur for this period. 

It is quiet and peaceful and we are among a small number of people walking around these beautiful grounds. The palace itself is closed for renovation. You could wander for hours and never cover the same territory. There isn't a lot in bloom now but we walk through open grassy areas with fountains and statues and into woods with ponds. The mosque and the "ruins" are interesting. The buildings are particularly pretty in the morning light and it is an ideal time to take pictures. We leave the palace grounds and have lunch at a restaurant just outside the palace gate that makes its own beer. We have sausages, sauerkraut and potato salad for lunch. I think I have had enough of sausages and sauerkraut at this point good as they are here. Kathy, John and Dave return to the palace gardens to walk around some more but I choose to sit on a bench for awhile and then walk on the small pedestrian street scouting out ice cream places. That is what we do when we get back together. Love that gelato! It is quite warm and we have had enough so take a taxi back to our hotel for a rest and packing for tomorrow.

We are tired of German food so walk along the Hauptstrasse until we find an Italian restaurant. It turns out to be an excellent choice. It is tucked away in a pretty courtyard adjacent to a museum. We sit ourside where It is quiet and we enjoy our last meal together sharing memories of the trip. According to my Vivofit, I walked 8.5 miles today.

This will be my last entry for this trip as we fly home tomorrow. We'll get a shuttle here in Heidelberg to the Frankfurt airport for our 5:25 p.m. flight home. It has been a wonderful if challenging and tiring trip at times and I am extremely grateful that I was able to come. I travel in a bubble on these trips shutting out any worries or concerns at home and just live in the present enjoying each moment and the stimulation of all my senses. Who knows what next year will bring but I will always have the memories of this trip to relive no matter where I am or what my circumstances. 

                                        The Palatinate palace at Schwetzingen

                              Sculpture commemorating the asparagus grown in this area

                                        The palace is immense

                                           Inside the mosque grounds

           Linda and Dave at the classical "ruins"

                                       Kathy and John in the window of the mosque