The checkout from our Schwarzwald hotel was easy. Chuck the key in the letterbox and leave. That's it. Pretty casual arrangement.
From Bad Leibenzell we were heading to Heidelberg. This was a fairly short trip of just over an hour and was a pretty straightforward drive (once we got out of the winding roads of the forest).
We were fully aware of what we had booked in Heidelberg - a hotel, not high class, and a little way out of the city centre. The hotel 'Hotel DenRiko', however, offers free parking, free pets, is located next to a big shopping centre and is right on the tram line that goes directly to the best bits of the city. We can see our car from our hotel room, can't put a price on that can you. Well, the price is 55 Euros a night.
The hotel itself doesn't look anything like a hotel from the outside, very small, single level and possibly a bit shabby. Inside its one corridor with rooms on one side, about 7 in total! Our room is actually quite nice as standard hotel rooms go and we were instantly comfortable here.
We immediately left the hotel for the tram stop, got a day ticket (for 2 people 8.50 euros) and got on the tram to the city centre. We jumped off the tram after a 20 minute ride. We had a map with us and knew we weren't in 'the bit' but thought we would take a look at the other end of Heidelberg - Bergheim. The tram ride in had demonstrated Heidelberg was going to be a nice place with its nice old style suburban architecture.
Bergheim was a relatively quiet part of the city and we walked down the main street towards the 'Alt Stadt'. Along the way were plenty of bars, bakeries, cafes and businesses. This, although only about two kilometres from the Alt Stadt, is not a place tourists go to and seems for native Heidelbergers to go about their normal business.
The main road we were walking on was Berheimser Strasse and this ends at Bismarckplatz. At Bismarckplats its BOOM, an instant change and definitely the place where everyone comes to see 'the place'. This is a big tram and bus junction and the clear start to the tourist area of the Alt Stadt.
From Bad Leibenzell we were heading to Heidelberg. This was a fairly short trip of just over an hour and was a pretty straightforward drive (once we got out of the winding roads of the forest).
We were fully aware of what we had booked in Heidelberg - a hotel, not high class, and a little way out of the city centre. The hotel 'Hotel DenRiko', however, offers free parking, free pets, is located next to a big shopping centre and is right on the tram line that goes directly to the best bits of the city. We can see our car from our hotel room, can't put a price on that can you. Well, the price is 55 Euros a night.
The hotel itself doesn't look anything like a hotel from the outside, very small, single level and possibly a bit shabby. Inside its one corridor with rooms on one side, about 7 in total! Our room is actually quite nice as standard hotel rooms go and we were instantly comfortable here.
We immediately left the hotel for the tram stop, got a day ticket (for 2 people 8.50 euros) and got on the tram to the city centre. We jumped off the tram after a 20 minute ride. We had a map with us and knew we weren't in 'the bit' but thought we would take a look at the other end of Heidelberg - Bergheim. The tram ride in had demonstrated Heidelberg was going to be a nice place with its nice old style suburban architecture.
Bergheim was a relatively quiet part of the city and we walked down the main street towards the 'Alt Stadt'. Along the way were plenty of bars, bakeries, cafes and businesses. This, although only about two kilometres from the Alt Stadt, is not a place tourists go to and seems for native Heidelbergers to go about their normal business.
The main road we were walking on was Berheimser Strasse and this ends at Bismarckplatz. At Bismarckplats its BOOM, an instant change and definitely the place where everyone comes to see 'the place'. This is a big tram and bus junction and the clear start to the tourist area of the Alt Stadt.
Across Bismarckplatz is the Hauptstrasse, the street that runs the length of the Alt Stadt. It is claimed that this is one of the longest pedestrian streets in Europe.
The weather was finally good for us - FINALLY! This aided a more positive outlook and a chance to see Heidelberg bustling with life. We instantly liked this city.
The Haupstrasse was really busy with people, lots of shops and lots of out door dining. Such a change from our past few weeks of soggy sightseeing.
Near the end of the Hauptstrasse is the Church of the Holy Spirit and the Marktplatz, a large church and market place.
From here you can turn to look up into the hills to see the ruins of the Heidelberg Castle.
I always find that places that have a castle overlooking a city give it that extra bit of interest, a feeling of history and something ominous about a huge structure perched above the city below. It's cool okay.
From the Haupstraase you can walk more around the Alt Stadt, and wind up at the Neckar River and the Alte Brucke (Old Bridge). In years gone by when I have looked at photos of Heidelberg, one image always comes up which makes the place look so intriguing - an old stone bridge, leading to an old city with a castle on the hill. The bridge is the Alte Brucke and it was so nice to be standing on the image that's been in my mind for years. :)
By now we had been walking for ages, had skipped breakfast, the dog was with us and struggling, so it was time for a sit down and an early dinner. We had seen several places on the Hauptstrasse offering schnitzels so we wound our way back up there to find one.
Two beers, two schnitzels and slipping some to the dog.
This caught us by surprise at how filling it was, and maybe a bit light-headed from no prior food with beer (22.30, but we were generous and rounded it to 25 Euros). It was time to call it a day, so we caught a bus to Bismarckplatz and the tram back to our neighbourhood.
As the shopping centre is next to our hotel we picked up some snacks from there just in case a late night hunger pang struck...
...which it did. :)
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