Loading ...We decided to go to Heidelberg to ring the new year in. It’s a popular spot to celebrate New Year’s Eve, according to Rob, because of the spectacular fireworks show that happens along the Neccar River against the backdrop of the Heidelberger Schloss (schloss = castle/palace) all lit up.
We caught the train to Heidelberg at about 8pm. Walking to the train platform was treachurous as it had rained earlier and by this time the sidewalks were a sheet of ice. It’s a wonder I didn’t slip in my boots and break my neck, but I didn’t!
The plan was to go across the bridge to get the best view. But first, we wanted to eat something hearty and have a couple beers so we decided to check out Binsebub’s, not knowing if it would be open. It was! AND they had a free buffet with all kinds of yummy German dishes, appetizers and other finger food. Score!
We had a few beers, bought a couple to go (yes, you can buy beer to go from just about every pub and restaurant here, and you can walk around with beer, too), and at about 11:30, right when we were about to leave, the proprietors broke open some fabulous champagne and starting serving everyone. It would have been rude not to drink what was set down in front of us. Rob gulped his down so we wouldn’t be late, but I can’t drink like that so I put us behind schedule. The proprietor signaled me to guzzle it, LOL, and told us to be sure and come back to eat some more as they would be still be open. (Champagne is the quickest way to get me absolutely drunk, by the way!)
We didn’t make it across the bridge. By the time we got up there, it was already midnight and too crowded to move through, but the fireworks in the street were still festive and exciting. It was crazy like the Wild West! People singing and cheering, shooting off firewalks and walking around with all manner of bottles and drinks, LOL! We got to the bridge entrance, broke open our beers and took in all the fun, video rolling.
So here’s a couple videos from the Rob and Danielle Show and all the action and festivities along the Neccar River right before and after the stroke of midnight, raw and unadulterated, LOL. Sorry, they’re a bit dark, but they lighten up at places and you can definitely hear how crazy it all was. First one is about 9 minutes and the second one about 8 minutes long:
At about 12:30, we wanted to check out our other favorite watering place, a world famous university gasthaus located right by the bridge towers called Schnookeloch, which means “mosquito hole”, but they were already closing for the night so we headed back to Binsebub’s where there was more partying to be had. We chatted and partied with all kinds of interesting people there that night. A retired professor (from the University of Heidelberg) and his wife who had just come from a classical concert in Mannheim. He was also a musician and regaled us with his stories of working with classical musicians who couldn’t play a thing unless it was on a sheet in front of them, and his other passion–playing improvizational and dixieland jazz on his accordian.
Then we met a couple of sociologists. The guy was super intense. He was one great big giant brain, but very funny and gregarious at the same time. Rob and he talked and debated about history and politics all night. The girlfriend, also a sociologist and psychologist, was so nice and spoke a bit of English. We pretty much hung out together the rest of the night and made fun of the guys. Another one of the more interesting people was this cancer researcher who was originally from Russia and, like Rob, had been all around world. He definitely had some very strong opinions and ideas about the state of affairs in the world today!
Bars here in Germany stay open later than in the U.S. and it was 3:30 in the morning when the owners started closing down! Time had flown by and we had no idea it was that late (or early, as the case was). Trying to get home was an adventure in itself. By the time we walked back to the depot, our last train had already left. While we waited around to see if there were going to be any buses headed back to Mannheim, we met a couple American guys, civil contractors working at the U.S. base in Mannheim. We decided to all catch a cab together and split the fare in half. We were lucky to get one since EVERYONE was trying to do the same thing, and it was a huge relief once we did. I think we probably got home about 4:30 or so.
Today, we have just been laying around in bed having a totally relaxing day and listening to old radio shows on the computer (one of my favorite things to do). It is an absolute wonder that I am not hungover when I think of all the booze we drank last night, LOL. I think the good, hearty German fare helped cushion our abuse, LOL.
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