Hottest day in 10 years !!!

Yep thats right, hottest day recorded for 10 years in Heidelberg. Our heat curse is still following us around the world. Fortunately,  as it was so hot (hovering around the 40 degree mark) we chose to walk up the side of the steepest hill in Germany to look around the hilltop castle, photo from yesterdays blog. It was well worth the walk. Since nobody had yet died from heat stress we took the fanicular down & walked up the opposite hill over the river for the view back. By this time it was about 1.30 & we had enough heat & headed back to our lovely air conditioned room. We caught the un air conditioned, very crowded, fixed window bus home, it must have been about 50 degrees in the bus. But now while writing this we are cool cucumbers in our room. Today is my birthday.
(happy birthday to myself).

 

Looking down at the old bridge & township on the walk up to the castle.

 

On one of the side courtyards of the castle looking over Heidelberg.

 

Another view over Heidelberg with one of the 5 ABCs near the centre.

 

One of the more wrecked sides of the castle.

 

Looking directly over the Neckar from the courtyard.

 

Yvonne near some really old rock wall.

 

A 220,000 litre oak wine barrel, built under the castle walls. I couldn't fit it in the picture no matter where I stood.

 

A room showing the thickness of the outer walls of well over 12 feet. Although it was very hot outside it was cool & in the low twenties inside & under the castle.

 

A wrecked turret, damaged in one of the many wars since the 1200s.

 

Another side view of one of the more damaged areas.

 

Seen from further back in the palace gardens.

 

Heading down the steep slope underground in the fanicular.

 

Looking up river while crossing the old bridge.

 

Yvonne at the openings of one of the turrets off the courtyard.

 

Looking back from the courtyard at one of the more intact areas of the palace.