Passau - Home to Gingerbread and Cuckoo Clocks, but not Lutherans

Passau, the last stop on our cruise, and the only stop in Germany.

Our day started with the meeting of our tour guide, Brigitta. She was tiny, lively, swift, and quite a delightful beldame. "Hurry, hurry, come on now!" I'm certain we lost half our tour due to her pace.

"Anyone need go to Pee Pee Place?" Is there, hurry up now, follow me!" And off we went on a dizzying caper through the riverside hilltown of Passau. As were ALL of the towns we went through, this was lovely as well. With its old and new. This, the "bit of old" is the Oberhausmuseum. The date that you see here, is not 1999 as it somewhat seems. It is 1499. The number 4 was written as a character representing half the character of 8. I know, Hashtag mindblown. Me too.

So our walking tour was a bit of a blur. Those few of us decades younger than the sprightly Briggita, struggled to keep pace. The others sort of drifted off along the way. But I wouldn't have missed this wee spitfire for anything. She was hilarious. We had spent so much time in Austria, Hungary and Czech Republic, all predominantly Catholic that we arrived in Germany, hoping to find "our people". No chance. Our Frau let us know right off that the area was "mostly Catholic. And Tank Gott No Luterans, Ugh!". Well alrighty then. Can you pass the Gluwein?

The end of our tour saw us seated in a blessedly heated tent, staffed by a chap crowned with chefs hat, and another lady of undetermined occupation. This was a demonstration of the history of Gingerbread and the Advent Wreath and the relationship between both of these. It was fascinating, free samples notwithstanding. Leaving the tent was a bit like exiting the Star Tours ride at Hollywood Studios, takes you right into a shoppers paradise of souvenirs, kitsch, and in this case, delicious gingerbread in any flavor you can imagine.

A word about the local Gingerbread. I've had it here in the states, but there aint nothing, I repeat NOTHING, like the real thing from Germany. I'm considering the purchase of a third airline ticket for our next trip, just to house a whole suitcase dedicated to the importing of this spicy treat.

After our tour, we did as we always do. Found a Christmas market, bought some Gluwein, and searched for food. Oh boy. Brats and onions, with a side of crinkle fries, topped by a drizzle of siracha. Granted, not the most salubrious of an early dinner, but a delicious one, to be sure.

 So we wandered on, enjoying the sights and the shops. The lovely buildings, like this one

 And stumbled upon yet another unexpected Sisi Sighting. I believe this above was the hotel she stayed at when in residence.

 Oh! And here we are. Sometimes we can't actually prove that we were on the actual trip, since all the pictures are of the pretty things, and not much of us at all.

It was right around this spot that we located an "Official" Cuckoo Store. This was important. When our little girl found out that we would be going to Germany she pleaded, with all of the feminine wiles a crafty blue eyed 6 yr old can command. "Daddy" blink blink "would you buy me just one little tiny Cuckoo Clock on your trip". Oh come on (thought I), what does a 6 or 7 year old want with a Cuckoo Clock?

Well is there any doubt as to how this happened? If there is, go and Google, "Daddy's Little Girl" 

Bye for now. Next stop is the spectacularly Underwhelming Tour of the Bavarian Countryside.