The narrow streets of cobbled stone (and other improvised pavement types) were host to a diverse group of friends which resulted in an extraordinarily fun melting pot of personalities, moods and cultures, united under the “sus mainile” slogan. Romania (several regions), India, Great Britain, Switzerland, Vietnam and France were represented one way or another in the group who made the event memorable.

Here’s a mathematical question: V. had met A&A and C&L, but not B&N, A&A had also met B&N, but not C&L, who had also met B&N. How many introductions did I have to make?

Except those resulting from the question above, many – as we joined up with M.’s gang, and fun extended.

The next day we did a few trips in the surroundings, checking out some Transylvanian Saxon church-fortresses in the area, Malancrav and Biertan, and then V. and I took off to Brasov with B&N, who invited us over. We “ticked” Brasov, Bran and Rasnov off V. list, and added the “7-stairs Canyon” on our “to be revisited” list, as it was closed for the moment.

Pictures illustrating the above are here:

I ended 2008 with a trip to Zermatt, to see the Matterhorn, a week before going home for Christmas. Left by train at 7am (!) and returned at night at 10pm, 3.5 hours ride, but to me it was worth it, since I wanted to see this landscape with my own eyes.

Upon return in 2009, here are some images, in chronological order, in case it can tempt you for a skiing trip in Switzerland/Austria:

Davos/Klosters (CH)

Flims/Laax (CH)

Hoch-Ybrig (CH)

Flumserberg (CH)

Lenzerheide (CH)

Ischgl (AUT)

St. Anton am Arlberg (AUT)

Titlis (CH)

St. Moritz (CH)

Elm (‘s deep , CH)

Well, it was a very pleasant surprise. The first sight after emerging from the underground parking lot was this church

in this square

from where I randomly walked along this road

and then this road,

all very cozy, very colorful, but laid back, just like these people must feel enjoying a sunny day.

Stolen by the atmosphere, I got lost. Time for a map – asked for one at the first hotel I saw, and a kind gentleman gave it to me for free – getting a grip, I soon found the Residenz, apparently the largest palace in Germany, a UNESCO monument.

Monumental indeed, with a nice garden around it.

That being ticked, on to the next objective, fortress Marienberg – but on the way, time for a quick look inside the dome, where this interesting… candled ornament was posted at the entrance. To me it looks Hannukah-like.

Moving on, got to the river (Main), and to the fortress

which I admired only from downstairs, from the impressive Alte Mainbrueke – it was already too late to climb up.

On the way back

there was still time to discover some randomly spectacular church

and the famous university

The town impressed me a lot. It is accidentally beautiful in the sense that no matter where you go, you can accidentally find something to please your eye. Speaking of which, I found a suspect agglomeration of aesthetically pleasing-looking young ladies. Felt like in Romania. Probably the huge University is the key.

What stands for sure is that the grey spot for “Würzburg” is gone from my mind, with plenty of things on stock to replace it.

With that, on to the next planned stop, Leipzig.