Heidelberg: Because YOLO

Before hopping on the bus to Heidelberg I decided that I had better experience a spa while I was in one of the most famous spa towns in Europe.  I received a recommendation for a place called Caracalla Spa (http://www.carasana.de/en/caracalla-spa) It cost me 17 € for a 3hour admission ticket.  This place was massive.  It consists mainly of a large pool and a complex of saunas.

Here's a picture I or someone else drew showing the complexity of it.

Even clean pools are dirty, you just can't see it.

The pool was family friendly but the saunas were not.  Besides the pool area, most other places did not necessitate clothes.  Children from the age of 7 to 14 are allowed in the sauna areas if accompanied by an adult.  This struck me as a very distinct cultural difference from the USA.  The spa also offered services such as massages but it was clearly an aside to the pool and saunas.

Feeling reinvigorated,  I hopped on a bus north to Heidelberg. I arrived there in early afternoon with plenty of time to explore.

Geographic representation

   Heidelberg is one of the many cities around the world that has a US military base in it.  Because of that, there is a large portion of Americans in Heidelberg (apporximately 60,000 out of 147,000).

Heidelberg

Much of Heidelberg's old buildings and architecture still exists.  This is because we did not level it during WWII like we did with other German cities.  

I was hungry so I made that my first priority in Heidelberg.  I managed to find a vegetarian restaurant called  Effulgence-Waves (http://www.das-grüne-restaurant.de/).  

Restaurant Logo

I got a fantastic tofu and spinach dish for 6.90 €.  The staff was friendly and the food was very fresh.  

Next I went to the famous Heidelberg Castle.  Construction of the castle dates back to the 1300s.  The castle is made up of several buildings and a courtyard.  

Castle

  The castle cost 7 € for a tour.  The best part was that it included entrance to the German Pharmacy Museum (http://www.deutsches-apotheken-museum.de/englisch/index-en.php), which was inside the castle.  The museum has over 20,000 artifacts about the history of pharmacy.  

It was kind of weird.

 I had a really good tour guide:

Hilda was a doll.

I was getting tired so I figured I better call it a day if I was going to have any energy tomorrow.  I found a hotel called Hotel Kohler (http://www.hotel-kohler.de/index2_engl.htm).  

Picture of the outside of the hotel.

 My room only costed 49 €, but I had to use a public shower and toilet.  It also didn't come with breakfast so I had to eat on the go.

Shabby

I woke up feeling refreshed after a long nights sleep.   I gathered up my things and was on my way 90km north to Frankfurt.