Regensburg: Our First Half-Day Trip

Excitement played in my veins as the Beamer rolled down Autobahn 3 into Regensburg, Germany. The historical city, which is only a short half-hour drive from our hometown, is our closest metropolis.

Beyond the excellent shopping opportunities that always interest a girl like me, the city seemed to offer significant history on every street corner. The architecture endeared the city to me at first sight. The edible treats available every 3 1/2 meters (approximately 10 1/2 feet) tempted my tastebuds. The colorfully dressed citizens with punked-out dos brought fond memories of the 80s to my mind. It was a short but sweet trip that took us to four of the most visited sites in Regensburg, and we did it all in about 4 hours.

Our first stop in Regensburg was to the Arkaden Mall, a shopping Mecca for many Bavarians that live in the rural Bavarian land between Munich and Nurnberg. With travel on the brain, we needed a GPS system that included European information, so we made our way to Media Max, which is basically a Best Buy for Germany. Weirdly enough, I saw my very first Blu-Ray movie demoing on an LG flatscreen TV while in Media Max. The movie was "Avatar," and after watching the movie for about 5 minutes, I was convinced that Blu-Ray really is better than HD-DVD. The clarity was mesmerizing, and it really took me a few minutes of watching it to suddenly realize that I was not paying any attention to the movie whatsoever because I was so enraptured with the visual clarity. Once I did pay attention to the movie, I realized that it was indeed as interesting as my parents said the movie was, and I decided that an "Avatar" DVD purchase may be looming in our future.

Afterward, we decided to grab--and I literally mean grab--some sushi at Akiko Running Sushi. In truth, it was not the best sushi I have ever had. However, it was the most fun sushi I have ever eaten. It's an "All You Can Eat in 1/2 Hour" sushi place where the servings are given in little bowls that travel around an encased conveyor belt. At each seat, there is a little door where the patron can reach into the encasing and grab whatever sushi selection they would like to eat. The soups and teriyaki dishes which were cooked had a good selection of vegetables in the mix and a spicy heat that both Kye and I enjoyed. Keats ate his very first octupus nigiri and said it was delicious, plowing through several bowls of it.

For sushi lovers, sushi is typically an event as much as it is a meal. In Germany, this holds true for most meals, no matter what is on the menu. Restaurant owners and servers expect for you to take your time when ordering, eating, and lounging after dinner. Spending 2-3 hours at a restaurant for a meal is very typical of dining out experiences in Germany. However, because Ian and I really wanted to just "eat and run" so that we could see more of Regensburg, Akiko Running Sushi was a perfect choice for a quick meal before a short jaunt in the city. We both appreciated the time limit given to the dining experience at Akiko and recommend it for those who may be in the area, hungry, and in a rush.

Following dinner, we made our way through the Regensburg Haufbahnhof. The Haufbahnhof is the main train station in any city or town in Germany. In Regensburg, the Haufbahnhof was a beehive of activity, with people rushing to and fro, and trains huffing in and puffing out. It was a very different site for Keats and I who have never been near such a large train station. While in the station, we decided to visit the "Water Closet" or "WC," which is the universal name for the toilet, and there happened to be one in Burger King. May I say, you can not always "have it your way" at Burger King. It was 50 cents to visit the WC, and I wanted it free. Oh well, I'm sure it won't be the last time I pay to answer nature's call while in Europe.

Leaving the Haufbahnhof, we stepped out onto Maximillianstrasse (Maximillian Street), which runs through the downtown specialty shopping district of Donau. In this area of town, everything is overpriced. We bought two pairs of socks for Kye for 7 Euro, as the PX does not carry toddler socks on post. We were also looking at a pair of shoes for him, as he is quickly outgrowing the shoes he currently wears, but we balked at paying 51 Euro for a pair of sneakers. That's about the equivalent of $63.

However, I guess the district feels that they can get away with charging for more because the shops are in the oldest part of Regensburg. In this district, the streets are made of stone and the architecture is stunning. Right around the corner from the Donau district are some of the oldest buildings in Germany, with many buildings that date back to the 12th, 13th and 14th Centuries. In this same area we found the most important and historically significant church in Regensburg, St. Peter's Cathedral. It is an awe-inspiring structure dedicated to the same St. Peter of the famed St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome.

Wanting to take in the atmosphere of the city, we sat down in a plaza and enjoyed some German ice cream. Keats loved watching the birds that were so domesticated they would hop right next to you and perch without a care for their own safety because they are protected by law in the city. For this reason, many of the buildings have nets surrounding their upper floors to keep the birds from perching and pooping on the buildings. Others keep the birds away by attaching decorative spike strips on window sills and gutters.

The entire trip was a memorable family outing with a little culture, a little history, and a little fun. Be sure to look at the pictures in my slide show to the right of this article. Also, if you want more information on Regensburg, check out the links below.

Regensburg's History
Regensburg Historical Highlights