Shortly after we left Regensburg, we entered the Rhine-Main-Danube waterway, a 106 mile canal built to connect the Danube and Main rivers. This engineering marvel took 32 years to complete and includes 16 locks, 7 aquaducts and connects 15 European countries. A path runs the length of the canal and is extensively used by bicyclists, walkers and runners.
Three of the locks are approximately 85 feet high each - as high as an 8 story building.
Nuremberg is best known as the site of the trials after WWII where many Nazi leaders were tried for war crimes, but it was also home of the Nazi congress - a meeting drawing tens of thousands held every September allowing Hitler to show his supporters the strength of the Nazi party. Several of the structures build to support this event still exist. The massive grandstands at Zepplin Field accommodated the huge crowds that came to view the various Nazi groups. Hitler wanted his structures to be massive and strong to symbolize the strength of his Nazi party. Several of these structures still exist and are used today for activities opposite their original intentions -- for instance, one houses a center dedicated to helping oppressed peoples and another houses a museum showcasing the atrocities commited by the Nazi party with a learning center to promote tolerance and understanding.
The Documentation Center, housed in the original Nazi Congress Hall shows pictures and films narrated via audio guides in several languages. As tours generally go, we didn't have time to look at and listen to every single display, but our guide was exceptionally knowledgeable in taking us to Hitler's various venues and comparing pix of what it looked like in the 30's to what is there now. There is also a portion of the center that focuses on education of the youth to prevent racism, etc. so that history will never repeat itself. Pretty incredible!
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