The plan for today was to transit 250K to Tubingen, stopping in Ulm mainly to see the Minster. (Minster, or in German Münster, is a title given to some large and important churches. It is mostly used in England, famously for York Minster.)
The morning was only partly cloudy as we grabbed some breakfast in Füssen and hit the Autobahn north. Our route for the day was pretty much all freeway.
As we headed north a large dark cloud appeared centered over Ulm and when we got there, it was raining.
Monster Minster
Ulm Minster is an immense Gothic church. It claims to be the tallest in the world, with its spire topping out at over 530 feet. For reference, the Washington Monument is only 20 feet higher. The Space Needle in Seattle is 605; Ulm's spire would reach to its viewing deck.
The interior is vast in proportion. The central nave is huge, and it is flanked by side aisles that are as long and wider.
The weather was nasty as we walked through a farmer's market to the church.
Our guidebook had alerted us to the fact that there was a weekday organ concert at noon. We hurried inside, paid €3 each, and found a pew. The 40-minute concert had mostly familiar organ pieces, ending with Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance. Fun. Then we had some time to look around inside.
Basic impression on first entry. (Do click through.)
The 8000-pipe organ.
The ceiling of the nave.
Trying to convey the hugeness of the side aisles.
The choir was large and had acres of elaborate wood carvings. Making it must have kept a flock of carvers fully employed for generations.
Ulm is on the Danube. We lunched in the car on the riverside, and Marian tried for a picture that would show how the Minster dominates the skyline, but it's impossible.
The glass pyramid is the public library (2004).
Tübingen
So, on to Tübingen. We checked into our hotel, a small place. And shortly asked for a change of room. The room they put us in at first, at the back, had very flaky wi-fi reception, so we asked to be moved to the front where (we had verified by walking up and down the halls with a laptop) the wi-fi was stronger. Now we're on the street so it may be noisier, but hey, you gotta have your priorities.
Later we went out for a very pleasant supper of Maultaschen, basically giant raviolis that are a local specialty. They were very good, and the service was good, too.
In finding this restaurant we walked just a little in the old town center and need to go back, it's very interesting.
Gassed
We arrived in Tübingen with very little fuel in the tank, so filled up the Black B-Class. This started with what must have been, to an onlooker, a very amusing Stooges routine: we pull up to a pump in a very busy gas station and only then realize, we don't know how to open the fuel cover. We search the cockpit for any kind of lever or button. Then we pull the car out of line to let other people through, and search some more. Marian frantically riffles through the owner's manual (which is in German of course). Finally David pushes the other edge of the fuel door and it pops open. It doesn't have an lock; you just have to know how to press on it.
So now we get back in line and fill up. It takes just over 50 liters (13.2 US Gal); the B-Class has a big tank. Cost? Just over €75, not quite $100. Yeesh. Well, it's just like filling the tank in the RV; a different quantity but the same price and same distance traveled, about.
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