Middle Germany - Ulm/Rothenburg

We ventured out for a three-day weekend during our last Christmas season in Europe to experience the best of the best, Christmas markets...We were not disappointed! Ulm made the list not because of its Christmas Market, but because it's home to the world's tallest cathedral and it's the birthplace of Albert Einstein! The cathedral was indeed very impressive and on the windiest day of the year, we climbed all 768 stairs to the very top (whew - that was a lot of stairs!). Most of the buildings were destroyed during the war, including Einstein's birthplace, but there is a small plaque commemorating the site. They had an unexpectedly great Christmas market complete with a live animal nativity scene and we enjoyed our 3 hour visit immensely. Next stop, Rothenberg ob der Tauber - it's a walled city, ya know. This city has so much charm it's hard to believe it's real. We visited the city in the evening, walked around the market, drank some gluehwein and ate at a 700 year old restaurant! See Ulm pictures here, and Rothenberg pictures here.