Soon after we arrived in Nuremberg this morning we were told that they had managed to refloat the barge and get it out of the lock so no need to change boats. Everyone seemed quite relieved, including the crew. The only tour choice today was a bus and walking tour within the old part of the city. Records show that Nuremberg goes back to the 11th century and during the 13th century had developed into one of Europe's greatest trading towns.

More recently the city also became well known as the location for Hitler's annual Nazi party rallies in the 1930s and later after the war as the site for the Nuremberg Trials. It is now well known for its trade fairs, production of toys, its Christmas market and its gingerbread, which has no ginger in it, and is known as "Lebkuchen". Most of the city was completely destroyed during a 90 minute bombing raid in WWII so many of the buildings we saw had been completely rebuilt (using the same stone) or repaired. Oddly enough the huge justice buildings with their jails behind the courts were not damaged which was why the war trials were able to be held here.

On our way in by bus we passed the one place in Germany where any Autobahn in Germany has traffic lights on it. The problem is that it goes straight through the city and this is being rectified. We passed the Justice building and headed for the Zeplin Field and Grandstands where the Nazi Party rallies were held. Some of the grandstand has been torn down as it became unsafe but most of it is still there. It is being overgrown a bit with weeds etc but is being left like this on purpose as the authorities do not want to see it becoming a shrine for neo-Nazis or anyone else.

Nearby is the Nazi Congress Hall which was never finished. It has been left in its original state. Apparently it was supposed to have a roof on it but engineers today say that based on the engineering plans they have seen the roof would have collapsed had it been built. Hitler would not have been happy and the engineers are probably quite lucky it never got to that.

During our free time we wandered around what was left of the old city, tasted the local beer and sausages and bought some Lebkuchen (gingerbread - but without much ginger in them). As Nuremburg is apparently the toy capital of the world we had a look around some of the toy shops.

We have started to go under low bridges which requires the wheelhouse on the ship to be lowered.

Found out today that the amount of water required in the 25m locks is 57 million liters. Beside these locks are 3 holding tanks to enable the water to be reused. When ships are going up the locks there is no need for pumps as the holding tanks are are at different levels allowing the water to find its own level. It takes about 20 minutes for the ship to go up in the lock. Tonight we will be leaving the Main/Danube system into the Danube to begin the downhill run to Budapest. The Danube is the 2nd longest river in Europe.