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Heidelberg Warnings or Dangers
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Heidelberg Warnings or Dangers

1. Sculpture on the Old Bridge (not really Salome) - Heidelberg
1. Sculpture on the Old Bridge (not really Salome)
by Nemorino
Heidelberg travel tips posted by real travelers and Heidelberg locals.
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Overcrowded castle
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  • christine.j
  • Updated By christine.j on July 4, 2006
  • Heidelberg Page by christine.j
  • Crowds - Heidelberg
    Crowds
    by christine.j
    If you have any choice, don't visit the castle in high season. Have a look at the picture, it's hard to see anything of the castle because of the many tour groups. The price for the guided tour is the same, no matter if you visit in hot July or in rainy November, but in November the tour can be 90 minutes, while in July and August you most probably get a hurried tour of just 45 minutes.

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    Don't let your stepdaughter read this!
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  • Nemorino
  • Updated By Nemorino on May 16, 2007
  • Heidelberg Page by Nemorino
  • 1. Sculpture on the Old Bridge (not really Salome) - Heidelberg
    1. Sculpture on the Old Bridge
    (not really Salome)
    by Nemorino, 1 more photos
    Salome was the daughter of Herodias and the stepdaughter of Herod Antipas, tetrarch of Galilee and Peraea.

    Her story is told twice in the Bible. Here is St. Mark's account of it (Mark 6:21-28):

    And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee; And when the daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod and them that sat with him, the king said unto the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee. And he sware unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom. And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist. And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that thou give me by and by in a charger the head of John the Baptist. And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath's sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her. And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison, And brought his head in a charger, and gave it to the damsel: and the damsel gave it to her mother.

    When Oscar Wilde wrote his play Salome in 1890 he made one essential change to the story. In his version it is not the mother who gets the idea of demanding the head of John the Baptist, it is Salome herself, because she wanted to kiss him and he refused. This is also the version that Richard Strauss used for his opera in 1905.

    The sculpture in the photo is not meant to be Salome. It was intended to symbolize one of the rivers of the lands governed by the Prince Elector Carl Theodor, either the Rhine, the Mosel, the Danube or the Isar. But while I was walking around Heidelberg it was the only thing I saw that I thought might be halfway appropriate for this story.

    Second photo: A painting of Salome from the Castelvecchio Museum in Verona.

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    Ladies, DON'T break a leg
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  • JessH
  • Updated By JessH on August 17, 2006
  • Heidelberg Page by JessH
  • Comfortable in my trainers in Heidelberg - Heidelberg
    Comfortable in my trainers in
    Heidelberg
    by JessH, 2 more photos
    Indeed, the English language is a strange one: a cobbler (shoe maker) and cobbles (stoney path) are so similar, yet most shoes really don't go well with cobbles.

    As with most old European cities, Heidelberg is no exception to the wonderous and picturesque cobbled streets.
    We have a saying in German: "Wer schoen sein will muss leiden" = "if you want to be pretty you must suffer".
    And you feet will truly suffer for that certain sin called "vanity" if you don't wear the appropriate old-town footwear.

    So leave your stiletto heels at home, because they may look fantastic, but you're probably also likely to break your ankles on your shopping trip!

    Wear trainers or flat sandals. Don't worry if the shoes don't go with your new skirt, or look stupid with your stylish trousers: *Just-say-no* to your fancy heels and wear something that will let you walk that extra mile!

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    Rude employees at the castle
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  • christine.j
  • Updated By christine.j on March 3, 2007
  • Heidelberg Page by christine.j
  • I wasn't sure if I should add this tip, as there are also very nice employees at the castle. But it happens so often, that it warrants a warning. I take American tourists to the castle quite often.

    Just a few quotes of what some of the employees there said:
    "Count yourself lucky that I let you go on the tour. You should have booked two weeks ago"
    There were ten in our group and the website says no booking necessary if less than twenty.
    "I don't care what it says on the website!"

    "You are not allowed to translate!"
    I had bought tickets for the English tour for Americans, why should I translate??
    "I don't care , I just want to tell you, you are not allowed to translate!"

    This is my favourite:
    "I'm employed and paid by the castle to answer questions about the castle, not about the city of Heidelberg", when someone asked a question about the city.

    The sad fact is, that there are so many tourists coming to the castle, that the employees can afford to be arrogant.
    DON'T take it personal!!

    And, most of them are nice, just be prepared.

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    The cutest rabbit babies
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  • christine.j
  • By christine.j on July 31, 2008
  • Heidelberg Page by christine.j
  • Heidelberg Warnings or Dangers
    by christine.j
    If you take children up to the cloister Stift Neuburg and visit the store, be prepared for some discussions about a new pet for the family: they sell rabbits there. When we were there there were baby rabbits for sale, so cute!

    On a more serious note: There is an electric fan outside which is covered by a grid. The grid is large enough for small children to put their fingers through. We overheard some people talk about an accident some days before, when a small child had to be taken to hospital because part of his finger had been cut off by the blades of the fan.

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    Plan some time for a trip to the bathroom
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  • christine.j
  • By christine.j on March 19, 2008
  • Heidelberg Page by christine.j
  • For some reason, which I haven't the faintest idea of, the administration of Heidelberg castle decided to open only one toilet facilities at one time.There are two different sets of facilities, but when the one in the cellar near the big barrel is open, the one near the main entrance is closed and vice versa. With the many, many tourists coming to see the castle each day, this mean long! lines. So you need to plan accordingly.

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    Clock
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  • tessy
  • By tessy on September 8, 2003
  • Heidelberg Page by tessy
  • Perkeo and the clock - Heidelberg
    Perkeo and the clock
    by tessy
    Have a look at the clock, which is near the "Grosses Fass". And don't be afraid to pull the cord.
    Tipp: after you've done it, close the clock and encourage other tourists pulling!

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    While I was in Heidelberg the...
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  • MRIOUX
  • By MRIOUX on August 27, 2002
  • Heidelberg Page by MRIOUX
  • While I was in Heidelberg the weather was very hot an humid...just be aware that there is no AC anywhere.

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    I'm sure it's a very nice town...
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  • DrewV
  • Updated By DrewV on August 11, 2003
  • Heidelberg Page by DrewV
  • Oldest house in Heidelberg, maybe - Heidelberg
    Oldest house in
    Heidelberg, maybe
    by DrewV
    Heidelberg probably looks very beautiful in the daylight. I wouldn't really know. Instead, I picture it as pitch black with bright lights of revelry pouring forth from various inns and taverns. Just remember those three little words: Ein Bier, bitte.

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    DO NOT SPEED. THEY WILL NAIL...
  • By pabilly on August 24, 2002
  • Heidelberg Page by pabilly
  • DO NOT SPEED. THEY WILL NAIL YOUR ASS.

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