Pictures: Our Stay in Marburg, Germany, During the Summer of 2011
The Wife and I stayed in Marburg, Germany, last summer before stopping in Einbeck on our way to Berlin. Marburg was by far my favorite town — with its fairytale scenery and small, college town charm — and I wanted to move there immediately. My wife, however, spent the last two years there earning her second Master’s Degree from Philipps-Universität Marburg, so she was quite done with it. This made me cry like a little bitch, so she compromised and agreed we could retire there when we’re old and crusty. So, here’s to you, Marburg! I look forward to the day I slip into the foggy wasteland of senility as I wander your magical hills and alleyways with absolutely no idea where I am!
Here are the pictures from our stay. Click one to open the gallery. We hope you enjoy them!
This is the gigantic beer I enjoyed at Beaches in the Portland Airport right before my flight. I may have had more than one, and this may have been why I forgot my jacket at the bar.
This is a sign pointing out the incredibly obvious path up to the Landgrave Castle.
This is the men’s room at some cafe right at the foot of the Landgrave Castle. I took a picture of this urinal because it looks like a cyclops with a toothless mouth, which not only wants me to pee in it, but NEEDS me to pee in it.
This is the Oberstrasse, which is the upper section of downtown Marburg. It is full of tourist shops and cafes. You are about to see entirely too many pictures just like this.
This is Marburg’s Rathaus (Town Hall.) As you can see, there were a bunch of dudes singing in front of it that day. I choose to believe they were belting out a passionate rendition of the “Chicken Dance.”
This is a half-timbered house, which you will see absolutely everywhere in Marburg. And I can promise you will be sick of seeing them in this photo album today.
Half-timbered house. They’re charming as hell, and apparently irresistible as photo opportunities.
A row of buildings. See the shape of their roof tiles? They’re curved. I saw them all over the place in Germany, and wondered why they had that shape. No doubt it can somehow be traced back to Germany being better than America in all ways. Am I right, you uppity Schnitzel suckers?
Here’s the Marburg castle again. Legend has it, an allied WWII pilot refused to bomb it because it was too beautiful to destroy. I prefer to think he just missed it because he coughed and spilled Earl Gray all over his Charlie Browns.
This is the crooked steeple of the St. Marien Church. Where’s your superior German engineering now? Huh?
Row houses. Or something. I don’t know what these are called, but they’re pretty sweet looking.
Rooftops. I just love the colors. And I can totally imagine myself running across them in all my awesome ninja gear at night… just looking for someone, anyone, to hack with my ninja sword.
This is near the campus of Philipps-Universität Marburg. Apparently they were setting up some big festival involving Licher beer. “Licher? I don’t even know her!”
Here’s the Oberstadt again. It was full of tourists, many of whom were from America. Their presence took away from my status as a rare and unique visitor from afar.
Are you tired of seeing the Oberstadt yet?
Not surprisingly, the Oberstadt has a lot of stores selling the same crap you can see in any tourist destination around the world.
Oberstadt. More tourists, many from the US. I wanted to be the sole American in Marburg “There can be only one!”
This is some kind of merry satyr about to be mounted by a dragon.
Yet another Oberstadt picture. Next time I will remember, “Less street photos, more boobies.”
Here are the satyr and dragon again. I did not realize they were wearing lipstick.
That’s the Church of St. Elizabeth you see in the distance. It’s Lutheran, and there is also a Catholic church in Marburg, which probably made for some exciting Saturday nights (and Sunday mornings).
Again with the Oberstadt. I’m so sorry.
Seriously.
This is a brick building. It reminded me of Chex cereal.
Here’s the Marburg Castle again. Am I the only one who wonders how many people hooked up in there back in the day?
Finally! A picture of the lower portion of Marburg! It is fitting, of course, that I don’t know what this portion is called
Here’s a freaky little car. I don’t recognize the make, which is probably why I took this picture in the first place. Also, this car looks like a grinning insect.
A very vertical building on on the way up to the castle. I think it was leaning a little too. Terrible when you’ve got the beer spins.
Here’s a picture of the castle taken from the other side of the valley. Can’t you just picture that WWII pilot NOT bombing it?
More half-timbered buildings on the way up to the Landgrafenschloss (Marburg Castle).
Here’s that crooked-ass steeple again. I believe that is a Catholic church, which makes perfect sense to me.
A cool little stairway. I can just imagine myself running up it at top speed while a Russian spy shoots a silenced pistol at me. “Screw you, Ruskie!”
Again with the wonky church steeple. Someone really ought to give it a shove.
This picture is crazy colorful. Not sure how that happened. Probably because it was taken with my wife’s camera and not my iPhone 4 held between unsteady hands. “It’s 4:00 pm, people; Daddy’s got the shakes.”
Look at the little old Volkswagen! Do you know what the name Volkswagen means? “The People’s Car,” or “Car for the People.” (I worked that out all by myself).
Here’s a shot of the castle again. No hunchbacks that I can see.
I blame my wife for these sorts of pictures. Apparently Germans don’t feel dizzy when they point their cameras straight up like this.
Now THERE’S a half-timbered house.
Enjoying some brew doggies at the cafe beneath the castle. Our waiter spoke like 4 languages fluently. I wonder if he understood me when I used the expression, “Flirt with my wife again and I’ll throw you down those medieval stairs.”
This is probably my favorite picture taken while we were in Marburg. I’m not sure if I took it or if my wife did, but I absolutely took it.
This was taken inside an absinth bar called… I kid you not… Spock. My wife and I concluded our all-nighter pub tour here, then walked back to her apartment as the sun came up. It was glorious, but the next morning greeted me with a hangover so vicious, so utterly thorough and complete, it was almost poetic. Just like Marburg. :)
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Gorgeous! I can see why you wanted to take all these pictures. I love the half-timbered houses. What an enchanting place. I can see why you would want to retire there. I hope you can do it.
It sure looks cute but I doubt you will find the student atmosphere very enticing as an old fart. Or the masses of American tourists.
As for the steeple, I guess we’re just jealous of the Italians with their leaning bell tower in Pisa.
Sure, why not? If I get around to it in my next life. Much more likely I’ll bump into you in Hannover though, seeing that this is where my sister lives :-)
Good luck for the move and the learning German part.
I guess you don’t come across a Smart Car very often that is smaller than the Renault Twingo. It hits me every time I see the Smart on the Streets of L.A. :)
~Anja~
So funny… But my friend from Einbeck is living in Marburg now… Coincidences never stop. By the way: My favorite cities are Berlin and Aachen. You visited Berlin already – so if you come to Aachen, let me know and I’ll give some tips :)
No. It’s about the architect in charge of designing the catholic cathedral. Legend has it he was so embarrased by the steeple coming out crooked that he hung himself from the rafters.
Oh God, My Wife Is German. 
Hey,
The insect car is a Renault Twingo, made before 2007. Just thought you’d like to know.
bochumshapenotesinger
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Ahhh! Perfect! Thank you for clarifying!
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The little car is a Renault Twingo
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Thank you for the info! I was wondering about that. :)
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Gorgeous! I can see why you wanted to take all these pictures. I love the half-timbered houses. What an enchanting place. I can see why you would want to retire there. I hope you can do it.
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Thank you Bumble!
Any chance you might visit Marburg? Maybe as an item on your Bucket List?
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I would do it in a heartbeat. Definitely would love to go there! I don’t have one of those lists. Maybe I should. :-)
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Right on! Please let us know if you ever do!
The first item on my Bucket List is to get my sweet @$$ over the pond to our new home in Hannover! My wife has it all set up and ready to go!
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Definitely. You will be the first to know. Hannover? I thought it was Marburg? Or, it is the wife that wants to live in Hannover? :-)
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We just visited Marburg as she was finishing up her degree. Our new apartment is in Hannover, and I will be flying there in 2 weeks! Oh God! :)
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Wow!! How exciting! Are you excited, nervous? How’s your German? What an adventure!
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Oh I’m nervous as HELL, but mostly I’m excited. And I can speak German about as fluently as a visibly intoxicated tourist. :)
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I have a feeling you’ll be GREAT!! I wish you well. :-)
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Thank you for all the support Bumble! I really appreciate it!
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You’re very welcome. :)
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It sure looks cute but I doubt you will find the student atmosphere very enticing as an old fart. Or the masses of American tourists.
As for the steeple, I guess we’re just jealous of the Italians with their leaning bell tower in Pisa.
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Ohhhh, that explains it. :)
Do you think you would ever visit Marburg, Sandra?
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Sure, why not? If I get around to it in my next life. Much more likely I’ll bump into you in Hannover though, seeing that this is where my sister lives :-)
Good luck for the move and the learning German part.
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That would be awesome! I can introduce you to my lovely wife and we can buy you a couple of brew doggies!
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I guess you don’t come across a Smart Car very often that is smaller than the Renault Twingo. It hits me every time I see the Smart on the Streets of L.A. :)
~Anja~
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Both are rather adorable, aren’t they?
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Yes they are but I personally prefer a Twingo over a Smart :)
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So funny… But my friend from Einbeck is living in Marburg now… Coincidences never stop. By the way: My favorite cities are Berlin and Aachen. You visited Berlin already – so if you come to Aachen, let me know and I’ll give some tips :)
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Awesome! We will for sure!
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Did you ever get to hear the story surrounding that crooked steeple?
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Is this the one about the virgin graduating from Phillips University?
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No. It’s about the architect in charge of designing the catholic cathedral. Legend has it he was so embarrased by the steeple coming out crooked that he hung himself from the rafters.
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Man, that’s like the third explanation I’ve heard. Although it is the most grim one thus far.
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