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Eisenach is a town in Thuringia, Germany with 42,000 inhabitants, located 50 kilometres (31 miles) west of Erfurt, 70 km (43 miles) southeast of Kassel and 150 km (93 miles) northeast of Frankfurt. It is the main urban centre of western Thuringia and bordering northeastern Hessian regions, situated near the former Inner German border. A major attraction is Wartburg castle, which has been a UNESCO world heritage site since 1999.
Eisenach was an early capital of Thuringia in the 12th and 13th centuries. St. Elizabeth lived at the court of the Ludowingians here between 1211 and 1228. Later, Martin Luther came to Eisenach and translated the Bible into German. In 1685, Johann Sebastian Bach was born here. During the early modern period, Eisenach was a residence of the Ernestine Wettins and was visited by numerous representatives of Weimar classicism like Johann Wolfgang Goethe.^[2]:22–25 In 1869, the SDAP, one of the two precursors of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) was founded in Eisenach.
Car production is an important industry in Eisenach. The Automobilwerk Eisenach was founded in 1896. In the German Democratic Republic, the Wartburg was produced here.
Eisenach is situated on the Hörsel river, a tributary of the Werra between the Thuringian Forest in the south, the Hainich mountains in the north-east and the East Hesse Highlands in the north-west.

 My train to Eisenach leaves Erfurt haupbahnhof at 9am and I am able to catch a bus to the station from outside the Opera Hostel in Dalbergs strasse .No need to worry about fruhstuck all provided by the hostel,
typical German breakfast with black bread jam,bread rolls,philly cheese tea, fruit and yoghurt.
The train passes through Gotha and arrives at Eisenach at 9.45am.The process is towalk up town and find a hotel.

                                          Eisenach train statio

                 This is another attractive German town steeped in history,with a wall and gatehouse
     Lumping my backpack and shoulder bag I was keen to find Backhaus Hotel,which unfortunately was full
   However they rang the Glockenhof Hotel just round the corner in Grimmel gasse 4, where I secured a bed and breakfast for E69.00

                                         The Royal Samovar was produced to impress me

                                    This breakfact spread was pure opulence,quite staggering
              I was then able to leave my luggage and explore the town an its environment

                                          Historic Eisenach

                                          Eisenach town square

 I chose to have coffee in the town square before enquiring about Thuringa Forest,but again was dissapointed that no accommadation was available for the next two nights . So contented my self with the steep climb necessary to reach Wartburg Caste.

                                          Eisenach Castle

                                         The scene inside the castle,with many tourists

                                         Scene from the wall parapets

                                                   Metal model of the castle

                                           The well for water supply

                                                Very solid timber front gate

                                                     Castle drawbridge

                                       The walk down  through the forest from the castle to Eisenach town

                                            Stately German architecture in Eisenach

                                          Prosperous family business,with decendents world wide

After a very strenuous and exciting day I rewarded my self with dinner at Bach restaurant facing the square, reflecting on where I was, how the day unfolded, and how pleasant the wine was.

ERFURT

 The train journey to Erfurt required three changes ,with the help of D Bahn guard,security and other passangers. There was no information desk at the station,so had to enquire at the B and B Hotel adjacent to the station..They were  full and suggested the Opera Hostel about a mile away.

 I was able to book in for two nights for E 52.50 including breakfast. I found the Konsum Cafe in a back street near the hostel where I had a beer and tomato and cheese omlette in a friendly atmosphere

 Next day it was out of the blocks early to photograph Zitadella Petersberg with its solid stone walls and ancient buildings

 Market day in Erfurt,where the town was crowded with shoppers and holiday makers

                                                 Well designed flats with balconies at Europlatz

                After taking in the city I purchaseed light rail tickets from a vendor machine,with help from a local and journeyed to to Europlatz the end of the northern line.

                                                               Ye old Muhl in the centre of Erfurt

                                                             Narrow inner city streets of Erfurt

                                                               Interior of light rail carriage

                                     An enterprising theater,with bar,build from recycled shipping containers

 

 Back at Opera hostel I met Tyson a youg man from Utah in the USA,he had spent several months enjoying Europe,to night we shared a pizza and beer fom the shops across the road from the hostel,and exchanges some travel stories.

Fenghaung Old China wih Noel

I have bee to China at least four times and on each occasion I have been searching for "Old China" which unfortunately is disappearing at a rate of knots.  Fortunately I saw it when on my last trip I visited Fenghaung.

Fenghuang is not easy to get to.  I was in Xi'an (Terracotta Warriors) and flew from there to Tongren.  Fortunately for me there was a shuttle bus and I took it to Fenghuang.  I spoke to a young lass on the bus (she spoke some English) .  I had a telephone number for the Fenghuang Ancient Town Jiaxiang Inn. she telephoned them for me and I was met by a wonderful lady from the Inn and she walked me to it. It was first class so I would recommend to any body wanting to find "Old China."  

Fenghuang is in a river valley and has many instances of Old China with houses build on stilts in the river.  There is no "New China" there. It is all very old.  No Sky Scrapers. No shopping Malls. No Discos.

I had to get back to Tongren for my Flight to Changsha.  The wonderful lady from the Inn arranged for a private person to drive me back to Tongren.  It took about two hours and cost 200 Yuan or in Australian Dollars - 40.  Fortunately for me the Driver had a good Mobile.  I showed him the name of the Inn where I had to stay in Tongren so he took me straight to it  - 7 Days Inn Railway station in Tongren .With out his assistance I doubt that I could have found the Inn as I do not speak Chinese.

I would recommend Fenghuang to any body wanting to see "Old China".

 

Hi Tim I hope this what you wanted.

Noel