Castle Fireworks

Apparently there is a Facebook Site called "Top 100 Things to See Before You Die"  and this is one of them.  It was pretty amazing.  JB, Emma and Sam have been to Heidelberg before, on an excursion trip.  The kids were pretty excited to show Mom the historical sites that they had already seen!

We arrived in the city in the early afternoon.  It is a large city with a beautiful river and the castle is impressive.  After some snacks we walked into the city center.  We walked over the bridge just as they were closing it to prepare for the fireworks.  We passed a tearful bride who wanted to enter the bridge to have pictures taken with the castle in the background and was not being allowed.  Oops.  Maybe she could photo shop herself into this picture...

We were surprised to hear American English all around us. The first time in almost three months I have heard this accent! Not only is it obviously a tourist event, apparently about 20,000 Americans live in Heidelberg! Hard place to live....

The kids had their first ever crepes!  We then walked along the river to the next bridge and found one of the best parks we have been to yet. Well, maybe not, but another fun one.  This video doesn't really show the kids, but I think it catches the scene and the castle in the background!

The kids played until dusk with a light dinner of street cart food and then we walked back along the river to where we had parked our car, directly across from the castle.  And realized we had forgotten our camera.  :(  The streets were filled with people and the river was filled with boats, but it was not nearly as crowded as I would have expected.  The atmosphere was festive but not crazy.

At dark the firework show began.  The show tells the story of the castle being shelled and catching on fire.  So they started with a volley of bangs and flashes from the bridge.

Then, the castle began to light up in an eerie red glow.  It flickered and grew as more and more of the castle "caught fire".  It would have been terrifying to be caught in a castle like that in flames.

I wish  had been able to catch Landon on video.  At first "bang" and light flash, his little face just lit up.  Huge smile.  He pumped his arms in a "YES!" motion and his eyes were glued to the show.  He had chosen a vantage point from on top of the car.

 The other three had taken running cover into the car and were huddled together asking for headphones.  (Incidentally, this is the first of two firework shows they will watch in a matter of weeks.  From the safety of their car.  With earplugs.  In Harrisburg we will tailgate across the river on the 4th and watch the fireworks... from our minivan)

The firework show was great.  Mid show a brigade of uniformed 18th century soldiers marched down the street.  

We left around midnight.  Arrived home in the wee hours of the morning.  I am glad to have seen it!