Park Plaza Nuremberg Steps it Up
February 28, 2018
Having been to Nuremberg twice now (see this posting about the first visit), NPS now has some friends in town. So what do we do on this very short visit? See our friends!
First there is Park Plaza GM Carsten Baumann, and then there is Manfred Gendsior the proprietor (along with his wife) of delikatEssen, about more which in a minute.
Before our trip out, we contacted Carsten to secure a room at the Park Plaza. Sadly, the room we like 614 was already booked by a regular. However, when that person cancelled their reservation the day of our arrival, Carsten made sure that we got the room at the previously-quoted price. Now that is service. Thanks Carsten!
Anyway, here we are again in 614, not a hamster cage. Everything is pretty much the same as last time.

Park Plaza 614

But what is that on the bed?
This time there is a personal note and a present of local chocolates on arrival! So very thoughtful.
The bathroom remains superior grade (only the shower floor could use improvement).

glass shower goodness

Gigantic tub almost always associated with a glass shower
We were greeted warmly by the staff who were on notice to ping Carsten. After an arrival shower, it was off to a late lunch at the Atelier bar. Nuremberger bratwurst of course.

View from 614
Staying up until 8pm proved a challenge this trip. NPS is getting old.
In the morning, we were up in time not to miss the “breakfast cutoff second.” Breakfast was very nice, though the “double espresso macchiato” was delivered in massive late form. LOL.

Double espresso macchiato? Nope.
Then it was off for a morning at the “Documentation Center” which is what the Germans politely call the Nazi museum. A powerful exhibit worth seeing, make sure to go when you are in town. With the jackass Twump currently in the oval office as so-called president, it is essential that US citizens not lose track of how the Nazis came to power.

Book burning Nazis

The Racist Nuremberg laws
To clear our mind, a trip to delikatEssen was in order. Once again we had a great chat with Manfred who suggested a local gin and some German asbinthe (!!) to buy.

knowledgeable and friendly Manfred curates an interesting selection of liquor in Nuremberg
Manfred also suggested lunch at essigbrätlein, a two michelin star restaurant across the street. Great suggestion. The duck course was absolutely out of this world.
Tonight we will revisit our favorite bars, and see how the cocktail scene is going. More about that later.
Five showerheads for friendly service that learns at Park Plaza Nuremberg. Come visit Carsten and his staff!
Secret “Spirit” in Regensburg
September 5, 2013
My friend Spoolia stayed in the “Spirit” room above Cafe Rinaldo while she was in Regensburg. The room is actually a two bedroom apartment with a cute little balcony upstairs. The spirit room is not really advertised anywhere, but it is owned by the same (Italian) guys who own the elements hotel.
The stairs.
View from the stairs.
Kitchenette.
Extra bedroom.
Sadly, the spirit room for all of its superior points has a euro shower over a bathtub. Prepare to soak the floor!
Chair.
Regensburg dom.
It was super great of the element’s guys to let us invade the spirit room with no reservation. They’re excellent.
Hotel Elements in Regensburg Germany Rocks
September 3, 2013
It takes some doing to get to Regensburg. A day that included a hike by the Shenandoah on our trail and a short dip in the river, also included twelve hours of flying and two trains from Munich. But once you get here, it feels worth all the rigmarole.
The elements hotel is tucked away in the Old Corn Market square just next to the gothic cathedral that serves as Regensburg’s centerpiece. Each of the four (count ’em, four) rooms is named after one of the (greek) elements. I am staying in earth.
Earth has an anteroom that may or may not come in handy depending on whether the couch needs to be occupied.
The bathroom in earth includes an LED light that you can program with a remote control. When I arrived, it was set in blue mode. The bathroom design is very interesting and tasteful, with a curved door that carves the shower space out of what would otherwise be a small rectangle. Great design.
The shower is non-plastic (bonus) but does not have enough water pressure for my tastes. That may be the only fly in the elements ointment.
Downstairs at Cafe Rinaldi (where Italian is spoken), breakfast is buzzing. Don’t plan to watch your diet in Germany. A big breakfast is par for the course and served with superior espresso.
Five showerheads for the Elements Hotel (and the associated spirit room next door).
In other Regensburg news, the Historisches-Eck Restaurant is a nice upscale white tablecloth place with a young up and coming chef. The chef stopped by after our delicious meal to chat. This is a good special occasion restaurant.
On the other hand Scholz Restaurant is much less fancy and not in the same league. Food is good and the bartender is willing to play (we had them try a Corpse Reviver #2).
For cocktails, it appears that Hemingway Bar is the only game in town. I had them make a bastarized Liberal (no Amer Picon).
El Bastardo Liberal
4 cl Bourbon (sadly, Jim Beam or Jack Daniels)
4 cl Martini Rosso
1 cl Ramazzotti
Shake. Strain and serve up. Garnish with a Johannisbeeren cluster (red currants).
The Blue Monkey Room near the Dom is a great place for cocktails. Though their menu is standard issue (and heavy on vodka and sweet junk), they have a nice selection of things to make real drinks from. Barman benno litzke played along, making a Bastardo Liberal, a Corpse Reviver #2 and a Nevada before the night was through.