I fell in love, at first sight, with a beautiful, quaint city called Rothenbach O.T. Upon entering the city from the freeway, it looks much like any other European town. Narrow, cobblestone streets dotted with churches and homes. But as you drive further into the city, you see a huge concrete wall, much like a fortress. Parking is outside of this wall and, as you walk inside, you feel as if you have stepped back in time. The first thing you see is the brick streets which are only used for pedestrian and bicycle traffic and an occasional taxi. Also, you will see buggies being pulled by two horses.

The buildings are so very old but they have been renovated and painted in beautiful, light colors of peach and yellow, beige and white and all with tiled roofs. There are apartments above the retail stores, with hotels and restaurants making up the majority of this city. Flower boxes are a must and are seen on every window of most every building full of bright, blooming plants.

There are also, of course, the large looming churches with their unbelievably large towers mostly constructed of copper. As you enter these churches, you will see the rich, traditional, dark pews and the multi-colored stained glass windows. And on the outside, it is not unusual to see statues depicting someone important in their religion or in the history of their particular church.

The most popular delicacy being sold was a large deep-fried pastry which looked much like a big, round donut. These are covered with every kind of topping you can imagine, from white chocolate to nuts and fruits. As is the tradition in Europe, all restaurants have an outdoor dining veranda and so you can sit and have your coffee and watch the people as they roam this beautiful historical city. It is not surprising to find musicians roaming the streets providing harp, guitar, or accordion music for your entertainment. A few hours, a day, or a weekend in Rothenbach O.T. is an experience that will never be forgotten.