From what we’ve seen in local media, tomorrow is the official opening of “our” half of the bridge. Since about a week now, pedestrians on weekends have taken to simply moving the barricades aside and walking about where they please on areas of the bridge that are obviously complete.
A new “café” opened up in the spot where the Chinese Pizza Take-Away Whose Food Smelled Faintly of Litter Box used to be — this renovation has also been several months in the making. We were worried that it would turn into Yet Another Italian Restaurant (just what Regensburg needs…), but for better or for worse, it appears to be an extension of the Spitalgarten (just around the corner on the river bank). Let’s hope the service atmosphere exceeds that of its parent organization.
Still looks pretty nice from Alte Linde!
What? It’s still not done?!? Two things tickle me about this — one is the simple fact of how long it’s taking, but the other is the thought of a bunch of Germans moving the barricades and walking on the bridge anyway. So much for cultural stereotypes!
I remember reading somewhere that the construction of the bridge (the very first time, back in the 11th century) took 11 eleven years. At this rate, we’ll need about that much time to renovate it as well.
It is my experience that often, Germans have, contrary to popular stereotypes, very little respect for what they consider arbitrary and unnecessary hurdles to getting what they, as individuals, have targeted. Simply observe any queueing behavior involving a mass of Germans, particularly in Germany.