Porta Nigra, in Trier, Germany
Today is Day 1 of our travels through Germany, and we began with the oldest city in Germany - Trier. The first major feature of Trier is the Porta Nigra, the gate that you see above. For a little over one euro per person, you can climb to the top of the tower, which gives you a beautiful view of the whole city. Returning to the bottom, you find yourself at the start of the "downtown" - an exciting, fun-filled area of shopping and eating. Clothing and gift shops abound, as well as bakeries, coffee shops, and ice cream stands. St. Peter's Cathedral borders the downtown, and near the southwest corner of the downtown you will find Constantine's basilica, and the Kaiserthermen - the ruins of the Roman baths.