Germany

OBERWESEL

After a 5 hour train ride, we arrived at the sleepy, Celtic town of Oberwesel, which has been here since 400 B.C.!! (yes, that's right, I DID say four hundred B.C.) which later became a Roman military station.

After depositing our back packs, the proprietor of our very clean hotel gave us a map of the town with tips on the best route to walk to explore our immediate surroundings. So we set off on a 5 miles 'around and on' what is described as "the best Roman-wall and medieval towers remaining on the Rhine"..... the views were lovely and I had an urge to start yodeling and we are not even in Switzerland yet!

It did not take long to poke around the town, before enjoying a beer on the sidewalk watching the world go by, followed by a simple inexpensive meal of fresh pasta. As with Anna Maria Island, when the sun goes down, the sidewalks roll up .... we were ready to relax in our room, read our books ...... sure would like a foot massage!


ST GOAR

So our first day in Oberwesel we decided to tour the castle Rheinfels (meaning the mightiest on the river) in St Goar, just 7 km away (St Goar is named for a 6th century hometown monk) So our choices for getting there were a 6 min train ride, 45 min bike ride, or a 3.5 hour hike. We decided that since our legs are as young as they are ever going to be, we would hike!! ... So off we set, through the vineyards, through the forest, virtical ups and downs (ladders in some places) more appropriate for goats as we came to discover, but my ...... what glorious views... looking down on the river, surrounded by vineyards hearing only the birds and insects, it was worth every step.

As for the castle, I/we were like a couple of 10 year olds, soooo many nooks and crannies, so many places to explore, ..... we had the greatest fun. Thank you once again Rick Steves for your excellent guided tours. While in these castle ruines, we met a delightful German couple who live in Northern Germany, and when they learned we like to house swap, were very eager to exchange addresses for future adventures!

So much for saying I needed a foot massage, my poor feet have carried me a further 10 miles today! The weather by the way was perfect for hiking, and we are not in the least sorry that the temperatures are below normal for this time of the year.

BACHARACH

In this third charming town along the Rhine, we find ourselves surrounded by multiple towers, castle ruines, higgledy-piggledy squares and houses dating back to 1368. This grand medieval town for 300 hundred years (1300-1600) was home to 4,000 of the rich and politically powerful. Later, plagues, fires and the Thirty Year's War, reduced the population and the town slumbered for several centuries. Today they have 40,000 overnights annually by the youth hostelers!

It is from this location we took our 4 hour Rhine Cruise experience, which was along part of what is known as "the romantic" stretch of the Rhine. It is noted there are 60 castles dotted along this 35 km area, of which we must have seen at least a dozen. The previous day we had enjoyed manificent views looking down on the river, but, as always, seeing things from the water gives things a different perspective.......another lovely day. We dined later that night on traditional German fare and Riesling in the geranium filled, cobbled stoned courtyard of the oldest house in Bararach ... all very romantic.

We are finding everyone to be so helpful and friendly, even if we are unable to converse in the same language. One occassion, while waiting for our 5 min train ride back to Oberwesel, I joined in whistling "the flight of the bumblebee" for a few sec, along with a young man traveling with his parents .... we all smiled and stepped into our seperate carriages.

So, with bags packed, we will set off at 6:30 am for Switzerland.

Auf Wiederhören!




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