We were awake nice and early - took the photo out of the window before 6.30. Couldn't use the internet as we didn't have any new codes. We were first down to breakfast - which was included in the price and was as good as usual. But this place had the best fruit salad I've had in a long time. Back in the 70s a Continental Breakfast was bread & jam and coffee - not a patch on the buffets they have now.
We were off wandering the cobble stoned streets by 8am - dragging our wheeled bags and making a racket
. There were a few bikies out and about - I forgot to mention the Harley Davidsons. There were heaps of bikes already there, and we saw lots more headed there later on today.
"Buddies & Bikes and the City of Rüdesheim invite you to the 13th MAGIC BIKE RÜDESHEIM from 19 until 22 June 2014."
It was too cold, in our opinion, to sit on the deck of the ferry. We grabbed a table in the restaurant area near the bow, but with a good view to both sides as well. The deck was packed though - maybe they thought they weren't allowed in the restaurant? The ferry left at 9.15 and we arrived at Koblenz at 13.00 - we had a very comfortable trip, and finally ordered a drink just before midday.
Saw the Niederwalddenkmal on the hill behind Rudesheim - this monument was constructed to commemorate the foundation of the German Empire after the end of the Franco-Prussian War. The first stone was laid on September 16, 1871, by Wilhelm 1. Then across the river to Bingen
.
There were a lot of castles - some in ruins and some renovated. The Reichenstein Castle is opposite Assmannshausen.
Kaub is known for the castle Pfalz, or Burg Pfalzgrafenstein, situated on a rock in the middle of the Rhine. According to legend, the Palatine countesses awaited their confinement in the Pfalz, but in reality the castle served as a toll-gate for merchandise on the Rhine. The restored castle Gutenfels sits on a hill above the town. We took a photo of this from the train last year and the water level was so much higher then.
Next we came to the Loreley (Lorelei ) which is a 433 feet high slate cliff in the Upper Middle Rhine Valley World Heritage near the town of St Goarshausen. The Rhine, at the Loreley is up to 82 feet deep and only 371 feet wide. Because this area is so deep and narrow, it is one of the most dangerous places in the World Heritage Upper Middle Rhine Valley
. During the Middle Ages the Loreley was well known, along with the Binger Loch, as the most dangerous section of the Rhine. Many mariners in their wooden dinghies came to tragedy here. In St. Goar, directly opposite the Loreley, the Saint Goar settled to save shipwrecked mariners and nurse them back to health. In the Rhine fairytale of 1810, Loreley appears as the distraught woman Lurley, sitting on a rock combing her long golden hair and luring the bargees into their destruction.
Then there was Marksburg fortress behind Braubach. The Marksburg is the only castle on the Middle Rhine to escape destruction or ruin. The castle had some additions in the 17th and 18th century, but maintains its medieval character.
Such a peaceful journey. It was interesting to see the differences from last year when it was in flood.
We had the afternoon and evening to find the hotel and explore Koblenz
. It was a pleasant walk through the park and then a few roads to the hotel - which was close to the railway station for tomorrow. We'd printed a copy of a map on how to get there - must remember to do that every time in future! Koblenz was so quiet for such a big city - what day is it? Thursday .... that's right, it's another public holiday in Germany! Once we were down in the old town, there were plenty of tourists about.
We walked to the Mosel and then along the river towards the Rhine. Spotted a model of a lady swimmer, with flippers on, up on a wall. After the quirky fountain I'd already seen, I knew I'd better keep my eyes open for odd things. Down where the Mosel and Rhine met ('Deutsches Eck' or German Corner as it was named in 1216), we did the tourist thing and took a photo of the huge statue of Kaiser Wilhelm which was built in 1897.
Meandered back through town and followed a musician and his navvy. Presumably the musician didn't want his double base bouncing up and down in it's case over the cobblestones
. So the poor guy (the navvy) was hunched over with the double bass in his right hand, and dragging the empty case in his left. He was scowling. We saw him a few hours later, sitting at a table having a drink, with the double bass securely in it's bag - and the maestro nowhere in sight.
Goerresplatz fountain - the fountain tells the entire history of Koblenz--from the Romans rowing at the bottom of the fountain, through the take over by Louis XIV, Napolean, the destruction of WWII, until you reach the top of the fountain showing the final reconstruction of the city as it is today.
It was a bit early to eat, so back to the hotel to check on the internet - tomorrow's plans, catch up on emails, write a blog etc. Then back to the old town again later. Came across lots of whimsical sculptures - Bryan used his phone for the photos. Now we have to figure out how to download them to my laptop.
Ferry on the Rhine to Koblenz
Thursday, June 19, 2014
Koblenz, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
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