This morning we awake somewhere near the the town of Oppenheim (just to give you an idea of where we are). Jackets required on this cooler and overcast morning, with a forecast of thunderstorms. We now leave the River Main and enter the busier River Rhine.
Our first port-of-call this morning was Rudesheim where there was another mini train, the Winzer Express, waiting to take us into town. In town we visited the very interesting Siegrtied's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum, then, while Lynn did some window shopping, I took the cable car up to the Niederwald Monument. Back to the boat for lunch for us, while others stayed in town. With some spare time before we sailed again I took the opportunity for another bike ride.
Not far into the castle dotted Rhine Gorge, the river cruise highlight, and the part Lynn was most looking forward to, the predicted storm hit us. The lightning, wind and heavy rain quickly had the sundeck cleared as everyone scampered to the protection of the lower deck. Luckily it didn't last all that long and soon everyone was up top again with the sound of cameras going off louder than the thunder.
After dinner, at around 8 PM, we arrive in Andernah and tied up the boat right in front of some some campers who had parked their campervans in, what they had thought was, a great spot with nice views of the river. A few of us went for a stroll, west, along the river to stretch out legs.
I don't know, but the boat's tied up in Andernah when you go sleep and then, when you wake up, you're in Cologne. We were advised this morning that the bus that was supposed to take us on today's excursion, had been stolen, oh no. No worries, as after breakfast, out the front waiting for us is a donkey and cart. Not really, they have a replacement ready to take us to the Palace Augustusburg and Falkenlust Hunting Lodge.
After lunch on the boat Lynn and I went for a walk through Cologne railway station to the Cologne Cathedral and Holenzollen Bridge. We then returned to the boat and spent a very pleasant afternoon sitting on the sundeck chatting with some wonderful people and watching the goings-on at the food festival on shore. Tonight was the Captain's Farewell Gala Dinner where we were all introduced to the boats crew for a farewell thank you. After dinner, 'Team Daniel' went up to the sundeck for some more good times and lots of laughs. As a matter of fact, the images below start off with a video of David creating some of the biggest laughs.............so here is a welcome (I think) to this episode from David.
Videos have to be watched on this page
and
click / tap on photos to enlarge.
(PbL) Photo by Lynn (tbw) taken through bus window
All the storks I had seen so far were either flying or a long way away.
Then 3 nests in 2 transmission towers.
Teenagers.
Another 'Kodak moment'.
Nice roses at a home in Eltville am Rhein.
The town of Eltville am Rhei.
The white building is the Kurfürstliche Burg Eltville (Electorate Castle).
This medieval castle dates back to the 14th century. For 150 years it
served as a residence for the arch bishops and electorates of Mainz.
The church is Church of Saints Peter and Paul.
The Ohlerich couple manage (as in 2010) this farm and mansion built by a countess in 1912.
It's on aderaue-Königsklinger Aue, a Nature Preserve on a natural island in the Rhine.
Blades for a wind-turbine.
Johannisberg Castle, rebuilt in 1960s with vineyards producing Riesling wine.
Basilika St. Johannes is to the right. Riesling vines were first planted here in 1720,
making it the oldest Riesling vineyard in the world.
The Hindenburg Bridge, built in 1915, was a railway bridge over the Rhine and named in 1918 after Field Marshal Paul von Hindenburg. Work began in June 1913 using many foreign labourers, mostly Italians. After a short interruption, due to the beginning of the First World War, work continued with the use of Russian prisoners of war. On 13 January 1945, the spans of the bridge were destroyed. The final destruction was carried out on 15 March 1945 by pioneers of the Wehrmacht in order to impede the advance of U.S. armed forces.
Remains of the Hindenburg Bridge, built in 1915, and destroyed in 1945.
Rüdesheim swimming pool.
The Rüdesheim Very Fast Train is waiting to take us into town.
(PbL)
Cigarette machine. At that price, I should have brought some home.
After waiting in a long traffic jam we were ushered off to walk the rest of the way.
(PbL)
No thanks 920701, I've already eaten.
He couldn't tell me where he'd been, but he could show me.
I had 2nd thoughts about going into Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Cabinet Museum,
but found it most interesting. The museum is housed in the Brömserhof,
a former noble residence and estate from the 16/17th centuries.
Bells made of original Meissen porcelain can be seen in the windows.
(PbL)
(PbL)
(Bill & PbL)
Our guide operates one of the music cabinets.
(PbL)
Mechanical Violins
(PbL)
One of the decorative ceilings of the museum.
Old floor tiles in the museum.
Bernhard Dufner’s band. This is the largest Doll Automaton calliope that was ever built.
(PbL)
Some of the performers.
Greg played this like he'd been doing it all his life.
(PbL)
Before the iPod, there was the 'Self-playing Musical Instrument'.
No room left for the baby.
(PbL)
Carillons in the tower of the Rüdesheimer Schloss restaurant.
(PbL)
I went alone on the cable car to Niederwald Monument.
Sailing over the vineyards.
At least the vandal knew their arithmetic.
This may have been put here for my 70th.
Busy Bee in a garden at the top.
Looking from the Niederwald Monument.
Looking from the Niederwald Monument.
Looking from the Niederwald Monument.
The lookout at the Niederwald Monument.
Niederwald Monument. The monument, which is 38 metres tall, is located in the Niederwald landscape park and was built in the 1870/80s to commemorate the Unification of Germany. The central figure of Germania holds the German Imperial Crown aloft in her raised right hand whilst resting the left on the Imperial sword.
Niederwald Monument.
Niederwald Temple.
The temple was built by Graf von Ostein in 1790 and became a source of inspiration
for many great intellectuals during the 19th century’s Romantic era when its
visitors included Brentano, Beethoven and Goethe.
Boosenburg Castle (Oberburg Castle). The tower is the town’s tallest building.
(PbL)
Went for a ride along the river as far as the Rhine Meadows of Geisenheim
(Rheinwiesen von Geisenheim).
(PbL)
Rode under, what remains, of the The Hindenburg Bridge.
Aviator Monument (Fliegerdenkmal ) in the Rhine Meadows of Geisenheim.
This is a memorial to the fighter pilots who died, from all nations, during World War 2.
The monument was created by the artist, Klaus Seelenmeyer, from Lüneburg and erected in 1959.
Saint Rupert's Monastery (left). The first building, dating to the plague year of 1666, was destroyed during the campaigns of 1795 in the French Revolutionary Wars.
Chapel of St. Roch (top right) was built 1814 in the wake of a typhoid fever epidemic brought back by soldiers returning from the Napoleonic Wars, and then hit by lightning in 1889 and the chapel burned down to the brickwork. The present building, built in 1893-95, is to Neo Gothic design.
Back at the boat docked at Rüdesheim.
(PbL)
Chair-lift, vineyards and Niederwald Monument at Rüdesheim.
Niederwald Monument, Rüdesheim.
(PbL)
Brömserburg Castle.
The castle was owned by the Archbishops of Mainz from the beginning of the 10th to the beginning of the 19th century.
Eibingen Abbey is to the top left. The community of nuns here live according to
the Rule of Saint Benedict and in keeping with the traditions of Saint Hildegard.
The nuns produce wine and crafts.
(PbL)
Deutsche Bahn's Class 189 Electric Locomotive. 189 042-5 (model 20722) was built by Siemens in 2004.
Catholic parish church of Saint James dates back to the 14th century and is
believed to have been built by the German knight, Johann Brömser.
Ehrenfels Castle ruins. In 1220, the Archbishop of Mainz ordered the
construction of a castle on the site of an earlier fortress. The castle was fought over
during the Thirty Years’ War before being finally destroyed by fire in 1689.
(PbL)
VIAS Stadler 3-car FLIRT EMU near Rüdesheim.
Mouse Tower. This tower was built in the 1st half of the 14th century
as a watch tower for Ehrenfels Castle and is built on a small island.
Mouse Tower.
In the background is Gustav Adolf Anniversary Church. This Protestant church
was built in the years 1894/95 as a jubilee church, the occasion being the
50th anniversary of the Gustav Adolf Foundation. The church was
severely damaged in WWII , but was rebuilt in 1948.
Assmannshausen (part of Rüdesheim)
The river was flowing fast at Assmannshausen.
(PbL)
There were a lot of trains seen along here.
And boats.
Hotel Krone in Rudesheim-Assmannshausen.
A Hotel Legend since 1541.
Rheinstein Castle is one of the finest examples of Rhine Romanticism architecture. The castle was constructed in about 1316/1317 but by 1344 had started to be in decline. In the 19th century, Prince Frederick of Prussia (1794–1863) bought the castle and it was rebuilt. It is now a museum open to the public.
It was windy passing Reichenstein Castle.
Reichenstein Castle.
The first mention of the castle occurs in 1213 but was apparently built in 11th century, was owned by a robber-baron.
Bombardier TRAXX locomotive 185 344. Top speed 140 km/h (87 mph). Power 7,500 hp.
Built somewhere between 1999 - 2006.
Yet another train photo.
Sooneck Castle, built around 1270.
River barge road-train.
Car transport for when in port, maybe.
Parish Church of St. Assumption, probably completed in 1305, and Heimburg Castle, built 1294.
Not the best weather for taking photos of castles.
Storm in the Rhine Gorge
The 541 km marker in the rain.
Fürstenberg Castle, built 1219.
Parish Church of St. Peter (center) with Stahleck Castle, its name means "impregnable castle on a crag", on the hill.
The white building (right forground) is Holiday Apartment Am Münzturm, in Bacharach.
Then the sun came out.
Pfalzgrafenstein Castle.
Pfalzgrafenstein Castle. The keep of this island castle, a pentagonal tower with its point upstream, was erected 1326 to 1327 by King Ludwig the Bavarian. The castle, along with Gutenfels Castle, functioned as a toll-collecting station that was not to be ignored. A chain across the river drawn between those two fortifications forced ships to submit.
Gutenfels Castle, also known as Caub Castle, built 1220, is on the hill behind.
On the hilltop is Schönburg Castle.
Below is the Church of Our Lady, in the medieval town of Oberwesel.
Schönburg castle was burned down in 1689 by French soldiers during the
Palatinate wars and remained in ruins for 200 years. Since 1957 the Hüttl family
have been living at the castle on a long-term lease; they operate a successful hotel
and restaurant. Above the medieval town of Oberwesel.
The Roman Catholic Church of St. Martin, also called the white church,
in Oberwesel. The mighty tower was once part of the city fortifications.
The Ochsenturm (in forground) was the strongest tower of the towns medieval fortifications.
(PbL)
Sailing past Oberwesel.
I don't remember going sideways down the river.
(PbL)
Werner Chapel (cream coloured building, centre right), Oberwesel.
During WW2 there was an agreement that the Allies would not bomb buildings
of historical significance and because of this Hitler had rail tunnel entrances
disguised to look like castles in hopes that the Allies would not bomb them.
(PbL)
Hillside plantings.
The sun is out but coats still required.
The new captain seems to be doing a good job.
A train about to enter one of the disguised tunnels.
Negotiating the 'Loreley Rock' on the Rhine
Another disguised tunnel.
Coming up to Lorelei Rock in the Middle Rhine River Valley.
Hillside orchards.
Passing the town of St. Goarshausen.
(PbL)
Katz Castle (German: Burg Katz) is a castle above the German town of St. Goarshausen.
It was first built around 1371 by Count William II of Katzenelnbogen. The castle was
bombarded in 1806 by Napoleon and rebuilt in the late 19th century, it is now privately owned.
(PbL)
Catholic Parish Church of St. Martin, Wellmich, St Goarshausen.
(PbL)
Maus Castle is a castle above the village of Wellmich, St Goarshausen. Construction of the castle was begun in 1356. Burg Maus was never destroyed, though it fell into disrepair in the 16th and 17th centuries. The castle suffered further damage from shelling during World War II. today Maus Castle hosts an aviary that is home to falcons, owls and eagles and gives flight demonstrations for visitors.
The diggings of an old slate-mine above the village of Ehrenthal.
The golden rooster weather-vane on top of the bell tower belongs to the
St. Sebastian Catholic Church, built 1542. It used to be a monastery............the church not the rooster.
A 6 car Vlexx commuter train at Hirzenach.
These are German LINT 81 diesel railcars, model number 620.
The Church of St. Bartholomew (rear), a Catholic parish church, which dates to 1296 in Hirzenach.
The provost Hirzenach (foreground with clock) is a former Benedictine monastery.
Ancient terraces.
......all in a row.
Everyone else got a photo of this town, but we didn't.
The Narvik, with car aboard.
Cargo 482 001 (?) Class 482, heavy freight locomotives made by Bombardier.
Sterrenberg Castle and Liebenstein Castle.
(PbL)
Sterrenberg Castle (left) built 1190. Liebenstein Castle (right) built 1284.
Above the village of Kamp-Bornhofen.
Bornhofen Monastery, or Pilgrimage Church. The original church dates to the 1600’s.
In Kamp-Bornhofen.
St. Nicholas Church, Kamp-Bornhofen.
(PbL)
What look like wine-barrels on wheels at the Wohnmobil - Stellplatze (motorhome - spots).
The steeple belongs to the Hotel Kurfurst, which was originally built as an Augusttinian Nunnery and parish church.
St. Margaret Church, Filsen.
(PbL)
Parish Church Of St Severus (right) In Boppard .
The terraces went on for ever.
Liebeneck (Love Neck) Castle, rebuilt in the 1800's on the original 1500's foundations.
And below, the Catholic Parish of St. Martin. Osterspai, Germany
The Marksburg is a castle above the town of Braubach. The fortress, built 1117) was used for protection rather than as a residence for royal families. Of the 40 hill castles between Bingen am Rhein and Koblenz the Marksburg was the only one which was never destroyed. The French emperor Napoleon gave the Marksburg to his ally the Duke of Nassau for his service. He used the castle as a prison and as a home for disabled soldiers.
The chimneys belong to BSB Recycling GmbH, Braubach, which is one of
the traditional secondary lead smelters in Germany. The smelter, founded in the
17th century, was converted to a secondary lead smelter in 1977,
We have a Bella Vista Hotel only 10 minutes away from us at home.
("what are the chances").
Ehrenbreitstein Fortress is a fortress on the mountain of the same name. Occupying the position of an earlier fortress destroyed by the French in 1801, it was built as the backbone of the regional fortification system, Festung Koblenz, by Prussia between 1817 and 1828.
(PbL)
The Koblenz cable car goes over the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress.
(PbL)
There were some nice homes along this part of the river.
(PbL)
Clockwise top L to R: Jackdaw, Jay, White / Pied Wagtail, Egyptian Goose, Canada Goose, Greenfinch
There was a particular 'unhappy camper' at the Stellplatz am Rheinufer
(Pitch on the banks of the Rhine) camping area. He (not the man in the photo)
didn't like the boat's cables going across in front of his van.
Bollwerk (Bulwark).
In 1650-1688 a bastion tower, reinforced with cannons, guarded the ship traffic on the Rhine.
Today, the building serves as a memorial to the fallen of the two world wars.
(PbL)
Our boat moored next to the Bollwerk (Bulwark).
(PbL)
The Bundesstraße 9 (B9) is a German federal highway that follows the left side of the Rhine from the Dutch border at Kranenburg upstream to the French border near the city of Lauterbourg, a lenght of 450 km (280 miles).
Lovers enjoying a sunset stroll.
Runder Turm (Round Tower), dating to the 15th century,
is a former watch tower in the town fortifications at the
northwest corner of the medieval town wall. It is Andernach's
symbol and is one of the mightiest fortified towers of its time.
(PbL)
They like to keep their trees under control. A little bit of 'man pruning'.
Andernach Geyser is the highest cold-water geyser
in the world, reaching heights of 30 to 60 metres.
(this was on a poster)
Old harbour crane from the 16th century .
It's one of the few surviving examples of a Renaissance industrial monument.
Old harbour crane from the 16th century.
This plant, growing in the crevices of the river-wall, look a lot like our
local native Wahlenbergia (Bluebell) but I think it's one of the
European Campanulas (Bellflower).
Time to head back to the boat.
Saturday 10th
We awake in Cologne
At first I thought this was a loo on wheels.
Now I know Joseph can do buffets, canapes, fingerfood and can be rented.
Is also nostalgic & rustic for city festivals.
(tbw)
The city finishes and the country begins.
(tbw)
Farming right up to the residential area.
(tbw)
Every little pocket of land is utilised.
(tbw)
The first stop on this mornings excursion is Augustusberg Palace.
The palace was built at the beginning of the 18th century by the
Archbishop-Elector of Cologne, Clemens August of Bavaria.
(PbL)
Augustusberg Palace.
The gardens were designed by Dominique Girard.
(PbL)
There was a wedding being held in the grounds.
She is looking a little bit peeved off (understandably)
by having a bus load of tourists taking their photos.
And here's the bride.
Augustusberg Palace and bride.
(PbL)
Augustusberg Palace gardens.
(PbL)
Augustusberg Palace Garden Vista.
Augustusberg Palace.
This (Common) Swift could have collided with one of the windows of the palace.
Augustusberg Palace gardens.
Next stop was Falkenlust Hunting Lodge, built from 1729 to 1740. This was Clemens August's very flash week-ender. The construction site was selected in accordance with the flight path of the herons, the favourite prey in falconry. The herons were captured by the avid falconer Clemens August and his hunting parties.
Falkenlust Hunting Lodge
Seashell Chapel / Clam Chapel (Muschelkapelle) in the grounds of the Falkenlust Hunting Lodge.
I don't know how, but my naughty camera took this photo inside the lodge.
It's a 1.85 km horse-ride back to Augustusberg Palace.
Bodyguard was showing at the Music Dome.
Must have been on a school excursion.
Taxi rank outside the Music Dome.
Cologne Railway Station
I liked the architecture at Cologne Railway Station.
I liked the architecture at Cologne Railway Station, and I was very tempted to hop on.
Three white ICE (Inner City Express) Very Fast Trains (up to 300 kph (186 mph) ) at Cologne Central Train Station.
The red Vareo train only does 140 kph (87 mph).
Class 620 diesel (left) comes from the French company Alstom. Top speed 140 kph (87 mph).
The Class 442 is a multiple unit electric railcar manufactured by Bombardier Transportation. Top speed 160 kph (99 mph)
Add caption
Cologne Station - Bahnhofsvor Place - Cologne Cathedral
Police PR exercise in Bahnhofsvor Place.
(PbL)
Cops are Tops
(PbL)
Police PR exercise in Bahnhofsvor Place.
(PbL)
Police PR exercise in Bahnhofsvor Place.
(PbL)
I am not a second class parent (poster). Father's break for children (banner on truck).
Against (systematic) part-parental care. In the end think about your children.
Fathers also (love their children)
Blending in like a local.
The East Tower St. Mary's Assumption (background).
(PbL)
Boy's games.
Roman - Germanic Museum
Roman antiquities.
Not the same as seeing them in the wild.
Roman antiquities.
Roman antiquities.
Cologne Cathedral, declared a World Heritage site in 1996 and is Germany's most visited landmark. Construction of the Cathedral commenced in 1248 and was halted in 1473, leaving it unfinished. Work restarted in the 19th century and was completed, to the original plan, in 1880. (hope they weren't paying by the hour)
These fellows were just doing some finishing touches.
Cologne Cathedral
Cologne Cathedral was a massive place.
Cologne Cathedral
Equestrian statue of Frederick III, German Emperor and King of Prussia, 1888.
This will save us a trip to The Louvre.
Hohenzollern (High Arches?) Bridge. The bridge was originally constructed between 1907 and 1911 after the old bridge, the Cathedral Bridge, was demolished. On 6 March 1945, German military engineers blew up the bridge as Allied troops began their assault on Cologne. Reconstruction of the bridge was completed in 1959.
The Hohenzollern Bridge, about six weeks after its destruction in 1945. (Photo by: U.S. Defence Visual Information Center photo HD-SN-99-02996)
Hohenzollern Bridge
Well at least no-one 'wrote' over the sign.
Love padlocks.................
.......................of all sizes and..................
.................in every place.
Hohenzollern Bridge
Hohenzollern Bridge
Cologne Cathedral from Hohenzollern Bridge.
A bit frustrated as her broom was booked for double parking.
Meanwhile, back at where the boat is moored, there's a food festival in full swing going on.
No sitting at the tables at this bar(que).
(PbL)
Seating for the visiting punters was a little on the short side.................
(PbL)
...........so some saw the empty chairs on our boat as an open invitation to
come aboard and were quickly shown the gang-plank.
(PbL)
So then we just mocked those on shore.
(no we didn't)
(PbL)
Sitting here we got a good idea on what the 'poor people' were doing.
(PbL)
Look who was also there...............................
........................someone who looked like Heston Blumenthal, the chef.
The Kiwis can teach us some eating manners because ..............
.............. they do it so right.
(PbL)
Jeoff stops for air, while there's no stopping Peggy.
(PbL)
I think this typifies the whole trip with Team Daniel, there were smiles................
................ and laughs every day.
And friendships..................
...................made.
(PbL)
(PbL)
The neoclassical frontage of the building (across the road from the boat)
housing the European Aviation Safety Agency was originally built
in 1913 as a railway headquarters.
There was also a festival being held on the opposite side of the river.
(PbL)
The need for speed.
Hotel Manager, Leich Straszewski, introduces the crew and the Captain to us at the Captain's Farewell Gala Dinner. (PbL)
Those who kept our bellies full (the most important people on the boat).
(PbL)
Those who made us feel at home.
(PbL)
Those who kept us comfortable (and put chocolates on our pillows).
(PbL)
Roland the Organiser
Those who made sure we were all aboard and got us there safely. And................
(PbL)
......................(some of) the 'Team Daniel' members who made the holiday so wonderful.
(PbL)
Birthday Cakes
King Billy with his Princess Judy.
(PbL)
NZ VIC NSW
(it's a little bow-tie)
(PbL)
Thanks to Trish Summerfield for this photo.
Mixing with common folk.
Bill couldn't get the bus on board, so this was the next best thing.
I think this was a Knighthood Ceremony for a faithful follower.
Looks like someone's getting orders to 'walk the plank'.
We had the sundeck to ourselves tonight.
(PbL)
Jenny captures the sunset.
(PbL)
(PbL)
Leaving Colonge.
(PbL)
(PbL)
(PbL)
Amsterdam, here we come.
(PbL)
(PbL)
We now have a new photo bomber.
There was also a party going on here.
The world 'Beer Belly Wine Glass Balancing' championship.
Beer Belly Wine Glass Balancing'
Representatives from TAS VIC SA
(PbL)
Peter has them cracked up.
(PbL)
Mick shows how it's done.
Haka Man
(PbL)
Haka Man
The rest of us, out of view, were all laughing just as much.
It's now 9:55 PM, getting close to the 10 PM 'no walking on the sundeck' curfew.
(PbL)
I was still there at 10:34.
A cooling-tower of one of the many power-stations along the river.
It's now 10:55 PM..........Good Night.
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