Rhine Gorge
Fall equinox today.
We were disappointed to see the heavy morning fog as we started our sail through scenic Upper Middle Rhine Gorge. This is the second best part of the trip lined with vineyards, picturesque towns and castles. The sun burned off the fog as we reached the first few castles. It was chilly on top but worth it for the views. The Rhine River begins as a stream in the Swiss Alps and goes through France, Germany and the Netherlands where it dumps into the Atlantic Ocean.
The sick ones watched while they coughed from the lounge or their rooms. And I spent the last 15 miles watching from my bed with windows wide open. Gary had provided a map showing all the key castles and towns on this section of the Rhine with mile markers as well as a running commentary on the sound system. We got to hear the legend and poem of Lorelai – a sea nymph who lured sailors to their death at the narrowest section of the Rhine.
Exploring Koblenz
We docked in Koblenz where many of the guests took an excursion to Marksburg castle after the local tour. We stayed and explored the town and the Ehrenbreitsein Fortress. We rode a cable car over the river to the Fortress that overlooks the town. It had big open grassy grounds in the center and a walled fortress that has served multiple functions over the centuries. Today it is an exhibit hall for some unusual modern art. Most of the info plaques were in German only so we had to makeup our own explanations.
Town of Koblenz
On this trip we have had few occasions to spend evening at port because the ship usually sails before dinner. With a late departure from Koblenz (10pm) we treated ourselves to a nice dinner off the ship. For dinner we went to a place I found online (Gerhards Genussgesellschaft) which was a bit fancier than we expected. Only Pat and David made the effort to dress appropriately. I had lamb served on a pumpkin puree with gnocchi and grapes. Excellent. Also a beet salad was shared by the table. The service wasn’t great but we didn’t care.
Beautiful walk along river towards the point where the Mosel river meets the Rhine. After dinner we hurried back to see the crew show which was funnier than I expected. … especially the wedding skit.