Once again a lot of locks on the Main overnight. We got to the Rhine River at the town of Mainz a little after 8am and by mid-morning they put up the rails and chairs back up on the upper deck. No more really low bridges and we will be getting to an extremely scenic area again. Castles, castles, castles. Our cruise yesterday was beautiful so it's hard to imagine that it was just a preview or our passages on the Danube were chopped liver. Where we joined the Rhine was industrial but also very scenic in the distance or in the hills. It was very scenic after we got away from the city.
The above 2 photos are shortly after we joined the Rhine but after Mainz. We are NOT yet in the scenic areas.
We went to the upper deck about 10am or so and Wow! It was cold! Upper 40s (°F) and very breezy. Quickly came down one level to the bow seating which is behind plexiglass to break the wind. Still cold but out of the direct wind. They also brought everyone a cup of (hot) gluhwein to warm us up. It worked.
Below are most of the castles on this section of the Rhine. Too many to give the names or their importance in history. Most were destroyed by the French in the 1600s and rebuilt in the 1700s or 1800s. Some not until early in the 20th century.
We are seeing a lot more barges of various flags going upriver. A lot of shipping here. Now the bad news. Perhaps insulting to the Germans. IMHO, except for these amazing castles, I think the Danube is more beautiful. Just a couple of castles there but more scenic. Again, IMHO. The Rhine has way more exposed rock and ledges where the Danube is much greener due to less exposed mountain sides. It certainly could be argued either way. The Rhine IS beautiful.
We walked up to the Markburg Castle.
Ok, we didn't walk ALL the way. We had a 10 minute bus ride to the base. Then we walked. A long way. Straight up. (Almost). Over very rough, medieval walkways and steps. Too steep for horses or knights. Good thing it wasn't wet like tours last week. The views were stunning.
Our guide told us about the people who lived here and how they lived. The rooms and passages were very small and the pathways inside and out were narrow and steep. Facinating, however. Tired us out.
After the castle tour it was back to the busses to find the ship, about 30 minutes away in Koblenz. A very pretty city at the junction of the Mosselle and Rhine Rivers.
Prince William I above the confluence of the Mosselle and Rhine.
Dinner was with Aussie friends again. One of the couples had emigrated from Scotland to Australia. For the second time I ate one of the standard meals because none of the daily choices hit me right. Crab cakes or spinach ravioli plus the usual dead mammals. Ravioli was ok, just not for me (Carol had it) and the standard poached salmon for me was a repeat but quite good. A good fallback for me.
After dinner there was live Baroque and operatic music up in the lounge. Uh, snuck out after a few samples. The ship will be getting underway about 0200. Hope they don't wake us.
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