a little taste of Deutschland

Skipper I found that Hans gravesite and many WW 2 veterans were removed in the 1980's to places unknown, and was told a simple I am sorry ........

we got up at 7am and got off the ship into 4 different tour groups with our guide Jutta who really knew her stuff about Speyer and the high times. the Rhein was much wider at Speyer at least another 1/2 to mile further inland until it was rechanneled for the farming communities. we walked between two Bier Stuben then through a lovely long park tree-lined across the street and then onto the Dom Platz square, covered in trees which we were told were 100's of years old and actually planted in the river

yours truly by one of the big Sycamores



up the short flight of stairs to one of two medievel gates still standing



the Dom in eastern sunlight



characteristically blank for good reason this was a church of many facets exclusively for the rich, beat the peasants into building it but do not let them worship inside.



the grounds and church were torn open at least two times one of major terror was the 30 ? years war with France, whom dealt death blows to many of the older German cities, then rebuilt on top of the rubble by sections. In order to broadcast the hailing of the new archbishop a wine probe was installed out in the front of the Dom and the city folk of all classes were welcomed all day to drink from the oversized vat until everyones thirst was quenched - our restaurant in pink in the background for later that night .........yes ! and of course I was asked to take a drink myself........what the !!, dry ?





looking back up on the surrounding door-way grille



we then headed south to the Jewish quarter all of it terminated to the foundation during the Third Reich, what is left is just a ruine and the pics did not turn out. we left here and headed back north past the old square to one of the Baroque Kirche, the Trinity Church



organ and altar



and the angels singing ............ you may leave now

 

as it was still fairly early in the morn before 10am the shops were not open as I tried to run the mile down the Alt Platz looking for something very special for the Mrs. the humidity and the heat were rising so fast that my dark blue T-shirt was soaked through front and back and right down through my pants, the locals probably had a real good laugh at that long haired freak running around. I never did find that item I was looking for plus loosing all of the tour groups I made a dash back to the ship and the parked buses, the chief guide Rik said here drink this, what I thought was a bottle of clear pure water turned out to be ......... puke, mineral water. At least it was cold.

as I got on the bus our bus driver Heinz-what a cool guy, turned up the a-c on high and was speaking me in typical central German lingo which I could not understand and I patiently waited and closed my eyes for 10 minutes before we left for the city of Heidelberg which will be the next installment of photos one that could cover at least 3 pages or more but will not bore you, just throw out some highlights

 

The Rhenan dialects are difficult to understand if you are not uses to them, they are quite similar to Alsatian though. You just lacked time, after a while you get used to the consonnations and they are actually quite easy to understand.

 

after a second look I noticed one of the pictures is actually a wonderful organ

 

which means Skipper we need to return one day and partake of more Wein in then Alsace with you and yours, already had an invite from a friend to do the Main River towards Würzburg and drop down to Nürnburg for several historical days.

to get to Carls question about the Rock and Boppard, we left Heidelberg (of which I will cover later) the next morn and sailed towards Rüdesheim, it was quite windy and cloudy and the pics did come out darker than we would of cared for. the ship was on a tight schedule and every bend we took in the river I wanted them to stop for a couple of hours..........ah nope we took the straight course but did still take some nice views/pics as we sailed through German wine country, the big Rock and the protector in Black at it's base. a couple of nice spots we will come back to in a couple of years were noted

 

I know a great winegrower in Bernardswiller, not far from the Köenigsberg Schloss when you go down from the Howald mountains. He's got excellent Gewurstraminer and for his regular customers he has some extra reserve that is close to the nectar I would drink in Heaven. I also higly recommend the late harvest wines with grapes that have rested on straw before being put in the bottles.
Glad to hear you did not fall for the beauty of the Lorelei and did not jump in the Rhine.

 

a couple of you guys will notice this mighty Fortress overlooking the Neckar. A massive restoration was taking place and we only visited a select few rooms during this portion of the Schloss history. Too many tour groups on display, at least 30 last count many of them quite rude shoving their way through narrow gates and passage ways but overlooking them and the terrible heat some 100F at 9 am were pursued some fun, the views were of course incredible noting the quite well-to-do's living across the River and just below the Schloss on the steep winding road we had just come up.
Enjoy the first portion of pics gang















~~~~~~~~~~~ more of the Heidelberg Schloss later ~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

So you did walk all the way up, despite the heat! Hat's off, I know how hard and steep it is to walk along the little paths in the heat.

 

alot of shade trees covered the road, then to the bus parking lot, obnoxious folks standing around into the area of cobbles and smeared walk-ways and then a silly Gasthof with a trinket shop attached on the right.

have got a couple of shots of the # 1 and 2 wine barrels in the world to find but here is a slight retrace of our steps before going through the protectorate gate. I would return in a moment during shoulder season just to be rid of the tourists

 

The end of July and early August is the worse time. You get many ignorant loud mouth buggers. I went at the end of August. June or early September is even better, then you don't have to wait until Joe the American, or Helmut the German, move their asses just fast enough that you can take a decent picture before the next cohorte arrives.

 

Impressive architecture.
I have been in Germany many times, but only once as a tourist.
It looks like I have to take a trip again. As a tourist..

Regards
RAM

 

I love the photos! Many thanks for posting.

I also have to note that each time I see this thread referenced, I think I am reading "a little taste of dachshund"! I take a double take each time, wondering if someone is eating dogs!

 

Very nice pics, Erich! I'm envious.

 

That's the chinese!
According to an englishman, I think it was when they handed Hong Kong over to China, it was said that the chinese ate everything on four legs, except tables and chairs.....

RAM

 

based in the Schloss the largest wine barrel in the world



images of Heidelberg ~





Der Ritterhof for lunch .......... yes !







dang the Beef Rolladen, Spatzle and Rot Kohl plus the Bier were hard to beat ~





Jesuitenkirche interior



down another not so frequented alley/street



couple of the villas across the Neckar River

 

left next morning ehading north around 6.15am after breakfast, cloudy and humid. much of the Rhein has been industrialized as I previously mentioned, wheat and corn fields, steel obviously is still reigning supreme here. as I was mostly sitting on the left side of the ship - random pics - passing walker/cyclists, farmers in their fields, a Canoe club and other interesting oddities

passing Worms, Nachenheim at 486km with it's yellow/white trimmed church. On the left bank ~ Mainz around 11.45am, St. Martin, old government buildings and then heavy industry on the north end of the city .........

 

on the northern edge-right bank of Wißbaden (Wiesbaden)



and on to picturesque Eltville

 

That wine barrel would be just big enough for my next party!

 

Skip how about fitting a small house in that thing ? ..... crazy, the second largst barrel was not much smaller than the giant

 

getting closer to Rüdesheim on the right bank



estate on the Jesuitegarten vineyard with Schloss Johannisberg overlooking



Rüdesheimer Kaffee - - yee haw !





and into Rüdesheim with the crowds .......... Germania up the hill on the left