Day 22 September 14

 Day 22, September 14, 2012 Day off in Kolbenz

Today the tandem stayed put.  Paul wandered around town while I slept in.  Eventually we left the hotel to do some errands and sightseeing.  Laundry and a stop at the Vodaphone store took care of the errands.  Then we stopped for an early lunch which included an onion kuchen which is in season right now and it was delicious.  Paul got this shot of Old Glory and it was nice to see a little of home.

 This is the Deutsches Eck.  It is the confluence of the Mosel and Rhine Rivers.  If you look carefully, you can see where the two rivers merge.There is a large statue of Wilhelm I overlooking this sight. 

 Today we decided to take a river ride and see a section of the Rhine that is not on our route.  The Rhine where many castles are located.  On the Mosel River it was quaint villages with churches defining the skyline.  Here it is castles with a small church near its base.

 This castle is near Braubach.  It was built over 800 years ago and has never been destroyed in any war.  Since this area seems to have been at war or invaded by some other country on a regular basis, no war damage in over eight centuries is impressive.

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The Rhine is an important waterway.  It is a major shipping river and the center of a huge tourist industry.  Maintenance never ends and this wall was being rebuilt between the river and the road.

 After our trip down the Rhine to Boppard, we had just enough time to ride the Seilbahn from the Deutsches Eck to the Festung Ehrenbreitstein.  The F. E. is a massive fortification on the bluff overlooking the confluence.  It was built by the Prussians to be the strongest one in Europe after Napoleon destroyed the fort that had previously been on the sight.  And we did all of this with a senior discount!

 One again we have hit the jackpot.  We are on the third floor (fourth floor American) and this spiral staircase is how we get to our room which overlooks the Jesuitplatz.  And the other jackpot is the music festival in the different squares in the old part of town.  The band will be playing until after midnight....right out our window!

Claudia, Brigette and their husbands have also pedaled along the Mosel River this week.  They come from Lake Constance, Germany.  Once again our paths crossed when they came to the square to see the festival.  We have been running into each other for days.  It is amazing the number of people out touring along these rivers.