Saturday was the only prolonged daytime travel on the boat. For a good reason - we were cruising through the Middle Rhine Gorge, a very scenic stretch marked by multiple castles on the banks as well as towns and vineyards. I tried to keep track of which castle was which, but when I looked at my list and my pictures, I wasn't so clear about it after all. So forgive me if I mis-identify any. I've done my best.
Our tour manager, Rene was an amazing narrator. His ability to tell the stories of the castles (for several hours) and communities along the way was truly impressive. We've encountered many tour managers and guides in our international travels, but he was certainly among best - knowledgeable, very funny, calm in the face of passengers’ worries and nudging, concerned for our welfare and ready to help in any way that he could (special appreciation from me since he really looked out for me in terms of mobility issues and helped me find ways to enjoy the day trips without too much physical stress).
The vineyards grow on very steep riverbanks where the grapes have to be harvested by hand. This is where a lot of the grapes for Rhine Rieslings, Moselles, Chardonnays and other wines are grown.
The day was sunny and crisp, but pretty chilly as you can see by our attire and extra layers. Worth every shiver though. Definitely one of the highlights of the cruise for me
The Middle Rhine Gorge morning is featured on the PBS commercials. It didn’t disappoint. In all, there were 20 castles/embattlements, but here are a few. I’m struggling with formatting so I’ll list them in order
1) Nollig “Castle” c.1300- actually part of the fortifications for the town of Lorch am Rhein
2) Stahleck Castle 12th century, but repeatedly attacked in the 17t century and rebuilt in 1909 Now a youth hostel
3) Sooneck Castle built in 1834 by the CrownPrince of Prussia
4) Reichtenstein Castle a reconstructed Neo-Gothic castle
5) Rheinstein Castle 14th century- complete with a drawbridge and ivy covered facade
This one, the Pfalzgrafenstein Castle is specially featured in the ads preceding Masterpiece Mysteries etc.- perhaps because it’s in the river itself so it’s easier to photograph. It was a toll station on the river. Now a museum that can be reached by ferry.
One of the later segments of the trip was through a tight bend in the river where currents are treacherous and the famous Lorelei Rock juts out to ensnare ships. The Lorelei was a mythical siren whose beauty and song lured passing sailors to their deaths.
