Koblenz and Middle Rhine

What a beautiful day on Sunday, July 13.  We went on a tour of the Marksburg Castle high on a hill -- taken there by bus from our ship.   It's the best-preserved of all the castles on the Rhine,and appears much the same as when it was built  approximately 700 years ago.  We also got to see the torture chamber (with their various tools for torture--ugh!), the progression of the armor styles they wore, and the chastity belts women had to wear when their men went off for several years at a time.

The afternoon was the best!  Cruising down the Rhine, sitting on the top sun deck (nice weather), watching the numerous castles or fortresses on the hills as we floated by, and seeing the picturesque villages along the way and many vineyards -- Viking River Cruise did not do false advertising!  It looked like their ads on KQED, only we were seeing it live!   Passed the Lorelei statue/rock where sailors have been killed because it is so narrow and treacherous for boats.  Of course, our longboat had no problems.   We also saw lots of small RV/tent campgrounds by the river.


During dinner, we left the Rhine and began our trip on the Main River.  Also started the first of about 60 locks that the boat has to pass through.  The boat gets within a couple inches on both sides of rock walls sometimes, and waits in the lock for the water level to raise us up before we can continue on our trip.  Quite interesting.  Very impressive steering by the captain.

The World Cup was on TV that evening.  There sure were excited Germans when we disembarked the next day!

Are we having a great time?  You bet!!!!