2005 Danube River Cruise

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Koblenz, Germany
DAY 4 – October 25, 2005
The Cruise version: Depart Cologne before dawn and later this morning arrive in Koblenz, at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle rivers. Enjoy a walking tour of this historic hub of trade. Many photos of the buildings of Koblenz while our guide fills our heads full of historical information, which is just as quickly forgotten. – Germany has 82 million inhabitants in a confederation of 16 States: Baden-Wurttenberg, Bavaria, Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Hesse, Lower Saxony, Saxony Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein, Thuringia.
Continue to Rudesheim through the dramatic Rhine Gorge, a beautiful stretch of the river. See the legendary Lorelei Rock, where a mythical siren lured the sailors to their doom on the reefs below.
DAY 4 – October 25, 2005 continued:
This was one of the sunny days we had, so I dashed about getting as many photos of buildings as I could manage. Germany may have unified east and west when the Berlin wall came down in November of 1989, but the land the country occupies today is made up of people of differing origins and characters. At the extremes are the somber, upright Prussians of the North, personified in Bismark and the jolly Bavarian of the south, who is typified in Lederhosen and chamois hat, swilling foaming beer. In between is the Swabian, who lives in a neat cottage and keeps his carefully washed Mercedes in a garage, the Ruhrgebiet miner, who keeps pigeons in the loft and the Lower Saxony cattle farmer who warms his damp days with glasses of Schnaps.
Lorelei Rock and Castles in Germany
We return from our walk about Koblenz , have lunch and then go to the sun deck to watch for the Lorelei Rock. It is a narrow passage in River with rocks. It’s a lovely sunny day. Doris, our tour director, gave us some history regarding the architecture of buildings: 1. Romanesque – round, arched windows, plain styling. 2. Gothic – pointy arches on buildings, bigger windows. 3. Baroque – gargoyles, opulent display of wealth. 4. Renaissance – more plain decordations due to Protestant Reformation.. Neo-classic, neo-gothic, etc. – replications of different styles.
Vineyards and Fall Colors in the sun, in Germany
There are castles along both banks of the river, and vineyards, all dressed up in their Autumn colors. This is Reisling country. A terrific cruising day.

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