2014-15 Koblenz, Germany
Hello All,
As we continued to cruise down the picturesque Middle Rhine River Valley we were consumed with the sheer beauty of the area--it was truly awesome. Above Koblenz, we came to a point where the river narrows and is at its deepest. It is here that the Lorelei Rock rises from the water. According to legend, at this point the beautiful Lorelei maiden used to sit and sing sweet songs. She would woe the sailor who passed the rock at nightfall and they would be lured to their doom when the rapid water would smash them against the rock.
In the following photo we are approaching the narrowest part of the river where is winds around Lorelei Rock. Boat traffic on the Rhine River is quite heavy. As you can see in the photo a boat hauling containers is navigating the river ahead of us.
As we continued to cruise down the picturesque Middle Rhine River Valley we were consumed with the sheer beauty of the area--it was truly awesome. Above Koblenz, we came to a point where the river narrows and is at its deepest. It is here that the Lorelei Rock rises from the water. According to legend, at this point the beautiful Lorelei maiden used to sit and sing sweet songs. She would woe the sailor who passed the rock at nightfall and they would be lured to their doom when the rapid water would smash them against the rock.
In the following photo we are approaching the narrowest part of the river where is winds around Lorelei Rock. Boat traffic on the Rhine River is quite heavy. As you can see in the photo a boat hauling containers is navigating the river ahead of us.
Shortly after passing Lorelei
Rock we came to the town of Koblenz, Germany. Wow, this area of the Rhine is busy
with tour boats, river cruise ships, and commercial boat traffic. And to our surprise,
there was a cable car that crossed the river where our ship docked. It went
from the town of Koblenz to the massive Fortress Ehrenbreitstein on the hill
across the river.
Tour boats full of passengers were
going up river to the Middle Rhine River Valley to see the numerous castles of
the area. It was a vibrant busy port of call. As soon as a tour boat returned
and unloaded they would load another group of tourists and depart shortly
thereafter.
This tour boat sure was
colorful.
Once our ship tied up at the
dock we departed on a tour of Koblenz. It is a beautiful town at the confluence
of the Mosel and Rhine Rivers. It has a history that dates back to the Romans who
established a military stronghold in the town around 9 BC. We found it a
delightful place to explore with many charming cafes, shops, and points of
interest.
Our first stop was at the Basilica of St. Castor. It was built between 817 and 836. Pope John Paul II raised St. Castor Church to a basilica minor on 30 July, 1991.
Our first stop was at the Basilica of St. Castor. It was built between 817 and 836. Pope John Paul II raised St. Castor Church to a basilica minor on 30 July, 1991.
We found the basilica
courtyard and gardens to be quite lovely.
Nearby was the “Le Pouce” a bronze
thumb statue by the French sculptor César. His full name was César Baldaccini,
but he is usually known simply as César. It paled in comparison to his 18-ton,
40-foot thumb on display in the financial district of Paris, France. But still,
very unique and worthy of a photo!
We found the city to be clean
and beautiful with large squares and some great architecture. Flowers were
tastefully planted throughout and the streets of the shopping district were for
pedestrians only. It appeared that it would be a great place to live. The
weather was overcast and gloomy. But, at least it didn’t rain on us.
This photo will give you an
idea of the beautiful architecture.
It was a colorful city in all
the good ways.
There were large squares
tastefully planted with flowers and trees. Folks were meandering around
casually enjoying their day. Cafes were readily available for a drink or a bite
to eat.
We love color and it seemed to
be everywhere. Koblenz hit the mark for our taste.
If you didn’t feel like
walking you could tour the city by this little train. Everything just seemed to
be colorful and spotless--no graffiti like you see in most cities.
This fountain in The Square of
Goerresplatz tells the entire history of Koblenz including the reconstruction
of the city after World War II. Koblenz was 85% destroyed during the war.
After touring the town we
walked back to our ship along the beautiful waterfront. In our eyes it is a
great town and one we would recommend you visit if you ever get into this neck
of the woods.
Even though our ship didn’t depart Koblenz till
the wee hours of the next morning we stayed onboard due to deteriorating
weather and rain. It worked out well as the ship was featuring a selection of
delightful German dinner specialties and fine German wine.
Our next adventure will be
cruising down the Lower Rhine to the amazing city of Cologne, Germany. Hope you
will consider tagging along with us.
Until next time,
Dave & Barb
The Traveling Browns
Until next time,
Dave & Barb
The Traveling Browns