One of the highlights of this past weekend was that we woke up to a sunny Saturday morning. It’s sure amazing how the heart sings at the sight of blue skies. Given that it was sunny, my hosts had the grand idea of taking me for a drive along the Rhine River, along a stretch that boasts of more than twenty castles, some in ruins, but most still intact. Unfortunately, by the time we got there the sun had disappeared and my excitement over taking pictures of beautiful castles standing proudly in the sunshine was dashed. *Sigh*
Nevertheless, I LOVE going for car rides, especially if they are along a winding river – sun or no sun. Perhaps it comes from living along the Mississippi for so many years and taking Sunday afternoon car or motorcycle rides around ‘The Lake’. The Mississippi is still my river of choice (at least the stretch through Wabasha county), but it surely could be enhanced a bit with the formation of a castle or ten. The Nelson Cheese Factory is due for some competition!
Anyway, here are some pictures from the drive. Every single picture here was taken from inside the car, so please excuse their very low quality, the blurred lines, and the lack of colour. Most were in shadows as we passed. :(
On a side note, it was fun to think that my Great-Great Grandfather once worked on the Rhine, before his grand voyage to the States from Luxembourg.
The region is not only famous for the castles along the Rhine, but is one of the most famous vineyard regions in Germany. The bluffs facing the afternoon sun are literally covered in very steep vineyard terraces, some dating back hundreds and hundreds of years. I can only imagine what this might look like in the summer.
The pictures above and below are of the Marksburg Castle, which we stopped and toured! Very cool!
Small villages line up like dots along the stretch of the Rhine that we drove. These pictures simply do them zero justice, even for their shadowy, overcast day appearance. Beautiful buildings with colour enough to make you think you’re looking at Candy Land, churches the size of palaces, small fortresses, and often a backdrop of vineyard terraces make each of these small towns seem as if they belong in a fairy tale.
Bis später!!
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