1980 Rhein/Rhine River (8/1/1980)

Friday, 1 August 1980

First day of August! Awoke at 07:00 and went down for an early breakfast. Weren't given any choice and had coffee of which we only took a few gulps. Had rolls with a cream cheese with mushrooms, a ham sausage, and strawberry and currant jams. Stuffed extra rolls in our goody bag. Ended up paying slightly less than the expected fee for the room because they didn't have the proper change, but still paid about $40, including breakfast. We walked down to the docks, buying provisions along the way. The ticket man seemed delighted to see three sisters and to practice his English. Had some milk to help our health and thirst, with a German chocolate bar to help those who couldn't stand the taste of very whole milk. Boarded the Rhine River excursion boat about 09:10 where we were admired by the fellows checking the bags. Finally found our way to the rear (aft?) deck, pulled up a couple folding wooden chairs, and enjoyed the cruise. The sun was out, only occasionally hiding behind a cloud. It was at last very warm. The Rhine castles leisurely slid by, as the loudspeaker pointed each out in three languages (German, French, and English).

Another Rhine River cruise boat

Marksburg (TAT)

Burg Katz at St Goarshausen (TAT)

The Lorelei

Oberwesel

Burgs Gutenfels (above) and Pfalzgrafenstein (on river)

Burg Gutenfels (TAT)

Burg Stahleck, Ruine Wernerkapelle and Peterskirche (TAT)

Burg Reichenstein

Burg Rheinstein (TAT)

Postcard of Rhine castles

The boat did not toot at the Lorelei, but did play their song. Had our picnic lunch of liverwurst sandwiches and leftover goudse siroopwafels. At about 14:15 we landed in Bingen and helped a guy ask a local kid where the train station was located. We misunderstood on purpose the sign to not cross the tracks on the road, so we could hurry to the station. Didn't have to hurry as we ate potato chips while waiting for the 14:35 train to Mainz. Once in Mainz we immediately boarded a train to Freiburg. We were joined by a Canadian now working in Germany, who had suggestions on Freiburg and explained the Black Forest begins at Baden-Baden. Arrived in Freiburg at 18:15, a little late actually. Took the short walk to their Münster Square to see the cathedral, and also to look for someplace to sample Black Forest cherry cake. The only place that seemed to offer it, was out of it. So we went to a McDonald's for dinner instead.

Freiburg Münster/cathedral

Freiburg market

Because there were no trains out of Freiburg through the Black Forest, we ended up taking the 20:00 train to Frankfurt. The conductor on this train kept closing the windows, and we suffered from the stifling heat. There was a real skinny kid with wild aromatic herbs in his pack. Arrived in Frankfurt at 22:40 and found a train going to Garmisch-Partenkirchen at 00:15. In the meantime we went to the post office, heard a Sgt. Minnie being paged, and had Pepsi and Japanese crackers. We also went to a McDonald's for ice cream sundaes.

Next: Zugspitze.