The Rhine Gorge

We woke this morning to see the passing towns and villages, a very traditional scene. We realised that modern life moves along the limited land at the waters edge with roads and railway tracks between the moored boats on the river and the buildings.

The ship docked at the wine town of Rüdesheim and we visited Siegfried ‘s Music Cabinet Museum. I hadn’t previously seen or heard these interesting mechanical musical instruments and organs, which were mostly in very large beautiful pieces of furniture.

We then took the cable car up the hill to see the monument to Germania, commentating Prussian successes in a war with France in 1871 and signifying the unification of Germany. We were able to see the vineyards which cover most available space on the hill sides, also a more extensive view of the river.

As we walked back to the ship we had to cross the railway line and timed it well for the barriers to fall. 3 trains passed through, one of the carrying Land Rover Discovery cars, about 1,000 of them!!!!

At 7pm as we sat down to dinner, we sailed from the Rhine into the Main River which has 34 locks and low bridges. We are not allowed on the upper deck for safety reasons as the height clearance is limited.

After dinner the musical duo in the lounge played 60’s music. The passengers are a lively, uninhibited bunch of 50+’s, so there was plenty of dancing. I even got B onto the dance floor, the first time in over 10 years, a great achievement!!!!