Life...The Vivere

ALONG THE RHINE

JANUARY 16, 2018

From Cologne, Germany to Nuremberg, a sailing odyssey forever in our memory. What uniquely beautiful, fairy-tale-like towns, villages and cities we found along the Rhine River. It was an especially lovely time because it was just before Christmas. The weather was similar to what we had at home, but we were missing the snow. Here's how our journey unfolded...

We started our excursion in the 4th most populated city in Germany, COLOGNE...near the country's borders with Belgium and the Netherlands. Founded by the Romans in the 1st century AD, it was one of the most heavily bombed cities Germany during WWII. Having restored as many historic buildings as possible, Cologne is an intriguing mix of ancient and modern. The city's 13th century cathedral, started in medieval times and completed in the late 1800's, is one of its cornerstones and a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Cologne Cathedral with the Christmas Market in front of it...

Cologne's Christmas Market in the shadow of the city's 14th century Gothic cathedral

Christmas Caroling added to the Christmas spirit

Extraordinary wood carvings added to the ambiance of the markets and streets

Peaceful KOBLENZ is a very traditional German town founded more than 2,000 years ago. There's a huge statue of Prince William I welcoming visitors to the municipality. Many wonderful statues grace the cobbled streets, alleys and squares of Koblenz, a former trading settlement.

The "ROMANTIC RHINE" flows gently through one of Germany's most scenic regions. We enjoyed the sites of vineyard-blanketed hills where vintners musts pick grapes by hand...a centuries old tradition; splendid castles as well as castle ruins; little towns; railroad trains traveling along the sides of the river then disappearing into tunnels cut into the high hill slopes; barges, tugboats and small riverboat cruise ships...life along the river.

Docked right at the edge of FRANKFURT's Old Towne and world famous Christmas Market, we were looking forward to leaving the ship to spend time with the locals, to taste more of the spirit of Christmas. Founded in the 1st century, this 5th largest German city is a global hub for commerce, culture, education, tourism and transportation.

We enjoyed some absolutely delicious potato pancakes, bratwurst, gluhwein (hot, spiced wine,) pastries...what a feast! These treats were available at each Christmas Market we visited in villages and cities along the river.

The Old Town of Frankfurt was originally built with all timber construction. Although extensive damage occurred during WWII, Frankfurt is now near the end of restoring portions of the town to its original glory. This prestigious university city is a jewel of Baroque architecture.

Heading towards the city of Nuremberg, our next stop was  WURZBURG...in the Bavarian region of Germany. We decided not to explore the famous PRINCE'S PALACE as we wanted to have time to explore the city and the Christmas Market. The Palace did have some extraordinary statues forming a fountain in front of it so I can only imagine the splendor of the art within the enormous building.

ROTHENBURG ob der Tauber is one of Germany's last remaining walled medieval towns. It has been lovingly preserved and is one of the country's most beloved towns. Its winding, cobbled streets are filled with Baroque, timber-framed patrician houses and some lovely shops as well as welcoming squares. Clearly, this is a place that tourists love!! Rothenburg has appeared in several films, notably fantasies as it's a fairy-tale kind of place: Walt Disney's "Pinocchio," "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang," and "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" (parts 1&2.) 

Founded in 902, BAMBERG is a town in the Bavarian region of Germany. An ancient Franconian town... typically medieval... it's a beautiful place with unforgettable small and winding cobbled alleys, streets and picturesque views wherever you look. The Old Town of Bamberg is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, primarily because of its authentic medieval appearance. It's also known as an antique center...we should have brought a trunk to carry home all the intriguing things we would have liked! One of Bamberg's main attractions is the unusual RATHAUS or Town Hall, built in the middle of a double-arched bridge over the Regnitz River. 

Something interesting about all these places is the mix of Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque architectural styles...distinctive, each...and stunning to behold and appreciate. Too, the addition of art and sculpture scattered throughout these towns and cities...wonderful support for the arts seems an integral part of who the people are!

Final stop on our journey through Germany... NUREMBERG, best known, unfortunately, for its infamous Nazi past during WWII. Because we had been there before, we decided to take a bus tour through the city and end up at our very last Christmas Market...purported to be one of the best in Europe. Too, it was raining lightly so the bus tour was a good alternative.

The tour bus route included the Hitler-Nazi parade grounds, buildings and shell of a 50,000 seat stadium that was never finished. Before the roof was built, Hitler took the 10,000 workers from what was to be Nazi Central Headquarters and put them in the army as the Allied invasion was progressing better than he would have liked!

Nuremberg is a city of extremes...still surrounded by 13th century walls with many gates and watchtowers fully intact, it grew into a toy-making capital of Europe. This is a place where craftsmen shape metal and carve wood into inspiring sculptures and decorative crafts. This toy background is certainly reflected in the Christmas Market stalls where we found a huge variety of toys, large and small.

This is always a time...a week or so before Christmas..that we love to travel. People are warm, welcoming and happy to share their enthusiasm for the holidays ahead. We're so grateful for the opportunities we have and the people we meet from all over the world. It certainly makes us more open-minded and compassionate... and appreciative of those we love.

Thanks for taking this virtual trip with us... 

Big Hugs,

abbyj