Koblenz
Koblenz, Germany
Day 4, Sunday, July 2nd
Marc's Journal
The scenery along the Main River is incredible (like my morning walk in a park above). Our boat docked near the Deutches Eck (German Corner) in Koblenz which is a picturesque town with a HUGE statue honoring William I. It was a display showing the pride of Germany and honoring the individual states, which William was credited for unifying.
(Above) Speed trip through the coat of arms etched for each of the German states.
We then toured the Marksberg Castle (below).
Painting on a the ceiling of the Chapel in the Castle. (Click for a high resolution version)
Diane's Journal
This morning, we woke up to the pleasant sound of church bells ringing, reminding us that it's Sunday.
Thankfully, we managed to board the correct bus and join the right tour, ensuring our return to the correct ship. Phew! It feels great to navigate successfully!
Our excursion took us to the remarkable Marksburg Castle, the only hilltop castle along the Middle Rhine that has never suffered destruction. This impressive structure has been inhabited for over 800 years and currently houses a family of five and their housekeeper.
There's just one entrance to the castle, and the key used by even the present-day residents is surprisingly huge, measuring around 10 to 12 inches in length. The aspect that fascinated me the most was the peculiar location of the toilet. It juts out from the wall of the great hall, with its entrance conveniently positioned in the middle of the wall next to the dining table.
This placement allowed guests to marvel at the owner's wealth and social standing. Oh, and I mustn't forget to mention that the area outside the wall was secluded, with no passersby. So, when nature called, any waste would drop directly to the ground below. Inside, the door remained open during gatherings so as not to miss any conversation. The only reason for closing and locking the door was to guard against potential intruders. In the past, castles had been seized by enemies when someone would sneak up through the toilet and then open the front gate for the attacking army. If the door was shut, the noise made by the intruder would alert the inhabitants of the breach. Different times indeed!
A view of the Main River from the Marksberg Castle. Click for a high resolution look.
Diane's Journal (continued)
The abundance of vineyards along the Rhine continues to amaze me. I can't fathom how they manage to tend to their grapevines on these steep hills.
Today, our boat treated us to a 40-mile stretch showcasing over 20 magnificent castles. Having explored a castle in the morning made the experience of seeing these castles from the outside even more captivating.
Tonight, we had the opportunity to witness our longboat passing through our first lock, marking the beginning of many more to come—68 to be exact. It's an exciting part of our journey!
Passing through 68 locks! It's tight!