Day 18 - Rhine Cruising

The weather turned beautiful for our day of cruising the Middle Rhine filled with castles and steep hillsides filled with vineyards. We  got to Koblenz in time for lunch. In the afternoon, we took a bus and went to tour Marksburg Castle. It is a 800 year old that is said to be the best preserved castle on the Rhine. After the tour, we returned in time to tour Koblenz and then have a traditional German dinner. It was fun seeing our wait staff in dirndls and lederhosen.

 The door on the left is to bring a table below (loaded with food) into the banquet hall.

This is a medieval indoor plumbing which has an opening which "dumps" outside. It was considered rude to close the door when using so you would continue your dinner conversations while seating on the "throne". There was a lock on the outside so it couldn't be used to break into the castle.

Joey holding the key to the castle.

His eyes move to follow people on the square!

A bachelor party group we encountered in Koblenz.

Our Marksburg Castle guide explaining some of the defenses the castle had that protected it in case of attack. The steps were of different height & door casings were small so if in at our, would have a hard time entering.

Statute of Kaiser Wilhelm I at Deutsches Eck where the Rhine & Moselle meet.

Fountain that reflects 2000 year history of Koblenz.