October 7, 2015

October 7, 2015

We woke up before the alarm, the sky was overcast and the temperature lightly IS ABOUT 12 C. We had the buffet breakfast and sat With the couple from Minnesota. The ship arrived in Kobletz during breakfast and soon after

The Sun Viking ship arrived and tied up parallel to the Baldur So THAT ITS passenger Could Exit Through our lobby to the boardwalk for Their excursions. Our excursion to Marksburg Castle leaves at 9:00 a.m. We are one of four groups of 50 Who Will Walk About 15 minutes to the place Where the buses arrive to transport us to the castle. Another two or three groups Went to Ehrenbreitstein Fortress, on the hill opposite our top berth. They get there by taking the aerial gondola About a five minute walk from the ship. Our ship then a left Koblentz to travel to and picked up Braubach Both groups of people by noon, for an afternoon cruising the Upper Middle Rhine Valley.

While waiting for the bus to arrive we Took some pictures of houses and fortress across the river from our dock. The bus ride to Marksburg Castle was About 25 minutes. The bus slowly made ​​its way up the narrow one lane, one km long entrance to the parking lot at the castle. At Marksburg Castle, everyone Walked up to the entrance and we broke into our four groups. Each group, of acerca 30, had a guide with a transmitter to sync with our receivers. The oldest part of the castle was built in the 13 ^th century. This was a time HAD When the Mongol invaders retreated and the residents wanted to be sure They had a defense system If They returned. Were Many castles started in the area of the Rhine River at the time. The style of architecture is Romanesque. Were there many stairs and an uneven section to start That was carved from the rock, but not really an uneven stairs but sloped section for the knights and Their horses to ride up to the stables. The tour was over an hour and we Climbed many staircases. We saw the large kitchen, Which Had an ice box to keep food cold, dining hall, chapel, latrine, owners' 14 ^th century bedroom, Which was the only sleeping That area had a fire. There was none in the servants' quarters. The furnishings Were like the 13 ^th to 16 ^th century pieces, Especially the bed, Which the people Had the head section raised to a semi-sitting position, since only dead people lay flat. There Were old tapestries on the thick walls. We browsed the gift shop, but bypassed the coffee, before returning to the bus to take us to Braubach repositioned to meet the ship.

We ate lunch in the dining room with a couple from Edmonton, as the ship pulled away for an afternoon of gliding along the Upper Middle Rhine River. We had salad, breaded veal cutlet With eggplant slices and strawberry ice cream for dessert or pastry stuffed apple. 

We went to the top sun deck to walk and listen to Claus' commentary as we cruised along the Upper Middle Rhine River. There Were towns and vineyards along the way. There was the double towered church in Boppard and the vineyards near Hirzenach That We photographed, while walking three km on the walking track. The river traffic is continual, river freighters, barges, a few ferries, day river cruise boats or cruise ships averaging About two or three vessels every few minutes. There Were shoals in the river due to the low water levels in places 1.5 to two meters shallower than average. There Were close to 80 passengers on the sun deck and more in the lounge or in the cabins enjoying the views. I took a picture of the above Altstadt & Katz Castle Burg Katz at kilometer 555 from the source of the Rhine. Also we noticed a number of campgrounds With small trailers and RVs. Claus Announced That the vehicles can stay all year round. As we Approached the cliff at the narrowest point in the river, there is a statue at the side of the river of Loreley. There is a legend About her as a seductress of the sailors drown WHO At this treacherous section of the river in bygone times. It is an "S" curve That has to advise upstream traffic signals of the type of ships heading downstream, Which Have the right of way. The boats upstream Have to wait for the boats to pass downstream. The cliff is called Loriley Rock and there is a legend Associated With the area. 10,678 Steps. It was after 3 grayish the sun was behind clouds and the temperature was cooling down Such That we needed to Have a jacket, so to deck We went down to the lounge for the 3:30 pm Rudesheimer demo Coffee Tea and German. We sat with a couple from Long Island, New York. The liqueur laced coffee was good. There was an assortment of eight different tortes to Have With the coffee or tea. We passed an old tollbooth structure on an island in the middle of the river.

After 4:30 we returned to our cabin to update the blog and Have a nap.

Before dinner the crew started to dismantle the barrier and Sun Deck everything sides to lay flat for the low bridges and locks That the ship will be passing in the next few days. People will Have to be content to get Either Their sun on Their balconies, For Those with balconies, or on the Aquavit Terrace to the front of ship on the third deck.

Then at 6:45, was Claus' presentation of Thursday's itinerary. Then it was off to dinner. We had a scallop starter When we sat down and again conspired With the New York state couple to switch the seating arrangement - ladies and gents on one on the other side - for the same four couples as on the first night. We had butternut squash soup or poached shrimp for appetizer, then a Mahi Mahi fish with rice or scalloped potatoes & Veal Tenderloin entrée for ending with apple and hazelnut crumble for dessert. 

At 9 there was a Trivia Night in the lounge. There Were About nine teams of four to eight players. Our team - the Golden Agers - consisted of the eight people at our dinner table. There Were 20 questions and 16 answers our team HAD correct, but the winning team HAD 17 correct answers and the six of them split 2 bottles of champagne. When the game was over, Laszlo, the pianist, started to play, just before 10. We danced a few tunes, then a, called it a night.

Final day's steps 12,260. Almost 11 km away.