Tuesday--Koblenz & Castles

TUESDAY, AUGUST 21ST
KOBLENZ, GERMANY
MARKSBURG CASTLE TOUR

Entrée choices for dinner last night were duck, fish, or vegetarian something (I don’t pay attention vegetable anything).  We chose duck as was not impressed with sea bass (that’s what they called it but looked more like carp) the first night of cruise.  The duck was rather tough but ok.  I am disappointed with the desserts on Viking, since Europe is loaded with excellent pastry shops, I expected better.  Waiter “tried” to rush us into ordering but I told him to come back later.  He returned a couple minutes later and I told him again we were not ready.  Same couple we dined with night before showed up and sat with us again.  After dinner at 9pm there was a local 3 piece instrumental group that played some classical music from German composers for over an hour.
Another good nights sleep and we were up at 7am.  After breakfast we arrived in Koblenz at 9am.  We were divided into groups again and boarded buses for a 20 minute drive up to the Marksburg Castle.  This is the best preserved castle on the Rhein and is over 800 years old.  Because of its location on an isolated hill it was never attacked during countless wars over the centuries.  This part of the Rhine is called the Upper Middle Rhine Valley and has many vineyards lining the valley walls and is where most of the castles are also located.  The cruise director is saying today is sight seeing highlight of the cruise.  Our buses parked fairly close to the castle but we still had a walk up steep hill to get to first of 5 gates to enter it.  This tour definitely not for folks with health or mobility issues.  Our castle guide was again very good and the tour lasted an hour.  IF, internet ever works long enough to download photos, they will explain castle rooms.  I had a connection long enough this morning just to get yesterday’s blog posting on it.  I’ve had much better internet service in the middle of the ocean.  Of course Viking will not get satellite so we have to be passing a town and then have very brief connection, maybe.
      So after we left the boat in Koblenz, it moved on upriver to hill just below Marksburg Castle.  It stopped just long enough for us to jump on.  This afternoon we are cruising up the Rhine passing by several castles, interesting villages, vineyards, and other sights.  I just got photo of two castles in one shot.  We will be docking tomorrow morning at Freudenberg which is stop for Miltenberg, if you are following our itinerary.  Tonight’s “special drink of the day” is any drink made with tequila for $4.50.   After dinner tonight is a “Liar’s Club”.  These are usually very funny and entertaining.