Day 7 Rhine Valley Tour and Wine Tasting
This was undoubtedly the most disappointing day we have had. We were the most excited about this tour but it was really a bust all the way around.
Where the Main River and the Rhine River meet is about a hour's drive away. During the spring and summer this would be a beautiful drive through the hills and wooded areas. As it was today, it was overcast and drizzling most of the day, and at midday was only slightly less gloomy than in the morning. It would have been a good setting for a Gothic scarey movie or something.
Along the Rhine River is a stretch that is a UNESCO World Heritage site due to the number of castles along the cliffs on either side of the river. Many are hotels or museums these days. Our tour is advertised as a Rhine River cruise but in winter, they substitute a castle tour instead. The river was over banks today due to all the rain and snow melt so a cruise was out of the question.
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| Rheinsteig - Rhine river tour |
After a very mediocre meal at a cafe that can be described as decor of childhood fantasy , we headed another 50 minutes up the road to the castle. Again the drive would have been very nice in the right season. The castle was genuine and Johnnie really liked it. Unfortunately, his camera battery died after only one photo! As for me, there was no way I could climb the c. 100 steps to get to the castle, let alone the 100 or more steep, narrow stone steps inside the castle. So I waited in the bus and played solitaire.
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| Forest around the castle |
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| Marksburg Castle |
Our wine tasting was a joke. We returned down the hill to the same cafe and each of us had four tiny thimballs of wine to taste. The Ice Wine was good but way over-priced.
Once again we were on a short bus for today's tour! This was a very nice 16 seater, and very comfortable.
So we have once again come to the conclusion that we are not tour bus people. I am so glad this week was not one big tour, or we would have really been frustrated. As it was, we did one full day and two half day tours and that was frustrating enough. We hate to be bustled around on a schedule with spending two or three hours on a bus and then having one hour to see what you came to see! We are frustrated with tour guides, some which know their history and some which just repeat a memorized script, but all expect a generous tip!
All the trips advertised "lunch included" which was a packaged sandwich and bottle of water or like the one we had today which didn't includes drinks or dessert which added another 20 euro to the bill! Please, don't bother to advertise "lunch included" if that is the best you can do!
After being in Frankfurt a week, we could have seen so much more and enjoyed it a lot more if we rented our own car to tour and used public transportation in town. Driving here is orderly and easy, so with a GPS we would be just fine.
22 Dec. 2012
Day 8 Choir concert
Today was another relaxing day. We finished the shopping at the Christmas market and ate our way through the various booths trying sausages, kirschwein, chocolate covered strawberries, and other delicious things. After our shopping I had another wonderful massage. We went out to dinner and then to the concert of the St. Petersburg Boys Choir at the Frankfurter Dom.
23 Dec. 2012
Day 9 Departure
So sad to leave Frankfurt! We love Germany and will definitely come back. Next time we will rent a car, stay a little further out of the center of the city where it is a little less expensive, and do our own touring.
Johnnie loves Germany because everything and everyone is on time, people follow the rules when they drive and stay in their own lanes, and things are very neat and clean. The countryside is beautiful and they have plenty of hunting and wildlife. It is easy to get around here and lots of people speak English so the language is not a barrier. It seems English is practically a second national language but there are plenty of signs and menus in Russian, Spanish and Japanese as well.
Once again we were on a short bus for today's tour! This was a very nice 16 seater, and very comfortable.
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All the trips advertised "lunch included" which was a packaged sandwich and bottle of water or like the one we had today which didn't includes drinks or dessert which added another 20 euro to the bill! Please, don't bother to advertise "lunch included" if that is the best you can do!
After being in Frankfurt a week, we could have seen so much more and enjoyed it a lot more if we rented our own car to tour and used public transportation in town. Driving here is orderly and easy, so with a GPS we would be just fine.
22 Dec. 2012
Day 8 Choir concert
Today was another relaxing day. We finished the shopping at the Christmas market and ate our way through the various booths trying sausages, kirschwein, chocolate covered strawberries, and other delicious things. After our shopping I had another wonderful massage. We went out to dinner and then to the concert of the St. Petersburg Boys Choir at the Frankfurter Dom.
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| Traditional German dinner at Polaner Pub near the Frankfurter Dom |
23 Dec. 2012
Day 9 Departure
So sad to leave Frankfurt! We love Germany and will definitely come back. Next time we will rent a car, stay a little further out of the center of the city where it is a little less expensive, and do our own touring.
Johnnie loves Germany because everything and everyone is on time, people follow the rules when they drive and stay in their own lanes, and things are very neat and clean. The countryside is beautiful and they have plenty of hunting and wildlife. It is easy to get around here and lots of people speak English so the language is not a barrier. It seems English is practically a second national language but there are plenty of signs and menus in Russian, Spanish and Japanese as well.
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