German Castle and Rhine Untours, Summer of 2003
by Christine Gunther, Springfield, PA
I could hear the noise of the train whistling again and again in my ears, draining inside them. I could also hear the thumping of the train thrash against the bottom of the track. A flash excitement dawned upon me, as I had a very adventurous and wonderful trip ahead of me. There would be so much for me to see. The great and glistening Rhine River, and the gorgeous and ancient castle of Sommersdorf. It all seemed so wonderful and like a dream.As I stepped out of the train, I looked all around me. My mom and I were in the little town of Bacharach, Germany. Right there in front of us was the landlord's daughter who greeted us with pleasure. After we met her, we all walked back to the apartment that my mom and I were staying at for six days.
I was so exhausted by the time we got to the apartment, because I was just on a long and uncomfortable eight hours on the plane, from Philadelphia to Frankfurt, Germany. Then, after that we had to go on a two-hour train ride to our town. All I wanted to do was collapse into my bed and fall into a swarm of dreams. As we walked up the stairs and into the apartment I gazed at all of it, by checking out every room. I looked at the living room/bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, and the second bedroom. It looked small, but it still was nice, and I couldn't wait to see the castle. It was about noon when we finally got to take a nap. When I got up, my mom and I had to look at another town for her work. Editor's note: Christine is the the daughter of Marianne Gunther, Untours staff.
Bacharach was a beautiful town. There were so many different things to do there. You could bike along the waterfront, walk around the town, go out to a fine restaurant in the village, or visit other towns nearby. Bacharach was so exquisite. The next morning, bright and early, we woke up with the he birds chirping. My mom and I had to look at some apartments in different villages. That night, my mom and I went to the Rhine in Flames, which is when people set off fireworks on the riverside. Even though they were loud and bright, I still had a good time. Dancing, eating, and having fun was what everyone was doing. After a long day, my mom and I went back to the apartment to go to bed.
The next day, August 24th, my Dad and my brother Nick, came to Bacharach around noontime. They too, had a long flight/train ride, so they both took a nap, while my mom and I went across the river, on a boat to the town of Kaub. My mom had to look at some more apartments, so I tagged along too. The next few days in Bacharach, we all relaxed and spent quality time together as a family. We traveled to different towns, and toured all around. We also rode bikes, and went out to dinner a few nights while we were there.
On August 27th, we all got up early and started our journey to Sommersdorf, where the castle was located. It took us 4 hours on train to get there. When we finally reached the tiny town of Sommersdorf, we looked at the gorgeous castle! It was full of wonder and excitement! We greeted the baron named Manfred, who owns the castle and his adorable and friendly dog Moritz. Manfred talked to us for a while, and then gave us 2 keys; one to the Bohemian House and one to the castle. It was spectacular! My mom and dad's apartment was filled with old and ancient furniture and columns from the ceiling to the floor, in the middle of the large room. There were beautiful hardwood floors and it was just fantastic! My brother and I had a similar apartment but ours was smaller than the one my parents had, downstairs. It also had hardwood floors and three beds, two twins and a canopy that was delicately painted, a bathroom, and a kitchen/living room. The whole place was wonderful.
There were so many great things about the castle. Built in the 14th century, this ancient building had a crypt full of mummies. There was also knights in armor, a moat, a barn, a pool, and pool table. The castle also had a hall that was for weddings and receptions, and wonderful sitting rooms, with old furniture in it. While touring around the castle area, we went to different towns such as Dinkelsbuhl, Wurzburg, and Rothenburg. The castle was the best part of the trip.
I had a great time in Germany and learned so much, about their culture and daily lives. I also learned some of the language. I had a really good chance to see another part of the world that is so different compared to the United States. I am so grateful to have the chance to go and see wonderful places like this one. I'm glad I had the experience and joy that this vacation has brought to me. I also had fun with my family, and this trip was a great way to spend time with them, and also to see what my mom does for work when she goes overseas. I had an awesome time in Germany!