The Rhine Untour, Summer of 2004
by Joseph Kimble, Page 10
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 House above was built
in 1579 |
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 One of many
quaint shops. Interesting wood carvings (left) |
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Sid and I walked up towards a town gate (right) which leads into the valley
behind the town. Off to one side I saw a narrow lane and decided to explore it.
There was a small stream running behind the houses (left) which had backyards
filled with flowers. The path was shaded by tall trees and there were a couple
park benches where one can sit and view the flower gardens across the stream.
It was a beautiful "oasis," separated from the town and so peaceful and calm.
We met the ladies on our return to the market platz and took them back see this
lovely tranquil scene.
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We returned to St. Goar and had a late lunch at a restaurant's out- side tables
on Heerstrasse. Our daughter Kim and husband Pete arrived later in the
afternoon.
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That night we six adventurers had dinner together. Afterwards we walked around
town and along the river. It was beautiful and it didn't get dark until well
after 10:00 p.m.
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| Another sunny and warm day, by golly. Our weather luck is holding out! The six of us took the train to Bingen, from where we would cross over to Rudesheim on the ferry, and later see Assmannshausen. It's a bit confusing to first time travelers because Bingen has three stations. We got off at Bingen Stadt because it's closest to the ferry. | |
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| Getting off the ferry we walked towards the town center. Today it was packed with "bikers." They were having an international Harley Davidson rally and there were glittering motorcycles and leather-clad bikers everywhere. Rudesheim is famous for its wine and nightlife and draws tourists from all over the world. If you want to avoid the bar scene, you can spend an afternoon just walking the small, ancient streets of the Old Town, eating in its restaurants and pausing to look at the beautiful medieval houses. We thought we'd just walk up the legendary night life street before moving on to the gondola cars which would take us to the top of the mountain. The Drosselgasse is a "street" about nine feet wide and nearly 450 feet long. It's lined with countless bars, pubs, restaurants, bistros and clubs. | |
| Here, I'm told, you can meet people from all over the world drinking wine and taking in the sounds in these establishments and their gardens and terraces along the street. It wasn't quite noontime and the streets were already getting crowded with tourists. They speak of the street as the "longest bar in the world." | |
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At the top of the Drosselgasse we found signs directing us to the Siehlbahn
station. There are two-passenger gondola cars which would take us to the top of
the mountain.
Neither Marilyn nor Geraldine like rides where you're suspended high in the air. They decided to go shopping and meet us for lunch in the next village, Assmannshausen. Kim, Pete and Sid and I went on. It was a lovely day and we glided about 30-40 feet up over vineyards, with marvelous views of Rudesheim and the Rhine far below us. From the top station we walked through a forest up to the immense Neiderwahl Monument, topped by a statue of "Germania." |
| Photo at right is view from river |
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| The monument was erected by Otto von Bismark to commemorate the 1871 unification of Germany. Views from the monument are spectacular. |