Mittle Rhine by train & boat

Christine's parents are visiting us for a couple of weeks. After a few days to get their bearings, we hopped on a train and went South to explore the Romantic Rhine valley. We took a train to Koblenz, then switched to the Mittelrhein train for the next leg of the journey to Bacharach. (pronouned in German "Bahahhrah"). The trip took less than 2 hours and cost a mere 39 Euros (2 adults, 2 seniors).

Mittelrheinbahn train in Bacharach

This whole area is the wine-growing region of Germany. Because the climate here is not as warm as the more obvious wine-growing regions like Spain or Italy, the Rhein wineries have had to adapt. Here only the South-facing hillsides have been turned into vineyards in order to capture as much sunlight as possible.

Bacharach and the Rhein

View from hotel room

The olde towne is full of cutesy cobblestone streets and restaurants catering to tourists who like crooked architecture:

The oldest house in the region. Built in 1386 (without a ruler).

This morning we walked across the street and took a ferry downsteam to Koblenz. This was the real highlight of the trip, as around every bend in the river was another castle.

Look upon yonder hill-top; it's a castle!

The old towns, colourful trains, and passing ships (going upstream towards Switzerland) made for a great sightseeing. And they serve beer on board.

Ship go up, train go down

As a taste of things to come, note the graphics and signage on the modern ferry pictured above. The "BUGA" is the national German flower and garden show. It starts next week in Koblenz and I will drag my mom to it in May.