We really enjoyed our next stop, Ruedesheim Am Rhein, a pretty little town located on the right (east) coast of the Rhine River. As we cruised up to our destination we passed pretty little towns and vineyards. Up stream the vast expanse of water (about a mile wide in places) acts like an enormous mirror reflecting and magnifying the sun's heat onto the south-facing slopes of the north bank, the Rheingau which produces some of Germany's best wines.
When we disembarked we were ment by a local guide and taken by a little road train to one of the town's major tourist attraction, Siegfried's Museum of Mechanical Musical Instruments, where we had a magical tour and enjoyed going back to our childhood. It was a 'feel good' experience. The collection is housed in the 16th century Bromserhof which is a delight to view in itself.
After our tour the afternoon was at leisure and after enjoying some lunch in one of the little cafes, we used our gondola tickets to visit the impressive Niederwalddenkmal in the Niederwald Landscape National Park high above the town. The Neiderwaddenkmal is a statue of Germania built to commerate the unification of Germany in 1871 under Kaiser Wilhelm 1 and the first German Chancellor Otto Von Bismark. From the park you have unforgettable views over the town, the Rhine River and the vineyards.
Before we returned to the ship we browsed through some of the quaint shops including the Kathe Wolfahrt Christmas shop a treasure trove of Christmas ornaments and cheer.
We sailed at 3.15 on a beautiful sunndy to travel through the famous Rhine Gorge. The crew had set up the shade sails and deck chairs on the sundeck and we had an ice cream party as we floated past the many castles on the river bank. It was very usefuld that we were given maps and information on each castle that we passed, and our cruise director, Tanna, gave us an informative commentry during our entire voyage through the gorge. It was perhaps the best way ever to view these marvellous sights including: the Mouse Tower, Solzenfeis, Marksburg Castle. Castle Serrenberg, Castle Liebenstein, Katz Castle and many others. We sailed past the famous Lreley which narrows the valley at a sharp bend in the river creating dangerous shipping conditions for the unwary sailur, hense the legend of the mermaid whose songs lured sailors to their grave. After a marvellous day we anchored at Koblenz for the night.
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