Where France and Germany Meet 4: October 2012 Road Scholar

4. The Rhine and the Mosel

On October 5 and 6, our Road Scholar group travelled on the MS Saint Odile. Leaving Heidelberg, we rejoined the Rhine and sailed north (downriver) to Rüdesheim where we moored overnight. The next day, listening carefully to excellent history lectures from Peter, we continued north past the legendary Lorelei Rock to Koblenz and then turned west to go upriver on the Mosel as far as Cochem. There we explored the town under the leadership of our guide Sylvia.

Throughout these days, we basked in the romance of the magical castles on the Rhine and Mosel cliffs, and the beautiful medieval towns and villages on the river banks. We examined the vineyards that have been growing on the hillsides since Roman times, and we marvelled at the intensity of the viticulture and the strength and pride of the people. Meanwhile, we enjoyed the marvellous food and wine served to us by the talented chef and serving staff aboard the Ste Odile.

We passed many beautiful villages easily viewed from the ship.

Smoked salmon in white cheese rolls with horseradish!

Duck breast with a Pinot Noir Wine Sauce with French Fries and Brussels sprouts!

Speculos caramel cake

Approaching Rüdesheim

The Captain docked the boat from the side controls.

Our first stop in Rüdesheim was at the wine museum.

I like photos of windows.

The omnipresent Kaiser showed up in the museum.

I like doorway shots too.

White Rhine wines are among the world's best.

The Lorelei Rock rises 120 metres above the river at the narrowest part of the Rhine Gorge.

Lorelei is the name of feminine water spirits or Rhine maidens who became popular in German mythology.

In Heinrich Heine's poem, Lorelei was a female siren who sat on the cliff and distracted shipmen with her beauty and song causing them to crash on the rocks.

Road Scholars Alan, Kathy, and Lou view the Rhine Gorge from the sun deck.

Karen waves from the sun deck to passing tourist boats.

Workers are seen in the vineyards on the steep slopes.

Kaiser Wilhelm presides over the intersection of the Rhine and Mosel Rivers at Koblenz.

The Mosel River has a canal which enables large boats to pass from Germany up to France.

Helen, Gerry, and Sandi enjoy the sites from the sun deck, despite the cool weather.

Fun in the lounge on the Ste Odile.

Tanemi, Allan, and Frank are ready to eat.

Sally and Sandi in the lounge.

DeAnne and Karen watch the game of musical chairs.

Lou and Kathy are happy about dinner.

The Ste Odile is moored at Cochem.

The ship's purser looks at translator Michael sternly, during his talk about the ship and the locks.

The stone monument traced a symbolic history of Cochem, explained by our guide Sylvia.

Cochem was badly damaged in World War II, but is charming today.

One more window photo!