Wednesday, June 29, 2011 - Miltenberg and Wertheim, Germany

Cruising the Main River through so many locks has caused a delay in our schedule.   However at 9:15 am we have a glass-blowing demo on board with Hans Ittig -- his family has been in the glass business for more than 150 years.  They settled in Wertheim after fleeing communist East Germany in 1958.  Hans is quite the showman -- demonstrating in great detail how to make various items even enlisting the help of an "assistant" from the audience.  He has brought many samples of his work which he is happy to sell and extends an invitation to all of us to visit his two shops in Wertheim later in the day.

At 11:30 am we arrive in Miltenberg -- a small town which was not bombed in World War II so most of the buildings are from medieval times -- these buildings are leaning and doing whatever 800 year old buildings do -- it feels like a fairy tale.  Over many of the doorways is a date and a symbol denoting the year built and the occupation of the resident.   Phil, Jack, Sharon, John and I decide not to take the official walking tour  -- we wander on our own.  Losing Sharon and John to a Tavern in the market square,  Phil, Jack and I go through some of the old streets and eventually climb up to the Castle -- which is under renovation and not open.  The view is vast and one can only imagine living here and being able to see enemies or friends as they approach from any direction.

Back on the ship by 1:15 for lunch and departure to Freudenberg where -- at 2:30 -- we will board a bus to Wertheim for a guided walking tour.  

Wertheim is a lovely small town and the guide is very nice but there is not much to see so Phil, Beth and I extract ourselves from the group and climb to yet another Castle (this one is open with a restaurant).   It is quite the climb and I am proud of Phil since he is afraid of heights -- but he makes it to the top.    This vista is incredible -- we have a cold drink and as we are leaving Patte and Dave arrive.  As soon as they catch their breath, we accept the offer of a fellow traveler to take a goup photo.

Once back down on "terra firma" -- Phil goes in search of pub -- Beth and I poke around the shops.    As we stroll through the marketplace -- we spot Phil, Sharon and John enjoying some libation at an outdoor cafe -- we join them.    The beer selection is not great here so we go across the plaza to "Zum Ochsen Wirtshaus & Theke" -- a tavern that looks like it's been around since 1500.   Beth and I stop first at a bakery to get a large pretzel -- delicious.  As we are eating it out of the bag, we bump into Patte and Dave just returning from the castle.  Pretty soon we're all in Zum Ochsen enjoying the local beer.

Finally at 6:00 pm -- we start our trek to the point on the river where the ship is docked.  On board -- another great dinner and later in the evening a game called "The Perfect Pair" -- (like the Newlywed Game).  None of us volunteer but it is fun to watch others and keep our own score. 

We have a wonderful keyboard muscian on board -- Miroslav.    He is very talented -- he can play anything from background music at tea time to dance music later in the evening.  He was the author, with Maddy, of the "Music Trivia" contest we so handily won.

Another good day is done!

Thanks for Reading --- pictures are coming soon -- I promise!

Pat
On the Rhine Heading to Wurzberg, Germany