RHEINGAU RAMBLE June 9-12,2011

Car Drive






RHEINGAU RAMBLE
June 9-12,2011

After breakfast at our B&B hotel we set off, by car, to explore the beautiful Rheingau region of Germany. We have several days to play before our return flight.

We decided to go to Rudesheim because the Hertz guy said lots of Americans go there,

Rudesheim is on the other side of the Rhine River, and looks pretty much just like what we have seen for the last several days.

Huge barges travel up and down the river carrying tons of freight, stacked high with sea-land containers, coal, steel. Tourist boats also travel the river. On both sides of the river train tracks carry more freight and passengers. The trains are frequent, running about 20-30 minutes apart all day and most of the night. Lots of train traffic.

We went to the tourist information center to book a room for the night, only to be told that there was an event for the weekend, so we might possibly get Wednesday night, but no hope for anything more. The woman booked us into a place way up the hillside, and only for one night.

Our zimmer was quite modest, although our hostess was very nice. We had comfortable beds in a small, modest room with douche and WC. Rather pricey at 46 Euros a night.

After putting our bags in the room we set out to explore the area and get some dinner.

First we went to the ridge line where a gondola runs people up to a monument which commemorates the first unification of Germany after the Franco-Prussian War in 1871.

Then we drove around the hills, enjoying the scenery. Don took some photos of Kloster Abtei Sankt Hildegardis in honor of our neighbor.

We had bratwurst for dinner, thinking of Ingrid Pearson, and it was very good and the kartelhoffen, with some kind of a sauce, were delicious.

Back to our zimmer for a good sleep.