Rhine and Wine

Week 22nd to the 28th May

One week OMG, only one week left of our 17-month adventure and shock and horror reign in NiKi, or does it?

We started the week at a lovely town on the Rhine called Bingen, the site where we stayed was right on the river and the grapevines swept down to the river’s edge. Above us was the massive ‘Germania’ monument to the unification of Germany in the 1870’s. We took a boat ride up the river and then a chairlift swept us to the top of the hills. As we walked through the forest there were signs warning us to stay on the paths, a stark reminder of the past -historic landmines from the Second World War. We arrived at the majestic monument that marked the start of the UNESCO world heritage site along the middle Rhine. Then another cable car down the slope and a wine town with lovely German food and wine.  I desperately wanted to try a particular German speciality and so he searched down Schweinshaxe or pork knuckle in English. Karen had the German equivalent of Pizza called Flammkuchen, sour cream used instead of tomato. With local beer and wine to wash these treats down both were very good. Then we finished with a short boat trip back across the river.

Our boat ride along the Rhine took us by some lovely little castles. This is the Mouse Tower at Bingen.

The vines sweep right down to the river. No wonder the wine is not that cheap how do they look after these vines?

Barges carrying all sorts of cargoes sail constantly too and fro.

A chair lift view back to the river over the vineyards. Karen did not overly love this bit of the day.

The wheat field with the rolling hills behind lovely place for a walk.

High above the town some great views.

Yes it is another UNESCO world heritage site our 26th of the Long Way Home

Bingen had a row of example gardens, we really liked them and thought we would try some of the ideas when we got home but then realised we are moving into a flat!

The lighter German equivalent of Pizza called Flammkuchen, sour cream used instead of tomato, Karen happy too.

Schweinshaxe or pork knuckle in English, big heavy German food fantastic.

Karen meets an upstanding member of the local community.

And back down we go Karen liked this bit a lot.

The Niederwalddenkmal is a monument located in the Niederwald landscape park, near Rüdesheim am Rhein in Hesse, Germany. It overlooks the valley of the Rhine and was built in the 1870/80s to commemorate the Unification of Germany.

A view over some of the gardens at Bingen

And another one from Bingen

A view from the 'Sentry Tower' at Bacharach, Burt was out lovely place.

The oldest hotel in Germany we are told.

We have a schedule to keep and we headed off for the Mosel River on a bank holiday weekend, this was a new experience for us. We for the most part having taken the road less travelled and to be confronted by all these motorhomes and people was a bit of a shock. We managed to get some more cycling under belts covering just under 15km along the river.

This is what grape flowers look like.

Karen inspecting the crop.

A quick stop at Cochem on the Mosel

Our Bank holiday home on the Mosel through the grape vines.

They do great Ice Cream here too!

A Wine Stop very nice too.

Bernkastel-Kues Karen gets friendly with the bears!

Bernkastel-Kues on the Mosel such a pretty run of towns and villages.

The sky is clear, the road is flat and only 10kms to go!

They are plowing between the vines, the guy stands on the plow and a wire pulls him and the plow up. Tough work!

Another way of getting to the top of your vines the little motor pulls you up along the track it looks like an unsafe theme park ride!

Ok so it may not be that much in the scheme of things but we have covered over 3000 Kms on the bike during the trip.

The weather here has been scorching and though we loved the river view, there is a ferry to catch, so we decided to complete out UNESCO challenge that Elddis set us for the ‘Long way Home’ We visited Trier the oldest city in Germany and one with its only preserved Roman remains. It seems to us now all you have to do to get a world heritage site listing is have some Roman ruins! That said it was a quaint town and we stayed the night after having the best burgers either of us have ever tasted in Burgeramt Trier on Nagelstr. 18. The next day it was on to Luxembourg City, a very lovely location but being a banking town only it had a very sterile feel, after a morning walking around we left to find a swimming pool!

UNESCO site number 27 Trier, it may be the oldest city in Germany and has many Roman ruins

Central Trier very pretty.

One of the most famous Roman ruins is this 'The Porta Nigra'

Some of the locals pointing out the sights on this bronze relief of the town.

Tirer Cathedral

The Organ notes in Tirer cathedral, we were luck to hear it being played when we were there.

We like to show the plaques here is one for the Roman bridge in Tirer.

And Quickly on to Luxembourg Cathedral Luxembourg is another UNESCO site our 28th not bad in 5 months.

Luxembourg Cathedral again

The city's World Heritage Plaque.

A view towards the 'European' quarter of the city.

Very lovely place but a bit dull.

Another view of Luxembourg City

Karen ready for take off

Now we are in the countryside on a campsite with a pool to enjoy a little rest and splash before heading on the last leg of our journey home. 

Our Route This Week