Koblenz
Trip Start
Sep 13, 2007
1
4
16
Trip End
Nov 06, 2007
Koblenz, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
9-15-07
Koblenz was booked online in Bruges and we had no idea what to expect when we got there. I had planned the trip so that we could leave our backpacks at a train station, and Koblenz had the lockers in order to hike to Eltz castle. Exhausted from leaving Bruges early, our lay over in Brussels and our train ride from Belgium to Germany, we managed to catch the last bus to Koblenz Jugendherberge Festung Ehrenbreitstein Jugendgästehaus...hostel??? Tired and unsure of where to get off or how long it would take to get to the unknown hostel, we waited for our bus with our backpacks, unfairly now seeming heavier than the 60 pounds they weighed in at. After talking to a young drunk man, and waiting for what seemed like an eternity we caught the last bus. We were unaware of how far we would have had to walk. We must have been obviously extremely, frustrated, tired and confused, since a dear German lady named Angelica told us that she knew where we were going, and if we got of with her at her stop, she would drive us to our hostel. She said that it was very far, and she was right! It would have taken us all night to walk up a very steep hill that even in the car seemed to go on forever. She said she liked to help backpackers because her daughter travels constantly and she hopes that someone will share the same kindness for her daughter. Angelica the angel! Where ever you are, God bless you! I had to hug her!
Another blessing, although we had scheduled for a 6 dorm room we had the place to ourselves! God bless traveling mid season!
Waking early we were surprised and delighted to find that Jugendherberge Festung Ehrenbreitstein Jugendgästehaus was located in the southern ward of Ehrenbreitstein fortress, with a view of the Rhine and Mosel valley! A fortress perched way up high above the Rhine introducing us to was yet to come! We had spent the night in what use to be old army barracks and it was HUGE! We woke up at sunrise to leave and we were so excited when we walked outside we ran around, soaking in the views and the medieval buildings that we hadn't planned on finding, and knew we would be leaving all too soon. We found the leftovers of what had to be a huge million dollar medieval wedding! Shops were set up and half eaten food, and drunken wine remained amongst the remnants of flowers, and played medieval games! The fortress seemed to spread over an area of about 2 miles! It had 20 foot walls and a beautiful view. It also has a gondola leading down to the river. This was our first side trip taking a chance and not following a guide book! It was a blessing and wonderful place to bring children someday! I'd definitely come back!
