One Long Day with a Castle at the End.
Trip Start
May 11, 2007
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7
10
Trip End
May 27, 2007
Koblenz, Germany
Thursday, May 17, 2007
The train did not stop at my stop, which was OK. I remembered reading somewhere that I could take a bus from the Koblenez stop. Now you are probably asking yourself, why didn't see just take the Rhine boat tour? I have an aversion to anything with a motor that I can run faster than. I don't know if it's that Chicago has gotten in my blood and when I'm in transit I am compelled to get there the fastest way possible! It would have taken me three hours on the boat vs. an hour on the train and bus (15 mins on the train had I gotten the schedule right). Once my dizzy butt was off the train I had 15 mins before the bus came, not knowing what to do with myself I suddenly spotted a McDonald's! Yes I did the unthinkable folks! I went to a McDonald's! Well after a bucket of fries I was no longer dizzy, so you see no matter where you are in the world McDonald's always cures a hangover faster than you can shake some grease at it!
The bus ride was about a half an hour and it went on the autobahn, so I can officially say I was on it. Since it's so hilly in this region the autobahn looms high above the lowest point of the valley, like a futuristic causeway in the sky. Cars can fly, they just still need a road to do it on. Arriving in Braubach was like arriving in a ghost town, nothing was open and no one was about. Did I miss something? It was a lot like the movie 28 days later...creepy! I guess the castle isn't a huge deal in town because there was only two little signs pointing the way...it's a good thing I didn't blink! So I hiked up this trail to the castle and at times it became so narrow (the width of my foot), but the quiet and solitude could have fit the scenery so I was happy to be hiking alone plus there was no one around to hear my labored breathing. My biggest fear when I got to the top would be that it was closed, but it's a relatively short walk...just hard on a smokers lungs. I reach the top and look at that it's a bus stop! Dang! I could have ridden in comfort to the top, but I suppose I needed the exercise. (My ass is going to look great when I get home that's for sure!)
The labored breathing was all worth it because before me stood an actual to goodness medieval castle...I've never been more geeked in my life! The tours are all in German, which I knew in advance and no my German is not that good...yet. So I was fully prepared, I had Rick's self-guided tour. After I bought my ticket I was browsing the souvenir shop and this American came in and was getting tickets and boy was he pissed that the tour wasn't in English! First off he just walked up and said, loud as you please "Hi, I want two tickets!" Come on...how hard is it to at least walk up with a smile and politely ask "English?" One could get through Germany without knowing a lick of German, but rude manners will give you a completely different experience. The man at the ticket counter let him know in English that the tours were in German and of course this man got upset and they decided not to do the tour. Now if this American had been nice I'm sure that the man in the ticket booth would have politely informed him that they did have an English pamphlet that followed the tour. Just like he gave me. Nice always gets you far and I think it can give one a great foreign travel experience!
The castle was amazing it's the only medieval castle on the Rhine that hasn't had to be rebuilt in any part, it stands as it originally did. Now it's a really small castle, but that give it a really homey feel...I know I could have moved right in. I'd have to remove the Chasity belts to some museum though...I chafe just looking at them. It was funny, the tour guide made it a point to come over and point them out for me. It was a small group so she was very attentive and whenever I seemed to look confused she would come over and use half German-half English to help me. The oven could fit the partridge family and the brady's!
I skipped the bus down the hill from the castle...down is the easy part. I returned to Bacharach via bus and train and by this time most of the day was gone. So I decided to see if I could make it to St. Goar and Rhinefels castle before last entry. Well, I made it to St. Goar, but missed the castle by 5 minutes. Being that St. Goar is only 10 mins from the town I'm staying in I decided to return tomorrow. Honestly I couldn't have been more tired after a day of stressing over buses and trains. In Bacharach I stopped off and had some dinner, a huge baked potato with spinach and cheese. Then returned to my room. Since it was such I nice day (it doesn't start to get dark around here until close to 10pm) I decided to sit on the terrace and journal and smoke ciggies. Sitting out there I ran into one of the innkeepers so her and I sat and chatted for a while and I made friends with her dog. I'm really missing that furry little critter that calls himself Axel! We talked dogs, cats, Germany, Chicago and family.
Than off to bed with me.
Next up: Do I make to Rhinefels castle?!? (insert suspenseful music here) And Rothenburg...a town straight from my dreams.
Comments
Hello Engelbrecht
I enjoy reading your entries, the descriptions are very vivid and it help us to experience what you are seeing.
Thanks for the updates, I never got this many e-mails from you when you were at work. :)
organ music
I can just hear the organ music begging those questions. Duhn duhn da duhn