Our German language skills are not great. We know the obligatory: Greetings – Hallo (Hello), guten Tag (good day), bis später (see you later).
Food – brot (bread), apfel (apple), bier (beer), kartoffel (potato).
Vehicles – flugzeud (aeroplane), auto (car), schiff (ship).
A lovely friend of ours who had spent time in Germany told us that the term “berg” meant castle, and “burg” meant mountain/hill. What a revelation, considering we were visiting Regensburg, Nuremberg, Bamberg, Würzburg, and Miltenberg. Hills and castles, often both together with castles on hills! And did we see a lot of those!
Historically, the castle was mostly built high and central, with the willage surrounding it. Located on the river, trade was easy and taxes were levied on those travelling through. When threatened by unfriendly forces, the willagers would flee to safety within the castle walls. Here endeth the lesson!
The cruise is a taster of some of the most spectacular places in Germanic Europe and, from Passau onwards, there was nowhere we would not love to come again and explore further. We hope the pictures show why. Enjoy!
REGENSBURG
St. Peter’s Cathedral, Regensberg
Cathedral windows
BAMBURG
The Ratheus. Means Cityhall. How apt!
Can you find the leg and the cherub?
Brewery. Fa mouse smokey beer.
St. Peter’s and St. George’s Imperial Cathedral
Palm Sunday procession.
The Regnitz River, used as a middle-ages harbour
WÜRSBURG
The AmaReina about to dock…
…too big to get in one photo! Our room is top deck, 3 double Windows from the left.
Crossing the Main River to the Fortress.
Made it!
Looking over the vineyard to the ship.
Post-Fortress recovery. Bratwurst und wein!
MILTENBERG
Approaching the dock.
A Scotsman in Lederhosen. Now that’s confusing! Jim was a great guide.
The village is built on a narrow strip between river and hills. Income was mostly taxes from travellers and traders passing through.
In 1625, the mayor decreed that all buildings would have the ground floor rebuild from stone to protect from flooding. Here, eerything above is known as half timbered.
Built as a butcher’s in 1500’s. Still a butchers in the same family!
Built by a former Spanish ship builder. Looks like a galleon! Was once ‘the’ place to stay in Europe. ‘
Easter decorations.
A major source of income… the brewery!
Beer and schnapps! Just helping the local economy!
RÜDESHEIM
A museum for automated musical instruments. This came from a merry-go-round in Budapest.
An amazing music box with a tiny mechanical bird.Built by a watch maker and was almost lifelike in appearance and sound!
Ceiling bible stories from the time of knights and fair maidens.
The famous Rüdesheim coffee. The brandy (rocket fuel!) is lit up first for a bit of theatre, and to lower the alcohol content!
A medieval alley.
European Adventures 