2013-7-25 - Leaving the Aegir early - buses to Ruedesheim

7/25 - Morning came very early..quick breakfast...gathered luggage then, herded like cattle to their slaughter, out of the boat & onto buses.

 

We thought it couldn't get any worse.... Europe was still in the throws of a record heat wave. The A/C stopped working on our bus - we suffered for 2 1/2 hours in that coffin. Fortunately, our Concierge, Vivvy, was on our bus & with the help of the passengers managed to get 2 ceiling vents open (emergency exits) which gave us minimal relief. We walked to the Ruedesheimer Schloss restaurant for lunch. Lovely old town, one in which we all would have liked to spend more time wandering around the cobble-stone streets. Food, wine & live entertainment helped to get our minds off the disruption of our trip.

Restaurant patio with live music

 

George on the drums

 

Outside dining

 

George & Vivvy

 

Dick & Judy got a good seat to people watch on the street side

 



 We found a doorway with steps leading down - no one stopped us - we found a very unique wine cellar with tables set up in a cave-like setting...neat.

 



We had a short time to wander around staying close by the restaurant before the group headed out to board the MS GODESBURG, a local tour boat on the Middle Rhine. This was Viking's way to not let us down by not cruising on the Rhine as per our itinerary.

 

 

MS GODESBURG

 

 Sites along the Middle Rhine



"Straight out of a picture book, the romantic Middle Rhine is a river valley with precipitous cliffs, a castle perched on virtually every hilltop & quaint villages lining the river banks. Myths & legends abound in this area, such as the story of the Lorelei, the beautiful siren on the rocks who lured sailors to their doom...The river valley extends from the old Roman town of Koblenz, via the Lorelei Rock, to Bingen & Rudesheim & includes the steep vineyards that produce the famous Rhine wines...In recognition of its status as one of the world's oldest & most magnificent cultural landscapes, UNESCO declared the Upper Middle Rhine Valley a World Heritage Site in 2002, one of the 'outstanding universal value' ".

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As we cruised this beautiful part of the river, we stopped along the way to pick up & discharge passengers. It was fun meeting different people, most were locals.

 Our part of the cruise ended in at 4:30 in Boppar - another quaint & interesting town. Unfortunately, no time to wander.





 

 



 

We boarded those damn buses for another 2 hr trip where they booked us into the Hilton Hotel in Cologne. We had a buffet dinner with unlimited wine & beer (just like on the boat-wine/beer I mean). George made his usual announcments & took a lot of heat. The plan was to spend time in Cologne then board buses to Amsterdam. Yesterday he told us those who were flying out on the 27th would be booked into a hotel at the airport; those who were staying in Amsterdam (like us) would be booked into a hotel in town. Tonight, the story changed. Everyone would be booked into an airport hotel. The croud went NUTS...people were standing up, shouting out questions, loud voices could be heard throughout the restaurant...It was exciting - I kept drinking my free wine & munching on goodies. Everyone went to their rooms upset & concerned.