Rhein – so good it can melt you away

Some legends once told…there was a beautiful lady whose voice once heard…irresistible, any ships must stop by. And they did.. though all ended in tragedy. Some blamed her seduction while logic referred to the strong current in the surrounding rock. The peak called Loreley and when you reach the top looking down to the river, the view is rather enchanting.  Maybe it was her spirit still linger….or simply natural wonder.  This part of the river belongs to the eastern bank of Rhein River, one of the most significant rivers in Europe and probably the longest in Germany stretching from the North Sea down to The Netherlands.

Along the river rest many charming cities hugging the bank as it flows down south:  Dusseldorf, Koln, Bonn, Mainz, and Frankfurt and many others.

In this part of Germany, heritage and history dated back from the Middle Ages period showcased by a series of  scattered castles and towers, sitting comfortably in mid hillside, surrounding by well more green.  I was amazed to the number of castles and the small towns around. I thought Scotland topped up the castles along the river like no other nation. I was wrong.

These castles are smaller and not off the dukes, king or queens but rather the owners must have consumed much taxes, goods from merchant ships passing by and showing off their wealth, making a mark of their own.

It was a nice cruise in the 4 wheels we had. Imagine the cabriolet would be nicer but I enjoyed the wind, the scenery. At times I stopped at some kiosks for the ultimate snack: currywurst!!! The all-mighty Rhein also led us to the ‘fashionable’ Dusseldorf where my respect for the German architect finally shown. My friend was shocked when I gasped…well it was a natural creation when you saw something magnificent in a travel book and you’re driving towards it…after getting lost, it was satisfying. My friend said working in these buildings is horrible, and not practical at all.  It made me wonder…well that’s odd for German ’s fame of practicality. But who cares, they are amazing 3 trio of the same maker!

The area was full of office buildings, some creative industry offices like Ogilvy just around the corner. There’s an outdoor cafe for the much needed residents from that horribly strikingly beautiful creation. A lot of cigarettes I guess. Another building, on the other side of the bank, freaky! Human-like figures climbing outside of the building, they stuck there.?!?!…what a way to decor I thought. Despite my enthust, a German friend of mine was not so amused with my ‘excitement’, to him it’s an everyday scene. Probably true if he lives and breaths around it 24hours, but if he was to live in a totally different place, I bet the guy would really miss it.

Next stop: the infamous Koln cathedral – a signature symbol for the region.  All of the churches I’ve been in Europe, this one has one of the most tallest ceiling. And because of that it felt kinda cold….Like any grand architect, the feature always stands out. That was too much of the arty stuff so I headed down to the local pub for some beer, only the kind that fit just right in the hand rest of the wooden chair, the kind of place where your beers keep coming in tall glasses, the waiter will never stop giving you new beer until your coaster rests comfortably on your glass….if you are still sober enough to act out the signal.

The scenic trip stopped on a bright sunny day, we stopped at Speyer & Heidelberg where the May tree and castle view greeted me with joy and fresh air. I lied on the grass ground down on top of the hill, taking a break under the breeze. Part of the castle was damaged but the view from top was nice…made me wonder how would it be like to live here? Well the have a university, shopping areas and even a Vietnamese restaurant….wonderful beer gardens, a massive church and its own charm. Maybe just a wee bit too quiet for a wondering spirit. I grabbed some bread and sausage, sat next to the church and enjoyed the rest of the afternoon.

thinking…what to do with a house like this?