Overland in 1972 - day 2

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Monday 14th February 1972 - day 2

Breakfast at the Hotel was rolls, preserves and coffee - cleary it is time to get used to continental breakfasts not English style. My room and breakfast was DM12.50 which at the exchage rate of DM8=£1 means an overspend on Day 1 - still after the long journey from London, it was worth having a treat.

We left the hotel and headed for the River Moselle and then walked along the river bank until we reached the confluence with the Rhine. This area seems to be the centre of Koblenz and the square where the carnival procession starts. We sat and watced the preparations in the warm sunshine and then followed the procession. The floats were very imaginative and decorative. The people on the floats threw sweets and oranges into the crowds lining the route. The crowd themselves played their part by being dressed up - the children were especially colourful. The festival in Koblenz was due to last until Wednesday but we did not see any other festivities further down the Rhine. An excellent and unexpected day plus a pocket full of sweets and oranges for lunch.

As we stayed in Kobenz longer than expected we decided to head for the Youth Hostel a St Goar and catch the train - only DM3. The hostel was only about 10 minutes walk from the train station and was a large white building on the side of the gorge overlookng the Rhine- DM2. Not surprisingly in mid February, the YH was fairly empty. We ate our evening meal in town - sausages, chips, salad and a lager for DM4.

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