Yesterday, while we slept, the ship started up and took us around the Zee Hamm, leaving the Mosel and getting back on the Rhine. Then, at the Boppard Hamm, we docked at the small village of Boppard, the site of an old Roman garrison. No doubt you'll remember that 'Hamm' refers to a big, u-shaped curve in the river. On the west side of the river was the boundary of the Roman Empire, while across the river were the wild Germanic tribes. The Rhine formed a natural barrier between the two cultures. In late 400 AD the Germans finally did conquer the Roman Empire, which was the start of the so-called dark ages in history. Parts of the garrison are still standing, along with some murals and storage bins. As usual, a visit to a local
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