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Published: August 6th 2023
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The last few days we have been cruising down the Rhine and Main rivers. Now we enter the Main Canal, built to join the Rhine and Danube. We have stopped at some lovely German cities and towns and enjoyed the sights and sounds but the summer has deserted us. We have had some sunshine but the temperature has only been in the low 20s and we have had lots of rain.
On Thursday, we had an interesting glass blowing demonstration on board the ship and then in the afternoon we were bussed to the small town of Miltenberg. Here we had a tour of the main areas and admired the wooden buildings.We stopped for a wine at one of the many outdoor cafes although the showers returned then back to the ship. That evening there was s cocktail party for those of us who have sailed with Viking before and after dinner, Martin, our program director., ran a Family Feud style quiz.
Friday was spent on the ship, leisurely cruising along and then after lunch we arrived in Wurzburg. Here we were taken on a tour of Wurzburg Residenz once the Palace of the Prince Bishop who was all
powerful here. It is a lavish Rococco style building with ornate decoration and many frescos. We were able to see the main rooms and the beautiful gardens. We then went back to the ship while some others walked into the town. My back was playing up and Fletcher had a sore shoulder. Getting old is no fun.
We have been enjoying the food and wine on board. There is a different menu everyday both for lunch and dinner and all high quality. The local Sylvaner wine has also become a favourite though we have had some good reds as well.
Saturday morning, Martin gave a presentation about the three rivers and the building of the canal to connect them. An interesting history. Then it was on the buses for a 20 minute drive to Bamberg. This is my favourite place so far. It was unscathed during WW2 and so most of its original, medieval buildings remain intact. Our tour guide, Stefan, was a young man with a great store of "Dad" jokes which kept us entertained. As it was a Saturday, the streets were buzzing with families, bucks and brides parties everywhere. Our first stop was at the old
Town Hall. This was built on an artificial island as the prince bishop would not let them build anything on his land. The townspeople said a river is not land so they put down many pylons and erected this magnificent structure on them. It is made of stone and wood and is decorated with frescos.
We then stopped at an old brewery which makes Bamberg's famous smoked beer. Then it was on to the Cathedral. This is a mixture of Romanesque and Gothic styles and sits on the hill overlooking the city. We did not go in as a group but continued to the Rose garden with spectacular views of Bamberg. Stefan had been both entertaining and informative and we really enjoyed the tour. We then had about two hours to wander on our own.
Fletcher and I went back to the Cathedral and went inside.It was fairly plain but had massive ceilings and some interesting statues. One, a man on a horse, was used by the Nazis as a symbol of an Aryan warrior though this was just propaganda. Then it was a slow wander back down the hill through the bustling crowds.We stopped at a local pub
and sat on the sidewalk, watching the crowds. Fletcher tried the smoked beer while I just had a pilsener. He was not really impressed. After a while there we walked further through Green Square where there were market stalls. We then visited St Martin's Church, which Stefan had told us was established by the Jesuits. What a contrast to the Cathedral!! It is full of colourful frescoes and glittering statues.The overall impression is luxurious furnishings which must take a lot of upkeep.
Then we had time for another sit down and refreshment, so we sat at a table opposite the church and had a glass of wine. Then it was time to wander back to the Messerschmidt Hotel, owned by the family who made the famous WW2 German jet fighters, our meeting place for the buses. It had been a great afternoon.
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