rhine country

Strasbourg has come and gone. Over the past couple of days, we left Strasbourg and drove to Rothenburg (the fabulous walled town that Rick Steves pronounces to be “still Germany’s best-preserved walled town”). From Rothenburg, we took a leisurely drive to Bacharach, where I am writing from.

While we were warned that Rothenburg was quite a touristy destination (with multiple tour buses, tour groups, end-of-school-year kid tours, and clueless tourists), we were lucky enough to have planned a Sunday night arrival with minimal appearances from  the masses.

rothenburg. photo by riley.

We opted to have our dinner in the castle gardens on the wall; a picnic of odd bits and bobs while the almost full moon appeared behind us. It was spectacular!

rothenburg. photo by riley.

Whilst in Rothenburg, we visited the Criminal Museum (a scary experience for me, for sure), walked almost all of the wall around the city limits, window-shopped in many a trinket shop, fully appreciated the Kathe Wohlfarht experience, had dinner at an amazing Japanese restaurant recommended by our receptionist–

rothenburg. photo by riley.

–saw a full moon, tried the culturally renowned “schneeball” (not entirely sold on that one), and fell in love with a mini tea-set.

rothenburg. photo by riley.

Can you say LOVE?

We arrived in Bacharach yesterday, and had dinner at the restaurant downstairs. Today we headed out on a Rhine ferry ride to the town of Rüdesheim and had a lovely gelato (mine was banana and dark chocolate) in the town. Our views both ways were gorgeous.

I have to say, there are certainly some things that I have been shocked to discover here in Germany, for the better and for the worse.

– for the odd: toilets that you flush and have to hold down until you press the “stop” button to finish the flush;

– for the fab: incredible raspberry jam at every hotel we’ve stayed at;

– for the awe-inspiring: castles. Everywhere;

– for the “no, thanks”: torture museums.

‘Nuff said.

R.