Follow the Rhine

Frankfurt, Germany


View from the cable car over Rudesheim

Back from Dachau, we gathered our luggage from the hotel and hot-footed it to the ICE (Inter City Express) that would take us, in a mere 3 hours, to Frankfurt, home of big business, bankers and car shows.  Frankfurt is to cars as Annapolis is to boats.  Luckily, we had booked accommodation well in advance – sometimes planning pays off!

The area near the station is said to be a seedy red-light district but as we wandered past nearby eateries in the pouring rain to find dinner, we felt damp rather than in danger. 

Next morning our friends, Karin and Tony, collected us from our hotel and took us on a “Cooks Tour” of the famous Rhine Valley, an area long known for its spectacular scenery and excellent wines. 

First stop was a hearty lunch (with wine!) in the Eberbach Abbey (1136) a vast and evocative Cistercian monastery with a common thread of wine making throughout its history.  Whilst wine-making continues, the complex, now owned by a charitable organisation to preserve its historical significance, serves as a venue to celebrate the arts, with musical events being held in the grounds.  Significant buildings include the church, cloister, refectory and dormitory.

Rudesheim, colourful and touristy

Next stop was the busy tourist town of Rudesheim where we took a cable car up to the Niederwald Monument.  Despite the inclement weather (yes, again!) we were still able to take in some stunning views over the famous Rhine Valley. 

The monument itself is a 38m statue of Germania (1883), commemorating the Franco-German War (1870-71) and re-establishment of the German Empire. Although the area is also well known for its scenic hiking trails, we floated over masses of tidy vineyards back to Rudesheim.  

It was time to head for the airport – but not before a bowl of Karin’s warming chicken soup to give us strength for our red-eye flight back to Oz.  Yes, we've finally reached the end of the trail for this year...

It's the end of the ride, cowboy!



Quietly spectacular - Germania stands proudly on this Monument (1883)