OR
Medieval Life at its finest… NOT!
{Huff –Puff} “How much further?” {Pant}
{Wheeze} “Just a few Steps more.” {Grunt}
{Pant-Wheeze-Huff} “You Said That ‘A Few {Pant-Huff} Steps ago’…Already, Dammit!” {Groan}
{Puff-Wheeze} “Hold on, I see the top,
oooppps that’s just a zig like the last zag!”
{Huff-Puff} “Yeah… Right!” {Ugh}
And so it went… or sumpthin’ like that.
We docked very early outside Koblenz with
breakfast scheduled for 0600 since our tour busses would leave around 0800.
Koblenz, founded more than 2,000 years ago in 8 B.C. by Drusus as a military outpost, is a traditional German country town
at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle Rivers. This
former trading settlement rests on a massif of the Middle Rhine Highlands. It’s cobblestone streets, wood beamed houses
adorned with flowers, ancient market square and medieval churches recall the fairy-tale
Germany of old.
At the “German Corner” where the two rivers converge, a
massive equestrian statue of Prince William I observes the lovely riverside
scene. The famed Teutonic Knights set up
their first base here in 1216.
The Romanesque Basilica of St. Castor,
Koblenz’s oldest building, dating to 836.
As we boarded our busses for the Marksburg
Castle Tour, we noticed the Cable cars
A
short 10 km bus ride into Braubach,
took us partway up the mountain to the 700 year old Marksburg Castle, commonly referred
to as “The Marksburg”.
I say part way
because there was still a ¼ mile walk up a winding path to reach this almost impenetrable
Medieval fortress. Of course we were
offered the choice of that lovely little stroll or climbing 122 steps up the
side of the mountain.
The
opening dialogue indicates the path the Wacky American Tourist and Ever-Lovely
Dragon Lady took... up the bloody stairs. {Huff-Puff-Pant-Grunt}
Once
at the top, wobbly legs, screaming calves and all, we took a break to wait for
the more sensible of our crowd to catch up, although we did hear several
complaints of the brutal trek along the road.
The Program director had cautioned us that it would be a tough walk up
either way.
While
we waited we had plenty of phot ops with spectacular views of Braubach, the
Rhine and surrounding countryside. 
After
re-grouping into our respective groups [today we’re 47C] our guide
proceeded usher us through the castle gate and lock it behind us with ancient
keys that everyone in the castle had to carry.
She then proceeded to give us the full history of the Castle. Parts of which were quite treacherous 
walking through as the stones were not even and a bit tricky
to navigate. Some areas had been carved
into uneven steps but still required caution.
The
fortress was used for protection of Braubach and the Rhine valley rather than
as a residence for royal families, built with such strong fortifications that it
was never besieged by enemies.
The rooms were laid out with original furniture
and decor. Of interest was the
Toilette
Room that hung over the side of the fortress, dumping into the flower garden
below [great fertilizer?!?] with the anecdote of it being the weakest defensible entry point for
invaders… Eeeeewwwww. [If they ever made it up that winding treacherous trek].
The
Marksburg was awarded to the Grand Duke of Nassau by Napoleon in 1803 and since
he used it as a prison and home for disabled soldiers, the former stables for
the knight’s horses was devoted to a grisly but enlightening display of medieval
torture devices.
Our
tour, which included displays of Costumes and armor through the ages, including
Chastity belts etc., was very thorough and took up most of the allotted time.
Then
it was back on the bus.
The
ship had relocated to Braubach while we were on the mountain and those that
took the other tour met up with us in time to cast off for our Middle Rhine
Scenic Cruising.
We'll cover that adventure next, along with
our landing in Rudesheim amid a fierce Thunderstorm.
Ciao für Jetzt
Uncle Chuck & The Very Foot [and stair]
Weary,
Dragon Lady
Dragon Lady
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