November 2, 2018 Boats, Busses and Castles

We arrived in Brubach, Germany this morning.  It was very apparent how low the river level was at this point.  The ship could not go any further down river from here.   We had also entered the Rhine Valley with high mountains on each side of the river and vineyards on the steep slopes.  Also on the mountain tops were castles.  We would be cruising by 22 castles as we headed down river today but it wouldn't be on the Ingvi.  We packed our bags to depart the ship.  On the steep mountain top above us, sat the famous Marksburg Castle.  We were taken on busses up a steep, narrow road and then continued walking the rest of the way.  Michael was our guide who took us through the castle.  The German Castle preservation committee works to maintain these centuries old fortresses and provide tours.  It was a rocky path through much of the castle but we got to see the beer preparation, kitchen, dinning room, bed room, chapel, blacksmith shop, and torture chamber.  There was also a room with the knights swords, armour and weapons.  It was obvious that people did not get along back then.  The French or English would always be storming the castles.  We finished up with a visit to the gift shop.  Back on the busses, we traveled to St. Goarshausen where we boarded the Rhine Star river boat.  We continued our cruise passing by the scenic slopes with the castles, vineyards and villages.  We arrived at Bingen, Germany and transferred to busses again for our final ride to Stasbourg, France.  Yes, we are definitely in France.  We were greeted on the Viking Herja with flutes of sparkling lemonade.  Dinner was right after that and then the evening briefing for tomorrows activities.  After a long day, we collapsed into bed with visions of castles