Heart of Europe

It seems we always go away from home just as the roses are getting in the mood. The red ones…

and the unusual Blue Moon…

and the rhododendron isn't in bloom for very long either…

But we had a date with a cruise ship in Cologne.

It's not a big ship, since this is a river cruise…

but it's quite a bit longer than Erin Mae!

We left Cologne and sailed through the night to tie up at Koblanz, where the Mosel flows into the Rhine. A guided tour took us round some interesting parts of the town, but what particularly captured my best beloved's eye were a couple of sculptures…

During lunch we sailed up to Bopppard, past some castles in this first part of the Rhine gorge.

Boppard is a delightful small town, where we're staying overnight.

It's a bit like parts of Cheshire we've visited on Erin Mae, except that the buildings are various shades of brown and white, instead of black and white!

We've completed only one full day, but already it feels like we've been here for far longer. And with the quality of the food, we're going to have to seriously watch our waistlines and perhaps make use of the fitness suite!