Germany: Return to Koblenz

        Leaving Paris and traveling to the German city of Koblenz was both a gloomy and welcomed change. One can get used to the active life in such a large city, but being from Windsor, a small town by comparison, one longs to be close to what is familiar. Many people from Windsor can be negative when asked to describe their hometown. However, Windsor is of the best places in the world in our opinion. As Rob likes to say, “Windsor is a geographical anomaly- four hours from everywhere”. (Points to anyone who recognize that reference.) Within a short time one can travel from Windsor to great cities like Toronto, Chicago, and Amherstburg, or beautiful, natural parks, or enjoy the farm and wine country; we have a reasonable cost of living, super restaurants, an expansive waterfront park, and an active downtown music and art scene.

Ted shares a drinks with Rob

   In many ways Koblenz is much like Windsor - it is located near many great European hot spots and offers excellent unique cultural experiences including outdoor ones all of which brought us back for a second visit. Like many Germans, the Rhineland people are proud of their country and are quite willing to share the greatness of their homeland with visiting guests. 

Dog owner at Bahnhof

   Detlef - or Ted - our German host, very much exemplified these characteristics. As always he picked his guests up at the Koblenz hauptbahnhof  (train station), and welcomed them with a beverage such as a cold Koblenz beer, a schnapps, or a coffee with a homemade dessert. Like many Germans, he loves his dog Mason and treated him as a favoured child (Germans appear to be very fond of dogs.  They are well trained and welcomed everywhere including malls, marketplaces, cafés, and even on trains).

Castle tunnel over highway

   Koblenz is located on the confluence of the two great rivers - the middle Rhine and the Mosel. In 2006, the entire area was named a UNESCO world heritage site as both these rivers offer great cultural experiences, scenic architecture history, and excellent outdoor living.  Six years ago during this very week both Beth and Rob hoped that one day they would return to sip the popular Riesling wines, and perhaps pedal the bike trail that meanders along the 160 km Mosel river bank that extends from Trier to Koblenz.

Cochem Town Square

Castle peaked town

   As biking was not feasible with the sudden change in season, renting a car was the best option. To obtain the best rental car price Ted connected with friends in the business while Rob searched popular websites at last locating a Volkswagen Golf with unlimited mileage and a GPS for 48€ 8per day. (Oh joyous GPS!  The extra 4€ per day was worth every penny as it reduced the stress for both Beth - & hence fewer fearful gasps- and Rob as it provided verbal prompts and a clearly outlined map to help him navigate through steep, winding streets and autobans.) 

The town of Kues across from Bernkastle Castle

Castle grounds

Kues riverfront

   Along any given stretch of the Mosel you may find yourself speeding almost limitlessly for a few kilometres through a forested river valley intermittently broken by vineyards of Riesling grapevines terraced on a southern facing slope.  Then, with only a moment’s notice, you must drop to 30km/hr to mosey past a town consisting of  many-century-old half-timbered houses, now occupied by vintners, grocers, bakeries, pubs, and residents that have lived their entire lives within this narrow half kilometre boundary nestled beneath a castle-peaked hill.

   It was in one of these little towns that Rob and Beth stopped at for their evening meal when they found themselves captivated just before receiving the dinner cheque. An elderly German couple, wishing to share a glass of wine and conversation, asked to seat themselves with these strangers to their local haunt.  Neither one spoke a word of English.  Beth and Rob could only use a rudimentary amount of German needed to perform social tasks such as ordering a meal, or in this case, accept the request extended by the couple.  The twenty minute visit consisted of Rob and Beth trying to comprehend the slightest bit from the stories the smiling, happy Germans told while responding with toddler-level German supplemented with abundant charades that helped also to break up the inevitable silences.  At evening’s end Beth and Rob understood that they had always lived in the town, had one child living abroad, and were celebrating their fiftieth anniversary. The evening ended with a celebratory anniversary drink and pleasant goodbyes.