Rhine River

We rented a car and drove to see the Middle Rhine River valley.  It has a very high concentration of castles which were along the river to control the trade and to hide in after pirating the ships passing through.  We went on a short boatride to see a few of the castles and then drove the rest.  It was nice to get off the boat, because Amelia needed a nap and spent much of the time on the boat throwing a fit!  

After the boat ride we drove to Stoltzenfrels.  Most of the castles have been destroyed and rebuilt many times and this one has been done very impressively.  It had a beautiful garden around the outside layer that was breathtaking and had a beautiful chapel as well.  

The favorite castle however was Rhienfels.  Because it has not been rebuilt we were able to explore around the tunnels and towers that remain.  It was fun to explore and play around on the castle.  We do however need to figure out how to manage our time better on these trips.  I felt like we spent alot of time on silly things and that meant we ended up not having the time we would have preffered to have to explore the castle.  We did have a great time though and I'm sure we will get better at our little trips.  

Although most of rhienfels has not been restored it does have a very impressive medieval feeling bathroom which has been added.  With a hand pump faucet and gravity flush toilet system and a window with a view of the castle and the river it was easy to see why they would have wanted to live here!  We had alot of fun exploring the ruins.  We need to schedule and manage our time better so we don't have to rush next time.  

Eltzburg

We drove to Eltzburg and hiked to the castle and took a tour.  It was pretty amazing.  You hike out to it and most of the way you can't see it, then you come around a corner and there is this amazing view.  

The castle was amazing inside.  Lots of fireplaces and glass windows and weapons and toys.  they had real miniature working cannons that they used as toys.  They had animal heads and skins that the family had shot on a trip to Alaska in the 1800's.  That must of been a long trip for them back then!

Next we stopped at Trier Germany.  It is the oldest town in Germany, we walked around the Black Gate and the Cathedral which is still functioning as a cathedral today.  We couldn't go into Constantine throne room because there was a function going on but everything we saw was amazing.  Also it was fashion week so we saw a fashion show in downtown as we walked between the different historical sites.  

 Everything inside the Black gate was elaborately carved it was amazing!  Although Andrew apparently got bored while we were looking around because he wandered off to see one of the other floors, someone brought him back and now we have to keep a close eye on him all the time because he just thinks he can wander off and see whatever he wants on his own!  

 Sorry I am not more photogenic!  but at least the scenery is good!  

Metz

In Metz we walked around and found beautiful fountains around the republique and the Mozelle River.  

We spent a very sunny afternoon at Port De Allemande.  A German gate castle on the river.  

We stopped at a splash pad on the way home to cool off.  

We also walked around the Metz Cathedral.  We had to go back a different day to go inside and then we got to read the legend of the Dragon who plagued the city and the saint taking it to the river and telling it not to come back and then the people were baptised.  

We also found this dragon hanging downtown and followed a dragon trail to see viewpoints and cathedrals around downtown.  It has been fun to explore Metz and it seems like every wrong turn we've taken or everytime I go running or we just go walk around we find something beautiful.