Oct 11, 2012 - Speyer and Heidelberg

Arrived in Germersheim early this morning. Ate a very light breakfast and then set out on a the bus to Speyer for a walking tour. We visited the cathedral there and the remains of a very early Jewish Synagoue which was very interesting. We then had lunch in town which was interesting. Richard ordered what looked like a pizza and when he asked for pepperoni the waitress kept asking if he was sure. When it came it was covered with hot peppers as over here pepperoni is salami! He ate the meal after we all had a good laugh and removed the...

Oct 10, 2012 - Sailing by the many Castles and to Ruidesheim

Sorry this entry is late but I got bitten by a stomach virus yesterday. Left Bopard yesterday morning for sailing down the part of the Rhine where a large majority of the castles are located. The moring was very foggy so it took a little while for the fog to lift and for us to be able to see the castles. There are some pictures attached of castles and some of the villages we sailed by The castles are quite spectacular. We docked in Ruidesheim and after lunch we were supposed to go into town for a little exploring and wine tasting. I didn't...

May 19, 2010 - Speyer, Germany

Wednesday we woke in Speyer Germany, a short walking tour of the town (it was cold), then this afternoon we go to a families home for coffee and cake. The family was very gracious and hospitable. A historical note: The father of the house, the guy in the John Deere hat and white beard, said his father was a German soilder during WWII. He is thankful that Patton's Army captured his father at the end of the war and allowed him to live. The other liberating armies, Russian in particular, according to our host, "did not take prisoners...