We made it to Koblenz!

The scenery from the train windows to Koblenz was amazing. 

We saw so many castles along the banks of the Rhine River.

 

There were lots of cute little villages built along the river's edge.

 

After the 1.5 hour ride to Koblenz, my first visit needed to find the Toilette

Luckily, they had this wonderful facility located in the train station in Koblenz.  As a traveler, finding places to use the bathroom are sometimes a real challenge.....this was a welcome sight. 

It didn't even matter that it cost 1 euro to use....it was so worth it!

 

Interesting thing we noticed with all the restrooms in both Germany and France, there was a toilet brush always located in any bathroom or stall in all of the restrooms. 

This restroom was exceptionally clean.

 

Once arriving in Koblenz we started walking and enjoying all the fun,

different and interesting things about this foreign city.

I love to see all the old churches everywhere we go.....

they have the most beautiful architecture.

We finally found the Visitor's Center and got the directions to our next destination, which luckily placed us along the Rhine River.  Other than the day being a little cloudy.....it was so beautiful here.

The most exciting thing in Koblenz to see is the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress.  It's that big building on the hill over my left shoulder in the picture above.  This was a castle in the 10th century and then turned into the biggest fortress in Europe in the 16th century.  What's the best way to get up there.....a gondola ride over the Rhine River of course!

Here was our chariot across the river:

 

Awwwwww......isn't he cute?  This guy takes me on the best vacations!

The view to the other side of the river was amazing.  Just wished that the reflection of the glass window didn't show up......dang thing ruins my shots.

We spent the next couple of hours roaming through this gigantic castle/fortress. 

What an amazing and beautiful place.

 

It had a great view of the Rhine River and the Mosel Rivers meet each other.

After enjoying the scenic ride back down the hill on the gondola, it was time to get some souvenirs (German beer glasses) and find something to eat for lunch. 

We found this really authentic German restaurant run by a woman who spoke no English.  After pointing and pictures and at food in her case.....we received our lunches.  It was the best German food I've ever had.  It was some kind of slow and tender roasted pork and the best fried potatoes I've ever had in my life.  Paul feasted on Sausages and a very different kind of Sauerkraut.

With full and happy tummies.....we headed back to the train station. 

We had some more sightseeing to go and do.

 

But this story will have to be continued in the next edition of this blog..........

P.S.  After visiting Koblenz, my mother told me that this is the city my great-grandmother Parslow came from.  Very interesting that out of all the places we could have visited that day.....we had chosen Koblenz.  It made this journey even more special thinking about her living in that little town along the river.  I was even more thrilled after we arrived home and I unwrapped my souvenir....I didn't even realize that I had bought one that had this special town on it.  I love this glass!

I hope that we will get the opportunity to come back

and get a chance to explore here again some day