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Sabtu, 13 Juni 2015
architecture
,
baroque
,
castles
,
churches
,
Germany
,
history.
,
Rhine River
,
sight-seeing
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CASTLES ON THE RHINE AND A VISIT TO A MEDIEVAL TOWN
On my return home from Greece last October, I stopped for a few days in Mainz, Germany to visit my friend Patrick. I told him I'd like to see some of the Rhine Castles and he had arranged with his friends Wolfgang and Jurgen to drive us to several sites. We hopped on the train at Mainz and rode to a town nearby where Patrick's friends were waiting. 
Above the church stands the ruins of the Chapel of St. Werner dating from the early 14th century and above that, stands Stahlick Castle, a fortified castle dating to the 12th century.
It happened to be a rainy day, but that wasn't going to stop us from having lots of fun. We drove along the scenic river enjoying the views of vineyards that grow up the steep banks and river boats plying they way upriver.Even in the rain the scenery was beautiful.
Patrick, Jurgen and Wolfgang, my tour guides.
Rhine vineyards
Our first stop was the Sooneck Castle, built on the ruins of a Medieval castle by Prussian princes as a neo-Gothic hunting lodge. The castle was constructed in 1282, destroyed in the Palatinate War of Succession in 1689, and acquired by Frederick William, Crown Prince of Prussia and his brothers in 1834.
Sooneck Castle
An amusing little Russian guide named Leo greeted us as we entered and showed us through the various castle rooms. He explained all the artifacts on display from the long-bow hunting equipment to the bedrooms, which weren't actually slept in but more for show.
Our Castle guide, Leo
bedroom
dining room
crossbow for hunting
It was still raining when we left the castle but the weather began to clear by the time we reached the picturesque little Medieval town of Bacharach located where the Steeg Valley meets the Rhine Valley at a juncture near the old Roman road, Aosonius Way, which connected Mainz with Trier, branching off from the Roman riverbank road. The area was first recorded settled in 1094 bu probably was inhabited from antiquity.
old gate entrance
craftsman and his art
In the Middle Ages the town of Bacharach was an important outpost on the Middle Rhine, an economically prominent site as a place of transfer, trade and warehousing for wine and timber. We entered through a gateway in the original stone wall of the city. It was like stepping into a picture book, with quaint timbered houses and narrow streets, obviously these days a popular tourist site.
The Church of St. Peter
Interior of Church of St Peter
Located in the centre of Bacharach, the Church of St. Peter is dated between 1230/40 but has gone through numerous changes and renos. It has a baroque style sacristy and is one of the most unique examples of Romanesque architecture on the Lower Rhine. The Church is surrounded by courtyards and open-timbered houses, many from the late Middle Ages. The town's post office tower dates from the early 1400s.
Above the church stands the ruins of the Chapel of St. Werner dating from the early 14th century and above that, stands Stahlick Castle, a fortified castle dating to the 12th century.
Before heading off to explore Stalick Castle we stopped in a quaint restaurant for a typical German meal of veal schnitzel and beer.
On our way to Stahlick Castle
Stalick Castle, towers over Bacharach
Today Stahlick Castle is used as a youth hostel. There were children frolicking in the courtyard wearing capes and sparring with pretend swords.
http://www.jugendherberge.de/en/youth-hostels/bacharach390/shortportraet
On our trip back we stopped at the ruins of another castle overlooking the river, where there is now a first-class hotel and restaurant built in its place.
View of the Rhine River
Remains of old castle
The views along the river were magnificent even through the mist. In spite of the weather, we had an excellent day exploring and enjoying the sites along the majestic Rhine.
Sunset
Town View
Jumat, 27 Maret 2015
A VISIT TO SOME MYSTERIOUS LITTLE ISLANDS
One thing I love to do when I am visiting friends in Athens is to go on the Senior's Bus Tour. These are special bus tours designed for seniors (although sometimes younger people are aboard too). My friend Carol told me about them and last year we went on one to Euboea, crossing the island to the east coast to view towns and villages I'd never seen before We ended up on a lovely beach where we spent several hours.
These tours are like 'magical mystery tours' and usually go to destinations even the Greeks don't visit. This year it was a trip to some mysterious islands off the north-east coast.
The price for these day tours is reasonable (usually about 25 Euro). We boarded the bus early in the morning and headed up the coast to a town named Kamena Vourla noted for it's resort hotels. From there we got on a boat and head out into the Malian Gulf that separates Euboea from the mainland.
It was an overcast day which made the trip seem even more mysterious. We were headed toward Monolia Island which is apparently steeped in legend. As the story goes, Hercules won a bride in a battle. Her name was Deianira. After a time, she learned he took another woman as his favorite. Deianira send a servant, Lichas, to take a 'gift' to Hercules. It was a cloak. And when Hercules put it on his skin started to burn and he knew it was a poisoned cloak so he threw the servant into the sea. Licha broke up into pieces and Poseidon the sea-god turned the pieces into stones and created the Lichades Islands.
Of course, more logically, these islands were formed by a prehistoric volcanic eruptions and further reshaped from an upheaval of an earthquake in 426 BC.
Of course, more logically, these islands were formed by a prehistoric volcanic eruptions and further reshaped from an upheaval of an earthquake in 426 BC.
Roman Ruins
Volcanic remains forming islets
Remains of settlements.
One of the islets has some Roman ruins, another a lighthouse. There was a settlement on Monolia, and along the shore you can see abandoned stone houses. There may be still people living there as I saw a woman on the pathway leading into the trees. According to what I've read there are bars and pensions on the island but we didn't see them from our small boat.
We circled Monolia and the boat anchored at Lixadonisi island where there is a small beach strewn with beach chairs, deserted on this chilly day. Usually the beach is crowded and popular with kayakers. It was our intention to have a picnic here but the weather proved to be too inclement. A few folks braved the chill and went swimming while the rest of us shivered on the shore.
Lixadonisis Island
To compensate, after failing to picnic or even sight the monachus monachus sea turtles that are usually present in the area, we boarded our boat again and headed back to Kamena Vourla. There we were treated to a buffet lunch at the posh Galini Wellness Resort http://mapcarta.com/12868100Kamena Vourla
Galini Wellness Resort, Kamena Vourla
Kamena Vourla is famous for the hot springs and boasts several resort hotels. Nearby, up the hill, is the monastery of Iera Moni Metamorfoseos tou Sotiros built around the 11th century. We didn't visit the monastary but were treated to a stop at the monument and museum to the Battle of Thermopylae located nearby.
NEXT: The monument to the Battle of Themopylae.
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