Day 9 - Cologne, Rhine Valley, Frankfurt back blip

We visited Cologne last night and were exhausted so we chose to rest this morning. After another fantastic breakfast, we headed to a small town near Koblenz to see the famous Shrine to Our Lady of Shoenstatt. We had Mass at the larger church and hubby got to lector (again). Folks felt he has a gift of reading Scripture to others that inspires. We hurried to meet our boat at St. Goar to begin our excursion down the Rhine. This area is often referred to as the Rhine Gorge. There were so many castles along our journey, even more than I present in this 16- frame collage. We also saw a monument erected in 1871 to commemorate the Unification of Germany. Castles, vineyards, picturesque villages and a relaxing cruise down the Rhine. What more could you ask for? My sister and I found a perfect quiet spot on the top level of the boat to take photos, including a selfie. Great memories. We disembarked in another very popular town, Rudesheim, well known for its Riesling and Pinot Noir wines. We walked along Drosselgasse, quite the tourist spot with its very narrow road lined with shops and restaurants. We bought our children’s wooden ornaments here. From there, we headed to Frankfurt. We were treated to typical Octoberfest fare. The final shot is a night view of Frankfurt from our hotel window. Our magical trip is coming to a close. “Every big castle was once started with a single block; despise no small beginnings. A little step taken every day builds up the hope of greater accomplishments. Do something every day!” - Israelmore Ayivor