An ode to the Rhine ...

[ 16. September 2003, 09:47 PM: Message edited by: Crapgame ]

 

'March 24, 1945 :

Drove to the river and went across on the pontoon bridge, stopping in the middle to take a piss in the Rhine, and then pick up some dirt on the far side, in emulation of William the Conqueror...'

Patton Diary, quoted in The Patton Papers

 

Dang it Martin ! I knew that was why the Rhine is so brown.....

Honestly CG, that makes me drool. Well when my wife and I visit rleatives in the Saarland in two years we plan to cycle a good portion, and the Mosel as well as up to relatives living in the Pfalzland. Though they live in Hönigen up in the hills. Don't think my wife will enjoy that unless we ride a tandem.... The Rhine is beautiful no doubt, with those castles and beautiful orchestrated vineyards !!

E

 

Ah yesssss, this posting brings back sweet memories of mu time traveling with Susanne along a portion of the Rhine.

I will always love Loreley and Boppard. We travedad along the Rhine for a few hours--through some small villages--saw many many Vinyards and several Castles and Castle Ruins.

We stopped at Loreley Rock, she climbed to the top--I dragged myself half-way. I went through about 2 rolls of film there (still need to be developed) as that was such a beautiful place to stop and climb. Recently, my DKiG/vet-friend and his wife just spent their 60th wedding anniversary there in Loreley.

I better stop or I'll go on forever about Loreley. This last thing I have to mention is--if you ever hear Heino sing the song Loreley--its a VERY nice song. Got it on CD along with three songs about Heidelberg "Ich Habe Mein Herz In Heidelberg Verloren" aaaaahhhhhhh what a beautiful song

 

Dang it, I knew this would happen when I read these posts. I'm going out and find a bottle of Rüdesheimer's finest or Johannisberg !

zum Wohl !

E

 

How about just some Ziegen Bach? be cheaper for ya.

 

Ah, but have you had a glass of Eiswien, sitting next to your honey gazing on the fall colours and the golden glow on the Rhine while sitting in a quaint little wine terrace......

nope ? I haven't either.

Actually a good Kabinet or Spätlese sounds really good about now. I'll wait till I hit the German deli next week.....

E

 

Ah, wonders of the world...The whole allied army pissing in the Rhein...Anybody know if any allied soldiers got shot by a sniper doing this...quite superhuman stuff??!...

ANybody know other legendary humiliating deeds like this? OF course the pissing on Mussolini´s and hIS lovers´ body by the Italian people is one.The cutting of hair of French women who were mistresses for German men.Other stuff remembered?



[ 21. November 2002, 07:43 AM: Message edited by: Kai-Petri ]

 

25 March 1945 - the main road bridge over the Rhine into Wesel....

The bridge had been broken in several places but partly boarded over so that one could scramble about on it. Winston at once started scranbling along for some 40 yards. We found however that Wesel was still occupied and that considerable sniping was going on...at the same time shells began falling about 100yds upstream...the PM was thrilled with the situation and very reluctant to leave ! US General Simpson came up and said : 'Prime Minister, there are snipers in front of you, they are shelling both sides of the bridge, and now they have started shelling the road behind you. I cannot accept the responsibility of your being here, and must ask you to come away !'. The look on Winston's face was just like that of a small boy being called away from his sandcastles on the beach by his nurse ! He had both his arms round one of the twisted girders of the bridge, and looked over his shoulder at Simpson with pouting mouth and angry eyes...Thank heaven he came away quietly, it was a sad wrench for him, he was enjoying himself immensely !'

From ' The War Diaries of Field Marshal Lord Alanbrooke'

 

Good story Martin.

Erich--i'd preferr to have a pitcher of Liptons Iced Tea but in its absence--I would settle for a bottle of Courvorsier (Sp?)

 

Iced Tea !

ok it's good we have different tastes. Heck I just want to get over there again and soon....

E sunglasses, hey I can't see a thing today due to floor bashing fog.

 

Iced ANYTHING in Germany would be my choice--like a glass of Water with Ice--for instance. Chilled Orange Juice, Cold Sodas--instead of lukewarm sodas that arent enjoyable. I had a Coke Cola on a boat ride I took coming back from Friedrichshaven--the Coke tasted OK, but would have been delicious and refreshing if it had been cold. BYW--it was German made Coke Cola. I also had some on the flight back that was Coke Cola made in Denmark--I think? and it tasted more like our version of the Cola.

If none of this was available--then I would have a cup of hot Westminster Tea--or hot Coffee--sweetened with some Cognac.

 

Carl :

A chilled O.J. it is then. then a brisk walk through the vineyards ?

warm everything back in 1980 when I visted. only when we took a short jaunt and a couple days in Bayern - in Oberammergau, where we took a drink out of a wooden pipe running into a trough. a small park bench and hiking trail sign next to it. Now that was refreshing ! this turned out to be funny as two locals came up to us and in broken English told the two of us that "water was for cows" ...... yeah right !

E

 

I had to laugh at that--Water was for the cows--ha ha. At least you have never drank from a Bidet--I know a person who did when he and several buddies spent their Army leave in Paris.

I absolutely loved Oberammergau--we stayed at Forsthaus Graseck there. We hiked down the mountain via the trail--went along a river and through some caves. She decided to hike back up--I took the cable car. Oh by the way--this was when we took a hike with a Gebirgsjager RKT--the same one we had supper with. He's in his 80s and still healthy as ever. (Must be the mountain air and water)

I know this is a disease, but if this thing im looking at is still available--im buying it.
It is: Kaiserliche Marine Erinnerungsabz des Marine Vering Nurnberg 1890. This thing is somekind of Imperial German Nave award in the shape of an anchor and has other designes in it. Comes with original an unused ribbon and the original outer cartonage. 180 euro--I suppos thats about $160 US Dollars? This thing is so nice--I cant pass it up if it is still available.

 

What about a trip by boat in Cologne?

 

Most definately--I have always wanted to see the Gothic Cathedral.

 

Thanks fo rthe pictures of it--it sure is an impressive Cathedral--isnt it? So is St. Michaels Cathedral in hamburg.

 

Great pics Friedrich ! The last couple reminded me of the Dom in Wien. Wien's roof collapsed due to Soviet shelling and air bombing. Did not Köln also lose it's roof and stained glass plus some tower damage due to Allied bombings ?

E

 

You live in a very beautiful city Friedrich!

regards

[ 23. November 2002, 07:06 PM: Message edited by: charlie don't surf ]