Germany -Rüdesheim &Großer Feldberg My Travel Journal Part -2

Rüdesheim&Großer Feldberg Travel journal

There are places in this world that charm you, but there are also places, which steal your heart completely. One of the places, that totally stolen our hearts was also a small town Rüdesheim in Germany. My son in-law took us to this place as one day trip.

 Rüdesheim am Rhein is one of Germany’s most prolific and scenic wine regions. It offers beautiful hikes through its mountains and prime views over the dazzling Rhine river valley. Next to its extensive vineyards, the city’s rich cultural and historic background make it one of the most intriguing places to visit in the country.

 

I really enjoyed those green vineyards that surround and enhance the beauty of the villages The vineyards looming over the town mixed with the culture and charm of the historical buildings that lie alongside the Rhine River, make Rüdesheim am Rhein one of my favorite villages. To Uphill (go by car or ropeway) hike through the forest which really looked more like a well-maintained, wooded park. 

 

There were some viewpoints of the Rhine River valley along the way. who will find the Niederwald monument and its surroundings. The monument is one of a select group of national monuments in Germany and a major attraction by itself. At the location you have a tremendous view over the Rhine, Rüdesheim and Bingen.

Niederwald Monument:

At the top of the vineyards The Niederwald monument can be found in the Niederwald park, overlooking the scenic Rhine valley. The park is well worth the visit for its dazzling views alone. The monument is of Germania, the classical myth female representing Germany.

 

 She holds the imperial crown in one hands and the imperial sword in the other. History holds that for many years the monument reflected national pride and the creation of a single German nation.

 

 The monument was created between 1870 and 1880 as a commemoration of the historic unification of the German Empire after the Franco-Prussian war came to an end. The central part of the Niederwalddenkmal depicts the figures of Germania and William I. With its location on the edge of the forest and with scenic vineyards to its southern and western sides, a walk up to the historic monument will make visitors a fantastic panorama.

Cable Car

If you want to focus on taking in the scenic views over the Rhine valley without taking straining walks up the hills, Rüdesheim’s Cable Car transports visitors all the way to the Germania monument.

 The views from the heights of the cable car offer an impressive panorama over the vineyards and the shimmering waters of the Rhine river.

River Ferry

We were pleasantly surprised when we saw a river ferry that would take us across to Rüdesheim. I cannot tell you how excited this made me.

 The ferry connection was established between the villages of Bingen and Rüdesheim because there are no bridges crossing the Rhine for a distance of more than 90 km between the cities of Koblenz and Wiesbaden. we came to know  For many Germans, taking the ferry over with their car is their daily routine to and from work. For us, it was a bit fun to ride the Harley across the water.

 

 Sometimes it’s the simple things in life that can bring a smile to my face.

Großer Feldberg

The geographical highlight of the Taunus and one of the most striking mountain peaks in Germany: with a height of 881 meters, the Großer (big/large) Feldberg is just as visible from afar as the beautiful views it offers in good weather conditions.

 

The Taunus mountains is a mountain range located in the northwest of Frankfurt. Its tallest and most famous mountain being Großer Feldberg (878 meters) which attracts many locals .One evening we went to this Mountain. Feels amazing  to view offered by the mountain top. A great place for hill walking with spectacular views of Frankfurt and the surrounding towns and villages. Also a great place for mountain biking, and long winding roads. The drive up through the Taunus mountains is a beautiful endeavor especially when it culminates in a stop at Feldberg where the view of the city is spectacular.

Since the mountain is covered by a dense forest from foot to peak, it provides fresh air in peaceful natural surroundings. Cooler and moister than the surrounding lowlands, temperature differences of five degrees are common. Just half an hour’s drive away, Feldberg provides a soothing contrast to Frankfurt’s hot and hectic urban lifestyle. 

 

 There is an observation tower located at what is called Grosser Feldberg.  From this vantage point, we could see the fall colours in rich display. The upper part of the Feldberg is woodless which makes it such a popular destination for excursions - for sunbathing or for playing on the Roman playground, which is part of the Limes Experience Trail. On the northern edge of the plateau on the summit, the legendary Brunhildisfelsen rock made of quartzite offers an easy-to-climb vantage point.

 

 It was cold and windy on the top of the ridge so we did not stay long.  The crowds had not arrived as yet, so we had the viewing platform all to ourselves.

In top of the mountain The sky is just crystal clear and bright blue. The air is crisp and clean. Aside from the air purity, your nostrils will be filled with wonderful fragrances as you travel the mountain, not only from the pines, mountain flowers, dandelions and other plants, but from the mountain itself. One of the wonderful & memorable trip we had.

Germany - My Travel Journal Part - 1

I went to Germany in march to stay with my daughter. In few months of stay I had an amazing opportunity of visiting few cities and town to explore Germany. Germany is a country that has been at the heart of Europe for centuries. From the unique culture shaped from historical influences, amazing cuisine, and architecture, there is so much to enjoy during a trip to this country.

 

First I landed in Frankfurt where My daughter stays. My son-in-law, my daughter and my grandson who is two years came to the airport to receive me. I was very much excited to see all of them after a very long time.

 Frankfurt  is a city that has some interesting contrasts, unlike Mumbai, when you are out of the airport you can breathe fresh air and there is no pollution. Temperature is usually low.

 With the financial powerhouse of the country being home to an amazing range of skyscrapers, there is also a great range of historic architecture and and mentally-stimulating attractions. There is a great exhibition hall one of the largest in the world  and several science museums to check out.

 As Frankfurt has the reputation of being a concrete jungle, travelers are invariably pleasantly surprised when they realize how green the city actually is. Apart from numerous tree-lined boulevards, Frankfurt is punctuated with lush green parks and gardens, many of which also have playgrounds. We take a look at the best green stretches in Frankfurt to escape from the hustle-bustle of the city.

Germany has open-minded and tolerant society. The country has a high literacy rate, great freedom, high standard of living and world class education that enable them to deal with challenges. Punctuality is very important for Germans and they follow rules very strictly. Social life in Germany can be quite interesting; you can see theatres, orchestras and museums everywhere, even in small towns. There are various exciting adventurous destinations that can be explored using bicycles.
 

Germany is a densely populated country and has a very good transport system. The roads in Germany are well built and well maintained with proficient road signage. The construction areas were well marked. Germany is well known for its AutoBahn and the traffic on these moves fast with no speed limits for normal traffic. The German Autobahns (the no speeds limit highways that connect the whole country by roads) are world famous. Apart from roadways, Germany also has very good railways and waterways. S-Bahn (suburban railway) and U-Bahn (underground railway) are very common in cities in Germany and help you in reaching destination quickly and comfortably.

 We ran into this a lot in construction zones; it was typical for the two-lane highway to split off into a construction zone into two different directions but then connect back together once we were though the construction zone.I travelled in Tram, U-Bahn, Bus S- Bahn and Bus Like Mumbai it is not crowded I enjoyed  the trip.

Shops are closed on Sundays in Germany. Do not save your shopping for Sunday. It was surprising how whole towns shut down, even in tourist sections. Only some tourist restaurants and bars would be open.
 

You can find grocery stores throughout Germany. Stores like Rewe, tegut,Lidl, Netto, Penny and Aldi are popular among locals and have a great selection of goods. They are well stocked with anything you could want for breakfast, lunch and dinner. We easily cut our food bills in thirds by shopping at local grocery stores.My daughter Purchased things from Tegut and Rewe

Having lunch packed we could easily pull off anywhere, we found local parks, rest areas and lookouts were our favourite places to enjoy lunch.

If you are travelling to Germany you need Health Insurance. The German health care system specifies that every person in Germany is required to have a health insurance. Even those who will stay in Germany for a short time must be health insured, otherwise requests for visas will not be granted.

Statutory health insurance providers in Germany are legally bound to insure everyone, regardless of their health, age, income, employment status, and more. You can also sign-up for any health insurance provider of your choice. Once you’re insured, you’ll get an electronic health care card, which will cover things like doctor visits, prescriptions, and more. All you need to do is present it to your provider and they will automatically bill the health insurance company.

The people, language, and traditions are what make the German culture unique. Germans are very friendly people. They usually greet each other by saying "HALLO". It has had a key role in the history of Europe, and not only. English speakers call it Germany, Germans themselves call it Deutschland. Germany is known as the country of poets and thinkers.

 German dress is typically western. Both men and women wear dark simple suits and shirts in business context. However, each region of the country have their own traditional costumes, which differ a bit from one another. But, in the state of Bavaria, the traditional costume for men is leather trousers that end just above the knee, while for women it is a dress that incorporates a bodice, blouse, full skirt and an apron. You can see people wearing these costumes, especially during carnivals or festivals

The German cuisine is also rich with different types of delicious traditional foods, as well as vegetarian and vegan. In Germany you will always have a lot of choices on what to eat and drink.
 
 German cuisine includes numerous varieties of cheese, which include tangy and hard cow's milk cheeses like emmentaler and tilsiter, which are especially good for melting and grilling.

 As for bread, there is a long tradition of bread-baking of which Germans take pride in. There are breads with different shapes, black and white, with different tastes and names, sweet, soft, plain with all types of seeds you could think of. There are lots of ethnic restaurants offering vegetarian food in Germany. But if you want to try traditional German food, you also don’t have miss out as a vegetarian. There are enough traditional vegetarian German dishes for you to try. 
One popular vegetarian dish is Spargelcremesuppe (asparagus cream soup). Be sure to give it a try, if you happen to be traveling to Germany during white asparagus season!my daughter love this soup.
 

In three months of stay in Frankfurt my daughter's friends and Son In law's colleagues invited me for lunch/ dinner.  My daughter's Family friends showed their love and affection. I feel honoured. They cooked Indian Food. Indian Grocery is there in Frankfurt. They use Pressure cooker and mixer. Similar like India. Their Kids are going to German school Some are going to International Schools. Kids are having so many extracurricular activities.

 There are so many Indian Restaurants in Germany.
The country has gone through a tumultuous history, the signs of which are evident in its rich and diverse architecture. Its palaces, castles, cathedrals and monuments best tell the story of Germany. Night and day, rain or sunshine, there are people on bikes, people running, parents playing with their kids, old people taking the dog out for long walks. Everything here feels normal, human, with emotions. Not everything is transactional. We like Germans and Ifeel like we are somehow very similar to them. Germany is also a practical place to visit, as the transport system is modern and few of the people speak English.

Had a great time in Frankfurt for couple of months. Visited many places in and around Germany. Will share my experiences in my next posts..