Monthly Archives: August 2015

Castles of the Rhine Gorge 6/14/15

 in Grand Eastern European River Cruise  tagged castles / Niederwald Monument / Rhine River / river cruise by

I looked up from a lively breakfast conversation and thrilled to see a castle peering down on us from a tree-covered hill.  On the upper deck we spotted one hilltop castle after another.   Our cruise director, Veronika, told us their stories along with a sad one about Loreley Rock.  Loreley was a beautiful maiden who threw herself into the river over a knave and became a siren, luring fishermen overboard.  Between castles were charming terracotta-tiled villages, each with at least one lovely, spired church.  In the Rhine Gorge, where fairy tales got their start, even the entrances to train tunnels look like […]

Cologne 6/13/15

 in Grand Eastern European River Cruise by

I’d reasoned that Cologne, the city, must have some European-esque twist to its pronunciation to keep from sounding like perfume.  That’s what I get for thinking.  Cologne, the perfume, is named after Cologne, the city, because the fragrance was born here.  The original scent reminded its discoverer “of an Italian spring morning, of mountain daffodils and orange blossoms after the rain.”  I’m taking his word for it since my allergies are cranky about that sort of thing.  The most famous Eau de Cologne is 4711, named for the shop’s specific location at Glockengasse No. 4711.  Visitors still buy the scent […]