Rhein Cruise Tag Sies

Started the day in Mannheim (mostly a drive through on the way to Heidelberg). A very industrial town that took it on the nose from the Allied bombers in WWII since they were making tanks there.  Heidelberg on the other hand was spared because it was mainly a university town.  There we visited the castle which is huge,  old and in ruins since the 1800s.  There are cool statues and beautiful views and the world’s biggest cask of wine (empty of course).  There were at lot of tourists there and not that much to see,  The town is quaint and fun for to walk in.
This afternoon was Mainz, a town that really took it in the shorts from the Allied bombers near the end of the war.  There is a huge Romanesque style cathedral over 1000 years old.  The style is big and bulky and very imposing,  Across the square is the Gutenberg Museum with a working printing press and actual copies of Gutenberg Bibles.  Most inspiring,  He changed the world.  Forever.
We walked around and had some wine in town before heading back to the ship,  Lunch on the boat today was a German buffet with 3 kinds of sausage, spatzel, sauerkraut and apple strudel,  Also giant soft pretzels,  Yum.  Dinner - who cares, still full from lunch.

View from the Neker River Heidelberg

  

Entrance Gate to Heidelberg Castle  

Courtyard of Heidelberg Castle

Heidelberg Castle

Looking back on Heidelberg Castle 

Charlemagne at Heidelberg Castle 

Largest Wine Cask 

Sign at a Gummi Bear Store

Frederick IV, builder of Heidelberg Castle 

Heidelberg - View from the Castle 

View of the Castle from Heidelberg

Along the Neker River Heidelberg 

Dean on the square in Mainz

Headless Saint in he Mainz Cathedral; 

Tower Mainz

Cathedral Mainz

Printing press at the Gutenberg Museum

Printing press Gutenberg Museum 

Gutenberg Museum 

The Cathedral in Mainz