Updated

With the Amsterdam pictures up, I've managed to finish uploading all the galleries from our Rhine Cruise.

And I've also updated my travel and UNESCO galleries accordingly.

Enjoy.

Middle Rhine

If you're going to build a castle, it might as well be at the top of the nearest hill.

And it might as well have easy access to a waterway for transportation.

At least, that's what I think the medieval rulers were thinking when they built all the castles along the Middle Rhine river area, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Check it out.

Koblenz

Koblenz is a German town at the confluence of the Rhine and the Mosel rivers.

Romans, emporers, fortresses...lots of history.

And all basically got blown to bits in WWII.

Looks good now, though.

Check it out

Cologne

During World War II the Allies bombed the crap out of Cologne, Germany.

Everything was leveled.

Well, everything but the cathedral.

It still stands, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Check it out

Heidelberg

Heidelberg is another typical medieval German town in that it has a castle on a hill overlooking a river with a gate on the bridge entering the city.
Well, Heidelberg HAD a castle, and then it got blown up, burnt down and ruined.
It still looks cool though.
Pics from Heidelberg are up in the galleries.

Let Them Eat Cake

In the small village of Breitnau in the black forest of Germany is the Goethehaus Hofjut Sternen.
This small hotel was Marie-Antoinette's (daughter of Empress Maria-Theresia) last lodging in Austria (the area is now a part of Germany) in 1770 while on her journey to France to marry king Louis 16th.
And we all know how that journey ended.
Good ol' Marie A is infamous for a certain piece of advice.
Which I did follow, mind you.
While in Breitnau I ate cake.
Authentic black forest cake, eaten while in the Black Forest.
Awesome.

Breitnau, the Black Forest and Breisach, Germany pictures are up in the galleries.