We got to sleep in a little.  Sam, the cruise director, suggested that BJ and I not take the included tour which entailed some up hill walking on rough cobblestones, so we took the tour that included a tram ride up to the Fortress across the river and above Koblenz, which is at the confluence of the Mosel and the Rhine rivers. 

The Ehrenbreitstein Fortress was built by the Hapsburgs in the 1830s after the defeat of Napoleon.  It is massive and extremely well laid out and was never taken by an enemy.  It was under several flags depending on who won which war, but it was never captured in battle.  Our tour was guided by an actor and docent who was dressed as an 1830s English Gentleman and was playing the part of an Englishman who was involved in the building of the fortress and who subsequently wrote a book detailing the fortifications. The book was subsequently translated into French in time for the subsequent Franco-Prussian war.

Once again, our bus met up with the ship a little way upriver. We got back in time for lunch.  We spent the rest of the afternoon cruising up the Rhine past castle after castle.  Very beautiful.  Here are just a few pictures.  We will turn off onto the Main (pronounced mine) River tonight and begin working our way through multiple locks.

Lorelei-Sailors beware!