A relaxed morning with a late breakfast.  We went through a lock during breakfast and then later in the morning.  There was a presentation on the Rhine-Main Canal and Danube, explaining the workings of the lock system. Then after lunch, we passed Miltenberg and then docked at Freudenberg.  We got on busses to go to Miltenberg for a relaxed walking tour, while the ship moved further up the river to Wertheim where we were to meet it after Miltenberg. The Main is a much smaller river than the Rhine and is completely stabilized using nice small black rocks lining the slopes to the river.

We passed cliffs of red sandstone, which was used in the construction of buildings, small picturesque towns, and an occasional castle.

Pictures

Miltenberg was settled in the 1100s. The bishop decided that it would be a good place to collect taxes and to force passing ships to offload so that the Miltenberg shippers could then carry the goods on and collect money for him.  It is a beautiful little town with half-timbered buildings and a white stone castle farther up the hill. 

We walked through the town and then stopped at about 5 o’clock for Apfelstrudel mit eis. (apple strudel with vanilla ice cream and whipped cream) which although we split it, completely killed our appetite for dinner.  There was a wine festival going on in town and some of our group had wine and bratwurst and bought bottles of wine. We met back at the busses for a 30 minute drive to meet the ship in Wertheim, arriving just in time for the preview of tomorrow’s tours and the chef’s introduction of dinner.  We had just a salad and some sea bass for dinner and retired to our room to write the blog and go to bed early. 

Tomorrow is Wurzberg and a side trip to Rothenberg.