In the village we camped at was this old building, one of Germany's oldest half timbered structures

castle in the middle of the Rhine

one of many castles

a ruined one we went up to

another castle...

...another one

..another one

...more...

...you get the idea!

we didn't know you couldn't drive in here - no1

hamburger in the vines

we didn't know..no2!

 

The Rhine Valley

The village we stayed at last night had a brochure in English so we took a quick look around this morning before going to Rudesheim where we got wifi with our coffee and did some emails.  Then we drove alongside the river Rhine through the Rhine Valley.  You can drive on either side but can only cross by ferry between Mainz and Koblenz.  We drove on the east bank.  Most of the castles are on the other side so you get a good view of them.  We visited the Loreley lookout area and 2 ruined castles.  At one place we were the only people there (except 1 man).  At Loreley it was fairly crowded with tourists.  At the ruined castles we seemed to drive up footpaths and into the courtyards, it was fairly tight but hey, we don't know!  We can't read German!  We then went on every motorway the satnav could find around Koblenz and we are now camped on the banks of the Moselle river.  We have run out of food so will go to the little restaurant for dinner.  (Actually we have needed to go to a supermarket for days.  Yesterday when we camped we just got out the chairs and the wine.  Then had to put up the tent! :-$  We finally had soup for tea last night but now that's run out too!)

ps.  great meal and good wine.  I got a carafe, Malcolm had a beer.  So much food - the Germans are big on meat, mainly pork.  I went straight to bed after dinner!