GET 24 – Day 10 – 8/25/24 – Miltenberg

We didn’t actually dock in Miltenberg until after lunch so this morning was a ‘turn off the alarm and catch up on the zzzz’s’ kind of morning.
We were eventually up and breakfasted and Randy settled in to the blog while Cheryl attended the glassblowing demonstration in the lounge.
The blower boarded the ship with his equipment and set up for a demonstration (and, of course, purchasing opportunity) in time for his 10:00 presentation.

He was a great talker, told stories about his family, his escape from East Germany, his time in Oregon, his work with Dale Chihuly, and his work encouraging young glass blowers. Of course we are bringing home several pieces of his work.

We met Tim and Diane on the terrace for lunch before heading out for our afternoon walking tour.

Our guide started by explaining how to cross the street.
You look at the license plate of the oncoming car.

If it begins with 3 letters it’s from a rural area and will most likely stop to chat – crops, weather, etc.
2 lettere means a more urban area. If the driver makes eye contact you’re OK.
One letter is a major city. “Hide in the bushes.”

With this information we strode confidentally into the street and on to the tour.

Down a medieval street
Annual blessing on Catholic house
Original Half-Timbered Construction
Stairs up to main floor
Basement was cool ~40f., and subject to flooding
Plaster removed to show rock foundation
Guard Dog
More decorative timbering
Grapes are a big deal around here.
We were there for their Octoberfest!
One of 2 remaining breweries in town
Church Courtyard
Our guide talking about fairy tales
Miltenberg is on a compostela route
Merchants’ street
Fountain in Merchants’ Square
Did I mention Octoberfest
Proprietor of “Best licorice in town”
Gave us samples
I said, “I like Black Licorice.”
Flags of: Franconia, Germany, Bavaria
Ornamentation tells a story
Oak for strength
View down to the port
Communal well
Beer hall at the end of the tour

Following the tour Tim and Diane did a bit of shopping…

I haven’t included other shopping pics – wouldn’t want to ruin any surprises.

…while Cheryl and Randy headed up to the castle.

Past St. George
Under the arch
Up the hill
Thru the forest
Past the wicker fence
To the castle ruins
With a gated and doored courtyard
with bat houses on the walls
With the great view upstream
and downstream

We arrived back at the meeting point with a bit of time, so we headed over to the Octoberfest celebration

Welcome!
Beer Hall

In the beer hall we listened to a bit of music.

We also ran into Tim and Diane who were raving about the pastry they had just bought.

They gave us a sample and it was a definite, “We gotta get us some of this!”

Back at the ship it was time to relax a bit and take some photos as we passed a dam (every set of locks has a dam to go with it) or is it (every dam has a set of locks). Anyway