TravelGuides

(TGA) - Travel - Have been in germany three days and am way behind on postings and pix. Will try to download > pix tonite but for now need to update germany blog. The first two nights were spent in which is southern germany on the Rhein river a mere 30 minutes by car from the < airport. It is a historic town once at the end of the holy roman empire, later replced by Cologne and the prince electors and bishops of the town ruled all aroiund. The city also became an important war target in WWII as there are 4 bridges which cross to Weisbaden and then none for about 60 miles north to Koblenz. It is also the former hometown of my mother and her two sisters, dispossessed of a beautiful mansion two houses from the <Rhein itself. It is also a jumping off point for Rhein River cruises which go to Amsterdam, as the river slowly flows north. One can also explore many beautiful cities along the river on both sides, using the car ferry at St Goar.
The city of has two very significant landmarks. The first is the Dom, or cathedral, which dates back almost 1000 years and is built in 4 styles over many centuries (gothic, romanesque, roccoco and baroque). The church and museum of old relics is impressive and worth a couple hours of one.s time. Next door is the Guttenberg museum, famous for his bible.s, but also the inventor of something that transformed the world, the printing press. Seen before, it was closed on sunday due to holiday. St. Stephans church is also worth a quick stop, for it has Chagall stained glass windows, as he is an important . artist.
Seen the second day were Bacharat, St. Goar with its castles and then Koblenz and then Cologne with its very impressive cathedral and finally Weisbaden, another spa town. Today it is off to the black forest and then the famous baden-baden casino. I will continue to catch up on germany and china as time and internet access permits.