I want to say--I give up. What more castles? I'd like to blame Theo, but this time he's the innocent one. We're booked for a scenic ride down the Rhine River--on our way to Koblentz. It's described as scenic and filled with fairytale like castles.
Normally, we'd be thrilled. Doesn't everyone dream of living in a castle at least once in their lives? But how many castles can Germany offer? Did everyone live in or near a castle back then?
Before we go outside on deck, I struggle to get a photo of Theo, but he's a wily one. Not exactly shy. I end up with a tail as he scoots behind a chair.
Now Theo, who hasn't whispered a meow, is perched on deck, ready to take in the sights. He has a plastic pop-up bowl filled with special treats, we have our chairs in a far-away corner of the deck so we won't be bothered, and we begin to sail.
Castle sighting number one:
Castle sighting number two:
Adorable houses perched on the side of the river:
Castle sighting number three:
We pass an unusual structure--is it a castle? Indeed, it is. Officially this is Pfalzgrafenstein Castle. How cool!
And then we hit the highlight of the excursion. Loreley (Lorelei.) Legend has it that this rock--yes, that's what you're looking at--a large rock that rises 440 feet above the river. Legends of sirens, women who lure sailors to their death on the rocks with sweet songs. The legend dates back to Ancient Greece. There's also an Ancient Germanic legend which places a golden-haired siren here:
Final castle sighting.
Can a cat be in seventh heaven? All his snacks are gone. I look over and he's stretched out a bit too comfortably on the chair. I move closer. Is the kid sleeping?
Did he see even one of those castles?
Later, Theo assures me that he saw them all . . . before he fell asleep and had the most delicious nap.
