From the Netherlands, we travelled into Germany. Bacharach to be exact. Wow! It felt like stepping into a fairy tale. A dream I didn’t even know about, totally came true. Along the Rhine river, studded with castles, this little town stole my heart. It’s quintessential Germany; tall old buildings, winding cobblestone streets that you love getting lost in, art in unexpected places on building fronts, in the architecture, in the design… in the windows of the homes of the people who live there. Our local tour guide led us through the streets of his history, retelling stories of the war… a common thread in all of Europe… a tale too familiar wherever we went on our travels. The war was a stain; one that hasn’t been removed. Though heartbreaking, these shared memories were also enlightening, encouraging… the people have not forgotten, and therefore do not want to repeat the mistakes and horrors that took place. Through these memories, a dream of peace has been etched into their hearts and souls.

 

It is through these means… walking, looking, listening, tasting, feeling… that our Rick Steves tour really shined. Rick Steves’ guides excel in learning and teaching. You ‘feel’ the cities you visit. You learn a little of the language, a lot of the customs, and you enjoy the food and drink of each place you go, in a way that never leaves your heart. One such experience was at Rheinfels Castle. Nestled on the cliff overlooking the Rhine river, this roofless skeleton of a once stronghold, was so magical to explore. Walking through the bombed-out corridors, with grass growing in its cracks, dirt at your feet, the blue sky above, listening to the wind come through its cracks… this ancient old castle evokes your imagination. You feel what it must have been like to live in that era, to crave the safety of its huge stone walls protecting you from dastardly foes. Peeking through the holes in the walls where bows and arrows were shot at enemies below, nearly stooping as we walked through a pitch-dark tunnel beneath the castle with only the lights of our cell phones to guide us, and listening to the echoes of our guide as he sung a hauntingly beautiful song of his own and played his guitar in the underground chamber deep within the castle walls. It was only one of the many times I felt chills and was brought to tears of wonder and amazement on our tour.

 

Germany held so many adventures for us. A winding road through the lush green forest leading up to Neuschwanstein Castle… amazing. A picnic made for us by our guides, on the shores of gorgeous emerald green lake Alpsee… stunning! Our river cruise down the Rhein… a night watchmen’s tour in Rothenburg, a LUGE ride careening down the side of a flower-studded, green hillside. A somber visit to the Dachau concentration camp, and an amazingly beautiful rococo church (Wieiskirche) that made my heart sing with peace and love. Germany is an enchanted place, somewhere I truly want to re-visit.

 

We visited Austria for a short spell as well. We fell in love with Austrian charm as we traveled through the stunningly beautiful countryside, wandering in and out of Germany and Austria combined. The family-style hotel we stayed at makes me smile when I remember it. For one, there was an excellent laundry room, and for a girl who had been washing all of our clothes by hand in the sink, a washer-machine and dryer was a welcome sight! Beyond that though, this hotel highlighted the value of a Rick Steves pick. It was so clean, had a majestic view off the private balcony, and was so very comfortable and welcoming. Little touches of Austria were everywhere. The honey colored wood used for the furniture, the red candles in the hall, the filigree heart shaped artwork hanging on the walls, the paintings of the surrounding hills and valleys… it all felt like home… an Austrian home. And let’s not forget the home-cooked meals… yum! Nor the ‘Oom-pah’ band, as I called it. They played traditional (and perhaps modern) Austrian tunes and everyone laughed and enjoyed the revelry.