Day 3: Steins and Wine on the Rhine

The Rhine Valley is absolutely gorgeous. Populated by pine trees and grapevines heavily terraced into the hillsides, lined by castles. I highly suggest driving into the Rhine Valley when the sun is just barely setting over a rainy day. The light turns bright yellow, reflecting the snowy peaks of the Alps off the broad Rhine river...it's quite nice. We stayed in a family hotel which had about 3 staircases too many for a 3 story building. I assume it had something to do with the river flooding every so often. Outside, it was beautifully quiet. We ate dinner and then headed off to a wine tasting, which took place in a straight up 17th century wine cellar. It was cold, the tables were wooden, and it was awesome. I could see a bunch of bearded germans wearing those awesome felt caps and big jackets toasting "High Prossit" (which I think means "to your health"). There were 5 wines in all, i think--mostly of the Riesling variety which is specially suited to the region, but also an icewine, which sounds rad, and it is: its wine made out of grapes that have been frozen solid for 2 weeks on the vine. Its a desert wine, very sweet, almost honeylike in flavor.

Afterwards, we all drank in the hotel bar, where the beer was cheap. I ducked out early to sit on a bench underneath a willow tree and watch the river. From my vantage point I could see three well lit castles, and just sat quietly, the air smelling in that way that only cold, clean air can, very happy that I was here.

I went to bed a little earlier, feeling a little sleepy from all that tasty German wine. In the morning, we walked to a small store that was lined wall to wall with Steins. It was here that I believed that yes, there clearly was German blood running through me--i was entranced with the work that went into crafting these ornate mugs. I was intent on getting one for me and my Dad. Kirk picked out a couple great shot glasses for Mom, and then we proceeded to debate over the perfect fireman themed stein, which I'm happy to report was a big hit back home. I settled on a classic blue painted stein with a crest of some kind on it.

And that was it for St. Goar, the sleepy riverside town. We were onto Munich, where I narrowly escaped getting arrested by a Burger King manager. But more on that next time.