After leaving the splendour of  yesterday’s  Castles  in the Middle Rhine Area of Germany, we’d sailed on into the night.

By early morning we’d found ourselves passing through the small villages and vineyards of  Bavaria in Lower Franconia.

We were now in the second river of our Grand European Journey….           the Main River.

With some free time to ourselves, before we reached our next scheduled UNESCO World Heritage destination of Miltenberg, we’d decided to take advantage of a relaxing opportunity to just kick back and enjoy some time to ourselves.

We wanted to mellow into this most magnificent  holiday; after all we were totally enjoying our new home-away-from-home on Longship Tor. We were also enjoying being pampered and spoilt; it was truly so lovely not having to do anything for yourself…..well not very much for ourselves anyway!

This must be the most luxurious way to Journey through Europe!

To wile away a few hours this morning I’d chosen to spend time reading. I’d recently  picked up a very light-hearted, yet humorous little book on modern-day Germany entitled “Those Crazy Germans” by Steven Somers.

It  filled in a couple  of  hours nicely (actually triggered several lively conversations and a few hearty chuckles along the way)….Really it did help me to start to differentiate the “bergs” from the “burgs”; it developed my understanding  of  tipping and even clarified the appropriate etiquette for eating out at a local German tavern.

It  also did a great job of acquainting me with some of the other less-well-known cultural aspects of every day life in today’s Germany.

As the morning passed, it was also delightful just watching the river and all of  the little Bavarian villages pass by; lovely to see the green of the countryside in all of its new Spring leaf and most enjoyable to take photographs of yet another new day.

I loved watching the graceful, white swans as they swam just out from our stateroom windows.  

I recall there seemed to be so many beautiful white swans; they were  on all of the rivers throughout Europe and most wonderful to look at. I could have sat and watched them for hours if I’d had time.

But the morning soon disappeared and we were again off and away to sightsee and explore.

We spent the afternoon in an absolutely delightful township called Miltenberg (population about 10,000).

It was just magical.

Coming from Australia we’d never seen a township with so much history or so many traditional medieval buildings before. Initially I thought them to be some sort of Tudor architectural style but I was quickly corrected.

After all Tudor is English….most definitely not German.

Fachwerk Architectural Style, Miltenberg, Germany

They are, in fact,  great examples of what is known as the “Fachwerk” architectural style.

Though do be most  careful how you say that. It’s a little tricky for the English speaker and should always be pronounced with the very guttural European tone. (Please remember…. it’s not to be confused with any sort of poor English enunciation!)

Actually many people, including the helpful Viking team,  just seem to call it the half-timbered façade style.

Whatever you prefer to call it, I found Miltenberg a most magical little village. It was filled with the kind of charm, architecture and history that we just don’t have in our land down under…… in Australia.

Once again I found myself thinking that perhaps Walt Disney or one of those Grimm’s brothers might just materialize as we were rounding a medieval corner or passing one of those very traditional timber doorways in this amazing little place.

One very old cottage in particular reminded me so much of that Fairy Tale about Hansel and Gretel. Take a look…isn’t it just so charming. I do so love, love, love  it!

After our educational Viking info-walk, looking at the culture and history of Miltenberg and the Lower Franconian region in general, we’d had some free time to explore on our own.

Dearly Beloved (D.B.) had been hoping for some yummy traditional Apple Strudel. How could we possibly eat any more I questioned?

Somehow I recall I managed to talk him into a pleasant little uphill stroll to explore the scenic views from up on high at the Miltenberg Castle.

Like all castles it was perched on one of the highest points overlooking the little township. The views were breathtaking and so well worth the slightly strenuous walk uphill to see them.

HAVE A LOOK AT THESE OTHER PHOTOGRAPHS OF CASTLES ALONG THE MIDDLE RHINE ON THE LOVELY ADINPARADISE BLOG – IT TOO HAS A GALLERY OF BEAUTIFUL PHOTOS SHOWING MANY OF THE CASTLES FOUND IN THIS AREA:

Just click on this link  http://adinparadise.wordpress.com/2013/08/23/thanks-for-the-memory-castles-on-the-rhine/ and it will take you there.

OR MAYBE CHECK OUT THESE OTHER INTERESTING BLOGS ABOUT THE MIDDLE RHINE AND MILTENBERG:

• 12th September – Middle Rhine to Miltenberg (laurencewesley55.wordpress.com)
• Miltenberg, Germany (neitherbeernorthere.wordpress.com)
• Castles and Vineyards Along the Rhine (innovationthroughexploration.wordpress.com)

And thanks for dropping by my Blog.