Kinderdijk Windmills Last leg of the Rhine journey on way to Amsterdam and a flight back, allowed for a stop in Kinderdijk in the Netherlands. In previous posts I have mentioned some of the windmills I’ve visited in Scotland and noted these in Part 110 and Part 135 of this blog series. This time I … More Inside the Fiction Factory – Part 182
Museum Wallraf Having visited the Ludwig, I managed to fit in the Wallraf on the same day. This had a different vibe and was so worthwhile. Again, I’m only scratching the surface here. As with all the galleries and museums I’ve visited, there is so much to take in. So, in keeping with earlier posts, … More Inside the Fiction Factory – Part 180
Museum Ludwig While in Cologne, I discovered two art museums in close proximity to each other and with limited time, these were the obvious ones to visit. The first of these was the Museum Ludwig, which was perfect given my love of modern art and the collection it houses. The second was the Wallraf, which … More Inside the Fiction Factory – Part 179
Cologne Cathedral If there is one thing you need to see when visiting Cologne, it is Cologne Cathedral. At 157 m (515 ft), it is the tallest twin-spired cathedral in the world, the second tallest church in Europe after Ulm Minster in Germany, and it is the third tallest church building of any type in the world. … More Inside the Fiction Factory – Part 178
Koblenz The weather had been very hot on this trip, but on arriving in Koblenz, the rain came down in an absolute deluge. With limited time, there were a couple of things to see, so despite a little flooding here and there, it was a matter of getting on with it. The town is a … More Inside the Fiction Factory – Part 177
Castles of the Middle Rhine The Upper Middle Rhine Valley, between Rudesheim and Koblenz, is a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its castles, fortresses, and vineyards. As a huge fan of castles this was the highlight of highlights. I’m not going to list the castles here, as apparently there is more than twenty-eight according to … More Inside the Fiction Factory – Part 174
Imperial Cathedral of Speyer Leaving Strasbourg, I returned to Kehl, and then back on the boat, with the next stop Speyer in Germany. The highlight here was a visit to see the Imperial Cathedral of Speyer, which is one of the world’s finest and largest Romanesque cathedrals and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was … More Inside the Fiction Factory – Part 173
Strasbourg Back on the Rhine, the next stop was Kehl, in Germany. From there a bus journey took me over the border into France and the city of Strasbourg. This has to be seen to be believed. I can imagine looking up the word picturesque in the dictionary and see the name Strasbourg. It is … More Inside the Fiction Factory – Part 172
The Black Forest On leaving Basel in Switzerland, next stop was Breisach in Germany and from there a bus up into the Black Forest, which is quite amazing to see. It’s been the background for many a fairy-tale that came from the brothers Grimm and although a number of the stories they collected came from … More Inside the Fiction Factory – Part 168
Kunstmuseum Basel Along with the various excursions to towns and villages around Scotland this year, there was also a trip to Europe, travelling down the river Rhine. A flight to the Netherlands and from there a plane to Basel in Switzerland, resulted in spending two days before setting off, taking in the sights and sounds … More Inside the Fiction Factory – Part 167
