It’s late so today’s pictures will mostly have to speak for themselves.
We took an early morning stroll on the Sun Deck and were greeted by St. Killian’s Church in Wiesbaden.
![](https://readthisblog.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/St.-Killian-1.jpg)
We left the Main for the Rhine during breakfast and enjoyed castles all morning.
![](https://readthisblog.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Castle-Bromersburg-1.jpg)
![](https://readthisblog.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Germania-Monument-1.jpg)
![](https://readthisblog.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Castle-Ehrenfels-1.jpg)
![](https://readthisblog.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Mauseturm-1.jpg)
![](https://readthisblog.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Castle-Rheinstine-1.jpg)
![](https://readthisblog.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Castle-Reichenstein-1.jpg)
![](https://readthisblog.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Castle-Sooneck-1.jpg)
![](https://readthisblog.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/St.-Mariae-Himmelfahrt-and-Castle-Honeck-1-1.jpg)
![](https://readthisblog.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Castle-Furstenberg-1.jpg)
![](https://readthisblog.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Castle-Furstenberg-2-1.jpg)
![](https://readthisblog.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Bacharach-1.jpg)
![](https://readthisblog.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Gutenfels-Fortress-and-Pfalz-1.jpg)
![](https://readthisblog.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Gutenfels-Fortress-1.jpg)
![](https://readthisblog.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Castle-Schonburg_-1.jpg)
We docked in Oberwessel; Diane and I took a short stroll before lunch.
![](https://readthisblog.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Diane-and-River-Empress-1.jpg)
Even though we’d docked in Oberwessel, the excursions were in Bacharach, a few kilometers upstream. Most passengers went for a wine tasting, but Diane and I climbed up to Castle Stahleck to enjoy the view.
![](https://readthisblog.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Castle-Stahleck-we-made-it-1.jpg)
![](https://readthisblog.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Rhine-Selfie-1.jpg)
![](https://readthisblog.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Stahleck-Tower-1.jpg)
Our guide, Paul, took us on a stroll through Bacharach; they’re already getting ready for their annual Weinfest.
![](https://readthisblog.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Weinfest-is-coming-1.jpg)
The only Jewish content today was a brief glimpse of the former Jewish Quarter – it was, of course, outside the walls.
![](https://readthisblog.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Former-Jewish-Quarter-1.jpg)
We said goodbye the Bacharach and Oberwessel and boarded the Empress for tonight’s cruise to Cologne. We passed the Lorelei soon after departing.
![](https://readthisblog.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Loreley-Statue-1.jpg)
There were more castles before dinner.
![](https://readthisblog.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Katz-Castle-1.jpg)
![](https://readthisblog.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Katz-Castle-2-1.jpg)
![](https://readthisblog.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Rheinfels-Castle-2.jpg)
![](https://readthisblog.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Maus-Castle-1.jpg)
![](https://readthisblog.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Liebenstein-and-Sterrenburg-note-the-wall-between-them-1.jpg)
And during dinner.
![](https://readthisblog.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Marksburg-Castle-1.jpg)
![](https://readthisblog.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Stolzenfels-Castle-1.jpg)
We sailed past the confluence of the Moselle and the Rhine just in time to see the Kaiser Wilhelm I statue before it got too dark.
![](https://readthisblog.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Deutsches-Eck-1.jpg)
I took nearly 300 photos today…and I still have 182 of them in Lightroom. Maybe when I’m more awake….