A train zooming along the tracks. The vertical board right in the center of the picture with the three triangles is used to signal the boat captains whether or not to proceed, much like the lights and semaphore system our train system uses.
What is that big rocky bluff?
Yes it is. It's the Loreley.
Due to extensive rains, the water level was quite high and the current swift. The captain said it was 12 kph, which is evident from the sizable feather produced as the water flows around the channel marker in the lower left of the picture. GPS indicated the river boat was moving up river at 11 kph, which meant the boat was actually going 23 kph.
An old Roman fortification on the river.
Impressive castle on the hill; beautiful church down below. Notice how the area right along the river bank is flooded.
There are a lot of vineyards along the river. It baffles me why most of the rows in the vineyards are vertical rather than horizontal in a terracing fashion. Phil tried to explain, but it didn't take.
A convenient tax collection station on an island right in the middle of the river. Due to the flooding, you can't see the island, just the trees.
Even the barges are fascinating. The barge captains actually live on their barges, at least while they are working the river. This barge has a garden on board. Many would have a car on the back deck and a small crane to lift it ashore when the barge docked. The captain had a car to zip around in while his barge was being unloaded.
