April 22,2012 Baden-Baden

We arrived in Baden Baden and and staying at anice stellplatz close to town.Baden-Baden is known for there baths.They have 2 places you can go to in Baden- Baden for the baths.One is Caracalla and the other is the Roman-Irish Baths. We went to Caracalla and it was wonderful.Hot Pools and jets everywhere.This looks like a roman bath with the ceiling like a forum. The pools are huge and inside the pools they have area that are hotter.They have a sauna that you can go in and just sit and meditate.It has aromatic smells and the steam is like heavy foggy mist.The ceiling has a blue sky with twinkling stars.It smells so good but I could only stand it for about 5 minutes.They also have a ice cold pool you can get into and I got down 2 steps and was out in a flash.Some people tried to get in but it's just like being frozen inn ice.It was a wonderful 2 hours and so very relaxing. The other baths(Roman) are very old and have been around a very long time.If you go to them it is all nudity so we went to Caracalla.We really enjoyed the town and the baths.

April 20,2012 Rhinestein Castle

On our way to Baded-Baden we stopped at another castle called Rhinestein.This castle is still in tack in was very nice. Prince Fredrich and his family lived here as used this as there summer home.Fredrich died here and is buried in the family crypt.This castle even had there own church.Some of the rooms are furnished as they were in the time that they lived there.They had a nice cafe overlooking the Rhine and Sam and I decided to have a glass of wine and enjoy the view.We also ordered some salami,cheese and grapes and this is what we got. A small pizza. it was very good though. We certainly are enjoying our time along the Rhine.Sorry but I'm having posting my photos to my blog. Will try and get it figured out somwhere down the road.

April 19,2012 Castles

Today we took the scenic road down the Rhine and saw many castles.We stopped in a small town called St.Goar.They have a castle here called Rhinefels.In it's time it was the largest on the Rhine and was built in 1248.In 1797 when the French Revolution came about it was destroyed.We stopped to explore the ruins.

After touring the castle we continued on to the town of Bacarach.Bacarach is known for their vineyards and they have a lot of good wine.There is still part of the old wall and gate entering the town.In the town they have the oldest house dating back to1368.Altes Haus is a red and white house that is tilted.It's amazing it's still standing.

April 18,2012 Gothic Cathedral

This morning we went to Germany's largest Gothic Cathedral begun in 1248. In the square in front of the Cathedral there is the original Roman gate.

The Nave of the church is huge with a 140ft ceiling with lots of stained glass to cover 3 football fields.For hundreds of years it sat unfinished.The stained glass windows in the front are medieval.

Geo-Crucifix -chapel of the cross features the oldest surviving crucifix from north of the Alps.If you would like a great view you can climb 509 steps to the cathedral's south tower.We declined.

April 17,2012 Koln

This morning after we got up we went back to the camping store and spent another 3 hours.So much for getting a early start.We finally headed for Koln,Germany.Koln is Germany's fourth largest city and sits on the Rhine.It also has Germany's largest Gothic Cathedral.We arrived at a camperstop on the river and it's rainy and cold.Tomorrow we will go into town and see the Cathedral.

April 13,2012 Van Gough

Today started out bad on Friday the 13th.First I misplaced my train ticket and had to have someone by me another card. Then I decided to ride my bike to the train station and fell off it. Not once but twice.This may not be a good thing this bike.We finally got into Amsterdam and Sam wanted to go to the Dutch Resistance Musum.This museum shows how the Dutch resisted the Nazi occupiers from 1940 to 1945. When the Dutch were liberated they used the Nazi helmets as bedpans.We walked all over to find this museum.It's not as well known as the others.There are many museums in Amsterdam and it would take more than a week to see all of them. The next place we went was the Van Gough Museum.We got to see over 2 hundred of his original paintings including the well known Sunflowers,Potato Eaters,And the Bedroom.Vincent killed himself at the age of 37.Sorry no pictures allowed in the museum.We didn't get back till late and will see the rest of the sights when we come back in October.

Old Church                                                                             
                                                                           

Van Gogh Museum