Mini Niagara Falls

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Jean

Three weeks ago today we have been in Europe for 3 weeks–hard to believe that, but it is so.  We have had a good time and it seems to be going fast.  However, we have learned just how dependent on the internet we are–we miss it terribly.
Today’s agenda was Schaffhausen to see the Rhine Falls and Stein am Rhein, an old Medieval walled city along the Rhine.  

Rhein Falls in the background

We started out and about ½ hour down the road Dave discovered he did not have his security pack on–that meant no license, money, information, etc.  So, we turned around and headed back to the apartment to get that, then off again.  We arrived at the Rhine Falls about 10:30–AND NO TUNNELS LIKE IN 2002!!!!  I just remember that as being a nightmare back in 2002, but with Gertie the GPS and better signage, it was not hard at all to get there.  

Castle on the hill

We got parked and proceeded down the 62 steeps plus a long, long ramp to the walkway around the Rhine.  Lots of people despite the cold morning–it was 7c when we started out.  We walked about and then climbed more steps and more ramps to the top of the Falls–at least the top that we wanted to get to.  

Tour boats take visitors to the rock in the middle

Amazing sights from up there.  Ducks were even up there at the edge of the falls and it was interesting to watch one little fellow hold his bill just at the right angle that it would make a shower over him–multi-tasking duck???  

Rock in the middle with tourists on top

Back down those same steps and ramps and found a bench and ate our lunch–along side an older biker man in shorts and short sleeved shirt.
 

A kind Dutch lady offer to take our picture

We got oriented for Stein am Rhein and Gertie did a great job of getting us on the right path.  We spotted a Coop that we thought might have WiFi connection, but not, so back in the car and off again.  We came up with the idea of biking from where we were along the Rhine to Stein am Rhein, so parked the car, unloaded the bikes, and headed for the Rhine.  Not!!  

Part of the trail was thru the Wald

Nowhere along there could we get to the Rhine–it was just not possible.  So we decided to follow a bike route and after chatting with 2 women about it, they said we had to bike through the Wald to the little village Diessenhofen and then the bike path went along the Rhine and we would end up in about 10kms at Stein am Rhein.  Who should pass us in the Wald but the older biker man. 

A unique barn along the path

 Through the Wald and to that village was 10kms I am sure and we saw a sign saying Stein am Rhein was still 10kms further.  The village seemed to be all uphill so we decided that we could not bike further.  We turned around again only to take a street sooner than we should have, and we were lost.  
 Dave,  bless his heart, went back to see where we went wrong so I would not need to do hills again.  I walked uphill more and did find the place where we should be and eventually Dave came back and we were on our way following the marked bike trail back to the car.  Turns out we had missed the proper bike path on the way down there.

Medieval town of Stein Am Rhein

Arrived back at the car , loaded the bikes and drove into Stein am Rhein.  After a few tries and some construction which threw us off, we ended up where we wanted to be.  What a nice old Medieval village.  It was interesting to see the paintings on the old buildings and I wondered what stories they were telling.  

The wall paintings are fantastic

We had coffee at a Thai restaurant in the café outside, just where I love to have coffee, and then wandered around the old village for another hour admiring the old buildings some dating back to the 1400s.  A nice afternoon with the sun sometimes coming through the clouds. 
 

A modern bridge takes you into the narrow streets

Dave:
Incidentally, we had tried to “see” Stein am Rhein in 1998 when here with Lois and Fran but recalled getting into a traffic jamb inside the walls of the old town and we just wanted “out of there” then.  

Homes all along the Rhein River

It was a much more pleasant visit today.
Jean:
Back the hour to our apartment–each time we come into Bonndorf, Gertie takes us another way–this is the 3rd or 4th way we have come back to the apartment.  IT WAS A GOOD DAY.