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Grand River Cruise with Budapest |
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| 2. Köln and Koblenz | |
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| The next morning Köln’s famous Cathedral and the Hochenzollern Bridge dominate the scene - VIDEO CAPTURES Malcolm McCrow | |
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| Approaching our berth at Rheinauhafen we pass the impressive mediaeval church of Groß St. Martin. The ancient Bayen Tower was completely restored in 1987 - VIDEO CAPTURES Malcolm McCrow | |
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| Rain is threatening as Serenade prepares to leave Cologne for passage to Koblenz where we arrive early the following morning - VIDEO CAPTURES Malcolm McCrow | |
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| At Koblenz the following morning we temporarily leave the River Rhine to berth next to the medieval bridge over the Mosselle - VIDEO CAPTURES Malcolm McCrow | |
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| A single span replaces the several original spans destroyed during the World War II - VIDEO CAPTURES Malcolm McCrow | |
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| A manikin astride a high garden wall has apparently been the source of several suicide alerts. One of several memorials along the Moselle Embankment is this giant chair, commemorating Peter Altmeier, a German politician - VIDEO CAPTURES Malcolm McCrow | |
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| Segments of the Berlin Wall dedicated to the victims of separation - VIDEO CAPTURES Malcolm McCrow | |
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| Accessed by cable car across the Rhein, the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress rivalled only Gibraltar as the largest fortress in Europe - VIDEO CAPTURES Malcolm McCrow | |
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| Ehrenbreitstein Fortress - VIDEO CAPTURES Malcolm McCrow | |
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| Displayed in the casemates where the soldiers lived are some of the weapons they used and the uniforms they wore - VIDEO CAPTURES Malcolm McCrow | |
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| Kept in Paris as a war trophy the Griffon Canon was repatriated in 1940 but removed again to France at the end of the War. Clearly marked Musee de l’Artillerie Paris, it is now on permanent loan to the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress - VIDEO CAPTURES Malcolm McCrow | |
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The fortress affords a good view of the Deutsches Eck or German Corner that
marks the confluence of the Rivers Mosselle and Rhine and is watched over by
Wilhelm der Große, the first German Emperor - VIDEO CAPTURES Malcolm McCrow |
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| Crossing back over the Rhine - VIDEO CAPTURES Malcolm McCrow | |
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| The Historiensaule (Pillar of History) where sculptured images form a column above a fountain and depict the history of Koblenz. At the head of the column we see the new city rising phoenix-like from the ruins of World War II - VIDEO CAPTURES Malcolm McCrow | |
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| Behind this square is the Schängelbrunnen (Naughty Boy Fountain) where the Schängel, or Naughty Boy, suddenly shoots water out of his mouth soaking unsuspecting onlookers - VIDEO CAPTURES Malcolm McCrow | |
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| The ducks of the Entenpfuhl (Duck Quagmire) are remembered on the paving stones and a charming little fountain further down the street - VIDEO CAPTURES Malcolm McCrow | |
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| Koblenz is full of surprises and below a clock face the Augenroller continuously rolls his eyes and on the hour and the half hour sticks out his tongue - VIDEO CAPTURES Malcolm McCrow | |