Today it was hot, 38 degrees, and sweating.
We had a look around Trier before we left today and it had a surprising amount to offer in the centre of town. Before we arrived in Germany we hadn’t expected to see Roman ruins here. The most impressive here in Trier is the Roman North Gate, which is an impressive structure in the centre of the old town.
We headed through the centre to the Dom. And yes we have more questions. Down in the crypt there are a couple of bones (yes more of them) with gold bows around them housed in a gold replica of the Dom. In the treasury (a room beside the alter as you go up the stairs) is the ‘Holy Nail’ (exactly how holy we aren’t too sure). Behind the alter in another room is the ‘Seamless Robe’. The seamless robe is in a coffin shaped box, that is housed inside a highly polished and ornate glass air-conditioned case, and this is inside a climatically controlled room. So the nearest you can get to it is about 5 meters away behind a steel grill and glass. Every 10 years they open up the room so that you can walk around it, but you will never get to see it. It is evidently too fragile to be tested for authenticity. So is this a case of the Emperors new clothes? Does it even exist? Who can be sure.
From here it was out of town past the Roman Amphitheatre, and then a walk past the pink Palace with its very ornate façade and wonderful grounds with statues, fountains and flower beds. We spent the rest of the days driving down through the Mosell river valley. The road hugged the river with acres and acres of vineyards on both sides of the river, little villages with white walled houses with slate grey roofs, the compulsory church sticking its head up in each village, and castles standing guard on the hilltops at regular intervals. Some of the castles were in a better state of repair than others, but even the worst off managed to have a few German flags flying and what from the valley floor looked like a café or restaurant open for business. Also at regular intervals were camping grounds, packed to the gunnels with tents and camper vans. We thought that the land around here would be too valuable to accommodate those kind of luxuries.
We arrived in Valwig and checked in, before heading into Cochem for a walk (about 3km away). This is a very cool little town with the compulsory castle on the hilltop above it, which looks most splendid when lit up after dark. Unfortunately the town had lost most of its sun by the time we got there so we need to have a brief visit in the morning before we leave town.
We had a look around Trier before we left today and it had a surprising amount to offer in the centre of town. Before we arrived in Germany we hadn’t expected to see Roman ruins here. The most impressive here in Trier is the Roman North Gate, which is an impressive structure in the centre of the old town.
We headed through the centre to the Dom. And yes we have more questions. Down in the crypt there are a couple of bones (yes more of them) with gold bows around them housed in a gold replica of the Dom. In the treasury (a room beside the alter as you go up the stairs) is the ‘Holy Nail’ (exactly how holy we aren’t too sure). Behind the alter in another room is the ‘Seamless Robe’. The seamless robe is in a coffin shaped box, that is housed inside a highly polished and ornate glass air-conditioned case, and this is inside a climatically controlled room. So the nearest you can get to it is about 5 meters away behind a steel grill and glass. Every 10 years they open up the room so that you can walk around it, but you will never get to see it. It is evidently too fragile to be tested for authenticity. So is this a case of the Emperors new clothes? Does it even exist? Who can be sure.
From here it was out of town past the Roman Amphitheatre, and then a walk past the pink Palace with its very ornate façade and wonderful grounds with statues, fountains and flower beds. We spent the rest of the days driving down through the Mosell river valley. The road hugged the river with acres and acres of vineyards on both sides of the river, little villages with white walled houses with slate grey roofs, the compulsory church sticking its head up in each village, and castles standing guard on the hilltops at regular intervals. Some of the castles were in a better state of repair than others, but even the worst off managed to have a few German flags flying and what from the valley floor looked like a café or restaurant open for business. Also at regular intervals were camping grounds, packed to the gunnels with tents and camper vans. We thought that the land around here would be too valuable to accommodate those kind of luxuries.
We arrived in Valwig and checked in, before heading into Cochem for a walk (about 3km away). This is a very cool little town with the compulsory castle on the hilltop above it, which looks most splendid when lit up after dark. Unfortunately the town had lost most of its sun by the time we got there so we need to have a brief visit in the morning before we leave town.
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