Wertheim

We docked near Wertheim this morning. A swan glided across to our ship. It might have been hoping for a feed.

Transport from our ship to the town was by these not very comfortable tourist trains. The novelty element carried the day, but I walked back to the ship.

Our guide was interesting. He is a retired colonel from the German Army. His wife suggested he become a tour guide, as she probably wanted him out of the house. He was born and raised in the old town and was very knowledgeable about its history and current affairs.

The town floods regularly, both from the Main River and the smaller Tauber River. Flood heights on the Tauber are marked on the riverside building. Our group was standing on the path shown in the first photo.

The city buys historic buildings that need restoration, then either sells them or rents them. One privately owned building was demolished, but the new building did not proceed because of the Covid pandemic. The owner no longer has the funds to pay for the new building. The vacant site shows how the first floors of buildings were constructed with timber and stone.

The winding streets of the old town are car-free. This medieval tower had developed a lean so it was underpinned with girders deep in the ground.

The streecape is hotels, cafes, and shops, with private homes in the back streets. Many buildings around the market square have unusually positioned windows, allowing residents to see the clock tower and the square.

There is an old castle up on the hill. The city paid seven hundred thousand euros to buy it, but subsequently had to spend 24 million euros stabilising the structure.

One of our passengers fainted and went off in an ambulance. Late in the afternoon she caught up with our ship by taxi to rejoin the cruise.

I gave up on the jigsaw and relocated it to the games corner in the hope other passengers might help finish it. I managed to relocate the completed section of the jigsaw without it coming apart, but as I walked up the steps one of the cups carrying pieces of jigsaw toppled over and fell on the stairs and down to the floor below. A couple of women helped me pick up the pieces, but until the puzzle is completed, there is no way of knowing if any bits are missing.

Tonight’s dinner was about German food. The crew dressed up in check shirts and traditional German attire, and at least one crew member was wearing lederhosen. Beer and schnapps were offered, and traditional German dishes were served.