EUROPEAN VACATION DAY 12 :: ST. GOAR & BACHARACH, GERMANY :: The last two days of our European vacation were spent on the most scenic stretch of the Rhine River, between Koblenz and Rudesheim. Along this major medieval thoroughfare, over thirty castles are perched upon the steep, green hillsides of the rolling river valley. Some of the castles are in ruin, but many still stand as museums and hotels. Beneath the castles, several charming towns are strung along the river. We explored the cobblestoned streets of Boppard, St. Goar and Oberwesel, but the most picturesque town was Bacharach (where most of these photos were taken).

In St. Goar, we saw the world's largest cuckoo clock and the world's largest beer stein. Inside a year-round Christmas shop, a very nice, elderly lady had no trouble convincing me to sample a dozen free shots of brandy from the vineyards on the surrounding hills. Apparently the tactic worked. Before I stumbled out of the store, a large case of the delicious wine was being shipped back home!

Next post: Castle Hotel Auf Shoenburg!