Page 5 - GC-Nov-Dec-2024
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The German Citizen • November - December 2024 • 5
                                              occupied  by  locals.  It   Each  stop  had  something  very  there to give us an appreciation for  cross  for  the  four-star  General
                                              was  fun  hearing  Ger-  special  to  see  or  do.  Some  of  the  the  Roman  architecture  and  their  George  S.  Patton  Jr.  (1885-1945)
                                              man  spoken,  and  even  highlights  that  will  remain  in  our  ingenuity. After  we  strolled  these  commander  of  the  third  army  in
                                              some Pfälzisch dialect.   fond  memories  are:  Seeing  the  old cobblestoned streets, we felt an  Europe. It was his wish to be buried
                                                 From  the  extensive  Large  impressive  1,000-year-old  accomplishment that Julius Caesar  with his men at this American Bat-
                                              wine menu (Weinkarte)  Reichsburg Schloss  on  the  moun-  may  have  felt  when  he  penned  in  tle Monuments commission ceme-
                                              of  local  wines,  we  or-  tain  top  overlooking  the  town  of  Latin, “veni, vidi, vici” (I came, I  tery. Seeing this dramatic cemetery
                                              dered several to try be-  Cochem.  There  we  took  a  short  saw,  I  conquered).  However,  reminds  us  of  the  ultimate  sacri-
                                              fore  ordering  our  fa-  stroll on the cobblestone pedestrian  maybe conquered for us is an exag-  fices of so many heroes for the free-
                                              vorites to have with our  streets  in  the  town  looking  at  the  geration  because  there  was  so  doms  that  we  and  the  Europeans
                                              meal.  The  food  menu  shops and then sat and rested at an  much more to see, but our time was  have been given.
                                              (Speisekarte) had many  outside table along the river to sa-  limited,  and  our  feet  were  getting   At this point in the cruise, it was
                                              choices with traditional  vor a local beer, just watching peo-  tired from walking.   only about half over, and there was
                                              home-cooked  German  ple  and  ships  going  by  on  the   Perhaps the most emotional ex-  so  much  more  to  see  and  experi-
                                              foods, and local special-  Moselle. Besides cruise ships, it is  perience of the trip for us was when  ence. We were also very fortunate
                                              ties. As  you  can  see  in  also a working river for commerce,  we  bused  to  Luxembourg  and  that the weather for the entire trip
                                              the photo, Louise chose  as is the Rhine River.     toured the “Luxembourg American  was  beautiful;  sunny  and  in  the
                                              Kräuterschnitzel  (vom   On  our  next  stop  was  Ger-  Cemetery  and  Memorial”  site.  mid-70s.
                                              Schwein)  paniet,  mit  many’s oldest city, Trier. There we  There  we  saw  a  reminder  of  the   Continued next issue.
                                              Kartoffel/Gurkensalat  went  on  a  guided  walking  tour  of  vastness  of  the
                                              (Herb  schnitzel  (pork)  the historic old city and saw the fa-  American  WWII
                                              breaded, and potato/cu-  mous Porta Nigra which was one of  military   deaths,
                                              cumber  salad)  where  the original city huge multi storied  with  over  5,000
                                              the  schnitzel  came  out  entry  gate  structures  built  by  the  white   marble
                                     golden  brown  deliciously  hot  and  Romans in the 2nd century AD. It  crosses  spaced  in
      cruise  dock.  We  booked  a  river
      view room with the optional buffet   the  salad  perfectly  prepared  and  is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  perfect  row  after
      style breakfast which included ev-  cool.  I  chose  a  more  adventurous  We walked through the arched en-  row  in  an  expan-
      erything  and  anything  one  could   meal  of  a  thick  slice  of  warm  tries of the Porta into the city cen-  sive,   well-main-
      want for a delicious breakfast. This   Pfälzer  Saumagen  mit  Sauerkraut  ter,  which  was  busy  with  tourists.  tained grassy field.
      was convenient and is quite typical   und   Bratkartoffeln   (Palatinate  From there, we walked and visited  In  front  of  this
      for   Europe   and   especially   sausage  specialty  with  sauerkraut  the  Roman  public  baths,  which  mass  of  crosses
      Germany.                       and fried potatoes). The Saumagen  were in ruins, but enough was still  was a single white
         For our first dinner in Germany,   was a big fat sausage of a stuffed
      we  made  a  reservation  at  a  local   pig  stomach  with  meats,  potatoes,
      restaurant in walking distance from   and vegetables, like a Scottish Hag-
      our hotel. It was the historic Wein-  gis  except  with  more  ingredients,
      stube  Hattum  at  Grebenstrasse  3,  presented  on  a  bed  of  deliciously
      which is on a cobblestoned pedes-  flavorful  tender  sauerkraut,  and  a
      trian  street  directly  behind  the  fa-  side  of  golden  fried  potatoes. Al-
      mous  St  Martin  RC  Cathedral  of   though  we  had  amazing  meals  on
      Mainz. It was a very quaint, small   the  ship,  this  meal  with  superb
      wine  tavern/restaurant  with  only   wines  rated  on  the  top  for  us  in
      eight tables inside and about three   German  food  authenticity,  taste,
      smaller  ones  outside.  By  the  time   presentation,  friendly  service  and
      we  started  to  eat,  every  table  was   especially Gemütlichkeit Weinstube
                                     atmosphere.
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