Rudesheim - 14th July

Confluence of Rhine and Main

I got up early this morning (6 am) to witness the confluence of the Main and Rhine rivers. We exited the Main river into the Rhine river on our last leg of our cruise. The Main is on the left and the Rhine is on the right of this picture.

Siegfried's Musikkabinett

We docked at Rudesheim and we caught the train (yes, train, well OK, a tractor dressed up as a train towing several carriages) and were taken into the centre of Rudesheim to Siegfried's Musikkabinett. This contains the worlds largest collection of automated music boxes and player pianos.

Automaton music box

This machine has seven different instruments in it, at the back is a standard piano, drums, cymbals, tympanics, and various others that I cannot remember - and it was LOUD! It works on compressed air and is programmed with a paper tape you can see above the keyboard. Wonder what its creators would think of today's MP3 players?

Hupfeld phono Listz Violina

Another amazing machine was the Hupfeld phono Listz Violina, pictured left. Apart from being a player piano which was pretty ordinary at the time, if you slide back covers from the two turrets, it reveals...

six automated violins

Six automated violins, complete with automated fingers and a circular bow that revolved continuously. To play the strings, the violins are moved toward the bow instead of vice versa. It was quite the sensation in its day.
There were many more incredible self-playing devices in this place, you'll just have to come see for yourself.

Cable car

Afterwards we took a cable car ride to the top of the nearby hill to see the Germania Monument which commemorates the unification of the individual Germanic states into the German Empire in 1870. The view from the cable car of the town of Rudesheim and the surrounding vineyards was awesome!

Germania monument

Germania monument - 'nuff said.

View of Rudeshein from monument

The Rhine is a massive river, both in size and importance. It is one of the main transport arteries of Western Europe and the number of cargo transports plying its waters is incredible, as is the number of tourist boats, such as ours.

After returning from the monument we walked back to the ship for a sumptuous BBQ held on the Sun Deck on top of the ship, which was simply delicious.