Bernkastel-Kues in September

Bernkastel is on one side of the Mosel River and Kues on the other. The center of town is as quaint and reminiscent of old Germany as one can get.

Bernkastel-Kues is best viewed from the old castle ruin, the Landshut Castle, on the hill.

The castle provides a great view of the winding river and the valley.

There is a restaurant inside the shell of a castle now.

Hiking these hills is a great fitness program!

Grapevines line the banks of the river.

http://www.bernkastel.de/cms/cms/front_content.php?idart=97&idcat=81&changelang=2

Grape picking on the Mosel

The fertile banks of the Mosel River produce the sweetest grapes we've ever tasted.

Diane picked grapes one day with these folks.

Many wines from here are world famous.
These grapes are delicious!

John 15:1 "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener."

Cologne - the Great Cathedral

We went to Cologne (Koln) by train. Exiting the train looking at a map to the Cathedral...Bam! There it was... massive. Black from dirt and soot, it rose out of the scrawl of tourists and vendors and majestically dominated our view, 100 feet ahead of us.
Inside we roamed around like the tide with waves of tourists. There is so much detail in gold, stone and stained glass. Right before noon, they shooed everyone out who did not want to stay for a prayer service.

We sat down in a pew and enjoyed the mostly empty, hushed church. Then an organ began bellowing classical music that moved our hearts. It was an experience we will treasure.

Outside vendors sold hot pretzels. A 10 year old kid on roller skates agreed to take our family picture.

Street entertainers enjoyed the attention of the crowds. Our son was drawn to a living gargoyle who joked around with him.

We wandered around the downtown area and ate on the patio of a cafe.

There is a fast food chain in Germany with fries that our son says is "to die for." He was delighted to find it on a side street.

http://www.koelner-dom.de/index.php?id=2&L=1