To follow on from last time, we thoroughly enjoyed Wurzburg - a good sized town - about 130,000 people, as with all the other, beautifully situation on than river and very pretty.   The town is dominated by The Residence - the former home of the Prince Bishops, and ever so big, grand and opulent.  The high point of the day was getting Barry some new glasses - old lenses in new frames and 100% successful.  In the afternoon I took the opportunity to go to Rothenberg on an optional tour - only 50 kms away and I wanted to visit for old time's sake, having visited two or three times previously on our Winter Magic tours.  Those of course were in winter, so to visit in warmer weather was very different and I am so glad I went.  It was lovely to be able to stroll leisurely rather than scurry as one does in winter, (although I would probably prefer to do the latter!).     Plenty of tourists despite it being the end of the season, and once again a reminder of why we try to prevent people travelling to Europe in July/August. 

Yesterday we were in Miltenberg - another medieval gem - a superb little place, famous for its half timbered buildings, of which there are many, plus it has the oldest pub in Germany at which we enjoyed a drink in the hot sun - 25 degrees yesterday.  The sun deck was a very popular place indeed.

We seem to be seeing less river boats now - only the Amadagio and the River Countess are doing our route now.

Thoroughly enjoyed a beer tasting and presentation on board a couple of nights back.    As a non beer drinker I was surprised to learn that I liked a couple of them.  Regardless, it was fun and informative to "hear all about it" - beer brewing is a very serious business in Bavaria.  Later that same evening we had some on board entertainment by a trio of dear old guys who have a wing band - their ages total 236 years!!  I was most amused to see the sax player stop regularly - sometimes mid number for a swig of beer.

We continue to just love life on board the ship - utterly superb.  Meals are wonderful, and there is a delightful custom of coming round the dining room at dinner with platters of seconds - I have not been tempted once I am happy to say!

There are two movies scheduled each day - one of which is always relevant to our geographical position (e.g. The Trials of Nuremburg). 

Last night was the crew show, and it's fair to say we all have sore sides this morning from laughing.  Unlike the previous 10,000 crew shows I have seen on large ships, wherein various crew members with particular talents (singing, dancing, musical instruments etc) showcase their talents, on here they do an hour long series of skits, each of them funnier than the last, and none funnier than our German speaking Captain sitting an exam (in English, which he had to read) to gain his license.

The weather seems to have turned on us today - I look outside and see rain!!!  It's still warm though and we are a couple of hours from Rudesheim on the Rhine where we are going ashore, so there is time for redemption.

There is a vigorously contested "sock game" going on board this morning.  Such a simple thing (10 socks tied to the balustrade in the atrium, each containing a mystery item and you guess what they are), but so much fun.

For the past day or so we have actually been very close to Frankfurt Airport so there is some aircraft noise and vapour trails criss-crossing the sky - such a northern hemisphere  thing - we  hardly see them at home any more do we. 

Only a couple more days now.   I wonder how we will manage the real world when it arrives on Sunday!