Smell the Traubenmost

Right after breakfast, the management of the hotel brought my (lime green) bicycle from the basement.  There was a bit of a problem figuring out the panier system, but then I was off.

The first event was getting over the bridge and then onto the Rhineweg on the east side of the river, taking me through Wiesbaden, and along the shore to Eltville.  Took the recommended stop for coffee and cake (mmmm... Sacher torte with a layer of marzipan under the top ganche) and then decided to chance the hilly route rather than the flat in order to climb up through the vineyards.  Even though the bike is way too big -- huge distance from the seat to the handlebars as compared to my lovely at home, I managed quite well on the climbs.  The highest point was at the Kloster Eberbach -- site of the 1985 movie, "The Name of the Rose".  It is no longer a sacred monastery and this weekend was hosting a very popular, wine sale from the local vineyards.

From there it was gradually downhill, just staying above the shore towns, and sliding underneath the Johannisberg (of the J. Riesling fame!) and into Rudesheim. Great views and fabulous smells of some of the unpicked grapes starting to ferment on the vines.

This is a quaint (most of them are) little touristy town where wine is number 1.  I took the Seilbahn (rope train --  gondola ride) up the side of the mountain to where there is a huge monument to the unification of Germany in the late 1800s.  Too bad it is being restored and therefore encased in scaffolding and plastic tarps.  The streets were full of visitors sampling the local concoction which is called Federweiss (featherwhite) and is partially fermented traubenmost (the pressed juices of the grapes).  Wow -- sweet grapes with a buzz!  I had it with the traditional zwiebelkuchen (onion pie) for a lovely light supper.

My bike is safely locked in a back room, the luggage was here when I arrived at 3:45.  It was a fabulous day -- can hardly wait to see what tomorrow brings!