Saturday 9th September
The River Duchess docks in Frankfurt early this morning, after traveling east since leaving Rudesheim, a distance of 196 kilometres, we have set our alarm as the tours start at 9.00am. Outside it is still dark as even the dawn seems reluctant to start the day. Through the rain spattered windows we can see from reflected light that it is wet, the asphalt walkways that line the Main river at this point are shiny with moisture. During the night we left the Rhine River and connected to the Main river, that will connect us to the Danube in the coming days. As dawn finally breaks we can see that it is not going to be a pleasant day to be walking around today. Ever hopeful we dress and go to breakfast, we have docked in downtown Frankfurt this part of the river is a linear park, trees and lawn line the pathways along the river banks, there is a lot of movement in the trees indicating a substantial breeze. The rain continues to fall, we decide not to partake in a tour today, if the weather improves by the afternoon we can walk to some points of interest not far away. We have visited Frankfurt before, really another big city so we don’t feel, as if we are missing much. Our cruise director Bence informs us that the locals are calling the city “Mainhatten” as the ever increasing skyline is looking more and more like New York.
A little about the River Duchess, these river boats are long 361ft/110 meters and thin 37.5ft/11.43 meters wide. This one carries at maximum 130 passengers, there are 109 on this cruise and a crew of 42. Bence informed us of the nationality make up last night, 55 Americans, 43 Australians, 8 Canadians, 2 Brits and 1 Swede. Built in 2003 to expand Uniworlds fleet of vessels she was refitted in 2012. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are all served in the large dining room at the rear of the vessel in one sitting, breakfast is a combination buffet and table service, while lunch is a buffet and dinner a complete table service. The decor is opulent, I think French, marble floors, rich patterned carpets in the staterooms, French style furniture giving the feel of a floating palace. Our stateroom has gold padded embroidered walls, with matching curtains and bedspread. Tiny but compact with everything you need and every space utilised to maximum advantage.
The bar lounge at the front is big enough to seat all the guests, has a small centre stage and piano. Plus of course a large very well stocked bar.
From here we sail again through the night and tomorrow morning south to Wertheim under apparently some extremely low bridges. The ship has to be prepared ahead of time, by lowering any protruding devices, antenna, radar even upper deck furniture has to be removed as apparently the clearance is only a hands breadth, going to be interesting.
Cocktail hour approaches and we make our way to the lounge, the Rudesheim Riesling we enjoyed last night is the featured wine tonight another glass seems like a good idea.
The day has brightened towards the evening, still cool but the rain has disappeared for now. The evenings presentation begins as we cast off and begin our journey, now south towards Wertheim. After a relaxing day we have decided to eat in our room tonight, trying to take a break from the onslaught of delicious food and catch up on some news. Dramatic skies lay ahead of us, the sun slowly sinking in our west creates reflected light patterns in the sky and on the river to our north and south of us. The river burbles away beneath us, the only sound a watery blop ka blop, blop, ka blop the sound that glassy waves make as they bounce against a ships hull.
We pass through a lock, the concrete walls of which are so close as we pass through that you can literally touch them, although we have definitely had strict instructions not to open the stateroom doors and try.
We rise to the next level and move on further towards our next destination as the night closes in.