We reach the 9th-century Basilika St. Michael.

A coliseum built by the Nazis -- on the site of an ancient Celtic gathering-place.

Der Führer speaks.

Back downhill, along the river.

Dinner at a cozy restaurant ...

... and dessert at a café.

July 10. Off to the castle!

Heidelberger Schloss.

Inside the courtyard.

The boys call Nana's attention to this sundial.

Voila! The Apotheken-museum (Apothecary Museum).

Is this "Das Große Fass" (a.k.a. "Great Heidelberg Tun")
-- the world's largest wine barrel? Well, no.

This is the Fass!

The sun was shining!

From the castle, we see the hill we climbed the day before.

Sometimes whole pieces of the castle walls just fell away.

The Schloss, from the end of its long park.

No more time to explore -- we get ready to leave for Mainz, via Frankfurt.

... on the super-fast InterCity Express (ICE) train!

We've seen lots of fountains by now, but the one in Mainz still catches our eye.

A more sedate well.

After visiting the Gutenberg Museum, we have dinner at a Hungarian restaurant nearby.

As we leave, more music!

... on great pavement.

July 11. Rhine cruise!
The first "castle" is in good shape.

The next is tiny.

But soon we come to the real thing.

Better and better ones.

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