Supergeil Deutsch Blog: Frankfurt Train Ride

PPP Alumni (Germans who went to USA) hosted a meet-and-greet reunion BBQ in Frankfurt. All of the CBYX participants were invited. 15 of us from Cologne went. There is a really cool train deal, called "Schoenes Wochenende" (beautiful weekend), that allows five friend unlimited train travel within a 24 hr period on regional trains. We took the train path along the Rhine to get to Frankfurt. Below are some of the sights.

My picture frame for 3 hrs

Hard to take photos with a phone on a moving train, but I tried my best.

Lots of wine along the Rhein

We passed 15-20 ruined and in-use castles along the way. They are all absolutely incredible. Americans are always 100% amazed- Germans think it is funny how captivated we are by the stone forts and towers.

The Rhine is only ever ~1000 feet wide. It moves fast. And the turns can be dangerous for the boats. I thought that this was the Lorelei rock, but it was the next one down the river- oops!

Lorelei is a famous rock on the Rhine. It is a particularly dangerous point for ships navigating the river and the inspiration for a number of legends. Story has it a beautiful maiden falls to her death from the giant rock and her spirit stays there distracting boats- causing their doom. Below is a poem that all of my CBYX friends for some reason knew:

Lorelei by Heinrich Heine

(from Poemsintranslation.blogspot)

I know not if there is a reason

Why I am so sad at heart.

A legend of bygone ages

Haunts me and will not depart.

The air is cool under nightfall.

The calm Rhine courses its way.

The peak of the mountain is sparkling

With evening's final ray.

The fairest of maidens is sitting

So marvelous up there,

Her golden jewels are shining,

She's combing her golden hair.

She combs with a comb also golden,

And sings a song as well

Whose melody binds a wondrous

And overpowering spell.

In his little boat, the boatman

Is seized with a savage woe,

He'd rather look up at the mountain

Than down at the rocks below.

I think that the waves will devour

The boatman and boat as one;

And this by her song's sheer power

Fair Lorelei has done.

The Original:

Ich weiß nicht, was soll es bedeuten,

Daß ich so traurig bin;

Ein Märchen aus alten Zeiten,

Das kommt mir nicht aus dem Sinn.

Die Luft ist kühl, und es dunkelt,

Und ruhig fließt der Rhein;

Der Gipfel des Berges funkelt

In Abendsonnenschein.

Die schönste Jungfrau sitzet

Dort oben wunderbar,

Ihr goldenes Geschmeide blitzet,

Sie kämmt ihr goldenes Haar.

Sie kämmt es mit goldenem Kamme

Und singt ein Lied dabei;

Das hat eine wundersame,

Gewaltige Melodei.

Den Schiffer im kleinen Schiffe

Ergreift es mit wildem Weh;

Er schaut nicht die Felsenriffe,

Er schaut nur hinauf in die Höh'.

Ich glaube, die Wellen verschlingen

Am Ende Schiffer und Kahn;

Und das hat mit ihrem Singen

Die Lorelei getan.

Here is a statue of Loreley that was put up. And, here is a barge carrying Sulfuric Acid capsized right next to it. The statue is very naked; this is the only family-friendly angle. The art may be part of the problem. (photo by Eric von Erichsen)