Day Ten - Friday 17 October 2014 - Bad Schandau, Germany and Decin, Czech Republic

Today our morning is spent at leisure -- I try to organize our photos which are way too many while half listening to Stephanie's lecture on the Czech Republic -- our destination for this evening.

Lovely Town along the Elbe River

After lunch we dock in Bad Shandau, Germany -- this is a spa town with iron-rich springs discovered in the late-18th Century.  Visitors came in droves launching the development of hotels, parks, a "spa-house" and even an early tram system.   This picturesque town has been the back  drop for a number of movies.  

View from Up High by Rock Castle.

However -- we are heading out of town to visit the Bastei Plateau in Saxon Switzerland located in the Elbe Sandstone Mountains.   On our forty minute  drive we pass through several small towns including Hohnstein and Rathwalde--where a tunnel under the road is being built so frogs can cross safely.  I kid you not -- that is what our guide, Sylvia, told us.

Bride and Groom Sawing Wood.

Upon arriving in the National Park we have a short walk to an area with a hotel and tourists shops --- we see a crowd gathered around a bride and groom sawing a log.   This is an old German wedding tradition representing the first obstacle the couple must overcome in their marriage.  

The view from the overlook here is stunning -- you can see the Elbe River snaking its way to the Czech Republic border.   For those more adventurous -- a climb to the remnants of a 13th Century Rock Castle is in order.    Here we find the remains of a chapel, a cistern, and indents in the rocks where a floor or a roof once made this rock formation a place to live.    The inhabitants must have felt quite safe here since they could see for miles in all directions for approaching visitors -- friendly or not.

Patte Climbing Around Rock Castle.

Rendition of what the Rock Castle would have looked like.

Pat and Dave with Organ Grinder.

We have quite the Welcoming Committee on our return to the Clara Schumann -- including Phil who stayed on board because of his phobia of heights.

Shortly after we're back on board -- the Clara Schumann pulls away from the dock in Bad Schandau at 5:00 pm for Decin in the Czech Republic.

Bob, Anne, Phil and I attend the reception for previous cruisers -- a bit ridiculous since it was in the same lounge where everyone else was sitting -- except our tables had cloths on them.     After dinner there was a musical trivia game -- we split into two groups of six each.  Coming in first and second, I'm afraid we might have been a bit obnoxious about our wins.

It was a wonderful day on the Elbe River.

Thanks for Reading.

Pat

Welcoming Committee - Phil on the Right!

Evening Arrival in Decin in the Czech Republic