Along the Rhine
We leave Cologne in the early morning. The weather during the
entire homeward journey is bright and sunny, and we have a good
opportunity to see the country. From this place to Bingen our route lies
through the far-famed highlands of the Rhine. The scenery is grand and
picturesque, and in summer it must be beautiful beyond description.
The railroad lies close to the river bank, the track winding around the
mountains, and affording a fine view of the river all the way. On each
side there are mountains, here sloping gradually to the shore, there
rising abruptly from the water’s edge. Palaces and towers are scattered
everywhere on the river bank, adorning every commanding position
along the shores. From almost every rocky crag or mountain summit
an ancient castle or ruined arch looks down upon the smiling valley.
The mountains are terraced and covered with vineyards, and steep,
zigzag paths lead up their sides, to the watchtowers and pavilions on
the pinnacles of the rocks, or far up to the towers and castles that
crown the summit. On the hills and in the valleys are groves, orchards,
and gardens; and nestled at the foot of the mountains, or clinging to
the steep hillsides, may be seen the villages of the peasants, a grey
old church lifting its spire from some elevated site above the little
hamlet. On each side of the river are the road and the railroad track,
the train on the opposite bank dashing along as if in strife with ours,
and often disappearing from view as it darts through some mountain
tunnel. Close beside us flows the beautiful Rhine, as still and smooth
as glass, and upon its quiet bosom little steamers are gliding up and
down.
This country being the resort of tourists and pleasure-seekers,
great attention is given to everything connected with their comfort
and entertainment. Large and elegant hotels, surrounded by beautiful
terraced grounds, groves, shrubbery, and flowers, are built all along
the river banks. And even in the smallest and most secluded villages
the hotels and inns are like palaces in comparison with the dwellings
of the people.
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