Koblinz ... The convergence of the Rhine and the Moselle

We moored this morning at Koblinz, where two rivers meet. The Rhine and the Moselle rivers are two of the major rivers in this part of Europe. After we left Koblinz, we headed upstream and travelled through the Rhine Gorge. It's considered to be the most beautiful part of the Rhine with many castles - both ruined and rebuilt along the way. 

Rhine Gorge castle

It was a mainly overcast day, but it was still very relaxing sailing up the river. 

We moored at Rudesheim last night and visited a museum that collects pre-electronic musical instruments. Not single instruments, but huge mechanical cabinets that use a paper or cardboard roll with holes punched in it to activate each instrument and note. There was even one that played eight violins mechanically. 

Mechanical musical instrument museum

After dinner we set sail for Mainz - the home of Johannes Gutenberg, the inventor of the movable type printing press. We saw two complete volumes of the original 190 Gutenberg Bibles and had the concept of hot lead printing press explained and demonstrated. It was a fascinating morning.

A model of the original Gutenberg press

An example of making letters from hot lead. This is a 'G'

Mainz Cathedral

These blogs are not coming as regularly as I would like - posting them via the ships satellite data connection is a bit 'iffy' at times. (Technical term).