Viking Spirit European River Cruise Journal - Budapest to Amsterdam - Part 2

The Viking Spirit sailed from Rudesheim in the early morning, and we reached the most scenic part of the Middle Rhine River before 8:00 am. The early morning was foggy, which gave the narrow river bends and towering rocks such as the Lorelei a ghostly look. I had first cruised the Rhine on a day trip in August 1985, and the river was just as beautiful as I remembered. Most of the passengers went up on the top deck, and we marveled at the numerous castles and scenic towns along the river. The morning could not have been more relaxing, and I loved hearing the stories attached to the ancient fortresses guarding the river. As we neared Cologne, the riverbank became more commercial, and soon the city's magnificent Dom Cathedral came into view.