Rhine Valley / SLA Family Outing, July 1 - 3

It's time you all should know...Britt, Benjamin, and I have joined the SLA, because we saw a Hearst kidnapping documentary on Danish television and promptly decided we needed code names:

Benjamin is now Tania
Britt is now JoJo
Melinda is now Darla
Matthew is now Steve (didn't see the special, but was drafted)

Tania, Jojo, Steve, and I rented a car and drove to the Rhine Valley because I had a desperate need to see some castles. Goodness gracious, did we ever. On Saturday, we took a tourist ship thing from Koblenz to Bacharach, seeing nearly 11 or so castles along the way. And, when I say "see", I mean see them from the boat. We didn't have time to stop and look at each castle, that's what Sunday was for. We brought along our own food and drinks, commandeered a section in the back of the boat, and proceeded to eat, drink, nap, and take pictures. It was a five hour ride afterall, so we could fit alot in.

We decided to get off the boat and explore the town of Bacharach (fitting name). It was incredibly cheesy, but so kitschy and fun you have to love it (sort of like "I Just Don't Know What to Do With Myself".) Anywho, we ate lunch at a touristy little place and were disappointed on the whole. Tania would want you to know that he paid 8 euro for a matza cracker with tomato and onion. Jojo and Steve had the ugliest looking Brats we'd ever seen, and I had a perfectly good salad.

On Sunday we drove to Burg Eltz, because I wanted to see the INSIDE of a castle. The tour was "okay". All the stuff was kinda ratty. Jojo suggested they stop by the IKEA and spruce the place up a little. Tania said everything in the castle was purchased and ebay and none of it was real anyway. I think Steve had fun though.

We drove home that evening, stopping in Bremen for the salad bar, and wishing we could spend but a few more days in the Rhine Valley.

And, of course, don't forget:
"Death to the imperialist bug who feeds off the blood of our children."