Koblenz Town Sites

Travel Tales Excerpt – Christmas Curry in Koblenz

“Excuse me, Fräulein,” The courier started, “but I see that you are a nurse. Would you mind looking at the cut on my left arm, please?” He extended his left arm and slid the sleeves back to reveal a small two-inch cut. “I slipped on the way up here and fell. The officer said that you can take me to the infirmary.”

“Of course, follow me. It does not look very serious.” She replied and then motioned for him to follow her. Silently, they exited the building and walked across the cold, snow-covered courtyard, their footsteps crunching loudly on the dry, hard snow.

“I am your contact, Ms. Schmidt,” the courier whispered quickly. His voice sounded American; all traces of German accent were gone.

Suspicious that this was some trick, she ignored him.

“I know your cousin, Rolf, in Baden,” The courier continued. That was the code word verifying the phrase she had been given.

“Really? How do you know him?” Claudia replied as she had been instructed.

“I dated his sister,” that was the authentication reply.

“Which sister?” Claudia inquired.

“Elke.” That was the verification she needed.

– End Excerpt

My second sail up the Rhine River gave me an opportunity to see the actual town of Koblenz, Germany. My first sail only had time for the fort across the river. This second trip was on the first day of November, and it was a fabulous cloudy and rainy day. The rain had been a weather event throughout my whole trip. Usually, one does not want rain, but the water levels had been so low throughout the season that rain was a blessing. When the rivers are low, the ships cannot make the journey, and passengers must swap boats. This rainy trip was a blessing, and our cruise ship was the first ship to make the entire journey in several months.Our river cruise ship docked close to the promontory called The Deutsches Eck, where the Mosel River joins the Rhine River. At the river junction, a giant equestrian monument called the Emperor William Monument of the Rhine Province. It is a huge grey monument with stairs that ascend to a second floor. The rainy day made the steps slick, but the view was spectacular. Surprisingly, many trees still had green leaves, though some were turning golden yellow.

We continued from the monument to see the rest of the town. It was an early Sunday morning, and many shops were closed. So were many churches. Our guide was surprised and embarrassed that the three churches she planned to show us were closed. She was persistent, and eventually, she took us inside and to Liebfrauenkirche church. That is why it is my short story. Its exterior was not remarkable, and several buildings were next to it. It was a church and not a cathedral. However, it was open, and our tour group entered just as a mass concluded. The interior was bright, and the stained glass was gorgeous.
Later that day, when we returned to the ship to continue our journey, I was relaxing in the ship’s lounge and trying to warm myself with some decaffeinated Lady Grey tea and a shot of Amaretto; it is an afternoon favorite I have enjoyed for many years. While resting in the ship’s lounge, I started drafting my first short story. When touring, I get up early to have a solid breakfast and join an early tour. I want to see as much as possible, so getting a good night’s sleep is essential. Caffeinated tea will wreck my sleep schedule.
As I considered this day tour of Koblenz, I felt vindicated in my belief that it was a beautiful town. Since my first visit to the area was the fort, I did not get to see the town. This second trip showed me the town, and even though the shops were closed when we toured, they had fascinating items for sale. These were items that were better off in Koblenz because I would not be able to fit them in my suitcase. But seeing the monument, the buildings, the Advent house, and the church, the idea for Claudia’s story took form in that ship’s lounge, and I quickly captured my thoughts on a pad of paper.