Rhine A'Flame

Germans love fireworks! If you've ever been in Germany for New Years- you know this. There are more fireworks on New Years than I've ever seen for the Fourth of July in the states. I will always love the Fourth in the states (especially Nebraska) as they often time the fireworks to music and who wouldn't love that?!? Anyway, the Rhine A'Flame was a reminder of just how much Germans love their fireworks.

There was a group of singles and us newly-marrieds that decided to take this excursion. We enjoyed a river-boat cruise on the Rhine with about 50 other boats. It was actually a lovely evening with the sun out, a light breeze and a nice meal served on the boat. We sat on the top deck in preparation for the fireworks to come. Little did I know that our crew was going to be the life of the party.

As other boats drifted by us, we started waving and then it turned into hollering "Hey!" which somehow turned into "A" (maybe that's an American's version of trying to say "Hey!" in German). The next thing you know we've started the Wave and we have little old American ladies sitting on our men's laps! All this attention got me to thinking about what draws people to us? A question I guess I'm still pondering, for now.

After the sun set and it began to cool down, we heard the loud pops and bangs signaling the beginning of the fireworks. Let me give you a little setting here...this section of the Rhine River is one of the most picturesque with multiple castles on each side of the river. Most of these castles were on fire or part of the war at some point in time and this particular fireworks display is to honor the "Burning of the Castles".  So, the boats line up and float down the Rhine River as each castle does a fireworks display ending with the burning of the castle. There are actually so many boats that each castle does their display twice to ensure that each boat gets an up close and personal viewing. Every time we thought the display was over (surely that was the finale'), it would start up again. I would say at least an hour of fireworks- craziness.

All in all, it was a fun time with this group and we met a lot of interesting people!