Rheine in Flames

Walking down to the Rheine


The Oberwesel Castle


Ashley Schein...and she was 100% sober.....


Ashley and Mike...and no, he's not sober......

September 9, 2006


The Rheine in Flames is a summer long fireworks festival that takes place in multiple cities along the Rheine River. On the day of the event three barges set up along the shore line and that it where the fireworks are ignited from. The event is usually tied in with a festival going on in a city at the same time. So it’s a “two for one” kinda deal. A lot of people will take dinner cruises that also tie in with watching the fireworks, but we went on a tour group of two busses and about 10 friends to the wine festival in Oberwesel (which is a damn fine name for a town if you ask me). After enjoying lots of food and drink we would mosey on down to the river bank to see the fireworks that night.

Oberweasel was about a 2 hour drive and once we arrived it was sunny and clear. In fact for early September it was still a bit warm. Our first mission was to get into the city center, where the wine fest was taking place and to get some bratwurst as we were all starving. The tickets were 3 Euros which allowed us entry behind the city walls and into the small village square area. There were over 50 wine booths and many food vendors. I’m not a huge wine fan, so I was hoping to find some beer. To my disappointment Bitburger seemed to have the concessions rights to the festival and I don’t care for it as much as many of the other great German beers. However, I did mange to choke some of it down.

After more eating, wine tasting, beer drinking, and strolling down the inner city streets we headed out about two blocks and found a wonderful concession area right on the shore of the Rhine. We quickly commandeered a large picnic table and just enjoyed the great company and weather. We really couldn’t have asked for a better day. Our table was in the center of a small park on the river, shaded by trees, and we only had to walk a few feet for beer, wine, cheese, fruit, German cakes, and pastries. Even the restrooms were close by. The best thing about Europe is that the restrooms are almost spotless and always have toilet paper. Of course you do have to pay to use them, but once you get used to that, it’s not too bad. It’s also nice to have someone cleaning the facilities at the big festivals…if you know what I mean. My friend Susan bought me a wonderful gift that became quit popular. A vender was selling red plastic devil horns that lit up and she thought of me…how sweet! (I think) Mike was so envious that he almost broke them trying to rip them off of my head, so I had to buy him a pair just so he would leave mine alone. The Germans loved the horns and kept calling me “Teufel” which is “devil” in German. I keep the horns on all night until I had to turn them off for the fireworks.

For dinner our group went back in to the city center for a wonderful traditional German feast. Almost everyone had the pork medallions, knodles (a doughy side dish), and red cabbage with apples. There was a quick stop for more beer and wine then we headed back down to the river bank for the firework show. The show itself was just amazing and went on for a very long time. I did see some new types of spiraling fireworks and would even make and effort to go again next year. Of course, what made this year so special was the great company and the awesome weather.