The expected invitation arrives by email:
"At the occasion of my 80th, I invite people that means a lot to me. ..................
Today you are mostly spread far away, yet close to me.Let us get together and exchange, with other of my friends that you have connected to quite a number of years. I am grateful to all of them. Meaning You!Coming to Koblenz for my 80th would be my great pleasure. Rolf"
After this exciting invitation from my good friend, I decided to go straight to Frankfurt.
The adventure began there!
Let's take care of who, for the first time, travels the long corridors of this airport.
Although there were signs everywhere, it also took a bit of luck and a lot of calm to find one of the two train stations that would take me to Koblenz.
Finding someone who speaks English and who is willing to help, avoids mistakes that can cost an unplanned sleep in Frankfurt.I arrived at the Hotel and after a badly night sleep I woke up with a view of the Rhine River, in this ancient city full of history and beauty.
I'm in Koblenz!
Anyone who knows Rolf Becker knows how careful he is to schedule an event.
He intends to offer to around 20 friends from all corners of the world, an unforgettable program, something that would stay in our memory until the end of our days.
On the 18th of May at the end of the day, we had dinner at the Hotel:
Lots of presentations, lots of excitement in reviewing old friendships, lots of champagne wine and speeches. In the evening we alternated between group conversations and the enjoyment of the Rhine without the constant movement of long freight vessels.
The next morning at 10:30 started the top of the program:
A cruise upstream the Rhine river:
Stunning beauty on both banks with idyllic landscapes of hills covered by dense grove, here and beyond some castles at the top of the hills, open vineyard areas and at the foothills in flat area succession of buildings along the River with beautiful architecture.
We arrived to Oberwesel, about 40 km from Koblenzt for a medieval party.
People's clothes, the various pavilions where it was sold above all else, wine, cheese, sausages and dark bread with pork, along with some amusements, transported us to remote times.
After two hours of wandering through narrow streets, we embarked again, and went upstream next to Bacharach also on the left bank of the Rhine where we returned towards Koblenz.
Dinner on board.
At 11pm we stopped in the middle of the river at our starting point in Koblenz to watch a fireworks display on the bank, especially dedicated to our host.
This tour left great memories. Not only for the opportunity of relaxed living among people from different cultures already experienced by age but, also because of the Rhine's unique landscape.
Sunday the 20th was a free day...
Some stayed at Diehl's Hotel where all the guests were staying, another group decided to visit the castle on top of the hill, next to the hotel..
I preferred to walk through the narrow streets of Koblenz and delight myself with good ice-cream, on carefully arranged terraces surrounded by medieval architecture
At 11 in the morning the bells of a nearby church rang. Maybe a call for Mass!
That same night, when we met again in the hotel overlooking the river, a sudden sensation stroke me as if it knew us for a long time.
Monday, I left later in the morning to Frankfurt's airport taking the train in Koblenz. I knew that I still had many hours to fly back home, to Lisbon, but I preferred not to go through the nervousness of arrival.
This encounter leaves a bitter taste:
Twenty years ago when he was sixty years old, my friend Rolf invited me to an identical special celebration in Venice, also full of history and scenery!
It is unlikely that in 20 years' time we will be alive or ready for a new date. I mostly feel it was the last of our lives.!
