This morning we docked in Trier and could walk off the boat before our tours. Although it was a little dreary, I walked several blocks to the key historic landmark, the Porta Nigra, a Roman gate from about 2 A.D.
It is right near the town's main activity on this lovely street.
While walking, I noticed some hazelnuts on the ground. I had never seen a hazelnut tree and was quite intrigued.
After lunch, the weather cleared and we started our tour. We drove past the Roman Bridge from the 2nd century.
(Amazingly still standing, since many modern bridges have a short life span)
Then we went to a hill overlooking the city where there was once an amphitheater - the kind where animals and people fought one another. Dating to 100 AD, it once held 20,000 people, but later residents took the stones to build their homes.
Along the hillside were more vineyards. Seems like everywhere there is land, there are plants. From here we could see the Mosel in the distance on the left.
Then the city with the amphitheater in the foreground.
And another view.
We drove past the Roman thermal baths and into the center of town.
Here we saw the Bishop's Palace, built in the 1600's for the Archbishop of Trier.
It is juxtaposed to Constantine's Basilica, originally the throne room of Emperor Constantine in the 4th century and now a Protestant church.
We visited 2 Catholic Churches side by side. On the right is the Church of our Lady, an early Gothic church from the 13th century.
The other is Dom St. Peter, the oldest bishop's church in Germany built in Romanesque style, dating from the 4th century. These two churches are juxtaposed. Not sure how one decides which one to attend.
Then we came to a beautiful town square/market place with lots of historic buildings.
We ended our tour at the Porta Nigra where I was this morning, but from the other side. I could see people climbing in it, but chose not to.
Ed and I stopped for a coffee and then I looked in a few stores.
Our last site in Trier was a statue of Karl Marx. He was born here 200 years ago and they have recently erected this statue. Our guide was very proud of it, but we were surprised at his celebrity status here.
Tonight we had dinner with two other couples whom we met onboard from Lexington, KY. We had a delightful evening together.
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