After checking in to the inn (Landhotel Wolfshof) in the village of Wolf, we walked about 4 km. along the Mosel to the town of Traben-Trarbach. (April 2015)

The Mosel divides the town in two parts. In the photo above, you see Traben – the side I stood while taking this picture is Trarbach. It was late afternoon and we were hungry. (April 2015)

We had some good, warm late lunch at a Turkish restaurant and then crossed the bridge to walk through Traben. Here you see the old post office (Postamt) on the right. Given the weather, we decided to find a cozy little wine bar and sample some of the local wines, which the Mosel is famous for. (April 2015)

The first place (Alte Zunftscheune) we tried to get a table was fully reserved – that’s what we were told by a very curt waitress… the next one (Moselstübchen) was more welcoming! My hypothesis is that I should never enter a restaurant to ask for a table… people look at my bearded face and see red! In the Moselstübchen, it was my lady companions who did the honours and it worked! The Mosel is actually famous for its white wines – but white wine gives me a headache, so I stuck to the local reds. What a wonderful feeling it is to step in from the cold and then sit there in a quiet, cozy little country pub sipping on some wine! Good friends, good wine, good times! (April 2015)

One look at the statue of this anonymous lady and you can tell what this region is famous for. The horse below is part of the town’s coat of arms. (April 2015)

After a round of wine, we got back on to the streets… time to head back before twilight sets in and before it gets colder. Passed by this building showing the horse of Traben with banners below proclaiming “Ohne Fleiss kein Preis” (roughly translated as “No pain, no gain”).

As we started crossing the bridge from Traben back in to Trarbach, the evening sun was nearing the horizon on the west … its rays lighting up the ruins of the castle Grevenburg. Built in 1350, it was the seat of the Counts of Sponheim, It was destroyed by the French in 1734 after a three week siege. On the western wall of the former keep stands tall in defiance of time. (April 2015)

The bridge was completed in 1898 and the gate on it (called the Brückentor) was built in 1899 by the Berlin architect Bruno Möhring. It now houses a cafe-restaurant and an art gallery. (April 2015)

A barge carrying what seemed like a cargo of coal down the Mosel with the village on Traben in the background. (April 2015)

On the way back this charming white house by the road side looked just so pretty sitting there amongst all those trees. The picture seems a contrast as if tempting the traveller to choose comfort (house) over adventure (the road stretching ahead). Well…that was a bit of a random musing, I guess… (April 2015)

The rest of the walk back to Wolf was uneventful… listening to music as we made our way back. Noticed this memorial to the war dead from the Great Wars right behind our inn. (April 2015)

We had dinner at the restaurant itself… starting with the best onion soup I’ve had in a very long time…with cheese. Followed by some potato gratin (graciously offered by the landlady as a vegetarian option) and some house wine. (April 2015).

It was a full moon (or close to a full moon). I was tempted to open some beer and go for one of my night time strolls… But it was too cold to step out and I was a bit tired too… So, said hello to the moon from the balcony itself and called it a night… (April 2015)