Our trip started with a whistlestop tour of Trier, on the banks of the river Mosel and Germany's oldest town.

Here is Andrew walking inside the Roman gate, a three-story wall that is the symbol of Trier.

Trier also has the beautiful Electoral Palace, built in the Baroque style in the middle of the 18th century.

From Trier, we drove up to Koblenz and then down the banks of the Rhine.

The whole area is covered in vineyards and Reisling grapes grow especially well here.

This is the view of Rudesheim from the vineyards that overlook this charming little town on the Rhine.

Some of the vines on a grey day in March.

Here we are on the top of the hill overlooking Rudesheim, with the vineyards behind us.

More rows of vines.

Later that day we arrived in Mainz, just in time for their Fasching parade.

Historically, during Fasching the lower classes were allowed to wear costumes and mask to mimic aristocracy and heads of church. Today, everyone wears costumes, almost like Hallowe'en in Canada.

Aside from dozens of marching bands, there were also a few floats.