Sometimes, I tell stories.

"The course of the Rhine below Mayence becomes much more picturesque. The river descends rapidly, and winds between hills, not high, but steep, and of beautiful forms. We saw many ruined castles standing on the edges of precipices, surrounded by black woods, high and inaccessible. This part of the Rhine, indeed, presents a singularly variegated landscape. In one spot you view rugged hills, ruined castles overlooking tremendous precipices, with the dark Rhine rushing beneath; and, on the sudden turn of a promontory, flourishing vineyards with green sloping banks and a meandering river and populous towns occupy the scene." - p. 112

Looook aaaaat myyyy bloooog piiiictuuuuuuure! That's a vineyard along the Rhine! I've never been more delighted at recognizing scenery before. I was there last year on the spring break trip to Germany, and this was my favorite part =D. There were lots of castles that looked like Hogwarts.

The reason there are so many castles is that after the Crusades, knights just sorta plopped down and built them, then made a living by charging tolls.

Also,

"'I have seen,' he said, 'the most beautiful scenes of my own country; I have visited the lakes of Lucerne and Uri, where the snowy mountains descend almost perpendicularly to the water....'" - p. 113

The Alps! We went up a crazy lift to the top of those. A Nice Man told us not to get off when we were halfway up because the lifts don't stop. Also, there is a very frightening/steep/abrupt drop on the way down--I guess because "the snowy mountains descend almost perpendicularly to the water," eh?

I look downright absurd in this picture, but it doesn't matter because I'm in the Alps. Side note: I totally could have gotten lost in Switzerland. I got left behind whilst souvenir shopping. But it's okay because there was a chaperone from another group still in there, and I hung out with her, but it caused quite a stir, apparently.