Rhine in Flames

The first Saturday in May has the Rhine in Flames. The deal is that a huge armada of boats (cruise boats, pleasure craft, ferries, almost any craft that can comfortably carry passengers) leaves Linz and travels downstream to Bonn. As the flotilla passes through each town and village, a series of fireworks are set off.

Obviously, this all happens after dark, and with Bonn at the end of the line, there is quite a wait for the flotilla to arrive in Bonn. But Bonn has organized a huge fair with concerts and amusements in the Rheinaue. I arrive at about 8pm and the party is just getting started.

I'm not sure what to expect so have left the fairgrounds and bands and noise of the Rheinaue to walk over to Oberkassel. It’s far more civilized here, he said taking another sip of Merlot. Drinking red wine from a glass while sitting by the Rhine, waiting for the fireworks to begin.
These Germans have it all worked out!

Rhine in Flames is traditionally celebrated on the first Saturday in May. The only drawback tonight is that it’s cold and may rain. Doubly annoying as tonight is also the night of the super moon: currently hidden by total cloud cover.
I've now moved up to the Konrad Adenaur Bridge and I'm looking south down river. I'm guessing the flotilla approaches as I can see the clouds light up in the distance. From a distance, the fireworks cannot be seen, simply that the clouds well off in the distance are flashing with red and white colours. It might be me but suddenly it is easy to imagine 70 years ago when Rhine in Flames had a whole other meaning.
But now the fireworks are moving downstream now and the colors and flashes light the sky in a beautiful but benign way; the actual fireworks are now visible.
While the fireworks still light the sky over Bad Godesberg the flotilla floats serenely round the bend at Oberkassel and in sight of Bonn. Brightly lit they seem to be floating on air as the river is now so dark it is virtually invisible.
There are more boats than can be counted. Large and small. Old and new. But all are crammed with people, with music pumping loudly into the air.
And crammed so tight on the river; how do they not hit each other?

They spend about 15 minutes milling about, finding space in the river. Then, with a single enormous boom of one skyrocket, the Bonn fireworks display begins.

Wow! How amazing. 20 minutes of the most beautiful and colourful fireworks light the night sky. I look around and notice that the bridge is now completely packed with people, all of us oohing and aahing at the spectacle taking place in the sky over the Rheinaue.

Twenty minutes seems to flash by as the setting by the Rhine with the huge flotilla of boats and the crush of the crowd on the bridge and both sides of the river who are all happy and smiling as the fireworks light up the sky and the surrounding country side.

Like I said, these Germans have it all worked out!

Sorry but no photos worked on my little camera in the dark but this image from http://www.journeymart.com/holidays-ideas/festivals/rhine-in-flames-germany.aspx begins to hint at how beautfiful the evening was. Definitely something to see and take part in.