AmaCello docked at Rudesheim
Sunday, May 31st we moored on the banks of the Rhine at Rudesheim.
Tower near the bridge where we docked
I have been to this town twice before, and although its famous narrow street, that rises up from the river, is terribly kitsch, I love it.
The famous narrow street of kitsch and Asbach coffee.
Cameras were even more essential than usual. The tourist train that pulled up in front of our ship was like something out of a children’s story book.
We all piled in, squashed into spaces which were only big enough for children, but the journey along the foreshore and up through narrow streets to the museum was fun. Not enough elbow space for photos, but I planned to walk back and capture the quaint buildings later.
Rudesheim’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum
Siegfried’s Musical Museum is in a former wealthy merchant’s residence.Close to the top of the hill, it has an air of grandeur, although today it could do with further restoration. We had to line up outside while tickets were counted and monies paid, but that allowed time for photos of 
the building and the roses climbing up the latticed walls.
Our German tour guide, dressed in a quaint blue and white, 19th c. outfit, spoke to us in English, rattling off the attributes of the first few mechanical instruments. Once able to demonstrate some,
An antique record cabinet
she was far more enthusiastic, opening the glass door of what looked like an antique display cabinet to reveal one of the first types of music record. She wound a handle, like a windup toy; holes cut into the metal caused music to play as the large disc revolved.
Brass horned record player
In the same room we saw and heard an early version of the gramophone, with the sort of large brass horn that used to be displayed on record covers when I was a girl.
Pianolas were plentiful
Our blue and white clad guide with one of the pianolas.
I
Some of the displays I photographed for the beauty of their appearance, and some for the imaginative use of figures banging on 
instruments in imitation of the brass bands and ‘oompa-pa’ music that I regard as typical German beer drinking accompaniment.
Sadly we couldn’t observe this one playing, but it certainly looked impressive.
We were also taken to the workshop, a neat and tidy area where Siegfried and his assistants worked on restoring the instruments.
Our final stop was at the top of the building, in one of the four conical towers. I was interested in the old and worn tiles on the floor and beautifully crafted timber doors.
Of course we left the building via the shop. Models of some of the instruments were tempting but bulky and fragile, so a few fridge magnets had to suffice for happy memories.