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This is the pride of Mainz’s luxury vessel marina.
As always, there’s a story.
These barges date back to 1898, when the city fathers had the idea of incenting folks to do their washing in the Rhine instead of overloading the newly installed water reticulation network.
So they had these mobile laundromats – “Waeschbrigge” – built and anchored along the banks of the river, where they stayed until 1962.
This one survived as a houseboat/floating (more or less) clubhouse until early 2006, when the level of the Rhine dropped significantly due to a dry spell and grounded it.
The rains came (or the snow in the Alps melted. Whatever), the waters returned, the boat stayed firmly where it was.
At about this point, the city gets in on the act. Which does not bode well. Ever.
They raise the boat – well, they TRY to raise the boat – without talking to the owner and everything goes pear-shaped.
Then they cancel his lease.
Now the lawyers are talking
Mainz Daily Photo 
>Reminds me of the ferries that used to ply between the Auckland CDB and Northcote/Birkenhead/Devonport way back when.
>Oh to me it is like an old log cabin, somewhat run down, and the lawn or grass in a sorry state but the visual effect is the same. To me. LOLI hope you can take a look at my 1954 picture of a boat I took in Shipgama, Japan. COlor film had just come out and I didn’t hink it would last. Go to http://www.oldmanlincoln.com/ and scroll down to the last picture.
>One could say it has “potential”, as realtors are inclined to say…!Folks are a little cavalier about recent history around here – all this stuff’s going to disappear and all you’ll have left are Roman relics.Not that I’ve anything against that, but if it’s not a couple of thousand years old, it doesn’t count.Don’t see it that way.
>Not sure I agree with Abraham….certainly not a showpiece…and I’m desperately searching for even the slightest bit of charm.hmmm….so far coming up empty!
>Made the news yesterday, so there’s hope…
>I think the “boat” is a classic and the city should pay the owners to park it as a tourist attraction. A good picture.