Saturday, March 30,the Viking Aegir (our ship) arrived Nuremberg, Bavaria's second largest city at 930AM. Excursions were organized and the "troops" boarded their respective transport for an escorted tour of the medieval Aldstadt (old town) and grand castle. The old city is surrounded by massive walls and boasts an abundance of 15th and 16th century art and architecture. Thriving traditions include gingerbread cookies (traditional Christmas fare) but available year round and bratwurst.
It was in Nuremberg that the Nazis found an ideal setting for their activities and held their fanatical party rallies. Why Nuremberg? The city fathers donated to the party a large parcel of land on which they held mammoth rallies and begin construction of a coliseum inspired structure, the congress hall, now called the documentation center. Each year the party hierarchy gathered at the center for planning, training, indoctrination and with their sheer numbers intimidation of the populace at large. The great hall was never finished and the last rally was held in 1938. By 1939 Germany was at war and there was no money to continue the massive building project which was envisioned to impress the world as the last great empire.
We concluded our Nuremberg visit ashore with a stop at Lorenzer Platz and Its St. Lorenzkirche Cathederal and sampled a bratwurst.
Sunday, March 31, 2013
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Another day
Those of us who are more cautious with our adventure, our exploration was confined to a leisurely tour of the baroque Bishop's Residenz, (Brochure spelling) one of Germany's largest and most ornate palaces and. UNESCO World Heritage site. A most enjoyable and interesting peek into the awesome power and prestige of the ruling Prince Bishops of this era.
Friday, March 29 Bamberg. We sailed through the 106 mile Main-Danube Canal, acclaimed as an engineering marvel stretching from Bamberg on the Main River to Kelheim on the Danube and comprising 16 locks. After lunch we disembarked the ship for a tour through this picturesque city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Bamberg is known for its breweries and the "beer" buffs in our group enjoyed a brief afternoons "tasting" session.
Thursday, March 28, 2013
River chatter
The highlight of our stop was a walking tour of Cologne which included a visit to the magnificent Gothic cathedral and old city. Construction of the cathedral started in 1248 and continued in several stages over seven centuries. It was completed in 1880.
Tuesday March 26, those who were up to a tour of Marksburg Castle departed the ship at Koblenz and reunited with the ship at Braubach. After lunch we enjoyed our scenic cruise on the Rhine and viewed the great castles that stand majestically on the hills high above the river. Just after dinner, we left the Rhine and begin our journey up the Main River a tributary which flows into the Rhine at Mainz.
Wednesday, March 27 Our morning was leisurely spent aboard ship enjoying the scenic beauty of our passage along the Main River. We arrived in Miltenberg, a quaint and beautiful Bavarian village, shortly after lunch. Ken and those who went ashore to explore the town enjoyed an afternoon guided walking tour of the town, said to be one of the most picturesque in all of Germany. The group returned to the ship in Wertheim just in time for dinner and while the ship's passengers enjoyed a delectable repast, the ship sat sail for Wurzburg, our next "port of call".
Tuesday March 26, those who were up to a tour of Marksburg Castle departed the ship at Koblenz and reunited with the ship at Braubach. After lunch we enjoyed our scenic cruise on the Rhine and viewed the great castles that stand majestically on the hills high above the river. Just after dinner, we left the Rhine and begin our journey up the Main River a tributary which flows into the Rhine at Mainz.
Wednesday, March 27 Our morning was leisurely spent aboard ship enjoying the scenic beauty of our passage along the Main River. We arrived in Miltenberg, a quaint and beautiful Bavarian village, shortly after lunch. Ken and those who went ashore to explore the town enjoyed an afternoon guided walking tour of the town, said to be one of the most picturesque in all of Germany. The group returned to the ship in Wertheim just in time for dinner and while the ship's passengers enjoyed a delectable repast, the ship sat sail for Wurzburg, our next "port of call".
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
MORE RIVER CHAT
The highlight of our Monday stop was a walking tour of Cologne which included a visit to the magnificent Gothic cathedral and old city. Construction of the cathedral started in 1248 and continued in several stages over seven centuries. It was completed in 1880.
Tuesday March 25, those who were up to a tour of Marksburg Castle departed the ship at Koblenz and reunited with the ship at Braubach. After lunch we enjoyed our scenic cruise on the Rhine and viewed the great castles that stand majestically on the hills high above the river.
Tuesday March 25, those who were up to a tour of Marksburg Castle departed the ship at Koblenz and reunited with the ship at Braubach. After lunch we enjoyed our scenic cruise on the Rhine and viewed the great castles that stand majestically on the hills high above the river.
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Monday, March 25, 2013
CHATTER FROM THE RIVER
Monday dawned somewhat warmer, though not much. Ken elected to do the leisurely tour of Cologne which included a stroll (elderly style) to the Dom, Germany’s largest cathedral and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The weather continues to inhibit our desire to really get out and enjoy the town, shop or sightsee. However, in the afternoon a representative from the local information factory (tourist bureau) gave a brief presentation of Germany today, it's progress since the war, it's problems with immigration and it!s adjustment to the new world order -- if indeed that is what we are experiencing in our world today. It was enlightening and to the point.
Our day was capped off with lively dinner conversation with pleasant dinner companions and a classical musical concert in the lounge. All is well but we could use a little warmth from Mother Nature.
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Kinderjik March 24
We arrived Amsterdam on time, as scheduled. Our KLM flight from Los Angeles was smooth and as comfortable as people poured into a can like sardines can expect. Indeed, "steerage" has lost it's appeal.
Our adventure started with the unpacking when we discovered what we thought was our bag, was not. A staff person from the ship accompanied Ken back to the airport where we were lucky to find our identical bag complete with proper name tags. That will teach us to check our baggage tags before blindly grabbing and running,
Dinner was great, our table companions interesting and bed a welcome completion to a successful day. Our ship departed Amsterdam 11PM for Kinderoijk where we were greeted with very cold weather and a cold wind that rivaled that of our brief visit to Barrow Alaska. After a background briefing on Hollands very tenuous grasp on stability from the sea and an unfriendly accumulation of water. A walking tour of the windmills that have preserved the country and its treasured way of life was offered for those who wanted to brave the cold. Sensible to the end -- I watched from the comfort of the ship.
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
ON THE ROAD AGAIN
Friday, March 22, we board KLM Flight 901 to Amsterdam where we board the Viking river longboat Aegis for a 15 day cruise along the Rhine, Main and Danube Rivers. Our cruise will include visits to Holland, Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary
March 23, we arrive in Amsterdam, capital of the Netherlands, and transfer to our ship.*Aegis. Upon completion of boarding, we have the day to explore the city.
March 24, we sail to Kinderdijk, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where our tour includes a network of windmills and exposes us to their flood management technology.
March 25, Our morning tour of Cologne, includes a visit to the Dom, Germany’s largest cathedral and a Unesco World Heritage Site. After lunch we are “free” to explore Cologne on our own.
March 26, Cruising past castles along the Rhine, and a stop in Koblenz to visit Marksburg, the only Rhine castle never destroyed.
March 27, Miltenberg Enjoy the Main River as it winds its way through the Spessart region. After lunch, we stop in Miltenberg, known for its half-timbered houses, including the oldest inn in Germany.
March 28, Würzburg After breakfast we tour Würzburg’s Bishops’ Residenz, one of Germany’s largest and most ornate baroque palaces and a UNESCO World Heritage.
March 29, Bamberg After our morning sail and lunch we visit Bamberg, another UNESCO World Heritage Site.
March 30, Nuremberg After breakfast aboard ship we visit Nuremberg, and spend free time exploring Nuremberg’s old town.
March 31, Regensburg. Arrive in Regensburg in the late morning; after lunch, we tour this medieval city, another UNESCO World Heritage Site.
April 1, Passau On a morning walking tour, we will explore Passau’s narrow streets and Italian architecture, and pass the Veste Oberhaus, a 13th-century fortress that served for centuries as a bishop’s stronghold.
April 2 Melk & Krems. After breakfast we visit the abbey at Melk, a 900-year-old Benedictine monastery featuring Austria’s finest Italian baroque architecture and then rejoin our ship for a cruise through the spectacular Wachau Valley this afternoon. Before dinner, you have free time to explore.
April 3, Vienna We ride along Vienna’s Ringstrasse, which replaced the city walls in the mid-19th century, see Vienna’s world-famous Opera House, St. Stephan’s Cathedral and Hofburg Palace. After lunch aboard explore Vienna on our own.
April 4, Bratislava. After our early morning arrival, we will do a walking tour of Slovakia’s capital and explore this capital city.
April 5, Budapest Cruise the Danube River which divides this Hungarian capital city into “Buda” and “Pest”. Explore both parts, enjoy lunch aboard and the rest of the day exploring. A final traditional Hungarian farewell dinner aboard completes our “River” adventure.
April 6, A 6 AM depart Budapest for Amsterdam and our connecting flight to Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy for our Mediterranean Sea voyage aboard the cruise ship, Norwegian Jade.
April 7 and 8 At Sea
April 9 Alanya, Turkey
April 10, Limassol, Cyprus
April 11, Haifa, Israel
Apr 12, Ashdod, Israel
April 13, At Sea
April 14, Iraklion, Greece
April 15, At Sea
April 16, Naples, Italy
Apr 17 Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy.
Depart Rome for a connecting NY flight scheduled to arrive Los Angeles 1220AM, April 18.
March 23, we arrive in Amsterdam, capital of the Netherlands, and transfer to our ship.*Aegis. Upon completion of boarding, we have the day to explore the city.
March 24, we sail to Kinderdijk, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where our tour includes a network of windmills and exposes us to their flood management technology.
March 25, Our morning tour of Cologne, includes a visit to the Dom, Germany’s largest cathedral and a Unesco World Heritage Site. After lunch we are “free” to explore Cologne on our own.
March 26, Cruising past castles along the Rhine, and a stop in Koblenz to visit Marksburg, the only Rhine castle never destroyed.
March 27, Miltenberg Enjoy the Main River as it winds its way through the Spessart region. After lunch, we stop in Miltenberg, known for its half-timbered houses, including the oldest inn in Germany.
March 28, Würzburg After breakfast we tour Würzburg’s Bishops’ Residenz, one of Germany’s largest and most ornate baroque palaces and a UNESCO World Heritage.
March 29, Bamberg After our morning sail and lunch we visit Bamberg, another UNESCO World Heritage Site.
March 30, Nuremberg After breakfast aboard ship we visit Nuremberg, and spend free time exploring Nuremberg’s old town.
March 31, Regensburg. Arrive in Regensburg in the late morning; after lunch, we tour this medieval city, another UNESCO World Heritage Site.
April 1, Passau On a morning walking tour, we will explore Passau’s narrow streets and Italian architecture, and pass the Veste Oberhaus, a 13th-century fortress that served for centuries as a bishop’s stronghold.
April 2 Melk & Krems. After breakfast we visit the abbey at Melk, a 900-year-old Benedictine monastery featuring Austria’s finest Italian baroque architecture and then rejoin our ship for a cruise through the spectacular Wachau Valley this afternoon. Before dinner, you have free time to explore.
April 3, Vienna We ride along Vienna’s Ringstrasse, which replaced the city walls in the mid-19th century, see Vienna’s world-famous Opera House, St. Stephan’s Cathedral and Hofburg Palace. After lunch aboard explore Vienna on our own.
April 4, Bratislava. After our early morning arrival, we will do a walking tour of Slovakia’s capital and explore this capital city.
April 5, Budapest Cruise the Danube River which divides this Hungarian capital city into “Buda” and “Pest”. Explore both parts, enjoy lunch aboard and the rest of the day exploring. A final traditional Hungarian farewell dinner aboard completes our “River” adventure.
April 6, A 6 AM depart Budapest for Amsterdam and our connecting flight to Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy for our Mediterranean Sea voyage aboard the cruise ship, Norwegian Jade.
April 7 and 8 At Sea
April 9 Alanya, Turkey
April 10, Limassol, Cyprus
April 11, Haifa, Israel
Apr 12, Ashdod, Israel
April 13, At Sea
April 14, Iraklion, Greece
April 15, At Sea
April 16, Naples, Italy
Apr 17 Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy.
Depart Rome for a connecting NY flight scheduled to arrive Los Angeles 1220AM, April 18.
