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Tag: international travel

  • Must-Buy Souvenirs When On The Viking River Grand European Tour!

    Must-Buy Souvenirs When On The Viking River Grand European Tour!

    Everyone has different opinions but here’s my cheat sheet for what to purchase at each location when going on the Grand European Tour with Viking. We traveled from Budapest to Amsterdam so my guide is in that order.

    Prior to going, I formed a mental list by reading posts from others. I really picked up some great tips. For example, reading other posts is how I knew about the amazing roof tiles in Budapest as well as the to-die-for fruit-filled chocolate bars at the Melk Abbey gift shop.

    I vowed to shop with some thought versus coming home with stuff to clutter up the house. I wanted items, with the exception of Christmas ornaments, that we would consume or use. The biggest surprise was probably how fantastic Hungarian chocolate is. I subsequently read that Hungary is really well-known for chocolate – go figure! We actually enjoyed the Hungarian chocolate more than the chocolate from Germany.

    Budapest

    Roof Tiles from Saint Matthias

    Christmas ornaments from shops near Saint Matthias

    Chimney Cake from the stand adjacent to Saint Matthias

    Paprika, Lavender, wooden spoons, leather goods ,such as belts, and chocolate from the stands at the Central Market. My husband bought a terrific leather belt that the vendor customized to his waist for $20 Euros.

    Vienna

    Mozart Chocolates from shops near the cathedral

    Christmas ornaments from the Schonbrunn Palace Gift shop

    Melk Abbey

    The fruit-filled chocolate bars are an absolute must! They are just fantastic. We also bought a few prints. Others bought wine which they loved.

    Passau

    I bought nothing

    Regensburg

    Sausage sandwiches from the Sausage Kitchen, pretzels, mustard and Christmas ornaments. Our tour guide recommended a shop for ornaments and he was spot on with his advice. We bought an adorable German smoker and incense for about 1/3 price Amazon charges for German-made ones.

    It started to rain heavily towards the end of our afternoon. We were waiting to meet our cruise director for the return walk to the ship. To stay warm, we stumbled upon a book store. Another lady from the ship (we still stay in contact) and I made a beeline for the Christmas ornaments. We found some very unusual ones.

    Nuremberg

    We went on a Sunday when most stores are closed but the bakeries were open and wow! The Lebkuchen are an absolute must-buy item. We bought ones to eat on the ship as well as a package to take home. I can see why these spicy soft cookies are so popular.

    Bamberg

    We bought Christmas tree ornaments from two adjacent Christmas tree ornament shops. Bamberg is famous for its smoked beer and one of the shops sold smoked beer ornaments as well as glass sausage and mustard ornaments. Both shops beautifully wrapped my ornaments in tissue paper and boxes. I did not have a single ornament break during our travels.

    Wurzburg

    Here we did one of our favorite things. We went to a local grocery store – close to where the tour guide left the group. We bought German coffee and cookies. The prices were very reasonable and we loved the coffee. I wish we had purchased more coffee. In addition, we enjoyed a lunch at a cute cafe along the bridge – next to the wine bar.

    Wertheim

    Here we had fun buying a few pretzels and amazing Linzer cookies at a local bakery. We only bought two of each. The pretzels in Germany have no preservatives so they get hard within two days. They were so delicious. In addition, I bought a few items a local gourmet shop – including the best jarred pesto sauce I have ever tasted.

    Koblenz

    We found a great shop on the corner of the main shopping street. Yes, I bought a few ornaments but the store had so much more to offer. I bought a few delightful heat-resistant pads to protect my table from damage by hot casserole dishes. Also, I found some cute appetizer forks and a cool wooden wine bottle coaster as a souvenir for my brother-in-law.

    Cologne

    Our morning tour guide pointed out a great souvenir shop near the cathedral where I bought German-made Christmas ornaments (as opposed to imported ones made in China) and a gift box of mini bottles of 40711 cologne. In addition, we bought a fantastic assortment of chocolates from the gift shop at the Lindt Chocolate Museum. Our Viking ship was docked within blocks of the museum. We participated in the evening dinner and pub crawl. Peter’s, our first stop, sells the beer glasses used. They are smaller and unique. I regret not buying one or two glasses.

    Kinderdijk

    The gift shop at the Windmill stop is great. I bought several Christmas ornaments including a Delft one as well as a cute cheese board. I am a professional cheese monger so I can’t resist anything related to cheese. My husband actually bought socks with a windmill theme – out of necessity. He still wears them now that we are back home.

    We loved our cheese farm tour and stocked up on Gouda which was sold vacuumed-pack. I picked up multiple packages of three different types. My favorite was a new flavor- it included ginger.

    Amsterdam

    We found a fun souvenir shop near Rembrandt’s house where I picked up wooden tulips, Christmas tree ornaments and colorful socks for John. At the Rijksmuseum gift shop, I bought a few more Christmas ornaments – ones that replicated artifacts we saw at the museum as well as some fun refrigerator magnets.

    The Ship Gift Shop

    I can’t say enough positive things about the Viking cookbook sold on board the ship for $20 Euros. We really enjoyed the goulash and soups served onboard. The book includes some of the recipes for what we enjoyed during our cruise. I especially enjoy the goulash recipe as well the recipes for Swedish meatballs and gravlax. I recommend getting the cookbook early – our ship sold out. I got mine from another Viking ship that adjacent to ours.

    Duty-Free Shopping

    We loved the shopping at the airport in Munich – way more impressive than what was available in Amsterdam.!The liquor and wine selection was impressive. I bought more Dutch cheese as well as some wonderful German sausages.

    My final suggestion is to pack an extra suitcase for your souvenirs. We packed a Goldie-style bag that really came in handy on the return flights home.

    The Chimney Cake Stand
    The Chimney Cake
    Chocolate Stand at the Central Market in Budapest
    A Lavender Stand at the Central Market in Budapest
    Paprika at a Stand in Budapest’s Central Market
    Mozart Chocolates in Vienna
    The Melk Abbey Gift Shop
    The Famous Sausage Kitchen in Regensburg
    The Saint Matthias Roof Tiles Sold in the Gift Shop – I bought a Blue One; a friend bought an Emerald Green One
    Christmas Ornaments From a Book Store Across from the Cathedral in Regensburg
    Must-Buy from a Bakery Near the Castle in Nuremberg
    Nuremberg Treat – Much Better than What We Get in the U.S.
    Musicians Onboard Our Ship – Sorry I Didn’t Buy the CD.
    One of Two Great Christmas Shops in Bamburg
    Amazing Christmas Ornament Shop in Bamberg – Sells Smoked Beer Ornaments
    Wurzburg Cafe
    Wurzburg Grocery Store
    Outside Wurzburg Grocery Store
    Glass-Blowing Demonstration Onboard Our Ship – I Bought Glass Angels for My Tree
    Wertheim Bakery
    Goodies from Wertheim Store
    The Ship Sells the Viking River cookbook for $20 Euros. It’s a great cookbook – love the Goulash and Swedish Meatballs Recipes!
    Wertheim Linzer Cookie
    Inside the Lindt Chocolate Museum Gift Shop
    The Famous 4711 Shop
    The Exterior of the Lindt Chocolate Museum in Cologne
    The Lindt Chocolate Gift Shop
    The Lindt Chocolate Gift Shop
    The Lindt Chocolate Gift Shop
    The Lindt Chocolate Gift Shop
    The Lindt Chocolate Gift Shop
    The Lindt Chocolate Gift Shop
    Peter’s in Cologne Sells Its Beer Glasses – Sorry I Didn’t Get One
    Gouda Cheese in Kinderdijk
    Gouda Cheese in Kinderdijk
    Amazing Treat At Rembrandt’s Square in Amsterdam
    Oliebollen – Warm Dutch Donuts
    Avoid the Tourist Cheese Shops in Amsterdam
    Hungarian Christmas Ornament from Shop Near Saint Matthias in Budapest
    Christmas Ornament from Schonbrunn Palace in Vienna
    Bamberg Smoked Beer Ornament
    Christmas Ornament From Shop Near Saint Matthias in Budapest
    Bamberg Christmas Tree Ornament
    Bamberg Sausage & Mustard Christmas Tree Ornaments
    German-Made Smoker From Regensburg
    Table Coasters from Koblenz
    Table Coasters from Koblenz
    Cheese Board from Kinderdijk Windmill Gift Shop
    Paprika and Wooden Salad Tossing Set from Budapest’s Central Market
    Duty-Free Shopping At Munich Airport – Orange Jaegermeister is Hard to Find Near Me…Great in Coffee!
    Fun Print La from the Melk Abbey
    Got Accustomed to Mozart Coffees Onboard the Baldur
    Rijksmuseum Art Magnet
    Rijksmuseum Art Magnet
    Tulip Magnet from Amsterdam
  • The Bruhl Palaces – Not to Be Missed!

    The Bruhl Palaces – Not to Be Missed!

    Last October during a visit to Cologne Germany, we took a 31-mile excursion to the impressive Bruhl Palaces. The palaces were built between 1729 and 1735 as a summer retreat for Archbishop Clemons August of Bavaria. He was the Archbishop-Elector of Cologne at the time the Bruhl Palaces were constructed. Prior to this, he was the Archbishop of Regensburg. Upon his death, the property fell into disrepair until post WWII.

    Based on our experience here, as well as at several other German palaces, the bishops were extremely powerful and lived very lavish lifestyles. Our first stop was the hunting lodge, also known as Falkenlust, which was small and elegant. It is where the bishop spent time with his friends. The blue and white tile going up the entire main staircase was absolutely beautiful.

    Next, we visited the Augustusburg Palace which was a top highlight of our trip to Germany. Bonn is not too far away…a mere 35 miles away. When Germany was divided into two countries, the Bruhl Palace played a significant part in hosting dignitaries from other countries,such as Ronald Reagan, starting right after WWII until 1994.

    I highly recommend a visit to the palaces. We visited in late October. I can only imagine how beautiful the gardens must be in the warmer months. We went as part of an extra excursion while we were on a Viking River cruise. We were allowed to roam around the hunting lodge on our own. Once we arrived at the main palace, we were assigned a guide who worked at the palace. He was extremely friendly and knowledgeable.

    Exterior of the Hunting Lodge
    Front Gates of Hunting Lodge
    Private Chapel of Hunting Lodge
    In the park setting of the hunting lodge and private chapel
    Blue and White Tile At the Hunting Lodge
    Blue and White Tile At the Hunting Lodge
    Hunting Lodge Interior
    Interior of the Hunting Lodge
    Hunting Lodge Interior
    Hunting Lodge Interior
    Hunting Lodge Interior
    Hunting Lodge Interior
    Hunting Lodge Interior
    Bottom of the Staircase
    Impressive Stairwell
    Hunting Lodge Interior
    Hunting Lodge Interior
    Hunting Lodge Interior
    Mirror Room At the Hunting Lodge
    Beautiful Examples of Delft Ceramics
    Hunting Lodge Interior
    Hunting Lodge Interior
    Hunting Lodge Interior
    Blue & White Tile At the Hunting Lodge
    Hunting Lodge Stairwell
    Interior of the Private Chapel
    Detailed Shell Design on Exterior of the Private Chapel
    Graveside Near the Chapel
    Exterior of Private Chapel
    The Exterior of the Palace and Moat
    The Moat Around the Moat
    Front Area of Augustusburg Palace
    Front of the Augustusburg Palace
    Front Walkway to the Augustusburg Palace
    Front of the Palace
    Heating Unit
    Wall Detail
    Palace Chandelier
    Main Staircase
    Faux Marble Pillars
    Impressive Entrance
    Light Fixture Above Main Staircase
    The Main Staircase
    Ceiling Above the Main Staircase
    Faux Marble Painting
    Downstairs Entrance Area
    Close-Up of Main Staircase Chandelier
    Exquisite Wall Details
    The Main Staircase
    Close-Up of Upstairs Area Of Main Staircase
    View Of The Upstairs Area Of The Main Staircase
    Detail of Staircase Railing
    Upstairs Reception Room
    Upstairs Above Main Staircase
    Dining Room
    Chandelier In Dining Room
    Upstairs Dining Room
    Rooms Flooded With Light
    Palace Gardens
    Palace Room
    Palace Wall Detail
    Less Formal Dining Room
    Beautiful Blue And White Tile In Less Formal Dining Room
    Murano Light Fixture
    Tile Detail
    Delft Tile Detail
    Palace Gardens
    Palace Gardens
    Palace Gardens
    Palace Gardens
    Palace Gardens
    Palace Gardens
  • Castles of the Middle Rhine

    Castles of the Middle Rhine

    A highlight of our Viking River cruise from Budapest to Amsterdam was the morning we spent on the roof deck watching the plethora of beautiful castles. Our cruise director Elena provided really helpful commentary while crew members handed out shots of German apricot schnapps. This all took place during a 40-mile stretch of the Rhine prior to landing in the town of Koblenz.

    As John and I sat on the deck, looking at the spectacular scenery, we felt we were participants in a Viking River television commercial. We had a lot of “pinch me am I really here” moments. This experience, alone, was a main selling point for going on this cruise. We sailed miles without seeing another ship and saw so many beautiful castles with little effort. For me, our arrival in Koblenz was especially dramatic. It was hard not to be in awe as our ship approached the Deutsches Eck and the enormous statue of Kaiser Wilhelm I.

    Castle Watching with John
    Beautiful Church Along the Rhine
    John Taking in the Scenery
    Ehrenfels Castle
    Mouse Tower
    Another View of the Ehrenfels Castle
    Rheinstein Castle
    Another View of the Rheinstein Castle
    Another View of the Rheinstein Castle
    Reichenstein Castle
    Sooneck Castle
    Another View of the Sooneck Castle
    Heimburg Castle
    Another View of the Heimburg Castle
    Liebenstein Castle
    Village and Scenic Church Along the Rhine
    Stahleck Castle
    The Pflaz
    Gutenfels Castle
    Schonburg Castle
    Picturesque Village
    Old Guard Tower
    Lorelei Rock
    Katz Castle
    Another View of Katz Castle
    Sterrenberg Castle
    Another View of the Sterrenberg Castle
    Maus Castle
    Sterrennberg Castle
    Viking River Castle Brochure
    Landing in Koblenz with Kaiser Wilhelm I in the Background
    Kaiser Wilhelm I Statue
    Kaiser Wilhelm I
    Kaiser Wilhelm I
  • 15 Days of Viking River Cruise Desserts!

    15 Days of Viking River Cruise Desserts!

    While all of the food was wonderful on the Viking River Cruise, the desserts were legendary. A variety of desserts were offered at both lunch and dinner. Most days, my husband and I opted to pass on desserts at lunch but it was tough because they were really good.

    My favorite was the apple strudel that was part of a special afternoon cooking demonstration executed by the ship’s head chef – Chef Chester.

    I enjoyed the food so much that I purchased the Viking River Cruise cookbook which is sold onboard the company’s ships for 20 Euros.

    Apple Tartan
    Linzertorte
    Homemade Peach Melba Ice Cream
    Apricot Tart
    Apple Strudel
    Banana Split
    Lava Cake
    Donauwelle
    Black Forest Ice Cream
    Chocolate Mousse
    Key Lime Pie
    Brioche Pudding
    Mango and Coconut Cake
    Bread Pudding with Berries and Pralines
    Opera Cake
    Ice Cream with Vodka-Soaked Strawberries
    Viking Sachertorte
    Viking Recipe
    Viking’s Cookbook Sold Onboard

  • Amsterdam Tradition Versus Evolution

    This was my second visit to Amsterdam and it was even better than the first time. On my first visit, I winged it on my own. This time, we went on a two-day extension of our Viking River cruise . Our ship docked in Amsterdam and we immediately went on a 2 and 1/2 half-hour walking tour of the city.

    We lucked out with our guide. He was extremely knowledgeable regarding the architecture styles of Amsterdam. Some of the highlights he showed us included the famous Skinny Bridge (which I remember from the James Bond film Diamonds Are Forever), Rembrandt’s Square (where there are a ton of interesting restaurants as well as a plethora of pot cafes – strong aromas!) and the school where Anne and Margot Frank, as well as many other Jewish children, were segregated during WWII. Throughout our excursion, he made a point of showing us elaborate architectural details that other guides might ignore. Plus, he showed us an assortment of residential neighborhoods so that we really got a feel of how the locals live. Some of the building communities even have their own mini neighborhood libraries. Like many other cities, Amsterdam real estate is very expensive. Our guide showed us several very unimpressive house boats that recently sold for $1.5 million Euros. As the Realtors in California like to say – location, location!

    We really enjoyed the local food, too. Amsterdam is a very damp city and cold during the winter months. I can see why the Dutch enjoy so much fried food. We loved the Olieballen served warm with powdered sugar and a drizzle of Nutella. We first tried the Bitterballen on our taste of Amsterdam tour. We liked this dish so much that we ordered it, again, at the Rijksmuseum’s cafe. The balls are a mixture of beef, beef stock, flour and seasoning covered in breadcrumbs and deep fried. Traditionally, you dip them in mustard.French fries are really popular and the city has numerous fast- food outlets selling them hot with mayonnaise slathered over them. Since neither of us really likes mayonnaise, we passed. That said, tons of the locals were buying them.

    One of our favorite experiences was dinner at a Greek restaurant near our hotel. The Viking concierge recommended it and she was so right. My husband and I both thought it was the best Greek food we have ever eaten. The restaurant was owned by a Greek couple and the wife cooked everything from scratch.

    While my husband John and I both have many more places we wish to visit, we can easily visualize another trip to Amsterdam in our future. Next time, we want to visit Amsterdam during tulip season.

    Rembrandt Square – Decorated for Christmas
    The Famous Skinny Bridge
    Traditional Row Houses – Amsterdam is Slowly Sinking So These Are Leaning
    Fun Architectural Detail
    Graffiti Is Here, too.
    InterContinental Amstel Hotel Amsterdam
    Lobby of the InterContinental
    The Jewish School the Nazis Made All Jews Attend During WWII
    House Boats Sell for Over $1 Million
    Amazing Architectural Details Everywhere
    “Coffee” Bars Are Prevalent Around Rembrandt Square
    Olieballen Shop at Rembrandt Square
    Olieballen Vendor
    Local Sweet Treat – Olieballen
    Historic Art Deco Cinema
    Theater Lobby
    Local Cheese Shop
    Gouda!
    Fun Architectural Detail In a Residential Neighborhood
    1920s Worker Housing
    In De Waag Restaurant – Building Dates Back to 1488
    Beer at In de Waag
    Bitterballen
    Interior of a Popular Dutch Pancake Cafe
    Dutch Pancakes
    Coffee and Stroopwafels
    de Bijenkorf Department Store
    Christmas Window Displays at de Bijenkorf
    More Holiday Window Displays
    Local Greek Restaurant
    Hubby Reading the Menu
    My Entree
    Appetizer At Our Greek Restaurant
    Even in November, the City Has Flowers
    Bitterballen Snack Plate at the Rijksmuseum
    Rembrandt Square

  • Amsterdam – City of Art

    Amsterdam truly has an amazing collection of museums. While in Amsterdam, we visited Rembrandt’s House, the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Rijksmuseum and the Anne Frank House.

    Rembrandt’s House was our first stop. Rembrandt spent the final years of his life in poverty with massive debts. To cover his debts, he was forced to sell his house in Amsterdam as well as all of his possessions. The detailed list is of his possessions is what makes the museum possible. The curators had a complete list of everything in the house. The house is spacious with both lots of living and working space. His studio is impressive with the massive windows that flood the room with light. He had a massive collection of everything from a stuffed alligator to unusual sea shells that he used for inspiration for his paintings. His enormous collection is partially responsible for his debt. Even as he struggled with paying his bills, he continued to acquire new items for his collection.

    After spending the morning at Rembrandt’s House, we took the trolley to Museumplein. There we first visited the Museum of Contemporary Art. It was a real treat. It is located in a small art-deco building from the 1920s with a charming sculpture garden surrounding the museum. The exhibits included a fun Banksy exhibit downstairs and a star-studded exhibit upstairs including Keith Haring, Julian Opic and Jeff Koons.

    Interestingly, it was the only museum where we did not need to buy tickets in advance. Over 20 years ago, on my first visit to Amsterdam, I was able to walk into Rembrandt’s House, the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum and the Anne Frank House. Those days are long gone. We walked by the Van Gogh Museum and the line for those on standby was wrapped around the building.

    For our next stop, we went to the Rijksmuseum where we had tickets. The museum let us in early and we had a fabulous lunch in the museum cafe. We sat next to a fun couple from Windsor England. They were on a cruise with a bus tour of Amsterdam and had a few hours off before returning to their ship. We shared travel stories and discussed our mutual dislike of Donald Trump and Boris Johnson . Upstairs in the Dutch Masters exhibit, we had another chat with a tourist from Toronto Canada. When people are on holiday, they are usually so relaxed and receptive to meeting new people.

    The Dutch Masters collection is impressive. Having just visited Rembrandt’s House, it was fun to see the museum’s extensive number of Rembrandt paintings. The only disappointment is that The Night Watch by Rembrandt is undergoing an extensive restoration that is anticipated to take 10 to 15 years. The museum has hired 8 art restorers to undertake this impressive project. This project is being done in public and visitors are able to see the restoration work being done. The first stage is the painstaking process of removing the old varnish. As a reminder, this painting has been vandalized twice – including in 1975 when a deranged man slashed it with a bread knife.

    Our final museum visit for the day was an evening visit to the Anne Frank House. The museum is so popular that it stays opened until 10 PM at night. Our tickets were for 7PM and the museum was filled with a combination of people from The Netherlands and around the world. Tickets are only released online 6 weeks prior to the desired date. I actually had to set my alarm for 2 AM on a particular Tuesday to purchase our tickets. When I successfully purchased our tickets, I felt like I had won the lottery. I had previously visited the museum over 20 years ago and a lot has changed. The audio guide is phenomenal as is the revised curation of the Frank hiding place. The tour includes great video clips of Otto Frank as well of the former employees who helped with the hiding process. There was also a temporary exhibit about Otto Frank’s experience traveling from the concentration camp back to Amsterdam. The museum is extremely poignant and worth visiting. As an FYI, no photos are allowed.

    Rembrandt’s House
    Rembrandt’s House
    Standing in Front of Rembrandt’s House
    Kitchen At Rembrandt’s House
    Kitchen At Rembrandt’s House
    Foyer At Rembrandt’s House
    Main Reception Room At Rembrandt’s House
    Main Living Room At Rembrandt’s House
    Rembrandt’s Studio
    Rembrandt’s Studio
    One of the Box Beds in Rembrandt’s House when People Slept Sitting Up
    View of Rembrandt’s Studio
    Another View of Rembrandt’s Studio
    Lots of Steep Steps At Rembrandt’s House
    Teaching Studio Room At Rembrandt’s House
    Center Courtyard of Rembrandt’s House
    Rembrandt’s House Has A Great Audio Guide
    Museum of Contemporary Art in Amsterdam
    Courtyard Sculpture Exhibit At the Museum of Contemporary Art
    Garden At Museum of Contemporary Art in Amsterdam
    Interactive Sculpture At the Museum of Contemporary Art
    Part of the Museum’s Banksy Collection
    Art-Deco Detail of Museum of Contemporary Art in Amsterdam
    Art-Deco of Museum of Contemporary Art in Amsterdam
    Part of the Banksy Exhibit
    Banksy Created a Series of Gangster Rat Paintings
    Amazing Opic Sculpture
    Painting At the Museum of Contemporary Art
    Interactive Exhibit at the Museum of Contemporary Art
    Interactive Exhibit at the Museum of Contemporary Art
    Interactive Exhibit at the Museum of Contemporary Art
    Front Exterior of the Rijksmuseum
    Exterior Front of the Rijksmuseum
    Restorer at Work on The Night Watch
    Restoration of The Night Watch
    Vermeer’s The Milkmaid from 1658
    Stained Glass Windows At the Rijksmuseum
    Stained Glass Windows At the Rijksmuseum
    Dutch Masters Section At the Rijksmuseum
    The Rijksmuseum Has a Beautiful Collection of Furniture
    This Is An actual Carved Coconut
    Salt Mills
    Beautiful Architecture At the Rijksmuseum
    Souvenir Water from the Rijksmuseum

  • Windmills Must Mean I’m in the Netherlands

    We visited Kinderdijk to see the windmills and they didn’t disappoint. At one, there were over 11,000 windmills throughout the country. Now, there are approximately 1,100. To be a miller requires years of training. If you make a mistake, you can cause the windmill to self-ignite.

    Also, it’s no myth – they really wear wooden clogs. Apparently, wooden clogs are waterproof and inexperienced. The millers we met wore unpainted clogs. Yellow clogs became popular as well because yellow use to be the cheapest color of paint. Painted designs on the clogs indicate which region of the Netherlands the person is from.

    The windmills we visited serve a critical function. They pump water into the rivers to prevent flooding in the Netherlands. They are so hypnotic to watch. If we didn’t have an appointment with a cheese maker, I would have stayed for hours watching.

  • Exploring Cologne Germany

    Sunrise in Cologne
    Sunrise in Cologne
    Entrance to Cologne from Our Ship
    Cologne Church
    Restaurants Facing the Waterfront
    Older Housing That Survived WWII
    Graffiti Is Everywhere In Austria & Germany
    Einstein’s Pub
    City Hall Where the Locals Mary
    Another View of City Hall
    Fountain Near City Hall
    View of the city square near city hall
    Fun Tree in the Main Shopping Area
    Cologne Post WWII
    A Display By a Business That Survived WWII Bombing
    Roman Part of Town
    Rhinus Pater – Roman God the Rhine is Named After
    Part of Roman Sewer System
    Cologne Cathedral
    Pretty fountain area near the main shopping center
    Local Pretzel Shop
    Cologne Specialty Pretzels
    Goodies At the Pretzel Shop
    The Original 4711
    All the Taxi Cabs Are Mercedes
    The Lindt Chocolate Museum
    The Lindt Chocolate Museum
    The Lindt Chocolate Museum
    The Lindt Gift Shop
    The Lindt Gift Shop
    The Lindt Gift Shop

    I wasn’t sure what to expect from Cologne Germany. First, the city experienced 95% destruction during WWII. Fortunately, the cathedral was the first of its kind – built with steel reinforcement so most of it survived. Overall, the city is a mixture of old and new. Some of the modern architecture is spectacular but other buildings, such as city hall, are really ugly and depressing.

    Our tour guide explained that Cologne is more about a certain attitude. The locals appreciate being social and enjoying life much more than the more serious Berliners. Cologne natives, apparently, talk to everyone and are less reserved than other Germans. Consequently, bars in Cologne are much more likely to be filled with people chatting versus loud music drowning everyone out. At night, I did notice a few bars aimed at a younger crowd with blaring music.

    The city seemed very safe. Our evening tour guide, for our pub crawl, confirmed my impression of Cologne. It is also a very walkable city with lots to explore as you walk. I actually got in almost 17,000 steps in one day of touring Cologne.

    The city has a Lindt Chocolate Museum that is worth visiting. We found the gift shop to be almost overwhelming. My husband and I saw items that we never see at home in the U.S.

    We did take a brief break from the city to visit the hunting lodge and Bruhl Palace. Both were impressive. When Bonn was the capital of West Germany, the government used the palace to entertain top visiting dignitaries such as Queen Elizabeth and Ronald Reagan. Both structures are impressive. Interestingly, both interiors incorporate the most beautiful Dutch blue and white tiles on the walls.

    If given the opportunity, I would like to return to Cologne to spend a few more days. Our tour guide noted that the London Times describes the Cologne Christmas Markets as the best in the country. I see a December trip in my future!

  • Koblenz: Pure Magic

    Koblenz might be my favorite German city so far. First, it’s on the Rhine and Moselle Rivers surrounded by beautiful historic castles. Second, it’s a very walkable city with so many charming old buildings combined with interesting modern architecture. Koblenz is actually over 2000 years old.

    The tram system was initially installed as a temporary structure to celebrate the arrival of 2000. The city then wanted to keep it open post Millennium. It spent the next five years negotiating with UNESCO to keep the tram system without losing its UNESCO status for the valley. I am glad things worked out. The views from the cable cabins are spectacular. Plus, we were able to see the fortress which dates back to 1815. It actually occupies the same location of an earlier fortress that the French destroyed in 1801.

    The city has been through a lot. The most is several severe storms that flooded out much of the town. Koblenz was severely bombed by the Allies during WWII. Yet there is a really positive energy and sense of whimsy. There is a really fun fountain in town that consists of a young boy who spits out water every few minutes. If you stand too close to the fountain, you will get soaked with water. It is called the Schangelbrunnen Fountain. Also, near the city’s modern art museum is a series of whimsical modern sculptures – a giant thumb, a purse and a bottle of Channel 5.

    The huge memorial statue of Prince William is located where the two rivers meet. The original statue was copper and destroyed by the Allies during WWII. The current statue is a replica and only dates back to 1993.

    We ended our visit on a very high note with a round trip ride on the cable tram that took us across the Rhine to the city’s fortress and then back to where our ship was docked.

    Prince William
    Cable Tram Over the Rhine
    Park Along the Rhine
    Park Along the Rhine
    Church Near the Rhine
    Church Park
    Herz Jesu Kirche Near the Rhine
    Giant Purse Sculpture
    Giant Channel No. 5
    The Famous Thumb
    In Front of Prince William
    Walkway Near Prince William Statue
    Near the Prince William Memorial
    Three Panels from the Berlin Wall
    Corner Red Building Survived Allied Bombing
    Older Downtown Building That Survived the WWII Bombing
    Our Guide Christian
    Typical Alley in Older Neighborhood That Survived the Bombing During WWII
    Virgin Mary Above the Main Church
    Our New Friends Beth and Steve from Ohio
    Residential Courtyard
    Statue Tribute to an Eccentric Former Resident of Koblenz
    Florinskirche
    Awareness of Breast Cancer Month
    Florinskirche
    Virgin Mary at Florinskirche
    Interior of Florinskirche
    Florinskirche
    Interior of Florinskirche
    Interior of Florinskirche
    Interior of Florinskirche
    Portrait of Saint Nicholas at Florinskirche
    More Hanging Bras Promoting Breast Cancer Awareness
    Fun Bistro on the Main Shopping Street
    The Main Shopping Street
    Johannes Muller 19th Century Respected Anatomist
    City Hall
    The Boy Who Spits Statue
    Local Bar & Restaurant
    The City is Preparing for the Christmas Markets
    The Cable Tram That Goes Over the Rhine
    John and I Taking the Cable Tram
    The Fortress
    Our View from the Tram
    The Outer Wall of the Fortress
    The Fortress
    Koblenz at Night
    The Night View
    In Front of the Rhine
    Viking River Cruise Ship

  • Wurzburg Has Something for Everyone!

    Front Entrance and Fountain at the Bishop’s Palace
    At the Bishop’s Palace
    Venetian Glass Chandelier from Murano Island
    Bishop’s Palace
    Hall of Mirrors
    Hall of Mirrors
    Hall of Mirrors
    Bishop’s Palace
    Top of the Main Staircase at the Bishop’s Palace
    Main Staircase at the Bishop’s Palace
    Bishop’s Palace
    Garden at the Bishop’s Palace
    Garden at the Bishop’s Palace
    Garden at the Bishop’s Palace
    Garden at the Bishop’s Palace
    Garden at the Bishop’s Palace
    The Great Seated Man
    Double Bell Tower
    Center City Bakery
    Center City Tram
    The Pre-Christmas Market Has Started
    Old Wine Bar
    Marienkapelle Gothic Church
    Fun “Refueling” Stop Near the Bridge
    Local Cafe on the Bridge
    Center Ciy Fountain
    Local Grocery Store
    View of Original Bishop’s Palace and Grape Vines
    View from the Bridge
    Wine Bar on the Bridge
    The Bridge
    View from Canal Walkway
    Locks left in Memory
    Museum im Kultur Speicher
    Inside the Museum
    Inside the Museum
    Painting by Joseph Oppenheimer of the Hall of Mirrors at the Bishop’s Palace
    Painting of the Old Bishop’s Palace and Vines
    Old Main Bridgehead at Wurzburg
    Modern Painting at the Museum

    We had one of our best travel days today in Wurzburg. There is much to do and the town is so manageable.

    Like Nuremberg, the town was heavily bombed during WWII. Much of the area was rebuilt post WWII. Our first stop today was the Bishop’s Palace. Several of the rooms are original but much of the palace had to be restored after the war – including the Hall of Mirrors. The Palace has an exhibit that goes into the details of restoring the palace. The locals take tremendous pride in the palace and boast that it is more impressive than Versailles. Having visited Versailles, I disagree with the locals but this is a very impressive palace.

    We then had a very pleasant walk from the palace to the downtown portion of Wurzburg. Like Bamberg, the town economically relies upon tourism, the university and about 100 other schools. In addition, Wurzburg holds many festivals and other special events. Everyone from Elton John to Michael Jackson has performed in Wurzburg. We were fortunate to experience an early Christmas market. The vendors included typical German arts and crafts as well as all kinds of food and beverages. I have to admit I was surprised to see a booth selling churros.

    The area grows the largest amount of grapes in Germany and Wurzburg is known for its local white wines. Wine bars are everywhere and wine is definitely more popular than beer in this German town. There is even a wine bar on the bridge that serves its wines in glasses; my husband and I watched both Germans and tourists strolling the bridge with wine glasses in hand. We opted for coffee and pastries at a nearby cafe but those on our ship who partook said that the wines were really good.

    I am really enjoying the Bavarian part of Germany.