Dec 29, 2018 - From Olympic Stadiums to Spies

Day 2 An earlier start this morning on a quite cool morning with drizzling rain. Caught an uber out to the 1936 Olympic Stadion. Decided not to do a tour as it only displays soccer information and does not touch on the 1936 Olympic Games during which Hitler was going to show the world about how his ideal of an Aryan race would dominate the games. A pity that American negro Jesse Owens just happened to be participating in the games and pretty much did a clean sweep of his events. Poor Adolf refused to shake Owens’ hand at the medal...

Dec 28, 2018 - Wilkommen Mein Herren and Dammen to Berlin

DAY 1 All of us had poor sleep overnight as expected until our bodies adjust to being flown back in time. Planned a late start this morning with a free Berlin walking tour, usually with a student living in the city giving you a brief introduction to the city then a walk around significant points. Had our muesli breakfast before heading off in an Uber to Luftgarten and the meeting point for the tour outside the Old Museum and the Berliner Dom church. Our guide was a very androgynous young man from the UK (sounded very Liverpudlian or that...

Dec 26, 2018 - On the road Again

Departure Day Still struggling with overeating on Christmas Day as is usual I guess. Dogs walked, house tidied and vacuumed and some of the unnecessary Christmas decorations packed away until I get home to do the rest. Over to Vicki’s for a last cup of tea and post Christmas catchup and then back home for last minute check of packing before heading down to Eloise’s to pick up the girls. They still in a frenzy of pre-Christmas buildup and preparations. John drove us to the airport where we arrived well in time to check into the flight. When...

Dec 24, 2018 - Dusseldorf

Monday 24th: This morning’s tour was a guided walk through the old town of Dusseldorf with a culinary twist at the end and a look at the Christmas markets. Our guide who lives in the old town was very bright and breezy and was able to impart a feel for the area. Much of the old town is filled with bars and restaurants and as it was Christmas eve they were gearing up for a big night. The guide stressed how loud and boisterous it can get in the evening and even as we left about lunchtime the streets had started to fill up and the beer was...

Dec 23, 2018 - Mainz and Wiesbaden

Sunday 23rd: The ship set sail this morning an hour or so up the river to Mainz. Heather has joined the city walk and visit to the Gutenberg Museum while I decided to stay indoors out of the cold. It is a very quiet Sunday morning on and off the ship and a good chance to catch up on the journal and watch the passing parade of people and dogs walking, jogging and cycling along the river. For Heather the highlight of Mainz was the Gutenberg Museum named after the man who invented the printing press. A demonstration showed how each page was...

Dec 23, 2018 - Cologne

We started the day docked at Monheim not Manheim.. Took our usual too much breakfast then to the lounge for a departure briefing. We were advised as to the proper tipping procedures as well as baggage transfers to the airport. We then boarded a bus for transport to Cologne. Of course it was raining off and on but we persevered and began our adventure at the cathedral. (1248-1880) Quite impressive and 550 feet tall. We then proceeded to some of the Christmas markets - Cologne has 7 - but only smelled the food. We did however buy a gluwein to...

Dec 22, 2018 - Koblenz 2

We started the day later than usual and the plan was to take the tram up to the fortrests to view the confluence of the Mozel and Rhine rivers . As we left the ship the rain started so we changed our minds and went back to the ship. After about a half an hour the renovated so we decided to go into the Christmas market. It was a day to try a number of different things so we had the fried potato pancakes and I would say and again ate them before we took a picture . Once again we ate before we photoed. He also had to have the french fries and...

Dec 22, 2018 - Rudesheim

Saturday 22nd: The ship stayed in Koblenz overnight and this morning sailed through the Rhine Gorge with the Lorelei Rock and the Romantic Rhine and its castles. The sun was shining for most of the day and the scenery was beautiful. Along the way we passed lovely Bacharach, the small town where we stayed for two nights on our first visit to the area. We joined Guiseppina for a small circuit workout which was quite fun and later Martin conducted another trivia contest. This time there was a bigger crowd and the competition was intense. Our...

Dec 21, 2018 - Koblenz

Friday 21st: The ship had sailed during the night and by morning we were in Koblenz which is situated on the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle rivers. This morning’s tour was to the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress which is perched above the city on the opposite bank. As the coach wound its way up to the fortress the views over Koblenz and the two rivers were quite stunning. The fortress was constructed in the early 19th century on the site of a previous fortress dating back to the year 1000. At the end of WW2 when Germany was ordered to destroy...

Dec 21, 2018 - Koblenz

We set sail for Koblenz this a.m. Crossing the most beautiful part of the Rhine with the river much wider than it has been and with castles lining the banks and the hills above. While cruising a local glassblower came aboard and gave an awesome demonstration of glass blowing. Glass blowing has been in has family for generations and he - at Chihoulys request, flies to Seattle and teaches for him for some months each year. We of course were able to purchase and he would engrave anything you wanted on your items while you waited. We bought...

Dec 20, 2018 - Mainz

We started the day docking at Mainz. After breakfast we met with a local guide who took us into the city. Mainz is one of the major wine regions in Germany and part of a worldwide win consortium (see street sign photo). We went into the whole town and into the Gutenberg museum. We had a demonstration on how to Make the type letters that were used in the press and also how to print. We were able to see one of the original Gutenberg Bibles. After that we went to the Cathedral which was built approximately 1000 years ago. Although Mainz is a...

Dec 20, 2018 - Cologne

Thursday 20th: Our tour this morning was a Cologne Walk & Cathedral Visit & Christmas Markets. This is a city of great contrasts. 90% of it was destroyed by Allied bombing during the WW2 but its crowning glory, the cathedral or Dom, survived relatively undamaged. It is a splendid example of Gothic architecture and for four years it was the tallest building in the world. Its two huge spires rise to about 170 metres. It was begun in 1248 and completed in 1880 and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The sandstone exterior has become very dark and...