Vienna, Austria

 No post yesterday, as it was a long day on the bus. We left the ship in Strubing and made a stop in Melk, Austria for lunch and a visit to a monastery and its spectacular gardens. Then back on the bus for the final stretch into Vienna followed by dinner and an early night. The beds in the Hilton were certainly roomier and more comfortable than the ones on the ship! 

After breakfast today we all took a bus tour of the city followed by a walking tour. Our guide was very informative and interesting. After several hours of free time we got back to the hotel and are soon due to meet up with some friends who are going home tomorrow. We’ve hung together quite a bit over the past 2 1/2 weeks and will miss them when we go on the extension portion of the trip tomorrow. We’ll spend 4 nights in Prague before we head home on Friday. 

Gotta go now. Bye all. 

Regensberg, Germany

 So we spent the last 2 nights docked in Regensberg. It’s a nice little city and we visited it yesterday and used it today as a home base for a trip to Passau in Austria. We’re sailing now to a place called Strubing, which is as far as the ship can go due to the low water level in the Danube. From there we’ll catch a bus to a city called Melk, where we’ll have lunch then travel to Vienna, which is the final stop of the river cruise. We’ll be there for 2 nights and then begin the post tour extension that ends in Prague. 

So that’s the logistics. Basically today was a lazy day for us. We stayed on the ship and relaxed and napped rather than spend time on a bus when most of tomorrow is due to be on one. It felt pretty good to relax after numerous days of walking tours, etc. But with all the good food they’ve been feeding us I can only imagine what my scale is going to read when I step on it when I get home! Oh well, I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it.

Anyway, good night for now. 

Nuremberg, Germany

 Yesterday was a very interesting day…city tour in the morning with a local guide, Rolf, who was very good. He was extremely knowledgeable about the city and its history, particularly the trials of the Nazis, but he also slipped in some wry humor to lighten things up. He made a subject that could have been extremely depressing a bit easier to take. 

On the ship last night there was a talent show. I know…yuk, right? There was the usual assortment of karaoke singers, including groups of crew members who work in the same areas, but our tour guide proved he has a real talent for comedy. He came out in 3 different skits with a different persona in each and had all of us roaring with laughter. He was a German comedian, a ballet dancer, and a singer in drag and was hilarious in all 3 roles. 

Today we’re docked in Regensburg, a small city where one of the highlighted attractions is a Dachshund museum! I’m sure the town will be very picturesque, including some Roman ruins and the former home of Oskar Schindler, about whom the movie was written. The ship will stay docked here for the next 2 nights. Tomorrow we will be bussed to Passau and return here to sleep on the ship one final night. After that we sail to Straubing, which is as far as the ship can safely sail due to the low water levels in the Danube, and bus to Vienna and stay in a hotel for the final 2 nights of our “cruise “. Then we begin the post tour extension by traveling to Prague. 

Guten tag everyone!

Bamberg, Germany

 We visited Bamberg yesterday, and I found it to be very pretty but otherwise unremarkable. It has a picture postcard quality about it, possibly more so than most of the other places we’ve visited, but it’s also fairly well known for its antique stores. I visited several of those shops to marvel at the intricate woodworking by the craftsmen of the last few centuries. I saw desks, tables, and chests with the most creative inlays and joinery that boggled my mind. It has me rethinking a couple of the projects I have brewing in my brain. 

Today we go to Nuremberg, known for the trials of Nazis after WW2, but also the site of numerous huge rallies the Nazis held there before and during the war. We’ll see how my attitude is after seeing this historic site. 

Bye all. 

Rothenburg

 Yesterday was an optional trip to Rothenburg, one of the best preserved medieval towns in Germany. I was there 13 years ago as part of my first Rick Steves tour and it was every bit as nice this time. I even managed to see some things I didn’t remember from that initial visit. It was a good experience and definitely well worth the money. 

As I write this we are docked in Bamberg and I’m preparing for a walking tour and some free time afterwards. I’m not sure what to expect but I’m hoping to enjoy it. 

Later today we have a meeting for the members of our group wo are going on the post cruise extension to Prague. We already know who a few of them are but it will be interesting to see who all will be in the group. The guidebook lists around 15 people who have opted in. 

Following the meeting is a tour of the ship’s galley-we’re really looking forward to that!

Auf weidershein friends!

Wurzburg GermanY

 Yesterday we got to Wurzburg early in the morning. I took the camera out early and got a few nice shots of the fortress and church across the river from us so hopefully I might have something worth printing when we return home. There was a group walking tour of the city later that was very interesting.

The city was bombed near the end of the war and was heavily damaged. The German military commanders tried to surrender the city but their radio message was too late. The British bombers were already on their way and the military had no way to communicate with them…what a tragedy! The town hall has a small room set up detailing the devastation that occurred, including a very detailed model that shows how most of the roofs were destroyed even if the walls were still standing. Somehow the biggest church was pretty much intact.. Go figure. The city has been rebuilt and today it’s a very pretty and vibrant community.

Today after breakfast we’re going on an excursion to Rothenburg, one of the best preserved medieval towns around. The commander there surrendered the city to preserve it, despite orders to the contrary from the high command. I visited there on my first visit to Germany 13 years ago and I look forward to seeing it again. 

Anyway, that’s all for now folks. Guten morgan!

Wertheim, Germany

 Sorry I haven’t posted in a couple of days. I didn’t have much positive to share, as we had to change ships due to low water level in the Rhine River. It was a real bummer because we had to miss the part of the cruise I was most looking forward to…the castles in the Rhine Gorge. I was planning on getting a lot of photos there and it was the reason I brought my big camera with me. Instead we spent all day on a bus and drove right past all the sights I had my heart set on, getting only quick glimpses through the trees. 

Anyway, we’ve been on the new ship for 2 nights. It’s ok but all the people in our group whom I have talked with agree that the first (older) ship was more comfortable and we liked it better. 

We just docked in the village of Wertheim and we’ll have a walking tour and free time to explore this morning, then a visit with some locals are arranged for the afternoon. It should be interesting. There’s also a castle to visit before we sail again this evening. 

Auf  Wiedersehen!