On August 13 I was joined by my good friends Ann and Norman Shuker for a week long river cruise from Amsterdam to Basel. We started with a short walking tour of Amsterdam. Of course I took them directly to the Red Light District. It was afternoon, so there wasn't much merchandise to choose from.
We returned to the ship - the Avalon Affinity - for an amazing dinner. We ate and drank for hours.
The next morning we rose early for the canal boat tour of Amsterdam. That was the earliest I had gotten up in weeks.
The canal boat ride was over an hour and the only thing lacking was the sun. I found out it rains in Amsterdam about 175 days a year. After the tour we passed on the diamond factory tourist trap. Ann and Norman visited the Handbag Museum, while I meandered back to the ship.
We left Amsterdam around noon for our 24 hour trek to Cologne, Germany. We went through two locks before entering the Rhine River. The scenery was amazing, farmland, cyclists, campers, trains, and small villages. Cologne was one of the first cities I visited in Europe in 1970. The cathedral
was also the subject of one of my early paintings. I have no idea where it is today - the painting, not the cathedral.
An interesting sculpture of a pterodactyl we passed.
A very interesting apartment building.
In Cologne had a walking tour of the city center. The fist thing we did after the tour was to have a nice tall glass of German beer.
I took a detour to get yet another photo of one of Europe's pretty train stations in Cologne.
This is why I gained five pounds. The bread is so good in Europe.
I collected 3 euros in tips.
The next day we had two ports of call - Koblenz and Rudesheim. In between the two cities we must have passed 25 castles along the river. We passed the Loreley Rock where many a ship did not make the tight turn in the river. In Rudesheim we visited the Siegrried's Mechanical Music Instrument Museum. I was the lucky one to play the Organ Grinder.
The next day also had two ports - Mainz and Heidelberg. Our walking tour in Mainz started with the cathedral, of course, but the highlight of the tour was the Gutenberg Museum. We saw a demonstration of a replica of his original press. And then we saw four of his actual bibles. Unfortunately no photos were allowed.
Our afternoon stop was Heidelberg and its famed castle. Ann, Norman and I skipped the organized tour and climbed the mountain to see the castle and fantastic views.
Our next port was Strasbourg on the French side of the Rhine. This city changed hands between Germany and France over the years. We took a beautiful canal ride through the city.
That afternoon I stayed on the ship and read How the West Was Won. I have been told I would like Louis L'Amour books. It was okay and now I can say I read one of his books.
Our final port was Breisach near the Black Forest. This was my most disappointed tour. We drove for 75 minutes, stopped at a tourist trap, had some Black Forest Cake and returned to the ship.
Thus ended an amazing week. The food was fantastic, the sights were breath taking, and it was so much fun doing it with friends.
We returned to the ship - the Avalon Affinity - for an amazing dinner. We ate and drank for hours.
The next morning we rose early for the canal boat tour of Amsterdam. That was the earliest I had gotten up in weeks.
We left Amsterdam around noon for our 24 hour trek to Cologne, Germany. We went through two locks before entering the Rhine River. The scenery was amazing, farmland, cyclists, campers, trains, and small villages. Cologne was one of the first cities I visited in Europe in 1970. The cathedral
was also the subject of one of my early paintings. I have no idea where it is today - the painting, not the cathedral.
An interesting sculpture of a pterodactyl we passed.
A very interesting apartment building.
In Cologne had a walking tour of the city center. The fist thing we did after the tour was to have a nice tall glass of German beer.
I took a detour to get yet another photo of one of Europe's pretty train stations in Cologne.
This is why I gained five pounds. The bread is so good in Europe.
I collected 3 euros in tips.
The Avalon Affinity
The next day we had two ports of call - Koblenz and Rudesheim. In between the two cities we must have passed 25 castles along the river. We passed the Loreley Rock where many a ship did not make the tight turn in the river. In Rudesheim we visited the Siegrried's Mechanical Music Instrument Museum. I was the lucky one to play the Organ Grinder.
The next day also had two ports - Mainz and Heidelberg. Our walking tour in Mainz started with the cathedral, of course, but the highlight of the tour was the Gutenberg Museum. We saw a demonstration of a replica of his original press. And then we saw four of his actual bibles. Unfortunately no photos were allowed.
Our afternoon stop was Heidelberg and its famed castle. Ann, Norman and I skipped the organized tour and climbed the mountain to see the castle and fantastic views.
Our next port was Strasbourg on the French side of the Rhine. This city changed hands between Germany and France over the years. We took a beautiful canal ride through the city.
That afternoon I stayed on the ship and read How the West Was Won. I have been told I would like Louis L'Amour books. It was okay and now I can say I read one of his books.
Our final port was Breisach near the Black Forest. This was my most disappointed tour. We drove for 75 minutes, stopped at a tourist trap, had some Black Forest Cake and returned to the ship.
Thus ended an amazing week. The food was fantastic, the sights were breath taking, and it was so much fun doing it with friends.
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