Archive for the ‘Germany’ Category
Monday, September 8th, 2014
Once again we have traveled to Sweden to pick up Volvo 2. We have flown to Gothenburg,Sweden as Volvo’s guests and have made our way to Germany via an overnight ferry and down through the entire country to Salzburg, Austria (Autobahn=going 90 and having the feeling you’re standing still)! My new favorite travel companions are noise-canceling headphones and Ambien. The car is a pearl white 7-seater SUV and has 500 miles on it already! We have picked up friends, Wally and Pam, and are exploring Bavaria. Still jet-lagged but doing our share of beer drinking and pretzel eating.
Big grin on Volvo 2 grill
Tags: bavaria, gothenburg, pam hasbrouck, salzburg, volvo, wally hasbrouck
Posted in Austria, Europe Fall 2014, Germany, Sweden | 4 Comments »
Monday, July 16th, 2012
Moderation…moderation…yeah right! The food has been delicious and photogenic and abundant. AND the staff can’t do enough for us, even turning down our beds and putting a chocolate on our pillows. We haven’t spent much time in the bar because the wine flows in the dining room and the walls are of glass and look out on incredible vistas.
We’ve tried all the German food; more sausage than in my whole entire life time, and Steve is in ‘hog-heaven’ with all the sauerkraut.
This is also beer country, and yesterday we tasted suds from the oldest brewery in Germany at Kelheim Abbey. The monks have been making this award winning brew since 1050 a.d. I hope they blessed the calories out of it.
Tags: beer, kelheim abbey
Posted in Germany, Rivers Of Europe 2012 Victory Jubilee | 2 Comments »
Friday, July 13th, 2012
I can’t help but think about World War II when I am in Germany. Steve and I had parents who fought in it, and evidences of it are all around.
After D-Day with the assault on the beaches of Normandy, the Allied troops whittled their way across France into Germany to put down Hitler’s war machine. What they didn’t bomb, the Germans bombed so nothing was found to capture. I did a bunch of reading on the battles and philosophies and am nearly finished “The Nuremberg Trials” (not an easy read). Does it count that I watched “Judgement at Nuremberg” the movie twice!?
Well today we are in Nuremberg. It is the sight of most of those parades you see with all the soldiers heiling the Furher. Went to the Memorial at the sight of the trials and it was appalling that the worst of war criminals; Hitler, Goebbels, and Himmler were never brought to justice…they committed suicide.
The towns we have visited were all damaged in bombings but the Americans chose not to bomb historical sites so many of those only needed repairing. It was interesting to see train tunnels disguised as castle parts to avoid shelling.
Sixty five years later it’s still a horror the world should not forget.
Tags: hitler, nazis, normandy, nuremberg, steve, wwii
Posted in Germany, Rivers Of Europe 2012 Victory Jubilee | 2 Comments »
Wednesday, July 11th, 2012
We piled into buses and were dropped off in groups of 6-8 at homes in many different neighborhoods. This way we could see how the average German family lived and ask them any questions and let them practice their English.
We knew ahead to bring a token gift for our hostess and I brought a boxed assortment of Jelly Bellies, which were a big hit with the 11 yr old granddaugher, Alexandra. We were served “Kuchen” (cake) and shown their pleasant home and garden, and with hugs and promises of being Facebook friends, we got back on the bus after our 90 minute visit.
Posted in Germany, Rivers Of Europe 2012 Victory Jubilee | 2 Comments »
Monday, July 9th, 2012
On our travels we always pray that God would show us His GLORY – and it has never failed that scales practically fall from our eyes and we see incredible sights and wonders. Yesterday I teared up as it hit me like a ton of bricks, that it wasn’t the scenery that was the glory, but the people on this cruise! In our attempt to meet everyone on this ship, we have heard about some amazing lives, and found the world a smaller place.
…but my tale.
Adolph is a lively elderly gentleman whose son put him in assisted care a few years back when his wife died. Adolph showed him up by deciding to travel 11 months of the year. But the real story is that Adolph was a Nazi tank driver in World War II. One day an officer commandeered his tank and subsequently the tank was blown up. Adolph’s dog tags were in the tank so while he became a POW in a Russian Prison Camp, his parents were told he had died in commbat. Five years after he miraculously survived the experience he showed up on his family’s door step!
He’s a real hit with the single ladies on the ship and his dashing figure is always on the dance floor.
I’ll try to get a photo soon!
Tags: adolph, faith, nazis, rhine, wwii
Posted in Germany, Pennsylvania, Rivers Of Europe 2012 Victory Jubilee | 3 Comments »
Saturday, July 7th, 2012
In Rudesheim all 147 of us left the boat and went into town for an authentic German/Bavarian dinner and umpapa band entertainment. What a great evening!
Sauerbratten, schnitzel, kuchen, local riesling, and schnapps!
Steve was pulled into a drinking game, I was in a cowbell choir that played Edelweiss, there was a conga line led by a tuba and drum and it was with appreciation to all the Sunday nights we had to watch Lawrence Welk that I could do a decent polka. Great work-out.
Prost!
Tags: bavaria, lawrence welk, polka, rhine, rudesheim, steve
Posted in Germany, Rivers Of Europe 2012 Victory Jubilee | 2 Comments »
Saturday, July 7th, 2012
Cologne, Koblenz, and now Rudesheim. Bavarian cities that draw in the river boats and the tourist dollars. But they have such charm.
What enthralled me with the castles is that they were not for protecting the valley and river below, but for pirating the ships that needed to travel the water highway. They demanded tolls, and even stretched chains across the river so no one could pass.
The castles are in all states; some near-rubble, and some active museums or private homes (must have seen two dozen of them yesterday).
Our cruise line believes in a lot of free time, so I may not be seeing everything I should, but we enjoy the exploring on our own and feeling like that they are our own discoveries!
Tags: bavaria, castle, cologne, koblenz, rhine, rudesheim
Posted in Germany, Rivers Of Europe 2012 Victory Jubilee | 3 Comments »
Thursday, July 5th, 2012
Welcome to the M/S River Aria, our home for the next 14 days as we float down the Rhine and Danube with 145 strangers.
First stop, Cologne.
They have a huge Gothic cathedral and it’s the home of ‘eau d’ cologne” (really!), and you can pull up to the side of the city and get off your boat and see all of it.
We will be going thru 66 locks and traveling 954 miles and making a lot of friends.
Tags: cologne, danube, rhine
Posted in Germany, Netherlands, Rivers Of Europe 2012 Victory Jubilee | 2 Comments »
Friday, June 29th, 2012
Venlo is the location for the once-a-decade flower show in the Netherlands. It’s a really big deal! It is very close to the German border and over two hours by train from Amsterdam. I am very glad I don’t have to understand flowers and their language to enjoy the Floriade, but for everything else, well it’s Dutch (and greek) to me. We are enjoying the show, but finding the language hard to decipher.
When I am in a foreign country I like to visit their “grocery” store and see what is on their shelves and prices etc (Nothing can compare to our produce!). Well I picked up a great water bottle last night. Got back to the room and quickly poured a cup of replica rolex the refreshing…vinegar!! It was even near the bottled watered. I guess getting on the right bus is more important than understanding all the labels. It looked like water, really!
Tags: amsterdam, flowers, venlo
Posted in Germany, Netherlands, Rivers Of Europe 2012 Victory Jubilee | 2 Comments »
