Posts Tagged ‘rhine’

Watershed

Monday, July 16th, 2012

At a certain point in Europe on these river systems, the tide turns. In the beginning of the cruise we traveled on water flowing toward the North Sea. The locks were low and water rushed in and we floated to the top. Several of these locks brought us up 84 feet before releasing us back into the river.

Then a couple nights ago we reached the “watershed”. Now the water is flowing toward the Baltic Sea and the locks start high and end low. At the pinnacle we all went on deck and had a champagne toast. It is said that if two raindrops land at this point, one would travel north and the the other south. Hey, I’ll drink to that!

Hit The Deck

Wednesday, July 11th, 2012

As we cruise along the river (oh so pleasant) we have 66 locks to traverse as the river level changes, we encounter small hydroelectric dams and different rivers. Our boat slides into the lock and the gates close behind it and the lock fills with water and we exit out the front at a new level.Pretty slick, and can you tell there are no rivers in San Diego?

We also find some very low bridges! The Captain’s pilot house hydraulically lowers into the ship and those of us on deck must decide where to be. Tho’ the deck chairs are low, today I threw myself onto the deck in order to keep my head!

Adolph From Pennyslvania

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!

Thank you, Lawrence Welk

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!

Rhine, Wine, And Castles

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!

Certainly Seaworthy

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.