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!
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?
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.
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!
Cologne, Koblenz, and now Rudesheim. Bavarian cities that draw in the river boats and the tourist dollars. But they have such charm.
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!
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. 