Safely Home

After very long & delayed flights, Kim and I made it safely back to IAD (arrived @ 8PM). I just got back to Winchester because it took so much time to get through US Immigration and Customs because many international flights arrived simultaneously = ugh.
Kim went to her girlfriends house (in Manasas) to pickup her dog. She will spend tonight there and drive back to Syracuse tomorrow (6 hour drive).
Below is only pic I took in Basel Switzerland because we had very little time to explore. Really a kewl fountain!
We had a great time and both of us would recommend Viking River Cruises to everyone!

Viking Cruise Cabin

Several of you have requested pictures of our cabin. It is 11:20PM now and I just took below pics.
We are on our way to Basal Switzerland now. Tomorrow we fly from Basal to Frankfurt to IAD = a long travel day = ugh!

Galley Tour of “Herja” (Viking Riverboat)

Kim asked the Chef (a Romanian) for a tour of the riverboat's galley and he agreed.

Black Forest #2

Hotel with viaduct behind it.

Black Forest #1

It was a 1.5 hour drive each way from our riverboat to the Black Forest (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Forest)

Our drop-off In the forest was a very small village whose main purpose is to sell stuff to tourists. But it was quaint and deep in the forest. Below is pic of Kimbin front of a life-size kuku clock.

Kim in front of the famous Black Forest viaduct - which is now a railroad bridge.

Kim in front of hotel .

Breisach

Spent the morning in Breosach (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breisach).

Kim in front of Saint Stephan's Minster (https://www.silvertraveladvisor.com/review/attraction/166245-st-stephens-minster-a-lovely-romanesque-building-with-a-silver-reliquary-important-c15th-wall-paintings-and-a-beautiful-carved-reredos).

There are many memorials to US and British troops who liberated the city in WWII. Beautiful small Bavarian city.

From here we went to the Black Forest.

Sent from my iPhone

Passing Through Locks

We have to use 8 locks on this cruise.

This is us entering a lock. The lock gate is the large, dark metal gate to the left of the "lock house" Each lock handles 2 huge riverboats simultaneously. France does charge any riverboats a fee to use locks! This is because each lock also has a hydroelectric damn which uses the proceeds from electric sales to pay for lock costs plus a handsome profit.

Strasbourg #1

We spent the day in Strasbourg, France (https://www.google.com/search?q=strasbourg&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-us&client=safari#dest_bgc=4285F4&dest_mid=/m/09b83&fpstate=trfpi&tcfs=EjAKCC9tLzA5YjgzEgpTdHJhc2JvdXJnGhgKCjIwMTktMDctMDkSCjIwMTktMDctMTM&trifp=cxt%3De%26t%3De).

This is Kim in front of the Strasbourg palace.

Strasbourg is famous for its half-timbered buildings. Many were destroyed during WWII. Those in the old city were restored.

Strasbourg is also noted for its many canals. The entire old start (city) is actually on an island.

Strasbourg #2

Strasbourg Cathedral (aka Notre-Dame) is a beautiful single tower cathedral (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strasbourg_Cathedral).

There is a relatively small open area in front of the cataract - so, it is impossible to get a pic with the entire tower. 

Strasbourg #3

Strasbourg is famous for it's many canals!

Strasbourg #4A

My favorite food = foie gras!

Strasbourg #4

More Strasbourg timber-frame structures.

Strasbourg #4

My favorite food in foie gras ( https://www.google.com/search?q=foie+gras&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-us&client=safari)

This pic is of our Strasbourg lunch that we shared today = foie gras (left side), onion tart with salad & French onion soup = terrific!

Tomorrow = Black Forest back in Germany 

Heidelberg #1

Arrived In Heidelberg this morning. Weather = cloudy, 72F.

Kim & I on haulpstrasser (foot street) below famous Heidelberg castle.

Heidelberg #2

Famous huge wine barrel in Heidelberg castle. Originally constructed in 1794 of German oak and holds up to 2,300 liters

Heidelberg #3

Kim on streets of old Heidelberg.
Visiting brought back many memories of the 3 years I worked here.

Middle Rhine River Gorge #1

The Rhine River is almost 760 miles long and runs south to north (begins in Switzerland ending in the North Sea (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhine).

We spent the entire day cruising south (against a very swift current) in an area know as the Rhine Middle Gorge (or River). This area is famous for its river castles - being built in the 1100-1200 - and - vineyards.

Below are several posts with pics of what I consider the best of the many (25+) castles we saw today.

Middle Rhine River Gorge #2

More castles ...