LIVE! - Avalon Romantic Rhine

[*Miss G*]

It looks like we’re moving, doesn’t it?  We’re actually docked!  The river is moving very fast.

 

 

[Happily@Sea]

7 hours ago, *Miss G* said:

Following breakfast we head out for our tours.  We pass through the AMA Lucia.  The staff on that ship are just as lovely as the staff on ours, as is what we can see of their ship.  

 

 

We hop on the choo-choo train to the top of the town.  Here we disembark to visit the Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum.  We really enjoyed it!

 

 

 

The museum is housed in a former knight’s castle.  Here are a couple of pics of the architecture inside.

 

 

 

We do a bit of shopping and then it’s off for coffee and brandy and an informative chat!

 

 

I too have done the Museum tour. In the courtyard while waiting for our trolley back to the ship, we were entertained by a local group of teens playing their instruments. I don't know if they were rehearsing or if it was a normal afternoon event  - but it was very nice and the weather was beautiful. This would have been in the month of June.

 

Valentin sounds like a fun CD. On a riverboat - CDs make all the arrangements, when we had to change disembark ports because of high water, all that fell to the CD to arrange for each person.

 

[*Miss G*]

We have a lovely dinner of NZ rack of lamb.  (First course was chef’s salad and second course was chicken consommé.)  The lamb is cooked perfectly.  We meet new friends tonight and have a lot of fun.  Afterwards, we enjoy local entertainment in the Panorama Lounge.  There are a lot of good dancers onboard.  It’s been a fun-filled day!

 

[*Miss G*]

3 hours ago, need2travel1 said:

Enjoying following along, thanks for taking the time to post!

 

Thank you for following along, @need2travel1!

 

13 minutes ago, Happily@Sea said:

 

I too have done the Museum tour. In the courtyard while waiting for our trolley back to the ship, we were entertained by a local group of teens playing their instruments. I don't know if they were rehearsing or if it was a normal afternoon event  - but it was very nice and the weather was beautiful. This would have been in the month of June.

 

Valentin sounds like a fun CD. On a riverboat - CDs make all the arrangements, when we had to change disembark ports because of high water, all that fell to the CD to arrange for each person.

 

 

We love how smoothly everything is run…. and perfectly timed!  Valentin is nothing short of amazing.  And super funny too!

 

 

Edited October 3, 2022 by *Miss G*

[*Miss G*]

DAY 7

COLOGNE 

 

Good morning.  We are getting ready to leave on our walking tour of Cologne (Köln).

 

[ural guy]

21 hours ago, Canal archive said:

Excellent advise ural guy a long past (sad to say) friend of ours filmed everywhere he went but always forgot to switch off his camera he put together a film of - Pavements of Europe - quite a fun evening game.

I try and take pictures of the various manhole covers that have town names, symbols, dragons...I like it when a bland object (a 30" round piece of steel) has something on it that shows a bit of pride, moreso than 'Sanitary Sewer'.  Older ones in the US have place of manufacture, and you get a glimpse of how productive certain areas were 70-80 years ago.  

 

  Neenah, Pennsylvania:  I have little idea where you are located, but your steel is all over the Northeast.

 

Miss G-  Appears that the river bug has gotten to you.  Great writeup, your descriptions really convey how much fun you're having.  Yeah team, this sounds so close to normalcy, just great!

[notamermaid]

Great video of Loreley sailpast! And what would come along from the other direction - a Viking river cruise ship. Lovely to see photos of Koblenz, confirms that autumn colours are looking promising. Must walk around the gardens near Deutschherrenhaus, very nice. I hope I will have some time for that soon.

 

notamermaid

 

[*Miss G*]

6 hours ago, ural guy said:

Miss G-  Appears that the river bug has gotten to you.  Great writeup, your descriptions really convey how much fun you're having.  Yeah team, this sounds so close to normalcy, just great!

 

It very much has!  We absolutely love everything about it and think we made a really great choice for our first experience.  Since we will be boarding an ocean cruise within four days of disembarking this one, it will be interesting to see if the river cruise has affected our perspective on ocean cruising.

[*Miss G*]

We are docked in front of (or, rather, behind) the Cathedral St Peter.  Construction began in 1248 and was completed in 1880; a full 632 years later.  How would you like that job as a project manager?  😳

 

View from the ship.  That bumpy thing in front is a museum.  They have buildings going up all around the cathedral.  Pretty soon you won’t be able to see it, so get here soon. 

 

 

 

[Host Jazzbeau]

46 minutes ago, *Miss G* said:

How would you like that job as a project manager?

Full employment for me, my children, my grandchildren...  Just like the Van Wyck Expressway in NYC!

[*Miss G*]

A few pictures to highlight @ural guy‘s “Always look up” comment.  First the regular view, then looking up.

 

 

 

 

 

And, finally, the figure under the town hall clock sticks his tongue out at noon, 3, 6, and 9.

 

Edited October 4, 2022 by *Miss G*

[*Miss G*]

Scenes from a walk.

 

 

 

 

[*Miss G*]

The interesting thing about how these rooms are configured is how the bronzed mirror catches the reflection of the forward view and gives the impression that you are in a much larger room.

 

 

 

[canadianbear]

Really love all your photos-thank you so much for sharing with us.  
 

Your room does look big & now I understand why.  Thanks for explaining that.  Still looks very comfy and a nice way to travel.  

[Canal archive]

*Miss G* I really must compliment you on your camera work excellent eye ohh and enthusiasm super!

[GreenFamily]

20 hours ago, Canal archive said:

*Miss G* I really must compliment you on your camera work excellent eye ohh and enthusiasm super!

Thank you for sharing your beautiful pictures. 

[*Miss G*]

DAY 8

AMSTERDAM, NL

 

Wow.  What a day.  Our ship had to go in for a part replacement so we all disembarked to head out on a jam-packed day in Amsterdam.  Off we went at 8:15am for a canal tour.  It was a really nice way to see the city but difficult to get good pictures through the glass and plexi of the boat.

 

The Anne Frank House is closed for repair.

 

 

Pulling bicycles from the canal.

 

 

Wonky houses.

 

 

From whence we came.

 

[*Miss G*]

On 10/4/2022 at 10:06 PM, canadianbear said:

Really love all your photos-thank you so much for sharing with us.  
 

Your room does look big & now I understand why.  Thanks for explaining that.  Still looks very comfy and a nice way to travel.  

 

23 hours ago, GreenFamily said:

Thank you for sharing your beautiful pictures. 

 

On 10/4/2022 at 11:26 PM, Canal archive said:

*Miss G* I really must compliment you on your camera work excellent eye ohh and enthusiasm super!

 

Thank you so much, @canadianbear, @GreenFamily, @Canal archive! I am so glad you are enjoying them.

 

@canadianbear, yes the room was super comfy.  Although it was compact, it was done so beautifully that you really didn’t mind.

[*Miss G*]

We disembarked and walked across the street to the train station.  I had to be quick with this picture because we were constantly on the move.  No time for that perfect shot!

 

 

We all had lunch in the Grand Cafe.

 

 

Bicycle parking.

 

[*Miss G*]

Snert.  How did I not know this word?  I have relatives who are Dutch.  I grew up with Dutch friends.  I travel Holland America and never once have I heard the word Snert.  A high five to anyone who can tell me, without googling, what is a Snert?

 

[*Miss G*]

Then we are back aboard the coaches for a quick trip to  Zaanse Schans, in the town of Zaandam.  It is a beautiful neighbourhood with historic windmills and lots to see for the tourists.  

 

 

Our tour guide’s friend’s house.

 

 

 

 

We watched the wind power the giant stone wheels grinding limestone for paint pigments.  Then, like an idiot, I climbed to the top of this platform for a panoramic view.

 

 

 

Our tour guide arranged for a wooden shoe-making demonstration.

 

 

At Death’s Door.  The door on the left is for daily use.  The door on the right is only used for weddings and funerals.

 

Edited October 6, 2022 by *Miss G*

[Daisi]

I know what Snert is... but then, my DH is dutch!  Mind you, I'm more used to the French Canadian version. 🙂

 

Sounds as if you are really having a great time.

[*Miss G*]

Sheep.  I realize I am stating the obvious but it felt like there should be a heading.

 

 

These ducks were joined by other species so I’m guessing there was a meeting.

 

 

 

This was one noisy fellow.

 

[*Miss G*]

Back on the bus and we are headed back to a successfully repaired ship.  We are greeted with a warm welcome, damp cloths, ice wine, and brownies.  No time to dawdle, though, because we have just enough time to get ready for the Captain’s Toast and the Gala Night dinner.  Again, champagne is passed out, along with hot hors d’oeuvres, and we raise our glasses to a successful journey.  Then it’s off to the dining room!

 

 

 

Following dinner, they gave a lovely presentation of the staff for us to clap our thanks and then we were straight to our room to pack for an early morning coach trip to the airport.  Bags outside the door at 5:15am and on the coach to Schiphol Airport at 5:30am.  Our flight to Rome wasn’t until 10:15am but the transfer company wanted us there in plenty of time.

[Canal archive]

The smart noisy one is a Coot. Again super photos loved Zain’s Shans when we were there.