Day 47 - Cruising Rudesheim to Koblenz to Cochem

Tonight we went to the special Portabelo Restaurant on the ship for a six course dinner with wines for every course.  We then staggered to the entertainment area where we thought we could dance like when we were 21.  

Even after Judy was dancing with the instructor and slipped on the floor, we all persevered with dancing and showed the wallflowers that it is ok to have fun at our age.

This morning we explored the very pretty town of Rudesheim, and the afternoon was spent cruising through the spectacular Rhine Gorge.

We are definitely having a lot of fun.

At the Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum in Rudesheim, which houses historical pieces of great interest.

An unwilling passenger on the cable car.

View of the river from the lookout at the top of the cable car ride.

On the way down, overlooking the extensive vineyards along the Rhine Valley.

Rudesheim is renowned for a special version of coffee, which includes lighting brandy with a match followed by coffee, whipped cream, and chopped chocolate.  Calories and cholesterol!!!

Our ship Scenic Jade moored next to Scenic Jewel.  Scenic Jewel was the ship on which we cruised in 2013.

An old country hotel on the shoreline.

Castles viewed from the ship whilst cruising.

Day 46 - Cruising Gambsheim to Mannheim to Rudesheim

Cruise ship moored at Mannheim this morning ready for the bus trip to Heidelberg.  Mannheim is laid out in a symmetrical grid system with streets in the downtown area having letters and numbers rather than names.  An imposing water tower(1889) Friedrichplatz on one riverbank is overwhelmed by the BASF chemical plant at Ludwigshafen with over 25,000 workers, one of the largest plants in the world.

Then on to Heidelberg, population 130,000 set amid the rolling hills beside the river Neckar.   The castle at Heidelberg is the largest castle ruin in Germany and the university is the oldest in Germany, founded in 1386.  30,000 students attend the university which escaped major damage during World War Two.   The Neckar river that runs through the centre of Heidelberg is impressive.

A view of Heidelberg and the Neckar River from the Castle.

The old bridge across the Neckar River.

Heidelberg Castle courtyard.

The old bridge with the Church of the Holy Spirit.

The Main Street is one of the longest shopping strips in Germany at 1.9 kilometres.

This is Ian, Margaret, Judy and Robert at the Baroque Palace of Rastatt just prior to the classical concert in the Palace at Rastatt.  They came as a family Marg and Rob live in Portland and Ian lives in Bayswater, small world as Ian attends the Heathmont Uniting Church.  Their father Geoff was also travelling with them, did not attend last night but an amazing man at 93 !!! 

The three performers last night at the Palace, they were magnificent, a great night out.

The view of the Scenic Jade upon our return from the concert at Mannheim.

Came across Brian and Ann near the old bridge in Heidelberg. A fun couple from England travelling with us on the Scenic cruise.

Day 45 - Cruising Kehl to Gambsheim

Strasbourg is the capital of Alsace, and is a very attractive city.  This morning buses took us to the centre for a walking tour and a visit to the cathedral.  It is very close to the border between Germany and France.

Strasbourg has been alternating between being part of France and part of Germany for centuries.  Since WWII it has been part of France and the people speak French.  On the way this morning the tour guide said that the front of the bus was in France and the back of the bus was still in Germany!!!

There are a large number of storks nesting on rooftops and tall buildings.  They are migratory, nesting here for the summer and then flying to North Africa via the Mediterranean Sea every year.

This evening we were taken on a tour of the Baroque Palace of Rastatt, followed by a fantastic classical concert  in the Palace.

Flowers, bridges, canals and buildings right along the waterways encircle the old town of Strasbourg, which is actually an Island.

These houses were constructed of stone for the first floor and then timber for the 3 or 4 floors above to save on property tax many years ago.  Tax was only required to be paid on the levels constructed from stone.

The Strasbourg Cathedral is an imposing sight.  Constructed on unstable ground, it has been sinking.  Concrete has been placed underneath to stabilise the heaviest section of the building which holds up the spire.  The statues and stained glass are breathtaking.  It is nicknamed "Le Notra Dame de Strasbourg" for obvious reasons.

Inside the Cathedral is awe inspiring, with stained glass windows having been replaced after WW2 when they were stolen.  

This very old astronomical clock inside the cathedral is run mechanically, and needs to be wound up manually every Monday before 6 pm.  Puppet figures move and make sounds every quarter hour and on the hour.

Many patisseries line the streets around the old town square and Cathedral.  The gingerbread shop also looked inviting.

Day 44 - Cruising from Breisach to Kehl

Today was our first full day aboard the Scenic Jade cruise ship.  After arrival at Breisach this morning, and then a sumptuous breakfast, we were taken by buses to the Black Forest for a walking tour, then a family museum of old memorabilia, and a steam train journey through wooded landscapes.  Buses brought us back to the ship. 

In the evening we were entertained by a French singer/comedienne in the lounge.  This was very enjoyable for most (but not all!!) the passengers.

A walk in the Black Forest.  Great scenery and the Black Forest cake at the end was to die for.

Very quiet in here during a very relaxing walk.

Here is a collection of old farm machinery and museum pieces, where we ate a piece of delectable home-made Black Forest cake.

German white wine-growing region and the equipment used in years gone by.

Followed by a ride aboard this historic steam train near Breisach.

The historic carriages are well-maintained, but the ride not so smooth.

Safety Drill.  All up to the top deck for roll call and of course more food !!

We will travel through a total of 40 locks.  This one was about 50 feet deep.  Locals on the bridge at the left are having a look at our cruise ship passing through the lock.

The water starts to drop.

At the bottom, the gates lift up and we travel under the bridge and roadway.

Day 43 - Cruising from Basel to Breisach

Here we are in Basel on the Rhine.  Left side France and right side Switzerland, the sun is setting on another wonderful day.  We have already met some very nice people on our first night, the sun is setting and the cruise ship leaves at midnight in the direction of Amsterdam .  The cocktails are flowing again and the tours start early so must go, I am sure you will understand.

In the lounge at the start of the cruise, the bell ringers are playing their little hearts out and the drink waiters are run off their feet.  This cruise will be great.

This is France, very calm over there, much more noisy here on the Swiss side.

Day 42 - Zurich.

Erica and Bruno acted as tour guides for us today.  First we caught a train close to the peak overlooking Zurich, followed by an uphill walk to the top.  The views were spectacular.

After lunch in a small outdoor cafe, we all went for a long walk in and around the "old town".  

Next was a boat trip in a very flat boat which could fit under the many low bridges.  This was very relaxing, sharing the waterway with paddle-boats, yachts, paddle boards, speed boats, and some quite large ships.

Our last meal together was in a cosy Italian restaurant, after which we said our farewells in the rain.

Caught the train up to the communications tower on the hill overlooking Zurich.

Some great views of Zurich from the hill above the city.  The Swiss call this lake the Zuri Lake.

One of the views from the top of the hill.

Overlooking the lake.  Sandra's Grandmother and Mum lived on the left just around the point.

The river through the old town.

They have the largest clock in Europe which even beats Big Ben!

Erica and Bruno took us for a tour of the river and lake on this boat.

Strange to see warm waters in the foreground and snow capped mountains at the rear.

Day 41 - Zurich

Left Berlin after three very interesting days, jumped on the plane to Zurich and found a beautiful city nestled in a valley with a lake that made it look so good from the restaurant tonight. 

Zurich has a population of about 800,000 in the city and numbers are now on the increase with many from North African countries settling here.

The road system is excellent, the city very clean and friendly people everywhere.

Overlooking Zurich with their beautiful lake in the centre.

Yachts on the lake, houses right on the water and great views everywhere.

Even Zurich has a stadium where thousands were flocking tonight.  Must be soccer.

This is Erica and Bruno who we first met 49 years ago in Melbourne.  We have kept in contact all these years.  Erica came out to Australia on a boat in 1966 with Sandra's mother.  What a small world.

They took us to a fantastic restaurant tonight that overlooked Zurich, and had a great night.

The view from the restaurant.

Day 40 - Berlin

Today was a day of R & R.  Minimal walking, no steps, but we did hit the shops.

We head to the Berlin Tegel airport tomorrow morning for our next adventure.  Stay tuned.

A new airport is being constructed in Berlin which will supersede the two existing smaller airports.  

Construction is expected to be completed in 2016.

We finished the day with an Aussie BBQ in the court yard of the hotel.  A great meal but the espresso martinis really turned the night into a German drink fest.

This is the Main highway called Strafe des 17 Juni which runs between Siegessaule (Victory Column) and the Brandenburg Gate.  Picture taken from the Brandenburg Gate. Note the guy parked on the centre strip between the traffic lanes.  This is unusual as most park on the footpath !!!!

Reconstruction of the city buildings which were bombed during the war continues, eg building on the left.

They love their sausages.  These can be seen in most plazas ( Squares)

This is the Berlin version of the Munich Beer Halls.  Many drink beer here from early morning to late at night. It is common to see young guys walking along with a beer in their hand at 10.00 am in the morning.  I don't think this would happen out the front of Myer on a work day but then again your elderly scribe is possibly a little out of touch with the latest trends.

Even smaller than a smart car, this little two-person vehicle is great in the busy city and can park on the footpath easily.