April 9

Day 6: Monday: Strasbourg, France

The obligatory "selfie" in Petite France section of Strasbourg

Today was a really good day....not a "WOW" day by any means, but as we bus toured and walked around Strasbourg several times the comment was made about how "cool" a European-medieval town this was.  Saw a lot of cool things, some VERY interesting.

The Strasbourg Cathedral

Close-up of the front door of the cathedral

The astronomical clock:  rebuilt in the 1800s it will be accurate until the year 9,999!

The view of "La Petite France" section of Strasbourg

It was a G-R-E-A-T day of Pokemon hunting for Kim!

After returning to the ship for lunch, within the hour we were off for a winery tour.  Tried four wines, the last three were white and they were all delicious!

The winery experience

Love my sweet white wines!

Side story #1:  Diana's Phone

We've been told several times to watch out for pick-pockets in the major cities.  So yesterday in Heidelberg our program director Diana had hers stolen!  But here's the part that makes it interesting.  About a half hour after she realized it was stolen the thief - who she said she "recognized as one of those kind of people" - returned her phone saying it was such an old phone it was really worthless to him.  HA HA HA

Diana on "Taste of Germany" Night

Kim & Reilan doing schnapps shots

Nichy delivers on Nancy's creme brule

Side story #2:  Rushing Fall

The Saturday before we came to Europe was Florida Derby Day, a major prep towards the Kentucky Derby.  Well, this past Saturday was a "Derby Day" at three major tracks but I didn't want to (and/or wouldn't have had time) to handicap these cards and/or play them.  BUT I did see that the 2yo filly turf champion Rushing Fall was running in the Grade 2 Appalachian Stakes at Keeneland on Sunday.  Through the wonder of the Internet and my xpressbet account I bet here - she blew by the field through the lane and I cashed for $30!  Gotta love technology!

April 8

Day 5:  Heidleberg, Germany

We were off the ship by 9:45 am (got to sleep in, thankfully after a full day) and rode the bus into town where we met our guide.  We rode the bus up to the top of the hill to the castle and spent a good hour and change.  Really exceptional.  Most touching was the story of the king & queen who met and married at age 16 here and how their lives turned out.  Got to walk the town with "free time" - and don't get me started on that!  But ok, so Viking has options for people who walk slowly; why can't we have an option for people who don't want free time?  Takes us another place with a guide and fill our time....but I digress :)  I have to say our "free time" utilization was the best of any place we've ever been.  Got a Christmas ornament, walked on the famous old bridge - got a photo op with the castle in the background - and got to have lunch in town at a very quaint German restaurant.

April 7

Day 3:  Marksburg Castle

One of the highlights of the last Rhine River trip we'd been on three years ago was walking through the oldest castle in Europe that has NEVER been defeated/taken!  We began the morning by getting on the bus for the short ride to the castle and toured through it.  Really amazing to think that 800 years ago people were living and working here!  And we had the opportunity to take THE photo of the trip.  We doubled back after the tour to get that photo only to find that the castle doors were locked!  We couldn't get out!  Seriously!  But we were with three other couples and knew another tour would come soon.  But a guide who had just started saw us and came back to rescue us :)

Dine In Rudesheim

April 7 - Castles On the Rhine

Day 4:  The Rhine River Valley Castles

What a great day!

April 6

Day 3: Friday: Cologne

What a fascinating day! Like the CBS reality show, "Big Brother" - the slogan for Viking Cruises should be "expect the unexpected!" Why do you say that Mark? Because yesterday and today we were re-visiting cities we'd been to in 2014 and thought well, it's worth doing again for the seven new stops at the end and the castles on the Rhine (which is tomorrow - so excited). Then, yesterday was the cheese farm and that was so unique. Today we were doing the "Cologne City Tour" and we'd done that. Walked in the famous church for about ten minutes and walked around the old part of the city. Well, well, well.....NOTHING like that today. Unbeknownst to us, three years ago the "church part" was highly unusual because there was something going on during that part of the day. Today there wasn't anything going on at the church and so we got a 40 minute detailed tour of the gothic cathedral. JUST fascinating. Never would have known! We saw the shrine which holds the remains of the Three Magi; we saw stain glass windows that were installed in the 1200s. All of it, just amazing. The only thing is it WAS cold when the wind was blowing, but the sky was crystal blue with bright sunshine. Out of the sun, no wind it was gorgeous.

Shrine of the 3 Magi

The bridge & the Rhine River

The Cologne Gothic Cathedral

The train station - 2,000 trains A DAY cross the bridge (above)

The "Gnome Fountain" today (left) and three years ago (NOT under rennovation!)

We were back to the ship by 12:15 and immediately went to lunch. Met a new couple and then right back on the bus to travel to the Bruhl Palace. The guide we had there, "Unca" was so passionate and made the place come alive. Just great!

Bruhl Palace

The main staircase - the detail, just astounding

We had the option to get on the bus to go the palace "hunting lodge" or go on a half hour walk through the woods, and we opted for that. A good, l-o-n-g walk that certainly got our exercise in for the day!

Through the woods!

The Lodge Is In SIGHT!

Topped off the evening by having dinner with our new-found friends Dennis, Mary, Bob, & Nancy and then went on the top deck for a group photo with the bridge and cathedral in the background! Up early tomorrow for the Marksburg Castle and what should be THE photo of the trip then cruise through the Rhine River Valley with all the castles all afternoon. Just hoping we have an Internet connection to upload tomorrow!

April 5 Specialty Dinner

Dinner by Manfredi's

The AquaVit Terrace

We are so excited to be sailing on a Viking Oceans - a "small, big ship" with a capacity of 900 guests to Scotland, Norway & Iceland this summer.  And one of their free perks is ALL specialty restaurants are no cost (unlike other big ocean ships), with the Italian option being "Manfedi's."  Well, for the first time EVER on a Viking River Cruise (and remember, we ARE the first sailing of the season!), Viking now offers free "specialty dining" on the Aquavit Terrace on a limited 14-guest per night set-up.  No extra charge, but you must make reservations for this special six-course dinner.  So of course we made reservations yesterday and dined there this evening.  Just a "WOW" experience......