Sunday, 18 June 2023

At Home in Tucson

This will be the final blog from my recent European adventure. At this point, I do not yet have any plans for another trip--but you may be sure that I will think of something during the coming months. Happy summer to all--and thanks so much for reading and sharing your thoughts with me,

Sunday-Tuesday, 11-13 June 2023

Frankfurt to Amsterdam

On Sunday, my 7am taxi is waiting to take me from the dock in Frankfurt to the airport for my 10:15 flight to Amsterdam. There is no problem about getting there on time, since my driver achieves the dubious record of 180km--that's 112 miles--per hour on the Autobahn (no set speed limits). Thankfully there isn't much traffic.

You are already aware, from a previous blog, that my large suitcase was put on a flight to Paris instead of the short flight to Amsterdam (that's what you get for checking in early!). I didn't get it back until late on Monday, and I had to return to the airport to pick it up myself. KLM would not give me any information about when the bag would be delivered to my hotel, and my flight home was scheduled for early Tuesday, so I couldn't take a chance on not having it with me.

Miraculously, the hard-sided suitcase was not damaged at all and when I opened it, everything inside was as tightly packed as when I had last closed it. I will admit that it was pretty full so things didn't have much room to move around.

So my time in Amsterdam was pretty much consumed by anxiety about the luggage, shopping for some clothes to wear in Amsterdam and on the trip home, and unnecessary and expensive taxi rides to and from the airport. But I did have time for a few photos which I will share with you as my farewell.

The Hampton by Hilton at Schipol Airport Was Significantly
Better than Many Flagship Airport Hiltons I Have Stayed at During
the Past Several Years

Shops Found Only in Amsterdam

And, of course, the ubiquitous bicycle parking lots:

Friday, 16 June 2023

At Home in Tucson

Still catching up.

Saturday, 10 June 2023

Frankfurt 

Today is a quiet day in Frankfurt, a city I have visited many times previously. I decide to say on board, sleep in a bit, clean out all the junk I have accumulated over the past month, and pack for the flight to Amsterdam tomorrow and the flights home two days later.

So this is a good time to add photos of the Avalon ship, Imagery II, in no particular order:

Panorama Lounge: View Out Front of Ship

Panorama Lounge

Cruise Director, Katy, with Passengers in Panorama Lounge

Fresh Tuna Appetizer at Gala Farewell Dinner

Beef Tenderloin at Gala Farewell Dinner

My Stateroom with Open Veranda Window

Light Lunch Buffet in Panorama Lounge

Sun Deck with Bicycles

 

Sun Deck Lounge Area

Sun Deck with Navigation Cabin

Interior Corridor

Panorama Lounge with View of Bar

Closer View of Bar

Reception Area

Reception Area with Elevator

 

Light Lunch Served in the Panorama Lounge

Chef Grills Burgers on Sun Deck

My Stateroom
(above and below)

Stateroom Bathroom
(above and below)

Wednesday, 14 June 2023

At Home in Tucson

I arrived home in Tucson last night at 11pm after a very long "day" of traveling. Because of flight delays, missed flights, and cancellations, from the time I awoke in Amsterdam to the time I arrived home 28 hours had passed. But now that I am home where the wifi is faster and more reliable I shall continue with the blog as if I were still traveling on the rivers in Germany. That is, in between doing laundry and other "welcome home" chores.

Friday, 9 June 2023

Sailing the Rhein from Koblenz to Frankfurt 

From Koblenz, Imagery II begins its daylong sail up the most scenic stretch of the Rhein River Gorge. All along this passage the hills are topped by many medieval castles, some restored and some in romantic ruin. Both sides of the river are lined with small scenic villages, many connected by ferry since no bridges can be built on this scenic stretch. There are rail lines on both sides, offering views to passengers as they speed by on Germany’s high speed trains (I have done that a number of times). And, of course, vineyards line the arable hills in the sunshine.

Scenic Villages Along the Rhein

Medieval Castles and Ruins

Ferry Connections

and High-Speed Trains

Vineyards in the Sun

The most well-known and nautically dangerous passage is the “Loreley,” where legend tells us that a beautiful woman lured sailors to their deaths by her song from the top of the rocks.

Statue of the "Loreley"

We make one stop, at Rüdesheim am Rhein, perhaps the most famous wine village in all of Germany. I was last here in 1997 and things haven’t changed much except for higher prices and bigger crowds. And today the town is filled with Harley bikes and bikers as far as the eye can see (and the ear can hear), part of a national meeting of Harleys.

Rüdesheim am Rhein

The shore excursion today visits the Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum. The renaissance building which houses the museum is quite interesting, but the tour itself is a bit tedious. Fortunately it takes less than an hour, which leaves lots of time to wander the quaint village.

Scenes Round and About Rüdesheim am Rhein

Hanging Signs in Rüdesheim am Rhein

This is the last sailing day of the cruise. We reach the outskirts of Frankfurt at 4pm and we will be docked here through tomorrow (Saturday) and Sunday morning until disembarkation at 7am.

More about the end of the cruise and the travel days that follow in the next several blogs.