A Ship within a Ship

Charlie and I and our friends, the Bohans, embarked on a new adventure.  MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company) is the second largest shipping (cargo and passenger) company in the world.  Most people in the U.S. have never heard of them, and their presence in this market is very small, with one ship, the MSC Divina, sailing in the Caribbean.  However, they have numerous ships in Europe. 

Because we had never experienced MSC, we decided to take a 7-night Eastern Caribbean cruise on the Divina this week.  The Divina is quite a large ship, holding over 4,000 passengers.  I must preface this by saying that we have sailed on ships with as many as 6,000 passengers and as few as 400.  However, MSC has the concept of a “ship within a ship”.  We much prefer a smaller ship.  They are more intimate and the staff gets to know you and your likes and dislikes quickly.  This “ship within a ship” is called the Yacht Club.  Norwegian Cruise Lines also has The Haven on some of their ships that is the same concept. 

We chose to upgrade to the Yacht Club on this sailing.  I have to confess that I couldn’t imagine that there would be much difference in the service in the Yacht Club and the rest of the ship, but believe me, the difference is huge.  Our stateroom was not much larger (approximately 200 sq. ft.) than the deluxe balcony cabins with the exception that we have a full size bathtub, and a walk-in closet with plenty of drawer and storage space.  There is also additional storage on shelves that are behind doors.

 

When we arrived at the ship on Saturday, we checked in at the area for Yacht Club guests.  There we were met by Kamil, the chief butler.  Did I mention that each stateroom and suite in the Yacht Club has its own butler? Kamil had one of his butlers escort us to the Yacht Club embarkation desk inside the terminal.  This very elegant room had a hostess who checked us in.  Time elapsed – 10 minutes.  No waiting in lines, no feeling of being herded, just a pleasant experience.  While our documents were being processed, we were offered our drink of choice, a cool place to sit and another butler who escorted us to our staterooms. Total time from when we arrived at the port until we were in our staterooms – 15 minutes.  Our luggage was also checked in at the outdoor area and was in our cabin when we returned from lunch. Our butler would have been happy to unpack for us had we wanted him to do so.

Access to the Yacht Club is by your stateroom key.  With less than 200 people in this area, the staterooms are all on two decks. This is truly a ship-within-a-ship.  We had our own concierge area, our own library, our own dining room (Le Muse) an indoor lounge and bar (the Top Sail Lounge), our own pool area and hot tubs, our private entrance to the Aurea Spa, our own outdoor dining venue and bar (the One Pool Bar) and so much more.  It truly has the feel of a private yacht.  Breakfast and lunch is served each morning in any of these lounges or restaurants.  There are wonderful canapes and snacks all day in the Top Sail and One Pool Bar.  And, ALL of your beverages are included in the Yacht Club area, including spirits, specialty coffees, sparkling and bottled waters, and a mini-bar in the refrigerator in your stateroom. Fresh fruit is replenished in your stateroom daily.  

This ship is extremely beautiful with Swarovski crystals embedded in the staircases in the main atrium area as well as in the Yacht Club stairway between the two decks. The beauty of being in the Yacht Club is that you have the other amenities of a large ship, like incredible shows, the casino, the shopping area, the other dining venues and pool areas, etc., but the exclusivity of the small ship if you prefer a quiet and peaceful setting. 

If you are looking for a true European experience, MSC is for you.  There were more Brits, Germans, and Italians, and Aussies onboard than U.S. citizens.  Did we mind?  Not at all.  All announcements are made in Italian, German, Spanish, French and English, so you must be prepared for longer than usual announcements.  However, these are few and far between, unlike so many cruise lines that have announcements being made all day long.

The Aurea Spa is beautiful and has reasonably priced spa services.  Both of us had Balinese massages and came back rested and refreshed.  I also had a body scrub exfolliant treatment and massage, as well as an incredible facial.  Now, if only there was a treatment to help me lose 30 pounds, I would be in Heaven. 

This ship alternates Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries and will reposition to the Mediterranean after spring of 2015.  There are some incredible bargains on this ship, but if you can afford the upgrade to the Yacht Club, it will be worth every penny you spend. 

Gaspe, Quebec, Canada

October 16, 2013

I remember studying about the Gaspe Peninsula in elementary school.  Today, we visited there.  This is a very rugged part of Canada, which includes a section of the International Appalachian Trail.  Yes, that’s the same Appalachian Trail that runs through Tennessee.  The peninsula extends into the Gulf of Saint Lawrence.  There are high cliffs and mountains that border the area.  This is also a prime spot to see migrating whales and beautiful landscapes.  We didn’t see any whales today because most of them have already started their migration south into warmer waters.

This area is devoted to fishing, agriculture and forestry.  However, because of the number of tourists to the area, it is moving toward the tourism and service industries. 

We chose to stay in the little city of Gaspe today, rather than take a shore excursion to Perce, about an hour across the peninsula.  All of the shore excursions were by school buses, and we just weren’t up to riding that distance on that type of bus.  Had we gone, however, we would have seen the northeast tip where Forillon National Parks, the first national park in Quebec, is located, and is home to seals and moose. 

Just strolling the main street of Gaspe was like visiting Skagway, Alaska.  Very few shops, a number of restaurants, a Tim Horton’s (Canada’s version of Starbucks), and very friendly people who wanted us to enjoy their little piece of North America.

Tomorrow and Friday are sea days before we arrive back in Bayonne, NJ, on Saturday morning and return home from a much needed vacation.

Quebec City - Day 2

Quebec City, Quebec

It’s cold and rainy today, and looks very much like autumn in Quebec City.  We will wait awhile and possibly leave the ship later in the day.  This itinerary keeps us here two full days.

Here’s some things you may not know about the city.
·         It was settled by Samuel de Champlain in 1608 at a narrow part of the majestic St. Lawrence River.
·         It was the first permanent French settlement in the New World
·         As “the” place to trade lumber and fur, it soon became a prosperous commercial port.
·         Things weren’t always settled though, and the 18^th century brought disputes between the French and the British and later the Americans

Given the province’s French heritage(which is unique among the Canadian provinces), there is an ongoing debate in Canada regarding the unique status of Quebec and its people.  Currently, the population is divided – some support the idea of full sovereignty; some with a sovereignty-association with the rest of Canada; some are satisfied with the status quo and want their province to remain within a united Canadian federation. 

This is a beautiful area of Canada.  We depart late this afternoon and will have another day at sea before arriving at Gaspe.  More then.

Quebec City, Quebec

October 13, 2013

Fall has definitely come to Quebec City!!  We arrived early this morning, and the Hotel Frontenac was lit and beautiful.  The trees are in full color, and everything in Quebec City is decorated with beautiful pumpkins and Fall decorations.

Quebec City, Quebec, is the New France.  Very European in charm and character, this was the first French city in North America, and is 400 years old. The historic town sits atop a bluff overlooking both the St. Charles and St. Lawrence rivers.  About 95% of the people of Quebec speak French as their primary language, but most speak English as well.

Our tour this morning took us to the Joan of Arc memorial, the Hotel Frontenac, Place D’Armes, and the Basilica of Notre Dame.  This Upper Town area has spectacular views of the St. Lawrence River.
We also went through the Lower Town and saw the Place Royale and the restored Quartier du Petit-Champlain.  There is a “funicular” which connects these two sections of Quebec City.  A funicular is a cable car/incline type people mover. 

We drove out to St. Anne de Beapre, a beautiful Catholic Basilica.  St. Anne has become one of the most important Catholic sites in North America, and is known as a place of miraculous healing, and there were two walls holding dozens of crutches and canes and walkers.  The cathedral is built in the Gothic style and has over 200 stained glass windows.  Mass was being held when we arrived, so we could only go into the back of the Basilica. 

We also stopped at Montmorency Falls, a beautiful waterfall that is actually higher than Niagara Falls. 

It’s been our coolest day yet, and after being out most of the day, we are now back onboard to rest for awhile.  We will be in Quebec City again tomorrow, which is Canadian Thanksgiving.  Our guide told us that all of the shops and restaurants would be open tomorrow, so we plan to go back into the Old Town for a little shopping.

Prince Edward Island and Anne of Green Gables

October 11, 2013

This morning, we arrived in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.  Charlottetown was named for King George’s wife, and Prince Edward was his son.  Again, the weather has been on our side, as we awoke to bright blue skies.  As the day progressed and we traveled to the north side of the island, it became a bit overcast, but cleared as we returned to Charlottetown.

The people here are extremely friendly.  Our guide asked if anyone was from the U.S., and then mentioned that she would be bringing a group to Nashville in November over Thanksgiving.  Of course, we had to let her know that we lived there.  She was so knowledgeable about the island and everything about Anne of Green Gables.

William and Kate honeymooned on PEI and stayed at the Lieutenant Governor’s house.  We saw Founders’ Hall, Canada’s birthplace pavilion, and travelled to the North Shore, famous for its red cliffs, PEI National Park, Cavendish Beach and the Anne of Green Gables House (the old fame site that inspired Lucy Maud Montgomery’s first novel, Anne of Green Gables, published in 1908). 

Because I loved this book as a child and had just read it again before coming on this trip, it meant even more to me to see the setting that inspired the book.  The description of the house, barn, Lover’s Lane and the Haunted Woods were exactly as L.M. Montgomery had written. 

We are finally seeing some fall foliage, and today’s nip in the air let us know that we are definitely getting further and further north.  We set sail shortly for Quebec City. Tomorrow is a sea day, and after five days in port, we are looking forward to a day for relaxing, reading and enjoying the ship. 

Sydney, Nova Scotia

October 10, 2013

So, just where is the world’s largest fiddle (roughly 50 feet tall and weighing around 10 tons)
 located? It’s sitting dockside in Sydney, Nova Scotia, the quaint little port city where we are docked today.  We arrived in Sydney around 9:30 am Atlantic time.  It was cool and crisp, but again, we have bright blue skies and a little wind.  We were greeted by a Scottish piper when we left the ship.   This is a tiny little town, and we were able to walk about a half-mile from the ship into the downtown area. 

The people of Sydney hail from around the world, and are a mix of over 50 nationalities from Scotland and Africa to Eastern Europe. 
Cape Breton’s is the largest community in Sydney.  This is the general location of where our ship is docked.  Victoria Park now sits at the site of the original British garrison which was established in 1785.  We stopped in a little Irish pub for a light lunch and did a little shopping in the downtown district. 

One local boy made it big here when he invented the telephone – Alexander Graham Bell.  The city has also had famous hockey players (this is Canada, after all).  

We came back to the ship to rest and relax this afternoon before having dinner tonight in Normandie, one of the specialty restaurants on the Celebrity Summit.  Our ship sails late this afternoon, and then we set sail for Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.

Oh, Canada! A Day in Halifax

October 9, 2013

We crossed the U.S. border into Canada during the middle of the night.  Today we were in Halifax, Nova Scotia.  Halifax is located on the eastern shore of Nova Scotia.  It is a very metropolitan city, is the capital of Nova Scotia, and is known as the “City of Trees”. 

Halifax is home to many museums, historic sights and beautiful gardens.  The Halifax Citadel, the Old Town Clock, City Hall, Province House and St. Paul’s Anglican Church are among the many sites we saw on the double decker bus that we took around the city this morning.

The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic features several Titantic exhibits that demonstrate the role Halifax played in the disaster.  As the closest major port to where the Titanic sank, Halifax played a significant role in the recovery and burial of its victims.  Once the magnitude of the disaster had become apparent, White Star Line dispatched three ships from Halifax to aid in the recovery operation.  There were 306 bodies recovered, 116 of these were buried at sea.  About 150 Titanic victims are laid to rest in three Halifax cemeteries, most at Fairview Lawn.  When we were here a few years ago, a hurricane had preceded us and the cemetery was closed to visitors.  Debris and trees were down and strewn everywhere. 

This afternoon, we took a tour out to Peggy’s Cove, the highlight of visiting Halifax.  The impressive rock formations are hundreds of millions of years old, left by eroding glaciers.  Their natural beauty is enhanced with a huge stone carving by William DeGarthe, which is a tribute to the people of Peggy’s Cove, a working fishing village.

It was a beautiful day in Halifax today with the temperature hovering around the 60° mark, but sunny and little wind.  We are soon to set sail to Sydney, Nova Scotia.  More tomorrow.

 

 

Bah Hahbah

October 8, 2013

It’s Day 5 of our Canada/New England cruise on the Celebrity Summit.  Today was sunny, but our first cold day.  We awoke to 41° bright blue skies. 

Bar Harbor is a very picturesque town that is tucked away along Maine’s rocky coast.  Our ship can’t dock at the port, so we must tender in.  That means that we will have small boats that will take us into the port from our very large ship.  It was very windy out, and the seas were choppy, but we made it to shore in less than 15 minutes. 

Bar Harbor’s main attraction is Acadia National Park, but unfortunately, it is now closed because of the furloughed “non-essential” governmental employees.  This was a huge disappointment that we couldn’t see this site.  According to the information from Celebrity, there are “granite cliffs side by side with sand and cobblestone beaches. Glacier-carved mountains rise from the sea, cupping deep lakes in their valleys. “  Just a bit of trivia - the Acadians of were of French descent, and they migrated to the Southern coast, specifically to Louisiana and became known as Cajuns. 

Tourmaline is a gemstone indigenous to the area, and there are numerous store that sell jewelry with these stones.

A trip to Bar Harbor is definitely not complete without having Maine lobster and New England Clam Chowder  for lunch, followed by warm blueberry pie with ice cream. 

When we returned to our ship, we attended a cocktail party sponsored by Vacation.com, the travel agency consortium to which we belong.  This particular sailing is a Distinctive Voyage, and this is one of the amenities we will receive. 

After cocktails, I headed to the AquaSpa for a Spa-Topia treatment – hot stones back massage complete with a hand and arm massage, pressure point foot massage, and a spa facial.  What a way to end a beautiful last day in Maine before heading to Canada.

A Taste of Maine - Oct. 17, 2013

We arrived in Portland, ME, this morning to a very gray, very foggy sky.  Seeing across Casco Bay was an impossibility.  The term “pea soup” came to mind when we looked out from our balcony.  Portland is a wonderful place to get a taste of New England, whether you are looking for incredible homes, architecture and history, or lobsters and chow-dah.  Henry Wadsworth Longfellow referred to Portland, his boyhood home, as the “Jewel of the Sea”.

Charlie and I got off the ship and took a walk down the main street, getting caught in a rain shower.  Thank goodness, I remembered to pack the umbrellas.  We met up with our friends, Linda and Jim Tidwell and David and Linda Bohan, and boarded our motorcoach for a tour to Kennebunkport around noon.

To get to Kennebunkport, we had to go through Kennebunk.  We passed The Kennebunk Inn, one of the top ten haunted inns in New England, and where our friends, the Bohans, have stayed.  They can vouch for the Inn being haunted because they experienced it first-hand on a trip here a few years ago. 

Kennebunkport is just 45 minutes from Portland.  The leaves are not at their peak color, but it is definitely looking like fall in New England.  This is a charming coastal village which gained worldwide exposure as the summer home of former President George H.W. Bush. 

When we arrived in Kennebunkport, we stopped for a quick bowl of clam chowder and a little shopping before boarding our coach again.

Motorcoaches are not allowed to stop , but we drove slowly past Walker’s Point, the Bush Estate, and the former Summer White House, where world leaders often gathered.  We could see Barbara Bush (although at quite a distance) decked out in pink, outside working in one of the many gardens surrounding the compound.  

There is a guard house to enter the driveway which has Secret Service personnel in residence.  There is also housing for them on the estate.  The flag pole is very interesting, with the U.S. flag on top of a flag of the state of Texas and a flag of the state of Maine.

As soon as we arrived in Kennebunkport, the sun came out, the weather started to clear which made the leaves even more brilliant. 

One thing we did learn today is that there are 75 lighthouses in the state of Maine.  I’m sure we will see quite a few as we sail by the Maine coastline. 

It’s 5:00 pm, and the Celebrity Summit has begun her departure from Portland as the fog again starts to roll in.  We are now headed to Bar Harbor for a day of eating lobster and roaming around this quaint little New England town.

How to Travel Peacefully with Your Family & Friends

We usually spend time with friends and family in three or four hour blocks, going to dinner and the movies or watching a football game.  So, when friends and family decide to travel together, they’re suddenly faced with each other’s whims, needs and preferences 24/7, which sometimes causes enough friction to sabotage the vacation.  Here are some tips on how to make sure that family and friends remain friendly while traveling.

Establish Ground Rules

When my dad took our family of 13 on a cruise a number of years ago, one of the first things we discussed was that we needed to establish some ground rules.  We had ages 6 to 66 going on this trip with two of them college-age students. My dad was one to call everyone early in the morning and wake them up.  This was a big no-no.  We had some who wanted to sleep in and some who were early risers.  The first ground rule was no one was to call anyone in the mornings.  We had a place on the ship where we would meet in the mornings after you got up.  On port days, we set a time and meeting place so we would all leave the ship at the same time.  Now, we take family radios with us and the rule is to turn them on when you wake up and ask if anyone is up yet. RULE # 1:  If your traveling companions’ style differs from yours, find an amicable compromise in the planning stages in order to prevent any conflicts while on your vacation.

Separate and Share

Plan to do separate activities once or twice during the trip, promising to meet up for dinner to share your experiences.  The second ground rule on our family cruise was ALL of us would have dinner together every night.  RULE # 2:  The perfect time to play apart is during the daytime when each couple/person/family might choose a different excursion or sightseeing tour.  Come nighttime, you’ll be trading wild tales over cocktails and dinner about your divergent adventures.

Leave Emotions at Home

If you know your friends well enough to plan an international trip with them, then you should have a pretty good idea about their likes and dislikes.  We travel with two couples who are our best friends.  We have some

shoppers and some sightseers in this group.  If one couple wants to do something different than the rest, no one gets their feelings hurt. RULE # 3: Don’t feel like you have to be joined at the hip every minute of every day. A little wiggle room for everyone is good.

Agree on the Budget

RULE # 4:  Have a frank talk before you go about how much you intend to spend, how frequently you want to eat at fancy restaurants and other activities that will cost money.

Keep Talking

Always express your opinions and ask for your traveling companions opinions in return.  Only by knowing what both parties like and dislike will you be able to find a common ground.  RULE # 5:  The key to peacefully traveling with your friends and family is keeping the lines of communication open. 

By following these simple tips, you can have a stress-free, fun-filled vacation with those friends and family you cherish most. 

Five Things We Love About River Cruising

My husband, Charlie, and I have been on four river cruises – three in Europe and one in the U.S.  We’ve sailed from Burgundy to Provence in France on the Soane and Rhone Rivers, from Prague to Budapest on the Danube River, and from Amsterdam to Basel on the Rhine River.  We’ve also sailed from St. Louis to Louisville on the American Queen steamboat.  All four of these cruises have been unique.  The scenery on each was extraordinary.  The ships had their own personalities in their layout and design.  The itineraries, needless to say, cannot be compared, as each was so different.  From the vineyards, lavender and sunflower fields in France, to the castles along the Rhine, to the history of World War II along the Danube, to the flavors of the small cities of the U.S., we found that there were similarities on all of them.

River cruising is one of the fastest growing segments of the travel industry.  We are booking more and more of these types of vacations weekly.  A number of the river cruises in Europe, especially, are already booking up quickly for 2013.  China, Vietnam, Egypt and the Nile and the Zambizi in Africa, as well as the Po River in Portugal are fast becoming exciting river cruise destinations.

Why is this form of cruising becoming so popular?  Here are five things we love about river cruising:

1.       All-inclusive Value – River cruises typically include shore excursions in the cost of the cruise.  This is a tremendous value.  And, most of the river cruise operators (Avalon Waterways, Viking River, Tauck River Cruising, and American Queen Steamboat Company, to name a few) include wine and beer with lunch and dinner.  Many river cruise lines even offer complimentary Internet access as well.

2.       Easy to Go on Your Own – River cruises typically dock within walking distance of a city or town along the river.  This makes it very convenient if you want to explore on your own, or enjoy a lunch or dinner in town.

3.       Smooth Sailing – There is no motion on a river cruise, and for one who has an issue with motion sickness, this is a major plus.  So, if you are sensitive to motion, a river cruise is definitely something to consider.

4.       Relaxed Liquor Policy – River cruise lines are much more accommodating when it comes to consuming alcohol that you bring onboard.  If you purchase a bottle of wine in port, you can bring it back onboard and enjoy it up on the sun deck or in your cabin.

5.       Casual Dress Code – There are typically no “formal” nights on a river cruise.  The atmosphere is classy or “Country Club Casual”.  This makes it much easier to pack for your vacation.

If you haven’t tried a river cruise, now is the time to look at 2014 and a new adventure. 

A Taste of the Good Life

Cruising grows in popularity every year, as more and more travelers discover the flexibility and value a cruise vacation provides. Once onboard, there is a wealth of intriguing activities from which to choose.

A culinary cruise is the perfect way to combine ones love for travel and fine food into one incredible cruise experience. For those with the love of cooking and dining, a big part of the cruise experience is to sample local dishes and taste local wines.  River cruising, especially in Europe, has gained in popularity in the past few years, and the culinary experience on these ships is everything one would expect in the finest restaurants across the continent.  The cuisine and wines served onboard are indigenous to the country visited, whether sailing in the south of France, on the Danube in Eastern Europe, or the Rhine in the Netherlands, Germany and Switzerland. 

A Culinary Cruise offers both the love of cooking, fine dining and so much more. Often on a Culinary Cruise celebrity chefs demonstrate their techniques, share their menus and let you participate in the process. Imagine taking a tour of a local market with a culinary expert! Culinary cruises take immersion into a local destination to a new level.

Here are five of the best ocean-going cruise lines to cook up your culinary education:

Crystal Cruises – In addition to hands-on instruction, days at sea feature chefs’ demos, wine tastings, pairing sessions and lessons in the art of the perfect cocktail.

Holland America Line - The Culinary Arts Center, a first-class “show-kitchen at sea” presented by Food & Wine magazine, integrates your love for fine food and wine with a unique and entertaining experience.

Oceania Cruises - Aboard the fleet’s newest ships, the Marina and Riviera, you can become immersed in the joy of cooking gourmet cuisine at the Bon Appétit Culinary Center, a hands-on culinary studio featuring 24 individual cooking stations.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises - At Regent’s Le Cordon Bleu Workshops, celebrated chefs provide a hands-on introduction to the art of French cooking.

Silversea Cruises - This luxury cruise line offers a broad curriculum of tantalizing culinary events designed exclusively for the first Relais & Châteaux L’École des Chefs at sea.

Isn’t it time that you had a “taste” of the good life?

Top Eight Things You Must Pack When Traveling Overseas

A week before we left for Europe last fall, one of our friends called and asked me if I was packed yet.  Packed?  Of course not.  Made my list of what I was planning to take?  Definitely.  It was just a matter of collecting everything and putting it into the proper bag.  One thing we learned the hard way is to pack half of my things into one bag along with half of my husband, Charlie’s.  We can usually get by on a 10-12 day trip with two large checked bags and a carry-on each. 

When I make my packing list, here are my top ten things that I pack first before anything else:

1.    Books/magazines or any other type of reading material.  The thing about travel is that there is a lot of sitting.  And waiting. And sitting while waiting. It seems like a minor thing to pack, but trust me, when you’ve got hours to kill on a plane or train, you’re going to want that book.  Having an e-reader eliminates having to pack heavy reading material. 

2.      A universal plug adapter.  It is annoying to arrive at your destination and realize that you can’t plug in your laptop, phone or curling iron because your plugs won’t fit into the wall sockets.  Remember:  Not only are the plugs different, the power supply might be different too.  Be sure your appliance has a transformer on the power cord before you plug it in, even with the adapter.  If it doesn’t then you might be better off asking your hotel if they have a hair dryer you can borrow.

3.     Medicine.  If you’re on prescription medicine, be sure that it’s in your prescription bottles with your name on it.  This should always be packed in your carry-on bag.  You do not want this separated from you at any time.  Over-the-counter medications are sometimes just as important, although you can probably get these wherever you are going. Just be sure the dosages are the same as you are accustomed to taking.  I always take a pain reliever, an anti-diarrheal, and a small first-aid kit to be on the safe side.

4.      Camera and related accessories.  With digital cameras today, taking film is no longer necessary, but batteries for your camera are. A laptop could be classified as a “related accessory”, and I take all of the cables I need to download my pictures each day from my camera’s memory card to my laptop.  And, on the subject of memory cards, it’s a good idea to have a spare with you.

5.     Chargers.  There is nothing more disappointing than arriving at your destination, ready to get out and see the sights, and realizing that your camera battery is dead and you forgot your charger.  Moral of the story:  don’t forget any of your chargers – cell phone, laptop, camera, etc.

6.     Travel documents and photocopies of travel documents and passports.   If you’re going to travel overseas, you’re going to need a passport.  If you’ve never applied for a passport, give yourself plenty of time ahead of your trip to apply for one.  If you already have a passport, make sure that the expiration date is at least six month beyond your planned return date.  You will be denied boarding the aircraft if it isn’t.  In some countries, visas are mandatory.  Check you’re your travel agent to make sure you have all of the proper documentation.  What if you lose your passport while gone?  This is where the photocopies come in.  Make copies of your passport and put a copy in the top and bottom of each of your bags, as well as leaving a copy at home where someone can find it easily.  Make sure your travel agent has your passport number and expiration date as well.

7.     Cell phone.  Overseas, cell phone costs can be astronomical if you use data roaming.  Be sure to turn this service off before your plane leaves the U.S.  Check with your provider and ask about international data roaming fees.  You may want to disable your data roaming so you can’t receive emails or have internet access on your phone while gone, but can receive phone calls in case of emergency.

8.     An open mind.  Remember, you’re traveling abroad because you want to experience a whole new culture – and sometimes, that culture doesn’t include things like McDonalds or even Starbucks.  Relax, and soak it all in.  Plan your travel agenda with contingencies so that if things go wrong (and they just might), the result isn’t catastrophic.  And, when all else fails, just remember, you’ve made memories that will make great stories in the future.

Avalon Visionary Rhine River Cruise - Day 8

November 3, 2012 - Breisach Germany and The Black Forest

Charlie and I have been to the Black Forest numerous times.  At one time, Charlie ran a company for the Germans in Tennessee and their home office was in the Black Forest, specifically in Lenzkirch.  We have been to the area in February when there was five feet (yes, you read that correctly) of snow on the ground, and we have been there in September.  But, today, we arrived in Breisach to sunny skies and beautiful trees in full color - that is until we were taken up into the Black Forest.  When you think of the Black Forest, you think of Grimm's fairy tales, gnomes and ogres or all types.  This mysterious forest is where you might expect to run into Hansel and Gretel at any moment.

However, this beautiful area of the world is filled with quaint wooden houses with very steep roofs to keep the heavy snow from causing the roofs to cave in.  There are window boxes on the houses filled with beautiful flowers, still in bloom although they have snow last weekend.  This is farming-country with fields and fields of corn (used not for eating, but for grain for the livestock and for bio-diesel), vineyards with Riesling grapes, asparagus and cabbages.  Most of the farms will have cows for milk and dairy products, chickens for eggs (but not to eat), goats, etc. 

At special occasions, traditional costumes with red "bobble" has for the unmarried ladies and black ones for the married ones are the norm.  And, of course, there are cuckoo clocks.  We traveled up into the Black Forest to a cuckoo clock shop and were treated to coffee and a slice of their famous Black Forest cake, made with chocolate sponge cake and a filling of cream and cherries soaked in cherry brandy. 

The Black Forest reminds us somewhat of the Great Smoky Mountains in East Tennessee, complete with smoke on the mountains.  This dense area of evergreen fir trees and conifers covers many of the upper slopes of its rolling hills. 

We ended our last day on our cruise with a walk into the town of Breisach before lunch.  All of the shops close on Saturday at 1:00 pm, and we got into town about 20 minutes before they closed.  However, it was a beautiful day for walk into such a lovely area of Germany.

Tomorrow we arrive in Basel, Switzerland, early, and will be off the ship and on our way to Zurich for a couple of days.  More later.

Avalon Visionary Rhine River Cruise - Day 6

November 1, 2012

It's All Saints Day, and in Germany, and this is a holiday.  The shops and restaurants are all closed!!!  However, we arrived this morning in Mainz.  During World War II, more than 30 air raids destroyed about 80% of the city's center including most of the historic buildings.  Although there was some damage to the Mainz Cathedral (Dom), it remained almost completely intact. 

Mainz was captured on March 22, 1945, by part of the U.S. Third Army, commanded by General George S. Patton, Jr. Patton used this strategic gateway to cross the Rhine south of Mainz to drive down the Danube toward what is now the Czech Republic so that German elements in Bavaria would be cut off and would not have a place to retreat and end the fighting.

Some of the staff at the Gutenberg Museum allowed us to go to through this incredible facility.  -Johannes Gutenberg was born in Mainz, and at the museum we saw an original 42-line Gutenbeg Bible.  We also saw the moveable-type printing press that Gutenberg invented and actually saw a page printed on it.

We returned to the ship for lunch, and then took a short drive to Heidelberg.  We had been to this beautiful university city a number of years ago and had visited the Heidelberg Castle and ruins.  This time, we opted to just roam the streets.  Although most of the shops were closed, the streets were bustling with students and tourists who were taking a long weekend.  What a great place to sit in a cafe with either a local beer or coffee and people-watch the afternoon away. 

Avalon Visionary Rhine River Cruise - Day 7

November 2, 2012 - Strasbourg, France

Today was overcast when we awoke.  As we looked out our window, there were swans swimming on the Ill River, just off the Rhine.  We were docked in the enchanting town of Strasbourg on the French-German border.  Strasbourg is the capital of the Alsace region of France, but it is influenced by the culture of both countries. 

We started our day with a canal cruise into the city where we learned that Strasbourg is the seat of the Council of Europe and the European Parliament.  We passed the United States Embassy, as well as the embassies of numerous other countries and nations. 

From our canal boat, we saw La Petite France is the former tanners' quarter on the River Ill and is a delightful maze of lanes and streets with gorgeous half-timbered houses all along them.  We arrived by boat and took a walking tour to the Notre Dame Cathedral of Strasbourg.  Because of bombing during World War II, many of the Cathedral's best exterior sculptures had had to be replaced by copies.  The stained glass windows of this church are magnificent and although some of them were destroyed during the War, they have all been replaced.  There is a wall of windows called the "Poor Man's Bible" which tells the story of Christ's life in pictures in the windows.  One of the most
incredible sites within the church is their astronomical clock.  The clock is set on Greenwich Mean Time, and we were able to see it in action.  It was amazing.

Strasbourg is a shopper's paradise with department stores and upscale boutiques all along Place Kleber.  Alsatian cuisine blends the subtle flavors of French cooking and the hefty portions you'd expect to fine in neighboring Germany.  Pate de foie gras (goose liver) or escargots (snails in garlic butter are some of the delicacies in the cafes and restaurants in Strasbourg. 

Strasbourg is also known for its kugelhopf, a circular, small bundt-type, semi-sweet cake, and these can be found in all of the many bakeries.  Our sweet delights were honest-to-goodness French beignets with a dark chocolate filling.  We brought these back to the ship, got a cup of hot cappucino, retired to our cabin and had a wonderful afternoon treat and nap.

Avalon Visionary Rhine River Cruise - Day 5

Oct. 31, 2012

We arrived very early this morning in Koblenz at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle Rivers.  Extensive Allied bombing during World War II, destroyed much of Koblenz's Old City. There are some new buildings, but most were reconstructed to look as they did before the war.  We did a brief 45-minute walking tour of the city before returning to the ship a leisurely cruise down the Rhine River most of the afternoon.

The Rhine is about 825 miles long, but it is the 40 or so miles of the Middle Rhine Valley that most people recognize as the Castle Road.  The narrow gorge is absolutely beautiful this time of year with the leaves on the trees turning.  There are fortresses, quaint villages, remote chapels, and vineyard after vineyard on hillsides to add the perfect finishing touches to the Rhine's landscapes.  This region of the Rhine has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and rightfully so. 

The river's most famous legend is the 430-foot high cliff, the Lorelei, which legend has it, often caued ships to founder in the trecherous currents at this point where the Rhine narrows drastically.  The story goes that a beautiful sorceress cast herself into the river here rather than accepting her sentence of confinement to a nunnery.  She was known to be spotted sitting on this rock combing her long hair and singing, luring sailors on the ships in the river to their destruction. 

Late this afternoon, we arrived in Rudesheim, one of Germany;s most famous wine towns.  As the wine connoisseur, Charlie, has said so many times, the white wines of this area, the Rieslings,  are wonderful; the reds are like paint-thinner.  We took a small tourist train from the ship up into the town and had a delightful visit at the Museum of Mechanical Musical Instruments.  Rudesheim is also known for is Christmas Market each year, and of course, we had to visit their big Christmas shop to get another ornament for our international Christmas tree.  We sampled coffee with a local brandy to warm us as we headed back to the ship. 

This was a very busy, yet relaxing day just watching the world go by as we sailed down the Rhine to Rudesheim.

Avalon Visionary Rhine River Cruise - Day 4 - Cologne

Oct. 30, 2012 – Cologne, Germany

Eau de Cologne.  Bet you thought this came from France.  It didn’t, this perfume came from Cologne, Germany, a beautiful Romanesque city built on both sides of the Rhine River.  The most famous eau de cologne is 4711, however, the first cologne made here was Farina.

The Cologne Cathedral is the landmark twin-spired Gothic cathedral that is seen on all of the postcards and in pictures of this city.  Supposedly, the remains of the three magi are buried within this structure.  It took over 600 years to build this massive church.  During World War II, there was an agreement that no historically significant buildings would be destroyed.  The very first 1000 bomber raid by the Royal Air Force was conducted on Cologne on the night of May 30 and 31, 1942.  It was expected that it would knock Germany out of the war and damage the German morale.  The RAF only had about 400 aircraft and the Royal Navy refused to let coastal command aircraft take part in the raid.  Cologne was not the first choice.  Hamburg was, but inclement weather caused the change in destination for the bombing.  Seven official administration buildings, 14 public buildings, 7 banks, 9 hospitals, 17 churches, 16 schools, 4 university buildings, 10 postal and railway buildings, 10 buildings of historical interest, 2 newspaper offices, 4 hotels, 2 movie theaters, and 6 department stores were completely destroyed.  The only military installation damage was the barracks used by members of anti-aircraft gun crew.  Damage to homes and apartments was considerable with 13,010 destroyed, 6,360 seriously damaged, and 22,270 lightly damaged.  The number killed was 469 of whom 411 were civilians and 58 were military. 

Because the main train station was next door to the Cologne Cathedral, there was some damage to the structure.  There has been continual restoration done on it since the end of World War II, and it has still not been completed.

Cologne was a former Roman city and has an historical heritage. There is a complete tile floor from a Roman home in the Roman-German museum.   The remains of an ancient  Jewish quarter was discovered in Cologne in 2007.  The remains of a synagogue, a hospital, bakery, community hall and mikveh (a bath house used for ritual purification) were discovered.  Archaeologists are enthusiastic about the dig, but Cologne residents remain skeptical. 

Of course, Charlie and some of our traveling buddies had to try out the local brew, Kolsch, the local beer brewed in Cologne.

Later tonight, we leave for Koblenz, the Rhine Gorge and Rudesheim. 

Avalon Visionary Rhine River Cruise - Days 2 & 3 - Amsterdam

Oct. 28 & 29, 2012 – Amsterdam

“One day this terrible war will be over.  The time will come when we’ll be people again and not just Jews! – Anne Frank  11 April 1944

On Sunday, Oct. 28, we awoke to an overcast sky and a windy, blustery day.  On our agenda for the day was a trip to the Anne Frank House.  We walked from our hotel, the NH Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky, through the Dam Square and about five or six blocks to this incredible museum.  I had pre-purchased our tickets for an assigned time to go through the house, and it’s really a good thing that I did.  The queue wound around the house and down a couple of blocks for those without tickets.  There must have been over 100 people waiting to purchase tickets. 

I had watched the movie, “The Diary of Anne Frank”, a few months ago, but seeing the close quarters that this family and their friends lived in for over two years during the Nazi occupation of Holland during World War II, was so moving.  One of the things that amazed me was that no one spoke while they were going through the house.  It is like being on sacred ground. 

The Anne Frank House’s museum is unique.  It is the hiding place where Anne Frank wrote her diary during World War II.  There is a set route through the house that you must follow.  A couple of the many things that made such an impression on me was the size of the small rooms and the narrowness and steep of the stairs.  There were eight people who occupied a space of less than 800 square feet – Anne, her parents, Otto and Edith Frank, her sister, Margot, Hermann, Auguste, and Peter Van Daan (pseudonym  for van Pels in the Diary), and Fritz Pfeffer  (pseudonym for Albert Dussel).  These people had to stay indoors 24 hours a day.  The curtains were always kept closed, so the neighbors could not see them.  Below the house is a warehouse that continued to operate while they were in hiding.  During the day, when the employees were there, all of them had to sit still and not make a sound.  They could not run any water nor flush the toilet. 

There is no longer any furniture in the house because Anne’s father who survived the concentration camp did not want to replace it after the Nazis had emptied all of its contents.  However, the walls of this house can tell so many secrets, and just by being in it and seeing the close quarters and how they had to live was such a moving experience.

Today we took a leisurely canal cruise all around the city of Amsterdam.  There are houses here that are actually crooked from the years of the marshy sub-soil under them settling.  Our ship sailed at noon and we are now en route to Cologne, Germany.  More tomorrow.

Avalon Visionary River Cruise - Day 1 - Amsterdam

October 28, 2012

 

It’s cold here!!!  Was 39 when we got off the plane yesterday, and it didn’t get above 45 all day.  It was a little overcast, but cleared off by early afternoon.  Sunny and cold I can take.  Got a note from a friend yesterday afternoon.  She and her husband have been living in Basel, Switzerland, for the past year.  She said it was snowing like crazy there.  We don’t arrive there until next Sunday, so we are just hoping we have enough warm clothes with us.  I did remember to pack gloves, hats, etc., so by layering on the sweaters and turtlenecks, we should be okay.

Daylight savings started last night, and we got that extra hour of sleep.  Neither of us slept on the plane over, so we took a 3 hour nap yesterday after we got into our room.  The hotel is beautiful.  We are staying at the NH Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky.  Take a look at the pictures on their website.  We met four of the couples who are with us for dinner last night at an Argentinian steak house.  There are lots of them in Amsterdam for some reason.  We had, at first, thought we might want to have Dutch food until we saw the menus at some of these restaurants.  Pork belly didn't sound very appealing. 

The hotel is located at the Dam Square which is one of the largest in Amsterdam, and there was a carnival there today.  We did a little shopping and just walked around after our nap.  Our hotel is also located at the edge of the Red Light District.  Of course, last night after dinner, we had to take a stroll through it.  WOW!!  is all I can say.  This area is huge.  We were warned about the coffee shops that aren't really coffee shops, but pot houses.  Saw one seed store that had seeds from every type of marijuana plant that you could possibly want.  This is like no place we have ever been. 

We are headed to the Anne Frank house this morning, and then have to be at the ship by 3:00 this afternoon.  We overnight onboard and have a sightseeing tour and canal cruise tomorrow.