I was going to try to be really creative and make an interesting and entertaining blog post, but if I don’t get to this it will be in the distant past…
So, I will post a selection of the nicest pictures of our “Grand Adventure” as my brother Jerry called it. Bob and I traveled with him and his wife Myrna. They are serious, experienced travelers and left us in the dust most of the time… they did the jet lag diet, while it took days for me to recover. Jerry handily drove in Germany with a GPS and also with the assistance of two experienced back seat drivers, “you’ve got your wife and your sister,” as Bob said. Jerry was unflappable. The were such good travel companions, they helped us a lot and reminded me I really like the people in my family.
So here it is — in order:
Jerry and Myrna were right next door.
Bob’s son-in-law, UPS pilot Joel, connected with us in Cologne. He somewhow wrangled an assignment that left him free to spend the day with us in Cologne, This is at the chocolate museum – in the conservatory where cocoa plants were growing.
the end result of the complicated demonstration of Lindt chocolate.. treat!
Bob and Judy in front of the Dom in Cologne – Joel took this photo practically standing on his head.
The Dom – castles and cathedrals were on the awesome list of sights.
I always like to light a candle whenever I can.
Dom door detail
An excavation in progress of the Jewish quarter in Cologne. “The cradle of Ashkenazic culture – with six superimposed building layers of various ages.” The site includes a Mikvah presently in use – the white tent-like structure.
Joel pointed out these “stumble blocks” replacing cobblestones in front of the houses where Jewish people once lived. It gives the names, the dates of their deportation and the results if known.
We had a wonderful German guide in Heidelberg who spoke movingly of the issue. She said in Germany, the ones who were adults during the war are gone, and her generation remembers, but the young people might not. So there is an effort to create experiences to help them be aware so it never happens again. Joel said students did the research for the stumble blocks and an artist did the castings. Our guide said the murders are “our responsibility and our shame” and that something about it is on the news other places every day. A great effort to never forget.
Peace demonstration in Cologne “Make love not war” – Renae (whom we visited at the end of the trip) thought it might be about the Ukraine.
Castles on the Rhine — cruising — Masterpiece Theatre!
vineyards everywhere
Myrna on the bow deck — vineyards in the background
Bob on the castle excursion in Heidelberg. Notice the red “Viking River Cruise” lanyard. It was a class act, we had little ear buds that made it possible to hear the guide even when at a distance… we were usually lagging, so that was nice.
Fraulein in a pub in Heidelberg. That sheen on my face and the ultra curly hair is indicative of the heat and humidity! That beer was very nice….
view of our longboat
Strasbourg, France
wine and pomes frittes in Strausborg, France
excursion to the Black Forest (reminded me of the Black Hills in South Dakota)
a few views of the ship
The coffee was always available at this coffee bar. I couldn’t stomach our coffee when I get back — I have been making the little espresso pot on the stove.
spent a few hours here 🙂
swans begging
my birthday on the ship — I turned 70….
my birthday coincided with the Captain’s dinner — I received a singing recognition from the wait staff
back at the room, balloons, chocolate and champagne and a nice card
love this photo of Bob – lolling in our motel bar in Stuttgart
Jerry in heaven — the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart — we happened to visit while the 24 hour Le Mans race was running! Lots of excitement — outdoor beer garden with large screen of the race. Such fun.
the “double helix” Mercedes Museum — very confusing. It took a little time for the four of us to meet up…. Bob was sure we would not leave without him, but just to be sure, he checked where the car was parked.
Renae, our host in Esslingen, a sweet quiet city outside Stuttgart. This is where Jerry and Myrna made the Judy and Bob transfer.
great picture of Jerry in the beer garden in Esslingen at the end of our travels with them. When they left us with Renae in this quiet little city, they drove on to Austria, Italy and the Swiss Alps. Whew! We stayed with Renae and napped and ate.
Renae and Bob in Esslingen
Esslingen, Germany
Bob at Daniel and Renae’s lovely penthouse apartment (never mind the fourth floor walk-up — we took it slow — and the views were worth it)
Bacchi, one of two resident dogs, she helped us with missing our George.
Esslingen
Renae with our waiter at “Einhorn” restaurant. It was Chanterelle season — einhorn means unicorn I think — at least that was the carved sign ….
Daniel and Renae’s
Final night we were invited to Wolfgang and Elke’s stylish and beautiful home for dinner. Another penthouse (elevator) and Elke’s exquisite taste in decorating and skill in cooking.
And DANIEL!! unexpectedly traveled back to Stuttgart for his work with the State Department and we were able to spend a few hours with him. This dinner and the good company was a wonderful end to our trip.
entertaining WOlfgang
What did I say about Elke’s cooking? Carpaccio.
Elke and Wolfgang, living in beauty – their little back yard slopes up — lots of up hill and down dale in this part of Germany.
Elke, master chef, serves food with grace and laughter.
So, we took the train from Stuttgart to Cologne, then on to Amsterdam where there was a “beach soccer” tournament in front of the palace! Lots of sand trucked in for the occassion. They know how to have fun in Amsterdam. Then home to MSP the next day. Whew!
So if you have any attention left after all that, here is a little essay about my internal experience on the trip…
Traveling and reading
When I travel I look forward, anticipate, and try to find novels or travel books to read before I go or while I am in the midst of the journey.
This time I made a mistake. I downloaded a number of books onto my Nook to avoid carrying heavy books and one of them was Good Lord Bird the new book by James McBride, author of the bestselling “The Color of Water: A Black Man’s Tribute to His White Mother”. The book had good reviews and I knew it was a story of African American history, but little else.
I became immersed in this book as I traveled, on the plane over, in Amsterdam and then cruising up the Rhine with stops along the way – a jarring juxtaposition of my reading life – I was immersed in the story — while taking in German history, beautiful castles and culture and green landscapes. It was too severe a contrast.
Part of me was with John Brown’s group of rag tag anti-slavery followers and I was horrified when I found myself describing the book as “seen through the eyes of a mulatto child” – a term used in the book along with many other non-PC words which I will not list here. I WAS the child, trying to make sense of his experience, assessing white and black alike and trying to survive in a confusing and dangerous world.
This is the mark of a master storyteller, to be pulled in so completely. Of course no one can ever accurately know another’s life, but this comes close.
I would have been much better off starting out with “Under the Wide and Starry Sky” which I turned to after the McBride book. It is described as the improbable love story of Scottish writer Robert Louis Stevenson and his tempestuous American wife, Fanny.
A “Bohemian” group of artists, writers and various others in Belgium, England, Paris, live their lives on the edge, defying tradition and convention to enjoy life while also facing hardship and loss – the artist’s life.
I am not the only one to make these connections with travel and reading. I have a book Cully gave me: Book Lust To Go: Recommended Reading for Travelers, Vagabonds, and Dreamers by Nancy Pearl. I would recommend it. Also Lonely Planet travel books have literature and movie recommendations .
It would be better to carefully select a book to enhance the travel experience, or at least a pleasant “beach read” escape book to pass the time.
Now I am in the post trip phase, finding books to enhance memories of the travel, either novels or true life travel books.
Judy: Looks wonderful! But how could you leave your garden just as your first daylilies were coming up??? Where are your priorities? Hope to hear more about your trip at Lafitte. We just booked for Jan 30 to Feb 11. I hope you’ll be there then, too.
Wonderful pictures. Love the castles, cathedral and all those stereotypical, quaint and history-full looking European sights. Certainly looked right out of those Masterpiece commercials, glad it lived up to the billing.
Wow, what a great trip! I thought the boat would look a bit rustic, but no, that is a pristine yacht.
When I went to yugoslavia 26 years ago, I read Misery by Stephen King, talk about odd reading choices. I loved all your pictures from this trip! Beautiful!!! Thanks for sharing them.
How fabulous!!! AS I read your blog, I am in Seoul, S. Korea , and packing for home after 16 awesome days! Watching F-16’s and U-2’s tear up the runway from my son’s balcony!, ( be sure to tell Bob..) touring DMZ, city streets, etc., and loving being w/ Luke and family again ! We need to connect over a beer or glass of wine and share travel stories!! Hugs, K
So beautiful, and looks like lots of amazing sites, good friends and laughter. So lovely. I think “Fraulein in a pub” has to be my favorite. XO Cully
Happy Birthday! I’m glad you got to spend it in such a wonderful way! I’m currently reading Z a novel of Zelda Fitzgerald, wife of F Scott Fitzgerald. The 1920s was a wonderful/crazy time to be alive and be an artist! I’ve heard The Paris Wife is a similar read.