We have travelled through many lovely towns/cities in Germany. They are all similar in some ways but have their unique flavour. The cruise is very well organised and we cannot think of one thing to complain about, except we are too busy to write my blog!!!
We wandered around Bamberg yesterday and Graeme had a smokey beer while I had an apple juice.
The weather has improved hugely. It was sunny and 28C yesterday. Today 27C with a few clouds.
The amazing buildings and rich history is something I will always remember. We are in Nurenburg today and have chosen to go on a medieval tour rather than the WWII tour of Hitlers atrocities.
There is lots of things to see and do. The streets are so neat and tidy. Cobblestones everwhere. We have learnt how to walk on those.
Today we have a 24metre lock(8 storeys high). That will be interesting. It is a very interesting process. ABC = Another Bloody Castle & AFL = Another F......g Lock.
We are going to get to our highest point today and cross the Continental divide. Also crossing a road through a canal bridge.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
ms AmaDagio
The boat ms AmaDagio is our home for 15 days.
The boat never stops chugging along at about 11km unless it stops to let us off or on. If we get off for a walk around a town the boat will keep going and we meet up with it via a bus down the river.
The room is very comfortable. The advertised balcony is not. It is a sliding door/window with a rail to stop you falling out when it is open.
It is very smooth and not really noisy at all. The rivers are not deep. 3-5 metres. I metre lower than should be atm. The river is very busy with tourist boats and industrial boats full of oil, sand and other stuff we can't identify. The water rules are a bit different as the captains indicate which side of each other they want the boats to go.
We have just entered the Main River and it has 34 locks. Locks are fascinating. Amazing technology and the skill of the Captains is centremetre perfect.
The room is serviced every time you leave the room! Well it feels like it anyway. The staff are all from the Eastern block of Europe. Very much into having a good time. I have never seen so much food in my life. Starting at breakfast and going all day and up to 10.30pm for late night snack. I should put on a couple of kg. Broady has already!!
Everything is very well organised and prepared. Not one complaint. I do not have a special meal despite asking for Gluten Free. However, the choice is so great it is not hard to find suitable food.
We went to Cologne yesterday where 4711 perfume was invented. After a visit to an amazing cathedral we went to a famous flower show at Koblenz. It cost 103million Euro to put on!!
The scenery is magic. ABC = Another Bloody Castle.
Today was a quiter day. Got off at lunch time and went to Siegfried"s Music Cabinet. Many old and valuable mechanical musical instruments. Then an icecream party at 4pm.
Graeme & I are probably the youngest on board. However, the mostly Australian passengers are a lovely bunch. Always somebody interesting to talk to.
The boat never stops chugging along at about 11km unless it stops to let us off or on. If we get off for a walk around a town the boat will keep going and we meet up with it via a bus down the river.
The room is very comfortable. The advertised balcony is not. It is a sliding door/window with a rail to stop you falling out when it is open.
It is very smooth and not really noisy at all. The rivers are not deep. 3-5 metres. I metre lower than should be atm. The river is very busy with tourist boats and industrial boats full of oil, sand and other stuff we can't identify. The water rules are a bit different as the captains indicate which side of each other they want the boats to go.
We have just entered the Main River and it has 34 locks. Locks are fascinating. Amazing technology and the skill of the Captains is centremetre perfect.
The room is serviced every time you leave the room! Well it feels like it anyway. The staff are all from the Eastern block of Europe. Very much into having a good time. I have never seen so much food in my life. Starting at breakfast and going all day and up to 10.30pm for late night snack. I should put on a couple of kg. Broady has already!!
Everything is very well organised and prepared. Not one complaint. I do not have a special meal despite asking for Gluten Free. However, the choice is so great it is not hard to find suitable food.
We went to Cologne yesterday where 4711 perfume was invented. After a visit to an amazing cathedral we went to a famous flower show at Koblenz. It cost 103million Euro to put on!!
The scenery is magic. ABC = Another Bloody Castle.
Today was a quiter day. Got off at lunch time and went to Siegfried"s Music Cabinet. Many old and valuable mechanical musical instruments. Then an icecream party at 4pm.
Graeme & I are probably the youngest on board. However, the mostly Australian passengers are a lovely bunch. Always somebody interesting to talk to.
Amsterdam
The first thing you notice is the water in the small canals outside of Amsterdam. Lots of water. Alot of the land is lower than sea level.
The airport runway is a long way out from the airport. It was quite hot & humid when we arrived.
Amsterdam is a very interesting city. Very busy and everyone rides a bike. These bikes are some of the most clapped out contraptions ever. No gears as it is flat. There are bike paths for the bikes and the bikes have right of way. I nearly got cleaned up at leaset twice. Plus all the traffic drives on the wrong side of the raod so you have to look everywhere to cross the road.
Amsterdam is a city that is so opposite to Australia. Everyody smokes and just throws the butts on the ground. Lots of alcohol is also consumed. Pot is legal and smoked at specific cafes through out the city. The seeds are freely available to buy from the flowere market. Seems weird walking around smelling the smoke. Then there are the ladies of the day & night sitting in their stalls throughout the streets. Very in your face in broad day light.
The street cleaners come out each morning and hose the rubbish onto the road and the street cleaners come and sweep it up. I guess it keeps people emplyed. Amsterdam has the 2nd lowest unemployment next to Austria.
The airport runway is a long way out from the airport. It was quite hot & humid when we arrived.
Amsterdam is a very interesting city. Very busy and everyone rides a bike. These bikes are some of the most clapped out contraptions ever. No gears as it is flat. There are bike paths for the bikes and the bikes have right of way. I nearly got cleaned up at leaset twice. Plus all the traffic drives on the wrong side of the raod so you have to look everywhere to cross the road.
Amsterdam is a city that is so opposite to Australia. Everyody smokes and just throws the butts on the ground. Lots of alcohol is also consumed. Pot is legal and smoked at specific cafes through out the city. The seeds are freely available to buy from the flowere market. Seems weird walking around smelling the smoke. Then there are the ladies of the day & night sitting in their stalls throughout the streets. Very in your face in broad day light.
The street cleaners come out each morning and hose the rubbish onto the road and the street cleaners come and sweep it up. I guess it keeps people emplyed. Amsterdam has the 2nd lowest unemployment next to Austria.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Travellers Tales 1
As we were about to leave hubby asks about the liquids I was carrying. Being a man he does not have the same requirements as me and me being a first time OS traveller I did not quite get it! Yes, all my containers were less than 100mil but what I did not get was that as you pass through security they want to see these in a zip top plastic bag. As the taxi arrives to take us to the airport I grab a zip top clear bag. When we get to the airport I get the fluids out of my handbag and hand luggage!! Grr..
Then we check in and the lady takes 20 mins plus trying to figure out how to tag our bags to ensure all connections are safely met. Our confidence in ever seeing our luggage again dwindles!!
Then as we get through the first bit of security I get my first ever pat down!! Broady gets his usual "random" explosives test. By this stage my nerves are slightly jaggered so the first champagne in the Qantas lounge goes down real well.
Singapore Airport is amazing. It is as big as our local shopping centre and resembles the best shopping centre you have ever seen. There is an outside cactus bar where all the smokers go. So as I am travelling with a smoker this is where we head. The heat and humidity was a shock.
Back through security again and another pat down. I have never flashed my passport so much. At last it is getting used!!
To our horror the seats we have for the 12hr plus flight from Singapore to Heathrow are dreadful. The new Qantas planes are very cramped. We were in a 3 abreast block me on the window, Graeme in the middle and a very tall well built german guy on the isle. He is not happy with the cramped conditions. Graeme is a Platinum Frequent Flyer and his profile states "must have isle seat". That went out the window. He is not happy. The hostess realises this and comes to tell him he can anything he wants, just ask. That was all except an isle seat!
So now our holiday really begins.
It is actaully Wednesday now, day 4 of the river cruise but we have been so busy I have not had time to update. Today is a little quiter.
Then we check in and the lady takes 20 mins plus trying to figure out how to tag our bags to ensure all connections are safely met. Our confidence in ever seeing our luggage again dwindles!!
Then as we get through the first bit of security I get my first ever pat down!! Broady gets his usual "random" explosives test. By this stage my nerves are slightly jaggered so the first champagne in the Qantas lounge goes down real well.
Singapore Airport is amazing. It is as big as our local shopping centre and resembles the best shopping centre you have ever seen. There is an outside cactus bar where all the smokers go. So as I am travelling with a smoker this is where we head. The heat and humidity was a shock.
Back through security again and another pat down. I have never flashed my passport so much. At last it is getting used!!
To our horror the seats we have for the 12hr plus flight from Singapore to Heathrow are dreadful. The new Qantas planes are very cramped. We were in a 3 abreast block me on the window, Graeme in the middle and a very tall well built german guy on the isle. He is not happy with the cramped conditions. Graeme is a Platinum Frequent Flyer and his profile states "must have isle seat". That went out the window. He is not happy. The hostess realises this and comes to tell him he can anything he wants, just ask. That was all except an isle seat!
So now our holiday really begins.
It is actaully Wednesday now, day 4 of the river cruise but we have been so busy I have not had time to update. Today is a little quiter.
On the Boat
We are now on the boat. It has taken me 20mins to change the language from Dutch to English. I shall get back to this after a cocktail
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