The Great Rivers of Europe Cruise-a village in the fall along the Danube; gliding through the Wachau wine region-Oct-Nov. 07
Vineyards along the Danube in the Wachau wine region (Wachau valley); hilly vineyards define the landscape
Vineyards
Austrian Danube river scene
An Austrian village church with vineyards, in Wachau valley on the way to Melk
Wrinkles along the Danube!!!!!
Church along the river; note stone walled vineyard terraces above
Church scene
Church along the river
Barry on MS River Symphony on a fall day
Village and vineyards
Village, with village dock and vineyards
Church, village and vineyards; note the benches and people along the river bank
Gasthaus, river and vineyards on a crisp fall day
Castle along the Danube
Home and vineyards along Danube
Melk Abbey, Austria-900 year old Benedictine abbey which overlooks the Danube from its dramatic cliffside perch; called “Stift Melk Benediktinerkloster”
Barry by fountain at Melk Abbey, Austria
Clock at Melk Abbey, Melk, Austria
View of Melk and village church from Abbey Wall, Austria
View of part of Melk, Austria and bridge across side channel to walk back to ship on Danube (about 15 min. walk away)
Melk Abbey, Melk, Austria
Barry on wall of Melk Abbey, Austria-note the headsets the Program Directors and Guides used for narration on tours; town of Melk (below)
Library, Melk Abbey, Austria
Melk Abbey Library, Austria
Melk Abbey with globe showing known world at time
Baroque Melk Abbey, Austria
Baroque Melk Abbey with faux marble columns
Melk Abbey-designed by a theatrical set designer; note the theater style balconies and gilded podium
Melk, Austria
Melk
Barry in Melk Abbey
Balcony in Melk Abbey
Podium in Melk Abbey
Dome in Melk Abbey
Barry in Melk, Austria-narrow street
Medievil wall painting
Rathaus with wall painting-in Melk, Austria
Melk Abbey (above) from the village below
Melk Abbey from street below, Austria-dramatic clifside perch
View of Melk Abbey as we were walking back to ship, Austria
Melk Abbey from afar
MS River Symphony (far ship) beside a Viking River Ship -only time we had to go through another ship
The City on Three River-Passau, Germany-beautiful setting at junction ofDonau=Danube, Inn and Ilz Rivers
Across river from our boat
Passau, Germany
Paintings on City Hall, Passau, Germany
Clock tower of City Hall, Passau, Germany
Rathaus, City Hall, Passau, Germany
Shrine on side of building, Passau, Germany
Saints abound-another building shrine
High water marks from Danube River flooding (and other floods); some of the marks date back to the early 16th century.
Corner building shrine, Guild sign, modern traffic sign and window boxes on windows on green bldg
Barry on narrow cobblestoned street with banners above, Passau, Germany
Bell and clock tower of St. Stephen's Cathedral, home to the world's largest church organ outside the U.S. It boasts 17,774 pipes. May-Oct.=public performance daily at noon.
St. Stephen's, Passau
Podium, St. Stephen's, Passau, Germany
Outdoor vegetable, fruit and plant market in front of St. Stephen's Cathedral, Passau, Germany
Partial facade of St. Stephen's Cathedral, Passau, Germany; shows one tower of two
Retail Shopping street, Passau, Germany
St. Stephen's Cathedral, Passau, Germany
Barry at Fountain in Passau, Germany
Side street leading down to river-note the cobblestones (everywhere!)-Passau, Germany; this is the way we walked back to our riverboat
Cobblestoned side street with bicyclist-Passau, Germany
Barry on side street-Passau, Germany
Guild sign for Horsemeat Butcher, Passau, Germany (our Program Director said horsemeat was very good)
Passau, Germany Rathouse Square (City Hall Square)
Saintly wall painting; note cobblestoned steep street leading down to River-Passau, Germany
Cobblestone street, Passau, Germany
Sundail painted on building, Passau, Germany
Another saintly painting on building exterior, Passau, Germany
St. Stephen's Cathedral, Passau, Germany (Der Stephans-Dom zu Passau)
Religious wall art is very prevelant in Bavaria
Rainy day river scene over the Old Stone Bridge, Regensburg, Germany & Danube River; city escapted major WWII damage and is Germany's largest medieval city. 12th C. stone bridge (Steinerne Brucke)
Old Stone Bridge and Danube, Regensburg, Germany
Regensburg, Germany and the Danube
Along the Danube, Regensburg, Germany
Towering spires of Dom St. Peter-St. Peter's Cathedral, Regensburg, Germany, Bavaria's most impressive Gothic wonder. St. Peter's is home to a famous boys' choir known as the Cathedral Sparrows (Domspatzen)
Narrow cobblestoned streets, Regensburg, Germany
St. Peter's Cathedral
Down a cobblestone street-Regensburg, Germany
Timbers of a medieval house on a narrow street, Regensburg, Germany
Towers build by weathy merchants in Regensburg, Germany (modeled after Venice)
Regensburg, Germany - another “merchant tower”
Another “merchant tower”, Regensburg, Germany
Cathedral spire
Colorful side street, Regensburg, Germany
Old narrow street, Regensburg-note the windows wide open on left; weather was chilly but windows were frequently open airing out rooms
Barry in
Onion-domed church steeple along river
Church and river reflection, Germany
Church and River reflection
Castle on hillside above river
GCCL MS River Symphony at small village of Riedenburg, Germany
Aft of our ship as we walk into village-our cabin on Prelude deck (lowest level, small windows by water line!-the “submarine” level)
Bridge over Danube into Reidenburg, Germany
Reidenburg, Germany from a river bridge
Reidenburg, Germany-Bavarian guild signs; towers with wreaths, blue and white and signs are typically Bavarian
Steeple of Village Church, Reidenburg, Germany
Reidenburg, Germany; on the village square
Religious painting, Germany
Reidenburg, Germany from the hill above the village church-Barry took this when he went up to the Schloss Rosenburg
Schloss Rosenburg sign; Riedenburg, Germany; falconry in summertime; closed in fall and winter; Barry walked up to the Schloss
Closed entry doors to the Schloss Rosenburg, Reidenburg, Germany
Town square, Reidenburg, Germany with church and Schloss on hill; Sunday morning and everything is closed
Unique architecture around town square; Reidenburg, Germany
Beautiful buildings and church on the village square; on a Sunday morning, Reidenburg, Germany
MS River Symphony on the Danube from the Reidenburg bridge
Our home away from home!
Painting on farmhouse wall (Keslhof); farm where we had our home visit
Joseph and his girlfriend, Susie, explaining about the guild signs and the village church in the heart of the village
Joseph and Barry looking at the farm's horses
Thomas, Joseph and Susie at Home Hosted visit/farm in Bavaria
Table set with 2 kinds of cakes, coffee and tea for Home hosted visit in Bavaria
Dining room wall in Bavarian farmhouse
Joseph, on right showing painted cupboard in farmhouse's living room
Painted beds with feather duvets in Bavaria
Parents painted bed with feather duvets in Bavarian farmhouse
Bed headboard looking up at top of bed (called Sky bed) in Bavarian farmhouse
Painted bedroom cupboard in Bavaria
Outside painting over farmhouse window
Joseph and his girlfriend, Susie and their 8-year old son, Thomas; host family for “Home Hosted Visit”
Thanks and good-byes to Joseph and Susie at their Bavarian farm
Hitler's convention center, Nuremburg, Germany; grounds also had this lake (very dried up) and parks surrounding parade grounds
Nuremburg, Germany Park scene; around the Parade ground where Hitler's rallies took place
Barry at Hitler's parade ground; podium for dignaties/SS on right; where Hitler gave his speeches
Hitler's Parade ground podium, Nuremburg, Germany
Close-up of Hitler's parade ground podium; at railing is where Hitler gave speeches
Palace of Justice, Courtroom #600, where war trials took place; courtroom still used for mainly for murder trials, Nuremburg, Germany
Courtroom #600, Palace of Justice, Nuremburg, Germany
Half-timbered building in Nuremburg, Germany
Dom Nuremburg with market in square in front
Barry with fountain/well in market square in front of cathedral, Nuremburg, Germany
Market stall in front of the Dom, famous Nurnberger Lebkuchen (gingerbread)
European produce market, Nuremburg, Germany
Colorful awnings in market square, Nuremburg, Germany
More market scenes
The Cathedral with moving figures under clock
Moving figures under Cathedral Clock; move around at noon
German family with German flags at the Dom Marketplatz; posing for a photo
Nuremburg Dom with Market
Wall paintings; note sundial on tower; with windows make a smiley face; German buildings seem to be built tall with steep roofs with numerous dormer windows
Note the many dormer windows; very typical German style; also note the sundial on side of bldg.
Guild sign for a Baby Shop
Flowers in bloom in window boxes in the November cold
Shrines on many buildings
Blessed Mother shrine on the corner of a building
Bamburg Cathedral from back
Bamburg, Germany-1,000 year anniversary! Sign near cathedral; note cobblestone street
Building on cathedral grounds; note window boxes with flowers in cold mid-Nov. Also note the dormers on roof.
Arline well bundled up on grounds of Bamburg Cathedral; “toilette” stop
One of the many medieval buildings on the cathedral grounds in a large cobblestoned courtyard, Bamburg, Germany
Cathedral spire against the sky
Rooftops of Bamburg from the Cathedral bluff
View from the Parapet across from Cathedral, Bamburg, Germany
Rooftops from the parapet, Bamburg, Germany; note how many roofs have skylights added! Saw skylights and solar panels on roofs everywhere in Germany (government subsidizes)
Wooden Burial vault carved by Tilman Riemenschneider
Drinking ”smoky beer“ and eating pretzels in a Bierstube in Bamburg, Germany
Dewi, our Dutch Program Director, in center; enjoying smoky beer and pretzels with members of our tour group
University entrance, Bamburg, Germany
Barry strolling on street with picturesque half-timbered houses
Flowers in profusion...and it is COLD November!
Side of MS River Symphony going through lock; inches to spare
River Symphony in lock; note the German flag on boat's bow
MS River Symphony in the lock
Opening the lock; kids waving from bridge above
Lock opening further
Going through
Door Knocker on our cabin; MS River Symphony, Prelude deck #107
The Residence Chapel, Bamburg, Germany
Our Local Guide in The Residence Chapel, Bamburg, Germany
Part of the French Gardens of The Residence, Bamburg, Germany
Victoria, our colorful local guide, at The Residence, Bamburg, Germany; The Residence was the palace of the Prince-Bishop of Bamburg
Market in the rain; had “gluhwein” here
Bavarian Rothenburg ob der Tauber, a gem from the Middle Ages; highlight along the Romantic Road. Cobbled lanes and picturesque old houses give it a special atmosphere.
Side street in Rothenburg
Colorful hotel in Rotenburg
Saint (knight?) on the corner in Rothenburg
Shops and buildings along Market Platz, Rothenburg, Germany
Christmas shop windows, Rothenburg, Germany
Rothenburg, Germany; manin square with colorful picturesque buildings
Kaethe Wolfahrt, Christmas museum and large selection of German Christmas deocrations and ornaments, Rothenburg, Germany
Christmas window at Kaethe Wolfahrt Christmas shop, Rothenburg, Germany
Twilight on a rainy day in main square of Rothenburg, Germany
Twilight, Rothenburg, Germany
Colorful shop windows on a dark, rainy late afternoon in Rothenburg, Germany
Twilight with colorful shops and city walls off in distance, Rothenburg, Germany
Bright and welcoming shops abound in the darkness on a windy, rainy afternoon in Rothenburg, Germany
Late afternoon darkness, Rothenburg, Germany
Strolling in the late afternoon, Rothenburg, Germany
Beautiful window boxes everywhere in Germany!
Tower that is part of the city walls of Rothenburg, Germany
City gate arch, in late afternoon dark, Rothenburg, Germany
Barry with the horses in Rothenburg, Germany before our carriage ride
Barry in the horse carriage, Rothenburg, Germany
Freezing on a night carriage ride in Rothenburg, Germany; note the sleety snow on Arline's coat
White horses and carriage, Rothenburg, Germany
Captain and seaman sticking heads up through lowered “bridge” on MS River Symphony
Low bridge ahead!...Captain and Seaman checking our clearance
Ready for a river ride!
Galley tour with Executive Chef on MS River Symphony
Barry in Dining Room
Barry and Arline enjoying the dining room and outside view
Two-level dining room on MS River Symphony
Library on MS River Symphony
Chandelier overlooking Lobby and Reception area on River Symphony
Barry at MS River Symphony's computer in “library” aboard ship
Arline, Dewi (pronounced Davi), our Program Director, and Barry on Grand Circle's River Symphony
Executive Chef and apple strudel making demonstration in Lounge aboard River Symphony
Glassblower from Wertheim, Germany on board River Symphony
Cabin #107, Prelude Deck on River Symphony
In cabin looking back towards door, TV and bathroom on left, closets and vanity seat on R.
Twin beds made up during day make a small couch when folded up in cabins
Beds when folded down with comforters
Our Prelude deck hallway
Hallway going upstairs and back to Spa
Barry at our cabin, #107
Barry in a small lounge across from Library
Looking out the Lounge windows; Grand Circle Cruise Lines flag flying
Looking out the Lounge windows (fore on ship); German flag flying
Bartender, Jaroz, with Barry
Looking out Dining Room windows aft
Looking behind us at a barge in a lock with our boat
A lovely plate presentation
One of the origianl gates of Wertheim, Germany
Part of the old wall of Wertheim, Germany; note the Christmas decorations (stars) on wall; this is the gate we walked through from the boat to walk into the main part of town
Marketplatz, Wertheim, Germany
Another market square scene in Wertheim
Barry in Wertheim
Wertheim shot
Barry and I in the Town Square, Wertheim, Germany
River and town view, Wertheim, Germany
High water marks of Rhine floods; oldest recorded on wall goes back to 1545
Castle tower, Wertheim
Old castle ruins, Wertheim, Germany
Glassblower's small shop and building on square in Wertheim, Germany
Entering MS River Symphony after a fun day ashore sightseeing and shopping (bought Birkenstock shoes); lobb in rear
By side door with lock wall at the side; clearance a matter of inches in some locks
Capt. (on R.) steering through a lock with outside joystick control; seaman communicating with deck below
Looking into the collapsible bridge; Captain outside using joystick control
Looking ahead a locks open
Captain and Seaman guiding boat through one of 66 locks traversed
Capt. steering through lock and looking back along the side of the boat
Capt. checking for clearance
From mid-boat; looking back over the Observation/Sun Deck with side rails and chairs closed down due to low bridges
A lot of side clearance on this lock!
Church and village through a rainy window
Another village and church
Along the Rivers
Barry in Lounge watching the world glide by!
Village scene
Beauty along the rivers of Germany
In the Dining Room aboard ship
Looking out Dining Room window aft while we are in a lock
“Johannesburg”, Residenze of Bishops of Mainz, in town of Aschaffenburg, Germany
Johannisburg in Aschaffenburg
River barge
Entry into the Bar and Lounge aboard
Some of the seats in the Bar/Lounge
RV Park along the Rhine
Rhine castle
Silhoutte of Rhine castle
Rhine Castle
A Rhine Castle from the river below
A rainy day along the Rhine
A huge Rhine castle
Another Rhine castle and road up
Note church steeple by train tunnel; Germans built the steeples to confuse the Allies so they would think it was a church and not bomb the tunnel.
A cold and rainy day on the Rhine; Lorelei rock the large rock/cliff on right ahead
Going to go around the Lorelei (Loreley) rock on the Rhine
Loreley rock on the Rhine
Lorelei
Our ship's own siren, Program Director, Rudi...our very own Lorelei on the Rhine!
Lorelei on the Rhine! (Rudi, Sr. Program Director)
Marksburg Castle, along the Rhine
Marksburg Castle from the River Symphony
Marksburg Castle, looking back over the sun deck; with deck chairs folded flat
Marksburg Castle
Observation Deck (chairs folded down) and Marksburg Castle, far left
Parasitic Mistletow clumps in trees along the Rhine
Timbered building in Rhens, Germany; along the Rhine; not a stop
Dewi talking to women in Carnival attire, Koblenz, Germany
Dewi, our Program Director, talking to man in Carnival attire, Koblenz, Germany
Dewi, Program Director, with her flag talking to man in Carnival costume
At the Koblenz Carnival
At Koblenz Carnival
Koblenz Carnival
Covered deck on Symphony with open Observation/Sun Deck up steps
Koblenz, too cold for side-walk cafes!
barry in Lounge of Symphony; lights are over the Dance Floor in center of Lounge
Guttenberg Museum, Mainz
Mainz, Germany
Mainz
A rainy tour in Mainz; medieval half-timbered houses; so many flowerboxes; and religious statue
Blessed Mother and Christ Child on the side of house
Guide demonstrating the printing process in Guttenberg Museum, Mainz
Guide in Guttenberg Museum; etching in rear shows what Guttenberg's printing operation looked like
Barry helping guide demonstrate the printing process
Timberland shoes in a window in Mainz, Germany
Carnival state in Mainz, Germany
Opera House, Mainz, Germany; we ate in a restaurant just to the left of this...delicious.
Mainz Carnival goers
Barry on Left and Carnival goers in costumes
Cathedral, Mainz
Interesting architecture, Mainz
Mainz -(green, gold and white buildings are a printed screen covering the reconstruction of those facades behind the screen); the buildings are new post-war but constructed to have “old” facades (and now being reconstructed).
Another cobblestone platz, Mainz, Germany-Sunday so almost everything is closed.
Well in Mainz, Germany
Rudesheim, Germany - on the Rhine
Bavarian beergarten pole and traditional design; blue and white of Bavaria
A crowded street in Rudesheim in the rain
Room in a wine barrel, Rudesheim, germany
Inside large wine barrel has 2 beds and small bathroom
Hotel in Rudesheim with Wine Barrel bedrooms
Pretty open deck area at Rudesheim Hotel
Hotel, Rudesheim
Drosselgasse (Wine Alley) in Rudesheim, Germany
Rudesheim, Germany with vineyards behind
Barry in Cologne, Germany - along the River near where our boat docked
Cathedral through the trees along the Danube, Cologne
Concert Hall and Cathedral
Concert Hall (modern) and Cologne Cathedral
Barry with initial view of Cologne Cathedral from the River (on left = modern concert hall)
Railroad Bridge, Cologne, Germany on the Rhine
Cologne, Germany
Rub his nose for good luck and to return to Cologne; silly string on figure on left remains from Carnival the day before
Spires of the Cologne Cathedral
Across from Town Hall (Rathaus), Cologne; supposed to stand for “I s--- on the government”
See previous notes
Statue, Cologne
Rathaus, Cologne
Jewish ghetto area of Cologne from Middle Ages
Archeological dig for Roman ruins, Cologne, Germany
Dig finds with identifying tags
Archeological site with Jewish baths below under glass pyramid, Cologne
Archeological dig of Roman ruins and Jewish ghetto area (from Middle Ages), Cologne
Barry at archeological site; glass enclosure over a Jewish ritual bath area from the middle ages in the Jewish ghetto area of Cologne
Cologne spire
Cologne Cathedral from the side
Cologne Cathedral side entrances, note the flying buttresses
Cologne Cathedral; part of one spire on the facade
Cologne Cathedral
More glorious windows
In Cologne Cathedral
Shrine of the Three Magi
Barry by Shrine of the Three Magi
Barry by the Danube; our boat behind him at dock, Cologne
River Symphony docked in Cologne, Germany
German polizei on street, Cologne
MS River Symphony, Cologne, Germany
Kaiser XXXXX statue
Spires of Cologne Cathedral on a dark, rainy Nov. day
Barry with rear view of Cathedral and part of Concert Hall (on Left)
Arline inside Colgne Cathedral
Looking back toward front door, Cologne
Nave, looking toward front window, Cologne
St. Christoper and Christ Child, Cologne Cathedral
Statue of St. Christopher carrying Christ Child; legend that if you visit the Cathedral and gaze into St. Christopher's eyes a person will not die on that day
Floor mosaic depicting the Cathedral
Another floor mosaic - closer detail
Floor mosaics
