AMSTERDAM

So, this is finally the last installment of our Rhine river cruise.  The first set of pictures were taken in Cologne, Germany along the river front and at the cathedral.  The cathedral was started in 1248 but not completed until 1880.  It was actually built to house the relics of the three wise men, which are enclosed in the gold box at the altar.  They were brought to Cologne by the Archbishop in the 1100's.

After Cologne, we had a stop in Kinderdijk, the Netherlands for an afternoon  visit to the Windmills.  Kinderdijk is a UNESCO World Heritage site with the windmills dating back to the 1700's and some are still in operation.

The boat left Kinderdijk and arrived in Amsterdam during the night.  We disembarked in the morning for a 2 day post-cruise visit to this very interesting city.  While there, we took a "hop on/hop-off canal boat ride with a stop to visit the Anne Frank House; we used the trolley system to visit the Van Gogh Museum and the red light district and had a wonderful visit to the Keukenhof Tulip Gardens. The tulips are usually finished blooming by early to mid May but, because Holland had a colder and wetter winter than usual, they bloomed late.  Definitely worth the bus ride and not to be missed if you can plan your visit at the right time.

Amsterdam is a fun place to visit but you must have an open mind since prostitution is legal and you can smoke marijuana in the local coffee houses, as well as buy your pot plants from the corner store.  Their feeling is that you might as well legalize vices and make money from the taxes.  You also have to be aware of the bicycles.  In an effort to curtail traffic, bikes are EVERYWHERE.

Now that our wanderings in the motorhome and our European vacation are over we are home and preparing for Ken's surgery. His first knee replacement (left) will be on June 17th.  That will be followed in 3 months by the other one.  If all goes according to plan, we will be planning next year's adventures before we know it. 

COLOGNE RIVERFRONT

COLOGNE CATHEDRAL

RELIQUARIUM? OF THE 3 WISEMEN

ORIGINAL (1300'S) STAINE3D GLASS

KINDERDIJK

 

 

 

 

 

 

OUR CANAL BOAT CAPTAIN

RV- A LITTLE SMALLER THAN OURS

MARITIME MUSEUM

 

 

 

 

 

A BICYCLE PARKING GARAGE

 

 

 

 

 

 

SELF PORTRAIT OF VAN GOGH

CURTAINS CLOSED - LADIES NOT ON DUTY

A STREET IN RED LIGHT DISTRICT

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE KEUKENHOF GARDENS 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INDOOR DISPLAYS OF LILIES

 

 

RHINE RIVER CRUISE AND CASTLES

The cruise along the Rhine, from Basel to Amsterdam, was wonderful.  Every city has a cathedral and I had no idea how many castles there were.  The castles were in varying states, some in ruins and others refurbished and being used as hotels.  Unfortunately, it is hard to keep the names straight so they will go un-named.  As we docked in each city, there was an excursion included as well as some optional trips like wine tasting in Alsace, beer tasting in Cologne and an authentic German dinner (along with chugging some nasty tasting liquor) in Rudesheim.  This posting takes us up to the Netherlands.   There are so many pictures that we had a hard time eliminating them.  More to follow.

THE VIKING VAR
This ship is one of ten that Viking is placing in service this year. This was only the second trip it has made.
 

DOCKED IN KEHL, GERMANY ACROSS FROM STRASSBOURG, FRANCE

A BLACK FOREST CUKOO CLOCK

AN AQUADUCT/TRAIN BRIDGE

THE EUROPEAN UNION BLDG IN MANNHEIM

CLOCK IN THE CATHEDRAL IN STRASBOURG

A WINERY IN ALSACE

VINYARDS VISITED ON OUR WINE TASTING TOUR

 

A VIEW OF HEIDELBURG FROM THE CASTLE

HEIDELBURG CASTLE GATE

WORLD'S LARGEST WINE BARREL

BETTY RELAXING ON OUR BALCONY

THE BRIDGE

WATCHING THE RHINE FROM THE 3RD DECK

A BARGE ON THE RHINE

MARIANNE- OUR PROGRAM DIRECTOR

COBBLE STREETS IN RUDESHEIM

I WAS CHOSEN TO HAVE A DRINK

MOST OF THE VINYARDS ARE ON HILLS

FORTRESS ABOVE CITY OF KOBLENZ

HOW TO MAKE "FLAMMKUCHEN"

A LECTURE ON THE "EUROPEAN UNION"

 

THE CASTLES OF THE RHINE

FOR ALL YOU RV'RS THERE WERE NUMEROUS CAMPGROUNDS ALL ALONG THE RIVER

 

NOTICE THE VINEYARDS



A MIDEVAL TOLL BOOTH

 



THE BELOW PICTURES ARE NOT REALLY A CASTLE AND CATHEDRAL THEY ARE RAILROAD TUNNEL PORTALS. HITLER DID THIS DURING WORLD WAR TWO BECAUSE HE DID NOT WANT TO LOSE HIS RAILROADS AND THE ALLIES WOULD NOT BOMB THE CASTLES OR CATHEDRALS