8 More Sleeps...

It's getting real now. Our trip is just 8 days away. I'm both excited and exhausted about it. Getting there, to me, is the worst part of vacations. This time it's even worse to me. We are on a direct flight to Frankfurt. TEN hours on a plane. I will go insane. I'm sure of it. We usually split our trip in two and have lay-overs in Chicago or NY. It's nice to break up the trip. But not this time. TEN HOURs to Frankfurt. 4 hours there - gotta go through customs. Then we hop on another plane for an hour to get to Milan. Isn't that weird to think? That in a hours flight you could be to Milan? That'd be so cool. 

Anyhow, tonight we had an opportunity to add another excursion we had wanted to join a couple of weeks ago, but it was sold out. So that means every day we have two excursions. It also means that we won't be having dinner on the boat too often - which means no small talk with strangers...which makes me happy. 

Here's the list of excursions...this is gonna be so much fun. 

Day 2 – Breisach, Germany

Morning: The Black Forest 

Explore the dense, lofty fir forests of Germany’s Schwarzwald, the fabled Black Forest. Embark on a scenic motor coach excursion through a mythical land of cuckoo clocks, glassblowing and timeless fairy tales. You will begin with a drive into the woods, passing the wine-producing villages of Ihringen, Gottenheim and Bötzingen, each of them cradled among the soft, undulating hills and prolific vineyards of southwestern Germany. Continue to the beautiful Hofgut Sternen hotel, a loyal keeper of Black Forest traditions.  After, you will return to your ship via Freiburg, a major university and ecclesiastical center.

Afternoon:  Medieval Village of Colmar
Stroll the charming medieval lanes and squares of Colmar and explore its “Little Venice” quarter. With its 9th-century streets, 13th-century Gothic churches and original Old Town, Colmar seems torn from a storybook. In the beautifully restored Quartier des Tanneurs, named for the tanners who worked in its 17th-century half-timbered houses, admire lanes of medieval houses and the Schwendi Fountain. This masterwork was sculpted by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, creator of the Statue of Liberty. Later, stroll through the charming La Petite Venise and enjoy the picturesque views from the bridge across the Lauch River.  

Day 3 – Strasbourg, France

Morning: Strasbourg Highlights 
Get to know this delightful city steeped in equal parts French and German culture. Join your local guide for a drive through the German Imperial District and the European Quarter, home of many institutions of the European Union and the Council of Europe. Continue past remarkable Renaissance architecture, then proceed to the city center for a walking tour of the picturesque Petite France area, the former Tanners’ District surrounded by the small Ill River and crisscrossed by charming canals. Here, you will see the Old Customs House and the covered bridges with their defensive towers. In Cathedral Square, view the magnificently restored Strasbourg Cathedral, towering above merchant houses. One of the finest of Europe’s great Gothic cathedrals, it was the world’s tallest building from 1647 to 1874. You will have time to admire the great Gothic rosette window, beautiful red sandstone portal and remarkable astronomical clock.

Afternoon: Atsatian Wine Tasting:
Explore the treasures of Alsace, from its Renaissance beauty and distinct culture to its crisp, clean white wines. World-renowned for its viticulture, Alsace is enriched with a dry mild climate, favorable soils and ideal exposure for its vineyards. Its location creates a blend of Germanic and Roman influences, and tells a story started by wine-producing Romans. The fine white wines produced here rival the crisp Rieslings of neighboring Germany. Enjoy a drive into the Alsatian wine country and stop for a winery and cellar tour. If the season permits, take a walk through the vineyards. The winegrower and your guide will introduce you to Alsatian wines, some of Europe’s finest, and describe the history of harvesting and wine growing in the region. You will have the chance to taste some of this elixir, with ample opportunity to talk with your host about the skills required to produce French wines. 

Day 4 – Speyer, Germany

Morning: Speyer Walking Tour: 
Enjoy a fascinating stroll through Speyer, home to the largest of the three Romanesque imperial cathedrals. It is believed that the Protestants earned their name here in 1529 after citizens and royalty drafted the “Protestation at Speyer,” proclaiming their right to practice Christianity as they please. In 1689, Louis XIV’s troops plundered Speyer and left it in ruins; over many decades, it was artfully rebuilt. During your walk, you will marvel at the exterior of the red sandstone cathedral. Eight emperors are entombed here, including some of the most notable Holy Roman Emperors. Reconstructed after Louis XIV’s invasion, its six towers dominate the skyline. Pass the Jewish courtyard, once home to one of the most important medieval synagogues, and Speyer’s Altpörtel, or Old Gate, the last remains of the town’s fortifications. There will also be time to stroll the city’s charming, shop-lined main thoroughfare.

Afternoon: Wine Tasting & Dinner at Eberbach Monastery
Enjoy dinner in a former Cistercian monastery whose lush vineyards have produced wines for centuries. Drive to Kloster Eberbach, a monumental yet simple Romanesque and early Gothic monastery church renowned for its architectural heritage. Its vineyards have been maintained throughout its history, despite its secularization in 1803 and various incarnations since. Enjoy a guided tour of the church and the monks’ cloister, once strictly reserved for the use of ordained choir monks. Your tour concludes in the historic wine cellar, where grapes grown on the grounds have been transformed into sweet Rieslings for centuries. Here, you will have the chance to sample some of the monks’ favorite wines. Proceed to the dining room, where you will enjoy a dinner prepared with the freshest ingredients from the Rhinegau. After a delicious meal in a hallowed setting, return to your ship. 

Day 5 – Koblenz, Germany

The morning is spent cruising the middle Rhine where you'll find all these fantastic castles. Oddly enough, this part of the Rhine is what I remember the most on our trip back in 1987. I'm hoping the weather is nice enough for us to sit on the top deck and enjoy a 360 view.

Afternoon: Historic Koblenz
Take a leisurely stroll around Koblenz and explore its historic past. You will meet your guide and begin your tour at Deutsches Eck, the city’s famed German Corner. Jutting into the waters like the prow of a ship where the Rhine and Moselle Rivers meet, this public park is home to a popular equestrian statue of Emperor Wilhelm I. After time to admire the sculpture, continue your walk among the narrow streets. Visit Jesuitsenplatz, or Jesuit Square, in the heart of the Old Town and named after the religious order of the same name. Admire the beautiful old school that sits on the eastern side of the square, and has been used as Koblenz City Hall since 1895. As you explore, your guide will point out influences from ancient Rome, the Middle Ages and the Napoleonic era.

Day 6 – Cologne, Germany

Morning: Cologne Walking Tour
Learn about Cologne’s heritage and view its iconic cathedral, towering over the city in all its Gothic splendor. Step into a rich past, following some of the city’s preserved historic street patterns and hearing about its Roman and medieval history along the way. In Old Cologne, pass the elegant silhouette of St. Martin’s church and stop to view Cologne’s magnificent Gothic cathedral. Construction of this towering structure began in 1248 and continued in several stages over the next seven centuries. The largest Gothic cathedral in Northern Europe, this magnificent church boasts two soaring spires and beautiful stained glass windows, and largely escaped the damage that ravaged the city and the rest of Germany during World War II.

Afternoon: Cologne’s Beer Culture & Dinner
Immerse yourself in Cologne’s lively brauhaus culture and sample the pride of the city. During this fun excursion into the heart of Cologne, you will stroll the Old Town’s cobblestone streets past historic houses. Pause along the way at three Kölsch brewhouses. Kölsch—a light, crisp beer—is brewed only in Cologne. Brauhaus servers, called köbes, will deliver Kölsch straight from the barrel to your table in 7-ounce glasses, small enough for you to finish the beer while it is still refreshingly cold. As you drink in the rich culture of Cologne amid the dark-paneled walls and stained glass windows of its Old Town brewhouses, learn the brewing “secrets” that give Kölsch its distinctive character. You will also enjoy dinner at Brauhaus zur Malzmühle, since 1858 one of the most popular brauhaus restaurants and also a traditional meeting point for friends of the Kölsch culture.

 Day 7 – Kinderdijk, The Netherlands

Afternoon: Kinderdijk Windmills
See the picturesque Dutch countryside and the original technological marvels of historic Kinderdijk. As you cross the dike to the windmills, you will notice that they in fact are at a lower elevation than your ship, as much of this part of The Netherlands is below sea level. Built in the mid-18th century, these 19 windmills, the largest concentration in The Netherlands, stand like sentinels on a hushed landscape. You will learn why they were built and see firsthand how they work, even stepping into a working windmill to observe its mechanics and living quarters. Families who live in these mills are required to keep them in working order.  

Day 8 – Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Morning: Amsterdam Walking Tour 
Get acquainted with the neighborhood and discover why romantic Amsterdam is a city best explored on foot. Meet your guide and set out into the charming streets. As you walk, admire the countless gabled houses. The city’s old tax code shaped these quaint homes into what they are today, as builders were taxed based on the frontage of their dwelling. Follow the tranquil canals (grachten) to the city’s open squares (pleinen), where cafés and shops greet you. The 60 miles of canals keep the waters of the North Sea at bay with a series of sluices at the city’s perimeter. In all, the network of canals forms a horseshoe shape with Centraal Station at the center of the mouth. Your guide will give you tips on getting around and staying oriented during your stay, and on walking in harmony among the many bicyclists and trams.

 And that would be a wrap for the cruise.

There are two reasons this cruise enticed me. The first is stopping in locations that were VERY impacted by WWII. I love hearing, watching, reading anything about WWII. It was such a horrific time in history and yet so very interesting. 

The second are all the cathedrals and castles. I love...LOVE old cathedrals and castles. I usually stand in amazement at how long these buildings have been around and are still around. Fascinating. 

So that's the cruise itself. We're doing 4 days in Switzerland before hand. 3 days in Lugano and one in Basel before we leave. End of the cruise we're staying an extra day in Amsterdam.