North Sea to Black Sea along the Rhine and the Danube

Click on any photo or map to enlarge

Another episode in our adventure packed lives - from Amsterdam to Bucharest

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Amsterdam

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A noisy Vueling flight to Amsterdam but then a Mercedes to take us to the Amstel hotel: what a nice chauffeur! Ventured to I Love Amsterdam at the Rijksmuseum
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We were welcomed on board Tauck's MS Treasures by the hotel manager. Comfy but tiny cabin and great food and cocktails. Were allowed on a canal cruise but not the tour of the Red Light district!
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We also stayed on board whilst the padres visited the restored Cologne Cathedral- not a good photo opportunity for us lads

 

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Then on to Rudesheim and an authentic German beer hall, with wienerschnitzel, new admirers Carole & Howard, & boozy coffee.
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Impressed by the museum of Musical machines- but hey!, no photo!- and then a ride in a gondola over the vineyards, the Rhine behind.

Then on to Rothenburg, a teddy bear packed town: we were in heaven!

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Impressed by the glass blower and his sparrows of Ulm. The teds above were missing on this grey day, so we took their place. Fancied this car, but happy not to be in the window- but not enough pocket money to free them all.
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But, after a good lunch in the gardens of a beer tavern, we did manage to liberate Rothenburg Ted, lederhosen and all, from Mr Gruber's shop,
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then celebrated with some yummy kuchen. Could not reach the wee chap blowing bubbles, and the above Ted was just too large for our suitcase. Once back on board, we introduced Rothenburg to Asmi, the pianist,
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and to the Oom Pah Pah band & to Yasni, our barman.

 

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Nuremberg- lucky us on Dina's coach, she being our favourite Musketeer. Us in that famous 1945 Court, & more relaxed in the Toy Museum Cafe with its model railway
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Yasni did produce some odd colour cocktails!. Loved by Anna, another musketeer. Stayed on board in Regensburg. Docked at Passau, listened to an organ recital in St Stephen's Cathedral & climbed up to its castle, with views over its 3 rivers, the Danube, the Inn & the Ilk
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Back to the Treasures for a Bavarian lunch. Even Rothenburg Ted thought this was OK!

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The Benedictine Abbey in Melk was quite close to the Danube. We enjoyed a guided tour of its opulence, followed by iced coffee from an Austrian fraulein in its grounds.
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Then to the Palacio Pallavicini in Vienna for a classical evening with opera singers, ballet dancers and a string quartet. Next day to Schonbrunn, the summer home of the
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Hapsburgs and then onto the Konditorei Oberlaa, yum, yum, before visiting the Spanish Riding School and the Winter Palace

 

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In Bratislava we made friends with Napoleon, Mr. Hviezdoslav, Hans Christian Andersen
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& with Cumil, the 1997 soldier in a manhole, then ate a chimney cake- all 4 euros of it! - and walked up to the castle

 

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The approach into Budapest was awesome- wondrous buildings. Strudels in the covered market were good, but a trip to Gerbeaud's was pure bliss!. Unfortunately, it
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was too wet for us to be taken to the New York Cafe!! Playing in the streets before a trip round Parlament- a bit wary of those fellows in uniforms
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Having a dunk before encountering the Policia. Then looking down over Pest before lunch in Buda and a walk around its walls

 

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In Pecs we forgot to bring our padlock but did have the photo taken inspite of the rain!. Bells for the church, ex mosque, failed for us! But the lunch & wine tasting in the Polgar vineyard's cave and this rainbow once back on the ship were great

 

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Vukovar's bombed out water tower- 1990s. A visit to a Croatian house in the country. A funny fellow passed round the bus!

 

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We wandered round the fort in Belgrade, finding a few toys to amuse us. Then on to Tito's grave where we were on our best behaviour
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Enjoyed the Serbian Folklore Dancers on the ship before dressing up for a tour of & a Gala Dinner in the White Palace - yummy cake!

 

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Photo was good, but we were not allowed any! Outside Ruse we climbed up the Ivanova church with its wondrous frescoes. Then more admirers on board ship, including our hero- after Dina- Sabena

 

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At Constanta we reach the eastern extreme of our travels and the pater spared no effort to show us off to our best. Not such a great one with our hero Dina!. Relaxation by the so called Black Sea, but it did have a banana boat
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More relaxation by the Iaki pool before a yummy barbecue up on the ship's deck . And another admiration session with our 3 musketeers

 

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After the coach ride to Bucharest, a monstrous amount of food in the Caru u Bere, but great decor from the 1870s. Then a tour & gourmet dinner in Ceascescu's 1000 room extravaganza. Next day out to the Disney like Castle Peles on a coach, plus the driver's friend

 

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Cattle class travel, but excited to be going back to tell our 102 friends, especially Gerbeaud, back in the Moraira casa about our adventures & introducing Rothenburg to them. Great to see the blue Mediterranean again too

 

Boyzz' Travels 2016

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