The Dog Ate My Homework

Well, we ran out of beer, and there was a terrible storm, and the boat sank, and we had to swim ashore, and my laptop ended up at the bottom of the Rhine, and we didn't have any dry clothes and...

Yeah, I know. I've been remiss. But there was soooo much to do in Cologne and Amsterdam, I really ran out of time!



Cologne was amazing. The cathedral there is massive (I know, every other post says the same thing, but this time, I'm not kiddin'!). The most valuable and prized possession in the Cologne cathedral is the golden crypt in the center of the main altar which contains the skeletal remains of the three magi. That's right, kids...the three wise men. Can you name them? Don't feel bad, we couldn't either. (Balthazar, Melchior and Gaspar, for those keeping score.) But the whole church is unbelievable and worth the trip all by itself.



But you know, just when you think you've done the town, something else pops up. Linda Perry had the name of a pub just off the square that was "the best Kolsch in town," according to Rick Steeves (traveling guru on PBS). Kolsch is the particular beer brewed in Cologne and they think it's better than any beer in Germany. It's served in 6 oz glasses that look more like test tubes than beer mugs. We found the pub, and five rounds and a cheese plate later, totally agreed with Mr. Steeves! Man...time runs out quickly...we had just a bit of time to scamper to a couple of souvenir shops before heading back to the ship.



The following day we cruised into Amsterdam and took a canal boat tour of this wonderful and compact city. It's like a spiderweb, but instead of silk, it's held together with a string of canals. Easily walkable, but ruled by bicycles. In fact, they have the right of way! It doesn't take long to learn to look both ways before crossing the street. The little dutch houses (the row houses you always see in the pictures) are a miracle of architecture...it's a miracle they're still standing. They call them the dancing houses due to the fact that some lean left, some lean right, some lean out over the street...they look like they're all more than just a little drunk and swaying to Freebird or something. We saw tons of little house boats along the canal banks and more bicycles than I've ever seen in one place...I mean millions. Millions. Zillions!



We had the day in Amsterdam and one final night on the ship before the cruise was officially over. The farewell dinner was fantastic, topped off, of course with the dinner crew parading through the dining room to The Radansky (Viennese march) carrying baked alaska alight with sparklers. Corny, but great fun. Not to mention delicious!

I don't know if I've mentioned it, but this whole trip, Dave, Debbie's husband has been shopping for a watch. Not just any watch. Something along the lines of a Rolex, Omega or one of those brands that I'm not familiar with because I own a Timex. Every square in every town in Germany, and certainly in Amsterdam (because Amsterdam is also a diamond center) has a couple of watch stores, and Dave had his nose pressed to the window at every one of them. I thought he might need rhinoplasty after his lustfest with the shops in Amsterdam. Anyhoo, he finally found one. A Rado (sounds like a Prado rip off). Very nice. I, unfortunately, didn't find any diamonds I could afford (and still be able to bring souvies back to all my friends).



Joe and I had an extra day in Amsterdam, so we visited the Anne Frank house. It's a sobering attraction, but worth every minute. It's very well done...it's in the actual house and a little creepy. We also went to the van Gogh museum. What an amazing collection! I was most floored by seeing "Self Portrait" (the famous blue-toned one).


I mean, I knew I would see it, but it's like the second work in the collection. BAM! There it is. And you can get right up next to it. wow!

We went to a floating tulip market (very touristy) and then, of course, to the Red Light district and into a "coffee shop." The coffee shop was a real trip (ha ha). Clearly, Joe and I are not cut out to be drug addicts. Now before you get all indignant and call 911, pot is legal in Amsterdam...we didn't break the law...it sure felt like it, though! We're looking around to see if anyone is watching...quite comical. We could have gotten high just sitting there, the smoke was so thick. I was hoping the drug dogs at the Amsterdam airport notice how our clothes smelled.

Even though it was brutally cold, this was a great trip. I enjoyed going back to Bavaria, and now can't wait to return to Amsterdam...there's still sooo much to do!

The trip home was long and uncomfortable...I hate coach...but we made it. I'll post one more time with the shutterfly link. Thanks for playing!

Happy New Year and all that!

So I've been MIA for a couple of days. Connectivity has sucked, but we've also been busy eating, drinking, cruising, touring and, oh, sleeping (read: recovering).

I'm not sure where I left off...but let me just tell you: the Rhine is one beautiful castle and church right after another. The little towns along the river look like fairy tales, especially with the dusting of frost and light snow we're experiencing. It's soooo cold. Bone-chilling!! And you know what a puss I am. My long underwear is really getting a work out.

New Year's Eve was great fun. The ship's lounge was transformed into Studio 54, and we all danced the night away. At one point, Joe and I were on the dance floor, and I started doing the Hustle (hey! it was Studio 54, right?). I asked him if he remembered it, and he looked at me and had the nerve to say, "I was 10." Ass! ;-)

At midnight we celebrated out on the bow drinking champagne and watching fireworks displays from all over the city of Miltenberg. I love fireworks. It's hard not to feel festive...there's just something about them. Yesterday in Frankfurt we relaxed (another euphamism for recovered) for most of the day, and I couldn't resist having a massage before dinner. This trip has been loads of fun, with great traveling companions, beautiful scenery and delicious food and beverages!

This morning we cruised the Rhine Gorge...a stretch of the Rhine that is home to a larger concentration of castles than anywhere else in the world. They are beautiful, medieval and imposing. It's also where Loreley rock is. There's a sharp bend in the river, very deep and only wide enough for one ship at a time to pass by. The German's have devised a three tiered warning system to help ships manuever past the bend. Folklore has it that in olden days, when ships passed the bend, sailors would hear siren song from a mermaid perched on a rock along the river bank. They would steer their ships toward the sound and wreck on the rocks. There's not really a song, or even a rock that looks like a mermaid...it's just a rock. But I love the story anyway.

I've been sitting in the forward lounge since about 7:00 this morning, not wanting to miss a thing, but I'm right in the draft of the door. As people go in and out, I get a full-on feel for the wintry mix outside. I'd move, but there's really no where else that has as good a vantage point. So I went back to my cabin and got a blanket from the bed. Yeah, I look like a fool...but I'm a warm fool!

Even though it's really cold, I'm looking forward to this afternoon in Cologne (Koln): they are famous for their Kolsch beer (completely different from bock, ale or lagers...I'll let you know). There's also a chocolate museum in Cologne. Beer and chocolate. Is there anything better?

Sort of given up on the pictures, but those of you following along know that I'll put up a shutterfly album once we get back home. I'll keep trying, though. Time to go...it's almost lunchtime!
t

ps to Cindy...Yes, we're going to the Anne Frank house, and you know I'll bring stuff!