Part II – MOSEL RIVER, GERMANY

After our visit to Luxembourg, we drove into Germany and on to Trier at the Mosel River, where we boarded the Viking Odin.  We had the rest of the evening to unpack and settle into our room.  Then we toured the boat, took us about 10 minutes.  It’s a small boat, about 180 passengers.  Tonight we meet the captain and have a “welcome” dinner.  There is only one dining time and open seating so you can sit at a different table every meal.  A good way to meet lots of new people.  The dress code is casual.  

We will spend two days sailing the Mosel River to the Mosel and Rhine River junction.  Along the way the boat docks at five different ports, but besides Trier, we only explore two other cities; Bernkastel and Cochem and visit a castle in Reichsburg. The other stops are “pick-up” stops.  It is very confusing.  For instance the boat will dock at a port, let everyone off to do the city tour at a nearby village, then the boat heads for the next port where it will pick up the passengers after the city tour.  This is done almost every day.  Sometimes we do a city tour in two different villages on the same day.  It’s a busy day with lots of sight seeing and little free time.  However you see a lot of history and learn a lot.

On the Mosel River, the ODIN stopped at 5 ports and we explored three villages in 2.5 days.

THE LOCKS

The Mosel and Main rivers are full of locks.  On the Mosel River we are sailing down hill.  So we pull into a lock, watch the doors shut, wait for the water to drain, then we pull into a lower part of the river.  This longboat barely fit into the locks.  In fact, it would bounce off the sides. That bouncing and shuddering had the same feel as that short moment several weeks ago during the Napa 6.0 earthquake.  It was unsettling. 

We would stand on our balcony and watch the wall rising as we sunk down into the pit.  We could reach out and touch the icky wet and mossy wall.  

  No I did not touch that wall.  

Day 3 – October 4 - LUXEMBOURG

We had an early departure this morning and a long bus ride into Germany to Trier at the Mosel River.  This is where we board the Viking Longboat.  

On the way we made a stop in Luxembourg.  A city that is its own country.  We had a lunch break and a historic city tour.  We were first brought to a plaza where we could choose a place for a quick lunch.  There was a peace demonstration occurring on this plaza.  A demonstration against the violence that is going on today within the Middle Eastern countries.  There was a structure shaped into a pyramid full of shoes that represent all the little children that are being killed.  I signed one of the petitions that were circulating around the area.  Hope it helps.

                   

                      Strange display.  Beggers asking for money.  The top "person"
                 is not a real person.

 Luxembourg fashions.

     Government building on the right side.  
         See those 4 black poles with notches at the top (on the left side).

 Do not know the reason for these poles and faces.  But the face will follow you 

  as you walk by.

 Roman ruins from when the Romans occupied most of Europe.  Those bridges are over 1,000 years old.

View to the left side from above picture

 Shadow selfie at the Roman ruins.

AMERICAN CEMETERY AND MEMORIAL

Outside of the city of Luxembourg is the American Cemetery.  This site was liberated by the U.S. 5^th Armored Division on September 10, 1944.  A temporary burial ground was established on December 29, 1944 at this location.  Use as a permanent burial ground by the Grand Ducal government.  Many casualties from the Battle of the Bulge are buried here.  General George S. Patton is also buried in this cemetery.

 General Patton’s Grave

Next stop, Germany! Then on to Trier to board our Viking Longboat for 6 days of cruising the Mosel, Rhine and Main Rivers!

Day 2 – October 3rd

This morning Viking arranged a city tour for all of us.  Driving in a huge bus on Paris’ city streets is an experience!  We drove up roads I thought a bus would never fit, and it didn’t.  But the driver drove them anyway and stopped traffic doing it.  But no horns honked.  It’s an every day occurrence for these city folk.  You should see the roundabouts.  It is every man for himself...or every woman for herself.  Buses just can’t merge in; they don’t fit.  They can’t come upon the circle and turn right to merge.  They have to drive straight into the circle to the center, blocking all traffic and then turn into the street to maneuver the roundabout.  The bus driver did not wait for an empty space to pull in (there never is an empty space).  He just pulled right in and forced traffic to stop.  Again, no horns.  Amazing.

We drove by several historic sites of the city of Paris.  We made two stops; Norte Dame and the Eiffel Tower. 

The afternoon was our free time.  We spent it exploring the Louvre.  This is my favorite place in Paris.  It is a grand building along the Seine River that was the former palace of the Kings of France.  Today it is the home of vast collections of ancient civilizations, antique furnishings, sculptures (many by Michelangelo), Islamic arts and Western art from the Middle Ages until 1848.  The building is in a “U” shape that is several blocks long and has 4 floors.  We spent 6 hours trying to visit each floor, but not seeing everything on each floor.  My legs and feet would never allow it.  Today was a wonderful, exhausting day.  Tomorrow we leave Paris.

Winged Victory 

One of my favorite statues.  Don't know the name or sculptor.  Plaques next to items are all in French. 

      Looking down onto the pyramid from one of the upper floors.

   Furniture from Napoleon's home.

Day 1 – October 2nd

The Le Meridien Etoile hotel is located near the city center, walking distance to the Arc de Triomphe where the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is (from WWI) and a very long walk to the Museum du Louvre.  In fact as you walk down the Avenue des Champs Elysees (where all the expensive shopping is) you can see the Seine River and the Louvre.  But as you walk towards the Louvre, it seemed to get further away.    We will be visiting that museum tomorrow after the city tour. 

After we checked in, we still had a good part of the day to do something.  Instead of sleeping (we will catch up with that later) we visited the Arc de Triomphe and walked the Avenue des Champs Elysees and checked out the shops and looked for a place to have lunch...dinner, whatever.  We needed food!  Lots of little outdoor cafes to choose from.  

 

As far as the eye can see; Champs Elysees is full of shoppers today!

We ate at a place called George V.  I had a delicious burgundy beef stew and Dave had curry chicken w rice.  So we ate British and India cuisine in Paris, France. 

Tomorrow, on our second day, a city tour of Paris and a visit to the Louvre in the afternoon.