Going home

Today I leave Amsterdam the return home to Australia after a hectic 5 weeks of constant travel, even though this can become tiresome it's worth every penny. That's it for now more more details for Australia, thanks.............WADDA

My last day of river cruising

Up and about early today because this is my last sailing day on these big rivers of Europe,  and during the night we made good time . We are now in the Netherlands where the scenery has changed a lot no more mountains  , it's just as flat as the night carters hat and below sea level as well . Still no sign of any windmills or tulips but there bound to be here somewhere . With the morning free time Denny gets on with packing the cases, this could take some time. With more stuff to take home than we started with this will not be funny, with an embargo on another new suitcase it will be do the best you can with what you've got. Writh a big lunch under our belts we go off on a canal cruise followed by a city walking tour then another bus ride, WADDA pulled out after the canal cruise and wandered home. The rubbish floating around in the canals was a bit ordinary along with the crazy cyclists and the pot smoking public this all added to the very cosmopolitan feel of Amsterdam. Probably one of the only hot days in the Netherlands summer has struck today the temp would struggle to the be in the very low 30s . The cyclists rule the world over here in Amsterdam and treat everyone else like shit , but it's there country so it's there rules . Walking the streets and mingling with the dope smokers was also a first for Wadda, but do not eat the bickies . Must go a say goodbye to my new found friends............WADDA

We cruise to Cologne

As the reality that our holiday on these mighty European rivers is almost over ,I ask myself the question was it worth it. The answer is absolutely, we continue down the magestic Rhine river to Cologne some 75 kms closer to the final destination where we will spend time , some will explore this city and others will go to Bonn. We've chosen the Bonn option some 40 minutes away,and this will be our last road trip before returning to the ship. With the bus half full of weary travelers we hit the road for Bonn the home town of Ludwig van Beethoven , not WADDAS favourite all time greatest muso but not to bad anyway. My heart is not quite into the hustle & bustle anymore so it must be close to going home time ,the beautiful countries I've traveled to and passed through will be forever etched in my mind . On our return to the ship a quick tidy up then it's off to the captains farewell cocktail party, do you mind. The good ship MV AMAVERDE sails for Amsterdam at 1930 a journey of some 297 kms ,this river is very busy and flows extremely fast so we should make a fair mile during the night. Tomorrow the temperature is expected the be 33c in Amsterdam so sightseeing should be very pleasant when we arrive about lunchtime, maybe a trip to the clog factory or the red light district or WADDA might even pick some tulips who knows.  ..........WADDA

Just another barge on the  mighty Rhine 

More river cruising

After an all night 155 km cruise down the main channel we eventually make it onto the Rhine for our final tilt to Amsterdam ,and our first stop today will be at the very beautiful town called Rudesheim. Tom & WADDA head for the gondola ride up to the Niederwald monument some 3hundred mts above the town, while the girls flog the guts out of the master card  . We do not ask or do not see the results of these constant attacks on our plastic family, but all we know is that they are better off without us . As Tom and WADDA do other things to amuse themselves sometimes good sometimes not so good this holiday is fast running out of steam and the real world is awaiting our return . But as the day continues we need to get moving another 86 kms down river to a place called Andernach where we will tie up for the evening, and have dinner with a real princess and listen to someone tickle the ivories on the grand piano. Off to Namedy castle which is not to far out of town, we enter the life of the rich and famous and rather like it while some walk through the garden others rummage through this very old residence. When the gong rings we all converge on the dining room for dinner and a Piano recital, our return to the ship is greeted with a few more late night drinks. It's now bed time.........WADDA

Miltenburg

With the sun rising over the some unknown valley and the early morning mist  coming off the water,this is river cruising at its best. Our stop today is the very historic town of Miltenburg  ,but not before we have a visit from a local glassblower. Hans is an 8th generational glassblower so he should know just a tiny bit about his trade ,and he doesn't disappoint. His work is just so special that WADDA needs to invest some euros into the local economy, how much let's just say plenty and leave it at that. After lunch we set sail on a walking tour of this very old river side town, some buildings here were built in the 1300 hundreds. The local guide is well drilled in the history of Miltenburg and tells us history of this place with passion , Suprise Suprise I run into a former Seymour resident as I stroll the streets of Miltenburg his name is Frank Graham. I think I'm suffering old shit overload so maybe tomorrow I will confine myself to the cabin. Just kidding because tomorrow sometime we rejoin the Rhine river for our run to Amsterdam, tonight APT will give a presentation on their 90year history. As I eat and drink my way to the finish line of this fantastic trip i ponder my next move, we will rejoin the Danube river around 2 am which means no more locks. And we are scheduled to arrive into Rudesheimat 9 am after some 155 kms overnight journey, tomorrow in Germany is Father's Day so WADDA & Tom just maybe cut loose from the main pack and live our own dream. No shopping would be nice..........Hoo Roo.........WADDA

Down town Miltenburg in Germany 

My time in a beautiful German city

Like the magic carpet ride when I close my eyes in one city and open them in another city this feels like a dream, these beautiful places are endless and Wurzburg  is no exception The Rhine region of Germany is somewhere you should all put on your bucket list,  so why not pull the plug on your superannuation or pension fund and get yourself across the ocean and take in all of these beautiful locationsThe kids inheritance can wait you are the important ones now, get of your off bum life is to short . Today we head for a very historical place in German history called Rothenburg some 1hr coach ride from from Wurzburg. The timing is tight so we decide to do the torture museum WADDA and  Tom both give this place the thumbs up,we return to the ship. While I hatch the next move the ladies inform me that their next move will be shopping.  Tom & WADDA are alone no dress shops or any other silly places to visit, I call a cab and the Steven Segeal look alike lobs in a flash Merc to take us on a mystery tour of this very beautiful place. 50 euros later the mystery ride was complete so we hit the pavement and on shankes pony head back toward our ship meeting many fellow travelers on the way. We explain to a fellow passengers about the custom of drinking on a certain bridge after 4 pm . The unmanned passenger named Bryan decides to shout us 2 a drink , now we hope for adoption. We return to the ship to make more plans for our last remaining days aboard the good ship lollipop, tonight we are cruising for Miltenburg some 127 kms away. See ya ...........WADDA

Tom &WADDA at Rothenburg in the Rhine region of Germany 

Bamburg or bust

Our on time departure from Nuremburg to Bamburg is pleasing as we never leave late but most times arrive early, and our arrival into Bamburg is no exception. We park in the industrial part of Bamburg not to far from the town as the Amerverde is far to big to reach the heart of this small town. The weather has been ranging from 21to about 27 just ideal to be doing all this fossicking around, the girls are happy today because the shops are open after the weekend. So the last week of this trip will be shop at anytime anywhere as long as they are pounding the pavement happiness will be King. After finishing the tour of beautiful Bamburg Tom and WADDA disappear into the shady streets to check out the local smoked beer . Well to all you smoked beer lovers I must say one thing,it will never put me to sleep in this lifetime. But it's not the end of the world there are still lots of things that not only look good but also  taste beautiful. We depart Bamburg on time at 1230 pm and with another big feed under my belt they then have an ice cream party, I think I need a lie down. The next leg of this fabulous trip will take us from Bamburg to another historic town called Wurzburg some 138kms further down stream, and as day turns into night it's off to dinner one more time. See ya tomorrow.......WADDA

WADDA and Tom in Bamburg testing the smoked beer