Day 8 - the Iron Gates

6-5 Wednesday

from the OAT itinerary:

Day 8:

Today you'll cruise along one of the Danube's most breathtaking scenic stretches—where once the river pounded and raged through deep gorges. Before lunch, join us for an exclusive Discovery Series discussion about Life Under Communism with your Program Director. You can then linger over lunch as you navigate the Danube. In mid-afternoon, join the chef in the galley (the ship's kitchen) for a special tour.

This afternoon, you'll pass through Iron Gate I.  In the 1960s, Yugoslavia and Romania cooperated on a joint venture that raised the level of the Danube with a series of hydroelectric dams called the Iron Gates. The Danube is now placid between the Iron Gates, the craggy two-mile long gorge now underwater. This evening, you'll continue through Iron Gate II. This stretch of the Danube boasts fields, vineyards, and monasteries sculpted into the riverbank.

* * * * *

We were going to have a time change and we were told that the crew was changing the clock in the rooms when they turned down the beds last night. Who knows when our cell phones and FitBits are syncing. We were loosing one hour so were sleeping even less. FitBit tells me that I only slept 5 hrs 10 minutes, probably because I write my travel report before I turn the light off.

Anyway, looking out of the window at 7 am it looked gray and the landscape was gliding by fast. Today we were “sailing” all day. I had asked the captain why it was called sailing since we didn’t have a sail? Or may be he had a white flag? He thought too that it was a nonsense. 

As always, breakfast starts at 7 am. It was kind of cute seeing the world go by while you are spoiled with food. 

I had hoped it was going to be a lazy day but not so. They kept us extremely busy. 9 am “Learning & Discovery Lecture” in the lounge Discussion Life under communism. Our three tour group leaders shared their and their family’s experience. Of course memories of my East German experiences especially as a child came flooding.

At 10:30 am the Balkan party with local specialty “Čevapčiči”. It was very social.

It drizzled a lot all day but that didn’t stop us to be whenever possible to be outside or on the upper deck. My photos are labeled “Dunãrea River”. Even though the rain was not so nice, the landscape was really nice.

The three tour group leaders gave commentary but in the format of a sketch one being an interviewer and the other two make-believe professors.  Quite funny. They call this stretch of the Danube “Route of the Cataracts”. At low water levels this could be very treacherous before the dam.

Looking towards the front.

Looking to the back.

The explanation here: A cave with solar panels outside. You can barely see them since I was not fast enough to take the photo.

James and his handy gadgets and apps.

Mănăstirea Mraconia. A monk had decided to build this. It has rooms for travelers. 

They called this the Bulgarien “Mount Rushmore”.

Wikipedia says:

The rock sculpture of Decebalus (Romanian: Chipul regelui dac Decebal) is a 42.9 m (141 ft) in height and 31.6 m (104 ft) in width carving in rock of the face of Decebalus (r. AD 87–106), the last king of Dacia, who fought against the Roman emperors Domitian and Trajan to preserve the independence of his country, which corresponded to modern Romania. The sculpture was made between 1994 and 2004, on a rocky outcrop on the river Danube, at the Iron Gates, which form the border between Romania and Serbia. It is located near the city of Orșova in Romania.

A leftover from the Roman times. Talking about old.

James took this photo of the captain checking something out.

Lunchtime at 12:30 pm. I was really a good girl. I took the Black Bean soup but skipped “Sarma” (Serbian Cabbage Roll) even though I really would have liked it. Too much food already. I got talked into the dessert though since it was home made baklava.

At 2 pm we approached the “Iron Gate”, our first lock. We had to wait a while though before we could enter. It seems that at 2:26 pm the draining of the water to the right level had began. It seemed to take foreever.

The gate finally started to open.

Did I say they kept us busy? James and I missed the Wine talk and taste for our group at 3 pm because we were too busy watching the lock but at 3:22 pm we were in the galley (kitchen) with the head chef. He was very good explaining everything to us and it was really interesting. What a job to feed so many people at the same time especially when there are always several choices for the main and dessert.

Color-coded what gets chopped on what color board.

The second (lower) lock.

Back just in time to see the second level open.

By now we got to know some of the 130+ travelers on board. I played cards with some really nice people. A new to me game: 5 Crowns

I like that game. Might have to buy those cards.

For 5:30 pm we had an invitation to join the “Inner Circle Traveler’s Party” for a toast and nibbles etc. This is for people above a certain number of traveled trips with this company. Oh yes, we also got a new pin. The design on each pin is always very specific for that trip.

6:45 pm Port Talk what will be happening tomorrow and supper at 7 pm. Everybody makes fun that we really had hardly anything to eat and drink today. OMG.I could not resist. Broiled Filet of Halibut with potato herb crust served on sautéed pumpking, broccoli florets, beet root and white wine sauce.

The dessert: “Mohr in Hemd”. The taste was out of this world.

After dinner: karaoke. I am always intimidated by something like this but it actually was quite fun. My throat/nose started having a problem a couple days ago (sigh) so my singing was really not the best.

But check out the VIDEO!      (1:04)

The three groups each sang a song. The GOLDEN TEAM sang "Edelweiß). We won because we were sure it was measured by loudness. Again, more fun than I expected it to be. As talkative as I am, I am a bit shy about these public entertaining. Probably because I don't know well known music/lyrics.