Trip Day 18 - going home

Sunday December 1

Our flight was scheduled to depart Frankfurt at 12:55 pm. When we booked it we looked at flights from Nuremberg but they all seemed to be very early ones to Frankfurt. Having to be 2 hours before those made it not very attractive to us and we looked into trains to Frankfurt. What I had found was leaving 6:52am and would be at the airport at 9:20am for only $49. Very doable. 

When I asked Bernie yesterday he was very eager to help. Having experience he said the one at 7:30am for 63.98 Euros for both of us would be just right. He ordered a taxi for us for 6:45am and it all looked very good to us.

The taxi was very punktual and all worked out great. The ticket told us to go to platform 6 and there you have signs like this overhead which gives you all sorts of information. Since it was a Sunday and early morning we didn't book seats which in my eyes is much easier to just get in.

There was heavy frost on the grass etc.

A lady and her helper came through the train and asked whether we wanted anything. Why not. We each had a coffee and some nibbles. We really could have had something on the ship but this made the time go faster.

A screen overhead inside our carriage gave all sorts of info. This one showed the route the train was going.

We had to walk quite a way from the train to the Lufthansa check-in which was good for us. Check-in was a bit of a disaster since the program didn't seem to work. It wasn't our problem though and the airline people were all very nice. Finally they managed to give us boarding cards and send our luggage off.

Passport control and security wasn't bad at all. The usual! And then a long walk to the gate which again was good since we had plenty of time.

Did I say that our flight was scheduled to leave at 12:55pm? Well, it was delayed. Probably numerous reasons but one at the end was that it also needed to be de-iced. Of course I will never complane about safety messures. We finally started at 14:22pm.

We had not paid extra for pre-seat choices and it was not ideal. The middle row had 4 seats. Neither one of us got a ticket with an ailse seat but James at the end could change into the only one which was empty. Otherwise the plane was full.

One hour later German airline food. Well, no complains. It all depends on expectations.

The pilot had promised to try to catch up on the lost time but he was not successful. We arrived too late in Washington-Dulles and missed our last flight home. That flight was a United flight booked through Lufthansa. First we went to United to find out what was going to happen. After quite some wait we were told that we were already rebooked ... onto the last flight the following day about 10 pm. Oh no! They recommended that we would talk to Lufthansa since their late flight made us miss the next. 

So we did. Lufthansa was very friendly too and told us also that we were already rebooked. When I explained that they would need to give us a hotel room and meal vouchers but it was probably cheaper to give us a taxi voucher to Richmond he decided to talk to his superwiser. And that was very satisfactory. 

In no time we were in a taxi.The driver told us that he quite likes "long hauls" and at 10 pm local time we were in front of our house. All we had to do was to give a signature. And, of course, some cash tip since we didn't have to pay anything from Richmond Airport home. Yeah!

Needless to say we fell into bed really soon. Even the day home had to be an adventure. How lucky were we how it ended? Thank you Lord for keeping us safe!

Trip Day 17 - Nürnberg

Saturday November 30

The MS River Adagio had gone all night ... and through a lot of locks. We arrived about 7 am in Nuremberg. We had breakfast as always and left for our tour at 9 am.

Our first stop was at the Documentatuib Center Nazi Party Rally Grounds. Bernie explained about it but I foud it very depressing.

Our tour continued into Nuremberg. It is a medieval old town with a castle and city walls and many towers. Nuremberg sits on the Pegnitz, which carries the name Regnitz from its confluence with the Rednitz in Fürth onwards (Pegnitz→ Regnitz→ Main→ Rhine→ North Sea), and on the Rhine–Main–Danube Canal, that connects the North Sea to the Black Sea. The canal (and it importance) had been Esther's topic the previous day.

The bus took us pretty much straight to the "Hauptmarkt" (city market square). This "Schöner Brunnen" (water well) is very famous. I have seen it more than 55 years ago with all those stalls sorounding it. We had family members living here and got a personal tour when we visited.

This Chrismas Market (Weihnachtsmarkt or Christkindlmarkt) is one of the most famous in Germany. This was only the second day of this year's season and it was Saturday which means there were lots of visitors. 

Nürnberg is very famous for Lebkuchen. Just like my mother used to make it with 9 spices. 

Another famous Nurenberg thing are Zwetschgenmännla or Pflaumentoffel (Prune People) and you find them often at Christmas markets. They are made from pruns and nuts as gifts to bring luck but not to be eaten. They can keep for several years.

We were surprised to finally see something to remind us of the real meaning of Christmas. Here behind glass and under roof was a nativity with shepherds and wisemen. I was happy to see it.

The crowds were incredible “bumper to bumper”. Since we were close to the Frauenkirche, we decided to go in. 

The first experience was that an organist was practicing on the organ because at 12:15 there was an half hour Advent music concert. It would have been nice to stay for it but it didn't work out.

It happened that we left the church at noon and the "Männle" did their walk when the clock was striking.

When we left the market we saw a stall which advertised "Kartoffelpuffer". How can one pass that?

I found the different sides very interesting but I like mine pure. They were quite good but not us good as the ones my father used to make.

We took the bus back to the ship. We had lunch there, probably played some cards. Don't really remember. But at 3 pm we decided that we really needed some steps. We walked off the ship and walked along the canal.

It was so nice that we walked all the way to the lock (Schleuse) Eibach. 

This is the view in the direction to our ship.

We walked to the other side of the lock but could nowhere get close enough to watch how it works. We saw this cruiseship enter into it. I had to take the photo through a chainlink fence though.

Walking back but looking back to the lock. It took too long to wait until that ship comes out.

Because of the walk (which we thoroughly enjoyed) we missed the discussion "Germany & the EU's support to Ukraine". Somebody had come on board for the "Controversial topic". Something this travel company always does and always is very interesting and informative. Sorry we were late.

Festivities on our ship since it is our last day. Captain's Farewell Drink in the Lounge. 

Port Talk like every day. 

Captain's Farewell Dinner in the dining room.

The last dessert is always "baked Alaska". 

Afterwards James was chatting inside.

I was briefly outside. There were a couple of fires burning which of course gave warmness outside and a nice glow. But we were also encouraged to try a New Year's Tradition. We were given a piece of paper and should write something on it ... a wish for next year ... something we wanted to pass or forget. Or we should write something we wanted to release from the prior year on a piece of paper and burn it. Intentions, resolutions, wishes. 

On the way to our cabin to pack we met Barbara and Rich again. Barbara wanted a photo so somebody passing was nice to be the photographer. It had been so much fun to meet them.

Packing is not my favorite thing to do but at least it is so much easier when going home. It didn't take horribly long. But it is going to be an early get-up tomorrow. Earlier in the day Bernie was nice to help us with the arrangements. Train is booked. Taxi is ordered. Oh yes, the obligatory tips envelopes are done too. All is good. 

Trip Day 16 - more Regensburg

Friday November 29

OMG, I totally forgot to wish all my USA friends (and family of course) a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend yesterday. When you are traveling you really even forget what weekday it is. For a short moment we passengers on the ship (all from the USA) were reminded of the Holiday because we had turkey for dinner with the traditional sides. 

The ship was still floating along. At 9 am a glass blower gave us a demonstration. I really enjoyed this a lot. His name is Karl Ittig Glass-House-Wertheim and he is a character. His grandson was helping him.

He told a lot of stories and made us laugh.

He must be quite famous in the world of glass blowers because he was invited by Chihuly to America and he gives classes even there. 

He told us that in the USA he learned that the drinking glasses we call in Germany “Schnappsglass” was called “shot glass”. The reason for that is that in the "Wild West in the good ol’ times” a glass of whiskey (or moonshine?) cost the same as a bullet of a shotgun. The gold seekers and/or cowboys would order and pay with a bullet. The bar owner would then go next day and exchange the bullets for money. 

Karl explained that his glass with the bullet is best used with the German Jägermeister, an herb liqueur which is good for your tummy if you ate too much, and he invited one of our fellow travelers to try it.

Afterwards we could go with a second tour to the cuckoo clock shop for somekind of lecture. James and I had missed the earlier one. On the way I told the new friends we were walking with how I got the young girl scouts in my troop to enjoy walking to the cafeteria when we were camping. Jill did a VIDEO and shared it with me.

The lecture about the clocks was quite interesting. Amazing the different styles there are.

Lunch was at 1 pm and the MS River Adagio set sail to our next and last town to visit.

Cabbage Rolls! I always tried to get the "local" things.

Incredible the presentation of every dessert. 

At 2:30 pm we had a Stollen Making Demo with chefs from the ship. We got the recipe ... but I don't need it being from Germany.

At 4 pm was a lecture on the Rhein-Main-Canal which "fixes the watershed" between the Danube and the Rhein to continue the waterway from the North Sea/Atlantic Ocean to the Black Sea. Esther gave a very informative lecture. 

Of course once in a while one has to have a look outside. 

That "golden point" is the Liberation Hall in Kehlheim.

It was commissioned by King Ludwig I of Bavaria to commemorate the victory over Napoleon in the War of 1813-1815. (picture from Wikipedia)

Dinner was at 7 pm and ... oh yes ... if I remember right this was Sauerbraten mit Kartoffelklößen. 

Almost forgot to take a picture of Dennis, Barbara and Rich. We ate with them several meals and had such a good time, rich conversations and fun chats. Too bad they don't live around the corner. 

And then there was the MS River Adagio Crew Show. Yes, they were pretty hilarious. Such hardworking people to give us a good time.

And then we fell into bed. We have to be fit for tomorrow. It's our last day on this trip. Night, night.