Rhine Cruise - Day 5, Rudesheim

Grape vines

We arrived in Rudesheim while eating breakfast, then we boarded a tram and took a short walk to the gondola station. It was rather cool and windy, but our first sunny day, which Kendra appreciated. We rode over the grape vineyards to see the Germany Unification Monument, then we walked through the vineyards to town, then walked back to the ship. The history and torture museums were not open, but we enjoyed our walk.

Germany Unification Monument

Vineyards & Monument

Vineyards with house & old tower

We had traditional German food for lunch after returning to the ship, then we started cruising the scenic castles along the Rhine, which were built to display the wealth of the landowners and collect tolls along the river. The river was the main way to transport goods. The Rhine Valley is known for its grapes and wines, predominantly Rieslings. This was Kendra's favorite day of the cruise, and the afternoon cruise was her favorite part. We were on the sundeck of the ship, it was very chilly, but beautiful. We got to try the new audio linked to the GPS with our headsets. It could have used more historical details, but it was a good idea.

Oldest standing castle on the Rhine. They put chains across the river to stop boats for tolls.

Most glorious rainbow we have ever seen. We saw both ends on the ground. Actually a double rainbow.

We arrived in Koblenz about dusk and had a quick walking tour.

Rhine Cruise - Day 4, Speyer/Heidelberg

View of Heidelburg from Castle

Today we arrived in Speyer while we slept, so after breakfast we boarded our tour bus for Heidelberg, Germany. We toured the Heidelberg Castle, which is sliding down the hill toward the university town. The town is where the Heidelberg Confession was written.

View of Heidelburg from Castle

Monument opposite town from Castle

View of Castle from University Square

Cathedral in Heidelburg

Oldest building in Heidelburg

After dinner we walked to the Speyer Cathedral and through the old town. I think Speyer is where the Reformers were first called Protestants.

Speyer Cathedral in the rain

Pilgrim statue

Rhine Cruise - Day 3, Strasbourg

Strasbourg Cathedral

Today we arrived in Strasbourg, France while eating breakfast, and started our bus tour after breakfast. Strasbourg has transferred from German to French rule many times, and now houses the European Union Parliament and Place de la Republique. We visited the Cathedrale de Notre Dame, or Strasbourg Cathedral, with the famous astronomical clock. Dan climbed the 335 steps to the spire of the cathedral while Kendra went shopping. We saw a couple of other cathedrals where some famous reformers preached, ate a pretzel for lunch instead of going back to the ship, then boarded the boat for our canal cruise. This was Dan's favorite day of the trip.

On the way up the cathedral spire

City Gate Towers

Tanner's business & house on left

Gutenburg Statue

View from Church Spire

Baltic Cruise - Day 8, Stockholm

When we arrived in Stockholm it was raining, but we boarded one of the HoHo buses (hop on, hop off). Our first destination was the Vasa Ship Museum. It was a viking ship built by Gustavus Adolphus, a reformer and king of Sweden from 1611 to 1632. He led Sweden to military supremacy during the 30 Years War. The Vasa sank in 1628 on her maiden voyage after sailing barely 1300 meters in about 15 minutes. The brackish water of the Baltic kept the wood well preserved until 1961 when she was raised, after being in the sea 333 years. The Vasa Museum was one of our favorite stops on the cruise.

Model of Vasa in Stockholm Harbor

Carvings on cannon hole covers

After we toured the Vasa Museum, we hopped on a bus and went to the Swedish History Museum. We mostly toured the ancient and viking exhibits. Then we hopped on another bus to get back to the ship before we sailed, but after a the driver found out we wanted to go to the NCL ship, we were told to get off the bus, cross the street, and get on another bus. We were told that bus would not leave for 15 minutes, and would not get back to our ship before the all-aboard and lifting of the gang plank.The driver got permission to go ahead and leave to get two dozen of us back to the ship. By the way, we do NOT recommend Open Top Tours in Stockholm. We ended up making it back with about 10 minutes to spare.

Nordic Museum

Crusader Helmet in Swedish History Museum

Seal in Swedish History Museum

Viking Helmet in Swedish History Museum

Hair of human sacrifice in Swedish History Museum

Model of an officer on Vasa

Longboat of Vasa

The deck, rope, and top boards of side are not original

3-meter long Lion Figurehead

Backgammon board for crew

One of 64 bronze cannon on boar

Sculpture of Viking Warrior

Gunports on Vasa

War Progaganda Sculptures on Vasa

 

Baltic Cruise - Day 7, Helsinki

Joshua has decided he never wants to travel where English is not the first language. We spent about 2/12 hours walking in circles, or at least the taking the long way, to find the information center. The maps on the cruise ship were pretty useless, and the data plan for Dan's phone did not have a useable GPS.

We finally found our way to the ferry port, where we boarded a ferry for Suomenlinna, the sea fortress off the coast of Helsinki, Finland.

Helsinki Cathedral, the Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Cathedral

Statue of Luther in the Cathedral

Suomenlinna Church built in 1854

Waterfront at Suomenlinna

Walking on more Cobblestones

Inside the Military Museum

Fire Station

Yes, Discerning History did a little A-roll

Submarine Vesikko, launched in 1933

We caught the ferry near the submarine, and it only took about 30 minutes to get back to the ship. We made it back with about 5 minutes to spare before they pulled up the gangplank. Did I say it was a brisk walk?