Wet day today, with a mild temperature of about 8.
We were into Christmas preparations today. John and Alan went out to get the Christmas tree and the liquid supplies; Penny and I walked into Hay in the drizzle to do some chores, and then got on with some cleaning and re-organising.
I walked into Hay again this afternoon to get some groceries. It was still drizzling but I quite enjoyed the outing - a different experience to walking to Cooleman Court in the heat!!
Quiet night at home.
Friday, 21 December 2012
Thursday, 20 December 2012
Day 17 In Transit
We flew from Munich back to London today. A taxi picked us up at the hotel at 10.30 and we had a fast and comfortable ride to the airport. At one point we were doing 150. As John and Alan commented, you didn't notice the speed in the Mercedes.
It was a good flight and we landed at Heathrow at 2.30 and were through all the formalities and on our way by about 3.45. It was pouring with rain so it made driving very difficult though it eased off by the time we got to Cusop.
Now it's time to start Christmas preparations!!!
It was a good flight and we landed at Heathrow at 2.30 and were through all the formalities and on our way by about 3.45. It was pouring with rain so it made driving very difficult though it eased off by the time we got to Cusop.
Now it's time to start Christmas preparations!!!
Wednesday, 19 December 2012
Day 16 Munich
It was around 6 in Munich again today.
We again walked down to Marienplatz, which is the main square of the old town. We did some shopping and John found a small baroque church just down the street - St Johann Nepomuk.
After we'd visited the church, John went off to do some of his own shopping and Penny, Alan and I visited the toy museum in the tower of the town hall. It covered 4 floors of the tower and had a fascinating array of toys on display.
After we met up with John we headed towards the river and stopped for lunch in the Hofbrauhouse, a noisy, busy beer hall.
We continued on through the back streets and an expensive shopping strip to the Eisar Ricer and the Bavarian Parliament House.
We walked back to Marienplatz and Penny and John headed off to the art gallery and Alan and I picked up our morning purchases (we'd left them in the shop to save carrying them) and headed back to the hotel via back streets for a change of scene - and less people.
Spent some time getting our blog up to date - you may have noticed we have pictures at last - and had dinner at a local Italian restaurant.
We again walked down to Marienplatz, which is the main square of the old town. We did some shopping and John found a small baroque church just down the street - St Johann Nepomuk.
After we'd visited the church, John went off to do some of his own shopping and Penny, Alan and I visited the toy museum in the tower of the town hall. It covered 4 floors of the tower and had a fascinating array of toys on display.
After we met up with John we headed towards the river and stopped for lunch in the Hofbrauhouse, a noisy, busy beer hall.
We continued on through the back streets and an expensive shopping strip to the Eisar Ricer and the Bavarian Parliament House.
We walked back to Marienplatz and Penny and John headed off to the art gallery and Alan and I picked up our morning purchases (we'd left them in the shop to save carrying them) and headed back to the hotel via back streets for a change of scene - and less people.
Spent some time getting our blog up to date - you may have noticed we have pictures at last - and had dinner at a local Italian restaurant.
Tuesday, 18 December 2012
Day 15 Munich
It was around 6 in Munich today, so quite warm after the weather we've had.
Had a slower start this morning and headed out about 9.30 and walked down to the food markets - about a 30 minute walk from the hotel. It was interesting seeing all the different foods for sale - fruit, vegetables, seafood, cheese, alcohol. One shop we walked past was selling all parts of pigs - there were heads, trotters, hearts etc etc in the window.
We then headed back to watch the Munich town hall glockenspiel. At 11.00 it chimes and re-enacts 2 stories from then 16th century, with musicians, knights jousting, and dancers. It was quite amazing to watch.
Then we toured the Munich Residence which was the political and cultural centre of the rulers of Bavaria from 1623 until 1918. We went through the museum, treasury and theatre. The items displayed in the Treasury were amazing, with crowns and jewels and porcelain and ivory. Some of the carving was so intricate.
We had a late lunch and then visited the town hall Christmas Markets, where we sampled some wares and were lucky enough to see some guys playing alpen horns.
We visited the cathedral and browsed some shops before heading back to the hotel for a bit of a rest.
John found us a very nice Afghan restaurant where we had a delicious dinner.
It's about a 30 minute walk to where all our activities have been so we're getting lots of exercise.
John found us a very nice Afghan restaurant where we had a delicious dinner.
It's about a 30 minute walk to where all our activities have been so we're getting lots of exercise.
Monday, 17 December 2012
Day 14 Munich
It was foggy and icy in Passau this morning but was much warmer when we arrived in Munich. The temperature was around 5. Didn't need hats and gloves for a change.
We ended our cruise this morning with breakfast on the River Beatrice, and shared a taxi to the station with Dennis and Sue, another Australian couple from the cruise. We also bought a Bayern ticket for the trip to Munich which meant the 4 of us could travel for €36, which is incredibly cheap.
It was a good train journey through the snowy countryside. We were quite surprised by the number of solar panel farms we saw on the way.
Penny and John met us at the station and we walked to the hotel and checked in. After a quick lunch we visited some Christmas markets and then climbed the 302'steps in St Peter's church for great views over the city and to the mountains in the distance.
We did some more Christmas market browsing / shopping and then made our way to St Michaels where we enjoyed a choral evensong. It was lovely to sit in the beautiful church and be surrounded by music.
We had dinner in a very nice brewery owned restaurant and wandered a bit more before making our way back to the hotel.
I'm still wrestling with a cold so my stamina is a bit lacking, but it was a good day and nice to catch up with Penny and John.
Still not sure of the Internet here so photos may have to wait until we're back at the Winters.
We ended our cruise this morning with breakfast on the River Beatrice, and shared a taxi to the station with Dennis and Sue, another Australian couple from the cruise. We also bought a Bayern ticket for the trip to Munich which meant the 4 of us could travel for €36, which is incredibly cheap.
It was a good train journey through the snowy countryside. We were quite surprised by the number of solar panel farms we saw on the way.
Penny and John met us at the station and we walked to the hotel and checked in. After a quick lunch we visited some Christmas markets and then climbed the 302'steps in St Peter's church for great views over the city and to the mountains in the distance.
We did some more Christmas market browsing / shopping and then made our way to St Michaels where we enjoyed a choral evensong. It was lovely to sit in the beautiful church and be surrounded by music.
We had dinner in a very nice brewery owned restaurant and wandered a bit more before making our way back to the hotel.
I'm still wrestling with a cold so my stamina is a bit lacking, but it was a good day and nice to catch up with Penny and John.
Still not sure of the Internet here so photos may have to wait until we're back at the Winters.
Sunday, 16 December 2012
Day 13 Passau
Not so cold today - around 1 degree, but heavy rain this morning, with very light showers this afternoon.
And the rain posed a problem for us as it made the ground icy. We were supposed to do a walking tour this morning, but when the guides arrived they strongly recommend we not go as it was so treacherous. We had been watching people slipping and sliding so we were happy to take their advice.
We had a nice quiet morning. At around 11.30 things had improved so we ventured out and found the Christmas markets, where we enjoyed a quiet browse. Mostly it was fine walking but there were some icy patches which were a bit nerve wracking to negotiate. Particularly for me after my fall in Bratislava. I was holding Alan's hand so tightly he reckoned the blood circulation was cut off!!!
After lunch we ventured back out and found the main shopping area and browsed there for a while, including visiting an Apotheke, where I had to get some paracetamol as I am fighting a cold. The sales assistant was so helpful and even gave me a glass of water.
We spent the rest of the afternoon reading and getting the washing up to date.
We have just enjoyed the Captains cocktail party and dinner for our last night aboard. The food has been very good and the service has been amazing. All in all the cruise has been a great experience.
We're going to listen to some Christmas music and then go and pack.
Tomorrow Munich and hopefully better wifi so we can add some photos.
And the rain posed a problem for us as it made the ground icy. We were supposed to do a walking tour this morning, but when the guides arrived they strongly recommend we not go as it was so treacherous. We had been watching people slipping and sliding so we were happy to take their advice.
We had a nice quiet morning. At around 11.30 things had improved so we ventured out and found the Christmas markets, where we enjoyed a quiet browse. Mostly it was fine walking but there were some icy patches which were a bit nerve wracking to negotiate. Particularly for me after my fall in Bratislava. I was holding Alan's hand so tightly he reckoned the blood circulation was cut off!!!
After lunch we ventured back out and found the main shopping area and browsed there for a while, including visiting an Apotheke, where I had to get some paracetamol as I am fighting a cold. The sales assistant was so helpful and even gave me a glass of water.
We spent the rest of the afternoon reading and getting the washing up to date.
We have just enjoyed the Captains cocktail party and dinner for our last night aboard. The food has been very good and the service has been amazing. All in all the cruise has been a great experience.
We're going to listen to some Christmas music and then go and pack.
Tomorrow Munich and hopefully better wifi so we can add some photos.
Saturday, 15 December 2012
Day 12 Linz and Salzburg
Cold and clear day. I think we made it into plus territory today - it was forecast to reach 1!! It was nice out but quite cold in the shade.
We had an early start today, catching the bus to Salzburg at 8.30. It was about a 2 hour drive. There was fresh snow everywhere and it was like driving through every snowy Christmas post card you've ever seen with lovely little villages, and forests and open fields. We did a walking tour that lasted just over an hour around the old town. We visited the 15th century cathedral and also the graveyard they used as the model for the Sound of Music. We then had a couple of hours on our own and we caught the fenicular railway to the castle overlooking the old town. There were fabulous views of snow covered landscapes in all directions, and also of the town itself. We had some nice warming soup for lunch and browsed the Christmas Markets and also the main shopping area in the old town before heading back to the bus and driving back to Linz.
We drove through the old town of Linz on the way back to the boat. Then crew were waiting with hot chocolate and a warm towel as we came on board, and that was very welcome. We were about 2 minutes walk from the Christmas markets so we rugged up again and headed out to inspect them. They were very crowded with lots of locals at all the food stalls and it was a bit hard to get around.
One more day to go and we got all sorts of instructions tonight about when we have to be out of our rooms, etc etc, so the end is nigh.
We had an early start today, catching the bus to Salzburg at 8.30. It was about a 2 hour drive. There was fresh snow everywhere and it was like driving through every snowy Christmas post card you've ever seen with lovely little villages, and forests and open fields. We did a walking tour that lasted just over an hour around the old town. We visited the 15th century cathedral and also the graveyard they used as the model for the Sound of Music. We then had a couple of hours on our own and we caught the fenicular railway to the castle overlooking the old town. There were fabulous views of snow covered landscapes in all directions, and also of the town itself. We had some nice warming soup for lunch and browsed the Christmas Markets and also the main shopping area in the old town before heading back to the bus and driving back to Linz.
We drove through the old town of Linz on the way back to the boat. Then crew were waiting with hot chocolate and a warm towel as we came on board, and that was very welcome. We were about 2 minutes walk from the Christmas markets so we rugged up again and headed out to inspect them. They were very crowded with lots of locals at all the food stalls and it was a bit hard to get around.
One more day to go and we got all sorts of instructions tonight about when we have to be out of our rooms, etc etc, so the end is nigh.
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