Author Archives: SiteBoss

From Viking: Kinderdijk is a village community in the Alblasserwaard province. This corner of South Holland, part of the scenic Waal and Merwede regions, has long been shaped by Rhine Delta waters. Kinderdijk is most known for its 19 remarkably preserved 18th-century windmills. The charming hamlet is located amid low-lying polders, tracts of land reclaimed … Continue reading »

From Viking: Cologne reveals its Roman heritage in its city layout and the ancient ruins that lie scattered through the town. Cologne’s modern plazas and Hohe Strasse host welcoming shops, enticing restaurants and cologne boutiques. Of note is the city’s 14th-century cathedral, a stunning example of Gothic artistry and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Having … Continue reading »

From Viking: Koblenz is a traditional German city, founded more than 2,000 years ago. This former trading settlement rests on a massif of the Middle Rhine Highlands. Its cobblestone streets, wood-beamed houses adorned with flowers, ancient market square and medieval churches recall the fairy-tale Germany of old. At the “German Corner,” a massive equestrian statue … Continue reading »

From Viking: The Rhine River flows through one of Germany’s most scenic regions. As you sail its most picturesque stretch, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Middle Rhine, you will pass vineyard-blanketed hills whose steep slopes require vintners to pick grapes by hand, keeping a centuries-old tradition alive. Splendid castles line the banks, all … Continue reading »

One of the things I was really hoping to do is recreate a photo of me on a river boat on the Rhine adjacent to the iconic Pfalzgrafenstein Castle. I think it turned out well! Continue to the next post if you’d like to see more castle photos. Click on any photo to pop-up a … Continue reading »

Monday morning we found ourselves docked at Speyer. We spent the morning on a leisurely walking tour and enjoyed a lovely dinner of traditional German foods at a local restaurant in the neighboring town of Rüdesheim. AI-generated overview of Speyer: Speyer, located in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, is one of the country’s oldest cities, with its establishment … Continue reading »

We were so happy to finally arrive at the boat the day before that we celebrated hard enough to miss the tour of historic Strasbourg. But we did enjoy a wonderful visit to an Alsatian winery, complete with a tasting of many varietals. Strasbourg: A Tale of Dual Influences Strasbourg, nestled along the banks of … Continue reading »

With the six-hour delay from Newark we missed our connecting flight to Basel, Switzerland Saturday morning. Viking’s emergency travel reps were cheerful and optimistic but left us to our own devices in finding replacement travel. This was the only blip in otherwise spectacular service—as Viking had booked our travel, I supposed they would handle the … Continue reading »

We boarded our flight to Newark in anticipation of a wonderful week abroad. As we taxied toward the runway, jubilation transformed into frustration as a faulty oil temperature sensor brought the plane to a standstill. After two hours of sitting with nary an update, the plane finally limped back to an open gate. Bewildered passengers … Continue reading »