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European Holiday and River Cruising Memoirs

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European Holiday and River Cruising Memoirs

Tag Archives: Longship

Day 3 – A Magical Sunrise on our way to Cologne

25 Wednesday Sep 2013

Posted by KidazzleInk.com in Amsterdam to Budapest, Heading for Cologne, Sunrise, Uncategorized, Viking River Cruise

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

Cologne, Eggs Benedict, Germany, Longship, Rhine, Sunrise, Viking

It was dawn on day 3…..and there to greet us as we’d pulled back our stateroom curtain was the most amazing sunrise. It lit up the whole sky with the most beautiful colour display.

Sunrise Day 3

Sunrise Day 3

It  illuminated the entire landscape as it reflected magnificently in the tranquil waters of the Rhine. Oh and I do so love a beautiful sunrise.

I watched in awe at its unfolding beauty, just marvelling at the wonders of nature while capturing these precious moments on my beloved camera.

Such a Magical Sunrise

Such a Magical Sunrise

Back at home we usually arise early. Afterall, we often have to rush to get organized for a busy day at work.

Here on the Viking Tor Longship we knew we could be sleeping in. Mornings were very relaxed and so far we’d been having the most wonderful holiday; a time where all we really needed to do was simply reflect on the days weather, leisurely dress in some comfortable clothes (thankfully Viking promotes casual dressing) and saunter off down to the Main Dining Room, or alternatively, up to the Main Lounge/Aquavit Terrace for some breakfast.

But on this particular morning, the first light of the day was doing an extremely good job of distracting us and putting on a most spectacular display.

We were currently sailing towards Cologne (Koln as it’s called in Germany) which I believe is about the fourth largest city in Germany (Population of about 1.017 million; land Area 405 kilometers square).

Our breakfasts on Viking were friendly social events; there were fellow travelers to greet, dining preferences to be decided, a day’s itinerary to be pondered and many new interests to be explored.

Our food choices allowed for either a light continental or full cooked breakfast (the choice of course was up to you). A delicious buffet was always at the ready especially if you just wanted to save time rather than ordering from the more extensive menu.

Personally dearly beloved and I always liked to mix it up a little. Sometimes we’d simply choose from the buffet. At other times we liked to choose from the main breakfast menu.

I recall the “Eggs Benedict” was simply delicious.

Although you know, when I think about it now, I really do believe I may have caused those poor Viking waiters a wee bit of grief. I always like to order my “Eggs Benedict” rock hard…no runny yolks for me thank you very much. But as everyone knows a hard poached egg always takes much longer to cook….. and especially when someone wants it as hard as I do.

Now in hindsight, I think perhaps those lovely waiters may  have actually preferred to duck for cover when they saw me coming!! Ah but in reality they were always so gracious.

Despite this it was always breakfast with a smile even if they were moaning under that polite outer shell!!

We really enjoyed the magical slowness of these mornings on our Longship. Many of us just liked to simply sit, to catch up on the daily news from back home, pen a post card or two, or simply chat……..we’d often wile away an hour or so just watching the river go by as we anticipated what lay ahead.

Amazing Colour

Amazing Colour

Soon after this it would be off with a WHOOSH as we readied for the “soar and explore” sightseeing agenda of this new exciting day.

Amsterdam – Last Photos before joining our Viking River Cruise

13 Friday Sep 2013

Posted by KidazzleInk.com in Amsterdam, Amsterdam to Budapest, River Cruising, Uncategorized

≈ 15 Comments

Tags

100 New Longships, Amsterdam, Amsterdam Maritime Museum, Amsterdam Pancake Boat, Europe, Keukenhof, Longship, Nemo, Viking River Cruise

Anticipation elevates the excitement of the journey to another level.

                                                                                              Kidazzleink, 2013
Floral Arrangement Keukenhof

Floral Arrangement Keukenhof

With last opportunities for sightseeing in Amsterdam swiftly drawing to a close, our restlessness was once again building. We’d been so looking forward to this wonderfully luxurious 15 day Viking River Cruise. We’d originally booked it so many, many months ago…some twelve months or more in fact; an absolute eternity ago. Ah but finally the big day was drawing near. We would soon be sailing off down the Rhine. Less than 24 hours to go now. We couldn’t wait!

Macro of Tulip Keukenhof

Macro of Tulip Keukenhof

We would soon be boarding our practically brand new Viking Longship called “Tor”. And it had only just been christened in Amsterdam one short month ago. Indeed, Viking had evidently broken all records on March 20, 2013 when they’d christened a total of 10 brand new Longships on the same day. This was reported to be on the back of them having also christened an incredible 8 Longships the previous year in 2012. I believe they’re now striving to break their own record yet again in 2014, when they hope to christen a further 14 Longships.

The world is obviously  hooked on cruising…or so it would appear. Only having to unpack the once as you travel luxuriously through the meandering waterways and in and out of so many different countries certainly adds to the appeal for us.

Viking makes no secret of the fact that they are hoping to introduce a total of 100 new Longships by 2020. They evidently have more and more people seeking to cruise through Europe than ever before.

As a lead up to this exciting Holiday (my very first holiday in Europe), dearly beloved and I had already been surfing, bookmarking and watching many of the Viking promotional videos as well as the Longship christening ceremonies of 2012 and 2013. Isn’t the internet such a wonderful medium (when its working properly that is!) It makes it just so easy to get all the information you could ever possibly want within the comfort of your own home. (I’ve actually included some of the Viking promotional video links here for anyone who, like myself, would like to pursue a little armchair travelling.)

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More Tulips Keukenhof

More Tulips Keukenhof

I often try to include links to interesting videos, Wikipedia Information and many other major tourist destination websites in my blogs. I do this especially for those of you who might enjoy the comfort of the armchair travel scene. I myself often love to travel to the other side of the globe and back without having to even leave my street let alone the country.

Anyway for today’s blog I’m simply posting the very last of my favourite photos from our sightseeing in and around Amsterdam and the beautiful Keukenhof Garden. I hope you like some of them as well! I’d really love to hear which ones happen to appeal to you the most and perhaps why. Drop me a line …… let me know.

Amsterdam- National Maritime Museum

Amsterdam- National Maritime Museum

Amsterdam Maritime Museum

Amsterdam Maritime Museum

Globe at National Maritime Museum

Globe at National Maritime Museum

Amsterdam Pancake Boat -Yummy

Amsterdam Pancake Boat -Yummy

NEMO Science Centre

NEMO Science Centre

NEMO Science Centre in Amsterdam

NEMO Science Centre in Amsterdam

NEMO Science Centre - Amsterdam

NEMO Science Centre – Amsterdam

Beetles Exhibit Keukenhof

Beetles Exhibit Keukenhof

Related articles
  • Viking Increases Its Longships Order to 14 Vessels (USA) (worldmaritimenews.com)
  • Viking River Cruises Host To A Surprising Mix Of Cruise Travelers (chriscruises.com)
  • Viking on the Mississippi in 2015? (o.canada.com)
  • 8 Memorable things to do while visiting Amsterdam (goldenthoughtspot.com)
  • Keukenhof Garden – A Kaleidoscope of Spring colour (kidazzleink.com)
  • From Austria to The Netherlands – From Mozart’s country to the land of the tulips (kidazzleink.com)

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