Tag Archives: Viking River Cruise

Day 14 – Budapest; Becoming acquainted with the Main Shopping Precinct.

09 Monday Dec 2013

Posted by in Amsterdam to Budapest, Budapest, Time flies when you're globe trotting and river cruising, Uncategorized

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A door studded with Swarovski Crystals in the main city area in Budapest, Hungary.

A door studded with Swarovski Crystals in the main city area in Budapest, Hungary.

Just after lunch on day 14 we excitedly joined our ever-obliging young tour guide, Valerie, for the very last info-walk of our Viking holiday. We were going to stroll through the main shopping precinct in Budapest, which is on the flat “Pest” bank of the Danube.

For D.B. and I this was going to be a rather important afternoon stroll, as we took in the various landmarks of the main commercial areas and hastily acquainted ourselves with the new city.

D.B. and I considered ourselves rather lucky, for we still had a further 5 full days ahead of us in which to explore this beautiful city of Budapest, before flying out towards the end of the week. These last two info tours on Day 14 (both the a.m. and p.m. tours) would later prove most beneficial in helping us to identify, and also prioritise, the important areas we would like to return to in the coming days.

Cafe in Budapest, Hungary.

Cafe in Budapest, Hungary.

We found the city streets were absolutely bustling. There were little cafes and souvenir shops selling many different traditional Hungarian products and handicrafts. There were many western chain hotels and charming little alfresco establishments. One of my favourite shops in Budapest was a smallish store that sold the most exquisite coloured-crystal glassware. Had I lived closer to Budapest I may well have been tempted to buy some of it. Well maybe just one piece…..as it was quite expensive.

As we explored the main street we saw several pretty young girls dressed in beautifully embroidered Hungarian folk costumes.

Pretty girl in traditional Hungarian costume in Budapest.

Pretty girl in traditional Hungarian costume in Budapest.

Another pretty girl in traditional dress, Budapest, Hungary.

Another pretty girl in traditional dress, Budapest, Hungary.

There were also several interesting street performers eking out a living by performing for tourists on Budapest’s streets. All of it of this was of course just wonderful to photograph.

One of the street performers was dressed in a fine silvery witch’s costume. In fact she was painted silver from head to toe and accompanied by a rather fine looking silver cat which also played a part. The witch was particularly intriguing, as she had meticulously refined her rather bewitching characterture. She could really be quite eerie…no make that quite scary to watch.

The silver witch, Budapest, Hungary

The silver witch, Budapest, Hungary

One young fellow was trying very hard to encourage his anxious girlfriend to have her photo taken with the wicked old witch but it all seemed more than the young girl could handle….she was just so absolutely terrified by this scary old witch’s persona and her sinister witching movements! The young girl would invariably take two or three steps towards the old witch and then run…obviously terrified back in the direction of her boyfriend. I myself even thought I could hear witch’s gleeful cackle as the young girl ran!

I’m still not sure whether they actually ended up getting that photo or not as our group was again moving on.  And you know…..by now this rather sweet but “not so young” Viking River Tourist wasn’t taking any chances of getting lost or even separated from her group again. For more on that story you might like to read my story on Lost in Regensberg!

A Modern Day Fairy Tale

A Modern Day Fairy Tale

She now always made sure she dutifully followed her Viking River Cruise tour guide! After all she’d already learnt her own scary lesson when she’d got lost in Regensberg just a few short info-walks ago!

Vase at Crystalacarte.com

Vase at Crystalacarte.com

Budapest city area, Hungary

Budapest city area, Hungary

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Day 13 – Budapest; Like a Fairy Tale Kingdom after Dark

04 Wednesday Dec 2013

Posted by in Hungary, Sailing into Budapest, Time flies when you're globe trotting and river cruising, Uncategorized, Viking River Cruise

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Sailing into the Fairy Tale Kingdom of Budapest, Hungary.

Sailing into the Fairy Tale Kingdom of Budapest, Hungary.

Some six months have now passed since our first magical Viking River Cruise, yet it can still be a little difficult to determine whether Day 13 was actually the grandest or perhaps even the most dismal of days.

On the one hand we’d been relaxing, yes we’d actually been socialising and partying whilst sailing on towards what can only be described as the a most Spectacular Panorama…. “Budapest by Night”.

But on the other we were now beginning our sad farewells. We’d actually spent time today catching up with other guests to discuss their plans for post-cruise journeys and of course to wish them well as they made their way back home.

Day 13 was going to be our very last day of sailing along the mighty Danube. By tomorrow we would have just one more day of precious luxury to enjoy.

By early evening we would be dressing in our glittering finery….attending the Captain’s elegant Farewell Reception and Formal Dinner.

Amazingly D.B. and I had managed to spend some time during the early afternoon hours just lazing in the Viking Longship’s main lounge, enjoying the comforts and, at times. soaking up the gentle Spring Breeze out on the lovely alfresco Aquavit Terrace.

Later in the afternoon our Longship Tor had passed by the famous Danube Bend along with the notable Eszgertom Basilica which is said to be the largest catholic cathedral in Hungary.

Esztergom Catholic Cathedral on the Danube

Esztergom Catholic Cathedral on the Danube

Esztergom Cathedral from a different perspective.

Esztergom Cathedral from a different perspective.

We’d been cocktailed, we’d been champagned, we’d been wined and dined, and YES….all in a most convivial atmosphere right throughout the evening.

Many guests  were now starting to trade Email addresses and contact information with their new found friends.

But I will never forget…..it was some time shortly after 10.00pm that the real magic began to crescendo as Viking Tor started it’s culminating cruise into the sparkling city of Budapest.

I don’t think very many of us were actually expecting the level of fairy tale enchantment that was soon infusing the night’s atmosphere. We drank it all in….the sparkling architectural wonder. There was the stately parliament building, there were so many historical bridges, there was an ABSOLUTELY GLISTENING display of city lights, and a very romantic…… almost magical castle. There were many beautiful old buildings lining the banks of the Danube. They all seemed to add their own aura to the breathtaking vista of this evening. Yes Budapest was just like a fairy tale kingdom after dark.

Parliament throught one of the Bridges. Budapest, Hungary.

Parliament and one of the Bridges. Budapest, Hungary.

An Architectural Wonder, Parliament House, Budapest, Hungary.

An Architectural Wonder, Parliament House, Budapest, Hungary.

More of Parliment House, Budapest, Hungary.

More of Parliment House, Budapest, Hungary.

The Castle, Budapest, Hungary.

The Castle, Budapest, Hungary.

One more shot of the Castle, Budapest, Hungary.

One more shot of the Castle, Budapest, Hungary.

Stateroom, Day 13, a small visitor, Budapest, Hungary.

Stateroom, Day 13, a small visitor, Budapest, Hungary.

The Chain Bridge, Budapest, Hungary.

The Chain Bridge, Budapest, Hungary.

It was all a most amazing and satisfying climax to our truly remarkable cruise.

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Day 6 – Wurzburg and its Magnificent Residenz

09 Wednesday Oct 2013

Posted by in Amsterdam to Budapest, Uncategorized, Viking River Cruise, Wurzburg

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Dragon Artwork- Wurzburg Residence

Dragon Artwork- Wurzburg Residence

We’d now docked in Wurzburg, Franconia (Population approx 144,000). We’d sailed from Miltenberg the previous evening and then travelled on down the Main River through the night. Today we’d moved into the Northern Barvarian Region of Germany.

We were preparing ourselves for another enjoyable morning of sightseeing when over the longship’s speaker system came the call we’d all been waiting for:

“A very, very, lovely good morning to you all my wonderful ladies and gentlemen. This is your first call for this morning. Would those of you wishing to join our morning’s sightseeing in Wurzburg to visit the Residenz Palace, please start to make their way to the departure area.”

Ceiling Painting - Wurzburg Residence

Ceiling Painting – Wurzburg Residence

We were in the habit of dressing early, then waiting for these ‘always on time’ and ‘always oh so polite’ announcements to come from our absolutely wonderful and extremely well organized, travel-hostess, Valerie.

Today the announcement procedures were no different…..yet I found myself becoming more excited as our departure drew nearer. Afterall, today we would soon be heading off to see one of the most ornate, most spectacular residences in Germany, a residence with some real “WOW” factor –“The Wurzburg Residenz.”

Wurzburg Residence, Germany

Wurzburg Residence, Germany

Another photo of Wurzburg Residence, Germany.

Another photo of Wurzburg Residence, Germany.

Architect, Balthaser Neumann designed and co-ordinated the building of this extraordinarily, beautiful baroque palace back in the early 1700s. It was built for Prince-Bishop Johann Phillipp Franz von Shonborn and the Counts of Shonborn. It encapsulated the work of many of the very finest artists and craftsmen of the day, including the ornamentation genius, Antonio Bossi and ceiling painter extraordinaire, Giovanni Battista Tiepolo.

Ornate work, Wurzburg Palace

Ornate work, Wurzburg Palace

On viewing the residence Dearly Beloved (D.B.) and I were naturally awestruck. Afterall, we’d never seen a structure of such ornate magnificence. It captured so many different historical styles of interior décor of the time. I believe it could be described as similar to, yet different from the Palace of Versailles in France. Having not seen Versailles myself I can’t really comment.

Mirror Room, Wurzburg Residence

Mirror Room, Wurzburg Residence

Ornate Ceiling Work, Wurzburg Residence

Ornate Ceiling Work, Wurzburg Residence

As we followed our “Residenz Tour Guide” from one highly decorative area of the palace to another exploring each  the individual rooms,  the whole splendor of place just seemed to envelope us in its history and grandeur.

It seemed to become more and more ornate as we moved further into the building.

Antique Room Heater, Wurzburg Residence

Antique Room Heater, Wurzburg Residence

We saw so much; first there was the large entry vestibule, then we moved on to the enormous grand staircase room with its extremely high painted ceilings, then there was the absolute beauty of the neoclassical White Room, the marble and stucco work of the Imperial Hall, the dazzling Room of Mirrors, the Residenz Chapel and so so much more.

Lost for words for most of the time, all I seemed to be able to say as one door closed and another opened was………

Wow, Wow, Wow and Wow or else lots of O.M.G’s which for me is Oh My Goodness or Oh My Golly Goloshes!

More Artwork Around Windows at Wurzburg Residence

More Artwork Around Windows at Wurzburg Residence

Painted Ceiling, Wurzburg Residence

Painted Ceiling, Wurzburg Residence

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Day 2: Kinderdijk: Historic Windmills in The Netherlands

20 Friday Sep 2013

Posted by in Kinderdijk, The Netherlands, Uncategorized

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Windmill Kinderdijk

Windmill Kinderdijk

We’d been graciously wined and dined in the convivial atmosphere of our new Longship Tor’s stylishly, comfortable dining room. With its expansive floor to ceiling windows, we’d again been offered the most magical views over the Amsterdam IJ as we had sailed out past the sparkling, city lights that glittered fairy-like on the water, creating their vibrant and colourful, reflections. These night time views of the canal city were both breathtaking and memorable.

We’d also had some opportunity to become acquainted with a few of our new travelling companions. Everyone appeared rather upbeat and happy in anticipation of the exciting days that lay ahead.

By morning, dearly beloved and I had awoken to find ourselves out in the charming Dutch countryside just a few kilometres East of Rotterdam.

Beautiful old home across the river from the windmills

Beautiful old home across the river from the windmills

Today we’d be visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Kinderdijk – home to some 19 Windmills that were originally built way back in the 18th Century to drain a polder that sits at the confluence of the Lek and Noord Rivers.

Kinderdijk literally means “Children’s Dike”.

The Dutch tell a wonderful little fable that relates back to the great floods of 1421, in which a cat was observed to work very hard at balancing a baby’s cradle by carefully jumping back and forth from one side to the other as the cradle continued to float dangerously through the rising waters. It is said that these clever actions by the cat caused the cradle to remain upright and afloat as it navigated towards a dike where the baby could be rescued. The infant is believed to have survived the floods, and all thanks to the wise actions of that quick-witted cat. And this is apparently how Kinderdijk originally got its name…or so we were told!.

Living quarters inside a windmill

Living quarters inside a windmill

Shortly after attending a Viking information session on the history of the Kinderdijk region, we’d left our longship and headed off to explore the windmills and view one of the “Ground Sailors” in operation. I had found it fascinating watching these old historical structures turning their blades, just as they’d done for hundreds of years. It was also great to have opportunity to view some of the internal living areas, the timber gears, windshafts and the other machinery used to drive the sails.

Unfortunately, the weather that morning was rather unpleasant….light drizzle and extremely chilly I recall. This tended to make our exploration less exciting than what it would otherwise have been.

Anyway…let’s just say we were now both very thankful to have those big warm cumbersome overcoats that we’d carried with us all the way through the more tropical climate of Singapore and the balmy spring days that had greeted us in Munich just a couple of short weeks ago! You know, somehow it seemed to make up for us having to carry them all that way. We were certainly very very pleased we had them with us on that chilly Spring morning in Kinderdijk.

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Amsterdam – Last Photos before joining our Viking River Cruise

13 Friday Sep 2013

Posted by in Amsterdam, Amsterdam to Budapest, River Cruising, Uncategorized

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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

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