Plastic Bottle tops. and Communisom

 The bottle tops for soda and water bottles do not screw all the way off in these countries.  At first, I thought they were just not made right.  If you monkey grip the thing, you can tear it off.....took me a few days to figure out that they are designed this way.  After the top unscrews it flips back so you can drink from it.....never letting the top to get lost, thrown on the ground or whatever......smart way to stop littering.

One of the rules "Julie" said at the beginning of the trip was no discussing politics, religion or sports.  Thanks Julie for the tip.....no.   We have been asking all of our guides, other travel guests and staff of the ship about their experiences.  You must remember that Slovakia and Hungary were under Communist rule until the late 80's....and I mean the 1980's.  One of the questions I always ask;  how it was under Communism? and are there people who would want it back.   I heard two answers that were very familiar.  The first from our tour guide and the other from one of the staff on the ship.   They both said that living under Communism was less complicated.  You will never really get ahead but you will also not have many bills....from health or education.  They said that some people would rather just have a tadumm tadumm life.  Neither of them wanted it, but said others do......interesting.  Andrew told me.... yup it was less complicated and easy....but you had little or no freedom....some people liked that.  Freedoms included where and when you could travel, speech and religion.

More on our fascination conversations later...screw Julie, he does not get it

Bratislava Slovakia. BRAVO

 We had the afternoon in the capitol of Slovakia today.  Denise and I both agreed that this Old Town has been the best so far.  Bratislava is smaller than some of the others we have been to, but it is really a lived in city.  The streets were not only crowded with tourists but with people going about their daily lives.

Our touer guide this afternoon was this rather large women....who was huffing and puffing the whole way.  Not an issue if her mike that she was speaking into had nor been picking up every breath.  The tour was funny but mostly about where the good things to eat were.....lol ironic.  

That night we had happy hour on the ship and danced the night away.

Vienna

 We had been to Vienna before.  We lasted visited when Taylor studied in Gaming.   Since we had already done the walking tours, we decided to take on the bike tour.

That was a great decision.  It's 65 degrees and sunny here in Austria and the 16 mile bike ride was a great way to see Vienna from a different perspective.  Totally recommend using bikes.  There was only 4 guests and of course two staff that went with us.  Our guide Renee was a great guide.  

When I first took a look at the bikes...I said oh boy....these tanks look heavy....but in the end, they were great.  They had these funky handles that you rested your thumbs on....and the handlebar was raised and the seats were really comfortable....great surprise.

We saw the largest park in Austria...twice as large as Central Park in NYC.  We rode next to the river where they have a river walk that is open for graffiti..,  I had just went to the river wall graffiti festival in St Louis ....so I had a lot of questions about Viennas.  There is an "understanding:  graffiti on the river wall is permitted but not anywhere else.  There was 2-3 miles of this "art".    Renee explained depending how good the art was determined how long it stayed....someone would paint it over and leave. a fresh canvas 

At night we thought we were going to the Symphony.  An evening with Bach and Strauss.  Turns out its about 9 musicians in a small hall.  No way to dim the lights so it felt like we were in a school auditorium for an elementary school concert lol.  It was, in the end, very good and we enjoyed ourselves.   It was held at the Kursalon, which really is a beautiful place....but that does not make for a great story.

Durnstein and Melk. Denise gets slapped back!

 Next stop was Durnstein and Melk!

But before we start our excursion we need to cruise there.  In the morning we just cruised up the Danbue and looked at all the sights while "Julie" gave us all the details.  It was a great couple of hours with many great sites to see on the way.  Castles and little burgs and the stories that went with them.  

We took a two part tour, the first was to see Durnstein.  This wine making little town still had much of it' original walls surrounding it.  Many towns would build walls....25 feet tall all around the perimeter of the town.  Denise found a few things in the store....ouch....But since I got my $20 gray t-shirt a few days ago it seemed only fair!

The made wine and they grew apricots......thats what these 1,800 people did in this town.  We did some shots and tasted rabbit shit....all delicious and Denise also picked up some apricot marmalade.

The second place we visited was the Abbey  in Melk.  OUTSTANDING....except the tour guide.  Our tour guide for the overall tour was exceptional....but when we took the tour of the abbey....not so much.  She was new and was kinda like a zombie trying to spit out all the facts.  Denise got whacked back by the chick when she asked one of the only questions of the day.  When we first arrived there was two huge pictures of a lady and her husband.   She mad a big deal out of how these two were the first guests to come to the Abbey after it was rebuild in the mid 1700's.   Denise thought it would be good to know who the hell this women was....."excuse me ....who is Marie Theresa?"....."What?  You don't know who she is?"  ....Denisew skulks to the back...."She was here in the mid 1700's" ...that was it.  All of the people on the tour were thinking the same thing....It was not in the script and this chick did not know how to explain her.....

Since then , Our bike tour guy in Vienna gave us the whole rundown on the extremely important women in Austria history.

No more questions after that.

 

Linz and Salzburg

 Our next stop was Austria!   

The ship actually docks in Linz, however....almost everyone takes the day trip to Salzburg.  Salzburg is home of The Sound of Music!    Weird fact, Our guide for the day, Phillip, told us that most people in Austria have never seen the movie.  He said that he had only seen it by accident a few years ago......this was a little hard to believe, he was like a Sound of Music aficionado.  He knew more bits of info on that movie than most movie critics.  

Salzburg was beautiful and we toured with Phillip.  He was a great tour guide with a ton of knowledge and some great story telling skills.

In every city you will at least one castle and one church.  The castles were built to protect the community if they were attacked.  In some of the places they also could protect the rulers from their own people.  It seemed that the churches were always in competition to be bigger than the castles.  Salzburg was no different.  The Hohensalzberg Fortress was enormous.

We saw one the longest lock bridges I have ever seen.  I have seen these in other countries....but this one was at least 100 yards long

We saw Mondsee lake and Mirabell Gardens but of course the most interesting thing we saw was Mozarts balls.....Its a Salzburg joke I guess.....they sell Mozart Chocolate Balls everywhere....they were delicious.  We also had a great traditional lunch.  Denise had boiled beef...sounds gross and it looks just as bad as it sounds....but Denise loved it!

When we finally got back to the ship, Denise and I hurried down to old town Linz and checked it out.  We only spent 40 minutes but saw a really nice town.  The one thing that stood out was that this town had a lot of people actually living in this Old Town section.....most old towns are just tourist areas.

Do they wear underwear?

We went to a wine tasting  in Weissenkirchen the other night.  As with all of the events/excursions we have a guide who explains everything during the tour.  Now..... we had a long day with the duel tour of Durnestein and the Melk....so we were a little tired or should I say punchy.  Mix that with a group of people, our new cruise friends, and this can spell ....snarky humor I guess.

Its me and mom with the Prices at the end of a 10 person long rectangular table.  Next to us is Martin ( Florida) and Kevin (Minnesota). Its been three or four days and the jokes, sarcastic humor and jabs are well oiled by this time.  Also, by now most of us are pretty tired of guides that just ramble on and on.  Well we had one of those guides that night.  He was a nice guy....but ask him a question and wow....buckle up.....we just want to drink the wine and maybe have some conversation between ourselves.....but no....guide of the month continues to jammer on about who knows what. 

So Martin and Kevin start egging this guy on with"thoughtful" questions....the guide enthusiastically answers...for cripes sake...the looks that we are giving these two guys...please stop asking questions.  Im bored ....drinking a liquid that I do not like...trying to be attentive....ok not trying that hard.  I have had a bunch of cocktails at happy hour and .....

Martin asks, in his very serious voice,....do they wear gloves when they pick the grapes.?....OK I lost it...so I under my breath ....or at least I thought it was under my breath...remember the Vodka Tonics were flowing....  I ask..."Do they wear underwear?   That was it.....Denise, Mom Mike and I start giggling....uncontrollable....trying to hold it in....We are like 10 year olds in the back of Mass that cannot stop themselves.

The guide never took a breath...that made it even more funny....ok it was rude....but we could not stop.   

Laughed so hard my back started to ache.....

The ship

 wow a request....tell me more about the ship!

Before my next post.  I will tell you about the Amawaterways Amaviola.  This is a river Cruise ship that has three decks.  Normally can fit 150-160 people.  As I posted earlier, there are about 60 real guests on board.....another 40 bikers who are never on the ship.  The rooms are nice, small, but not unexpected.  The shower is a little tight.  Unlike a cruise ship, these boats are small and do not have all the crazy amenities that the big ocean lines have.  The whole top of the boast is chairs.  There is a swimming pool....and I mean little.  Other than the little gym....there is the lounge and dining rooms.  Both are about the 1/3 of the ship, one on the middle deck the other on the bottom deck.  What makes these ships different than any ocean cruise you have ever been on is the service.  There are 50 ship personnel on board and you never have to wait or ask for anything.  They know customer service!

This is now the 4th or 5th cruise I have been on.....I am just not a cruise guy.  I prefer to stay in one place for at least 3 to 4 days than seeing a new city every day.

OK back to the port report

Passau Germany

 Our first real town was a bit of a bust.  We had a three hour walking tour of the city.  Our guide, although a nice guy, was terrible.  I thought that Denise and I were the only ones that were thinking this....not.  

He spent at least 75% of the tour showing us water marks of the previous floods.  The first time it was interesting......but cripes sake, enough of he floods and flood markings.  I couldn't believe these people would continue to build structures that could not withstand a rising river....German engineering is not taught in this town.

The town was quaint but nothing special.  The following day we spent in Lint and Salzberg.  Should of stayed a few nights here and skipped the first two little towns that had next to nothing to see.

One of the nicer surprises you get on a crusie versus any other type of vacation.....really getting to know others on the trip.  Although, when  we travel with Milke and Sherrie, we really do not need others...biut a crusie is a type of vacayion that promotes togetherness.  We have met some very nice people.

We have formed a small group of abut 14 or so.  We, of course, hve bewcome the rowdiest group on the ship.  With only 60 or so guests...we stick out like a sore thumb. LOL. So closely and familir this group has gotten hs even fooled one of the waiters.  He thought we were a group thatb were all travleing together.  When nI explained that the prices and the Foleys were the only couples that new each other before the previous day, he was taken back.  A lot of laughs and as Kevin ( a rancher from South Dakota, now from Minnesota) said....Its great to be around a group you can be yourself and have so many laughs.

Good bye Munich. Hello Amaviola

Munich is a great city!  Some other tid bits

The city is really kinda gray.  It is a very "cementy" looking place...serious and "German". It is still nice, but unlike the colors of Positano or Prague.  

The city is much larger and spread out than you would think for a 1 1/2 million population city.  The city is really a walking city with many of the roads closed to vehicles.  Wide boulevards with cobblestone roads that are only open to pedestrians.

We left for our Ship today.  It was a two hour bus trip.  We are sailing on the cobblestone Amaviola.  We will be on the Danube river for the next week.  Our adventure starts in Villsofen Germany.  This is really just the embarkment town.  We didn't really spend anytime in the town.  Settled into our cabin and of course met up with our traveling partners....Sherrie and Mike Price.  We have spent countless hours on vacation together over the past 36 years.  They are just the best.   Lucky for them....we are right across the hall from their room!   

The ship is three floors.  Service is the key here and with only 100 guests on board....and 50 staff members....you want for nothing.  Within our 100  trip population are 40 cyclists that you never see.  They get up early ride until nightfall and go to bed.  I have yet to see them in the dining room.  That leaves about 60 of us that are really on the cruise.  

It's a very nice ship ....but very different from what most people think of a cruise ship.  Small and convenient...sometimes too small.  The gym ....yes I went to gym this morning.....looks good on the brochure....but....   They had two tread mills and two cycle units....and thats about it unless you cont the barbells that started at .05 Grams....cripes a beer can weighs more to about 10 lbs...and there were 7 different sizes...totally useless.

They opened the cruise with a "too long" initial meeting (1 hour).  Pete , the Julie of the cruise thinks he is a stand up....he's funny in a snarky kind of way.  But.....way too much info....mot peoples eyes were glazing over.  We had a happy hour Octoberfest on the dock.  It consisted of Beers and pretzel while being entertained by a german band and dancers.  It was fine.

Our room is nice.  The usual cruise ship size. We have a deck.....but of you are a little wide.....its a challenge.  All the meals are served.  The food has been good to great and the service 5 star.

More about the ship later 

Dacahu Concentration Camp

We took a 3 hour walking tour in the Dacahu concentration camp.  At first it looks like a bunch of buildings in the middle of the countryside....then the realization that this was a camp of evil takes hold as you see the guard towers, the electrified fence, the unlivable barracks and finally the "showers" and crematorium.  Our German guide was good.  I found however that both this guy and the guide who covered the Nazi regime in the afternoon we constantly either apologizing for the evil of the Nazis or explaining how most germans were liberated from the Nazis and not in favor of the Nazis.

Appropriately it rained all day.  I felt it should be raining.  I am not sure I would want to run through this tour on a sunny blue sky day.

The afternoon tour was 3 1/2 hour walking tour of the Nazi buildings.  It turned out to be a history lesson that could of be done in a classroom.  It was interesting.....but the guy went on too long and he spent too much time with the apology tour and "we are not all Nazis" theme.  Denise had a different take on this....Chime in Denise.

It was a long day so we had dinner at one of the hotel restaurants.....it was an Asian place.....funny we were in Germany eating Asian food....  BTW lunch was Thai, our guide told us of this little hole in the wall Thai place we should go to during our lunch break.   The Chinese women who took the orders was so loud....this place was no more than 200 square feet....She spoke no english....but understood the words Gluten Free.  She wrote down #32 on a piece of paper and shoved it at Denise.  When I asked about the Penang, she looked at me with this look that said ....listen you dummy...I don't speak english....I pointed to a number and then, I now know , she asked me , in German, if I wanted chicken or beef....it came down to her LOUDLY clucking and waiver her arms and a lot of Moooooing.  The food was excellent.

Octoberfest....or DrunkFest. Here we go

hen we planned this trip, Octoberfest was not main driver.  We just lucked out with the dates.  I am so glad we were able to experience this drunkfest.  

Let's start with that my partner in crime who barely drinks any alcohol and cannot/will not drink beer.  Denise is also a very modest person .....so seeing her in her Dirndl ....wowzee wow wow.  It was very funny to watch every guy that walked by take a peak....eyes up gentlemen.  But really hats off to Denise....she got all dressed up and went to Octoberfest for me.  

If you think I am exaggerating....Denise thought I was.....Here is when I think she "got it".  We sat next to a family from Denmark.  I sat next Dad (70) and Denise sat next to Fredrick...30 something.  Dad got so excited that he had to instantly take a picture of Denise....lol.  His girl friend was not that happy and looked more embarrassed than mad by her partners interest in Denise.  It was just slightly creepy, but hey we are at Octoberfest and its is all in good fun.

Anyway......let's go back....more about The Denmark clan later. 

What surprised me first about Octoberfest was that it was like a huge county fair.  Funny thing is the variety of things was very limited.  Sausage stands, these gingerbread heart shaped cookie stands...and these hokey shooting games that looked like they came out f the 50's. There were hundreds of these stalls throughout the fairgrounds.  Then there were the Beer Gardens....massive "tents".....some holding 3-4k people.   Inside the tents are picnic tables....long wooden tables.  With hundreds of servers running around bring beer and food to the guests.  In most of the tents there was a center stage that a band would be playing traditional german music.  Funny thing....you could barely hear the band over the  cacophony of laughing and talking.  It was so loud you could easily miss the Drink Drink Drink song they played every 20 minutes or so.

Great things about the set up was the servers.  Any of them would bring you beer and you paid them when they brought it to you....no tabs....all cash.  Also the beer only comes in a 1 liter mug.  Buckle up buttercup.  You might think that the beer would go warm....but the mugs are huge thick and heavy and the beer is cold to the last drop.

Let's now talk Chicken....yes Chicken....we were told by more than a few friends to make sure you eat the chicken.  So Denise.....orders a chicken.  Its a 1/2 roasted chicken that looks like a Sams/Costco rotisserie cut in half.  No sides ...no garnish....just this chicken sitting on the plate.  It looked dried out....but No No No...it was absolutely delicious.  Note to self, get the chicken.

As I said the Danes were the first group we sat with.  It turned out to be a 2 hour political conversation with Jens and Fredric.  They were a gay couple in their 30's.  Bright and curious about American politics.  Jens was a journalist.  Lots of laughs and conversation led them to understand that conservative republicans like Denise and I are normal people with normal values!  We agreed more than we disagreed and this totally surprised them.  The big take away.....They explained that American politics were extremely important in their country.  It set the stage for the free world.   I am a bit of a political junkie....so when they told me that they in fact had an election parties to watch our election results every four years I was flabbergasted.  Great guys hope to see them in Denmark someday.

Our next table experiences was with a table of drunk Italian guys.  Yup....it was  exactly what it sounds like.....loud , funny, a little grabby with Denise....harmeless she tells me, and almost no english.....lol.

A great bunch of guys ....we really only spoke to 3 of them due to the fact the other two had to go out and puke a few times.  Thank god I did not have to join them.....but after 3 1/2 liters of beer ....my designated walker, walked me home.  I think some of Denises favorite photos is of me are winding my disheveled self through the street of Munich.

Was in bed by 7 I think....and of course I was up at midnight wide awake for three hours....

Radom Thoughts about Munich

Here are some random observations.....

The airport needs a little work.  The line for customs was like a cattle chute.  300+ people all down to a double line that needed to go  up a 1 person escalator and up normal sized staircase.....Mooooooo

All the cabs here are a yellowish creme color....and mostly Mercedes Benz

People like to rip you off with change....Do they think I cannot count simple euros?  The fair is 30 Euros I give him 50 and he hands me 15 and look at me like I am an idiot.  More on the whole tipping issue later.

The streets are laid out like Boston.  Crazy...one ways .. curves...rotaries....It makes it extremely hard to find your way.  How I miss the ease of Manhattan's grid.

Everything is in German...lol you are probably saying..... no shit Sherlock you're in Germany.   Kinda reminds me of my car,.  I drive a german car and always say that the Germans could care less about the comforts Americans look for in the vehicles....same here.  This is their country and by gosh....learn the language or be somewhat lost.

BTW many of the service workers do not speak english....this has definitely been a fun party of the trip....total; confusion trying to figure out where we were or what we wanted to do....

The Germans are so much friendlier than people give them credit for ....just plain nice  people with big smiles and ready to share a laugh when we all come to the conclusion that the english and German languages have nothing in common.  

Of course like the rest of Europe....very few street signs.....figure it out you foreigners....lol

more tid-bits as we go

Walking Tour with Rick Steves

 We are either getting better at this traveling stuff....or we are just lucky so far.  When we get off the plane....the pre-planned car service guy is there holding a sign....no confusion.  Arrived at our hotel 30 minutes later....they had our reservation.  Any of you readers that have followed our vacations before, know that by this time in the vacation there are at least 1 or 2 crazy Pete and Denise stories....we have been very pedestrian.

The first day we took a self guided Rick Steves tour.  Ok, this guy is corny....but the Munich City Tour was great.  Informative and directionally very good.

Speaking of directions....I guess when you take a three hour tour in a city you have never been to.....a city that is more like Boston than New York on how crazy the streets are laid out.....you should take the name and address of the hotel you are staying at.  

You might say .....come on, you cannot remember the hotel?.....No I cannot.... I have to now look up the name for you.....Bayerischer Hof...address....Promandeplatz 2-6.....lol.  More on the crazy city layout in the next post

A few seconds of panic....and then I found an email from the car service company that had the "address". 

Let's begin.....Flight to Munich

 Looking back, the flight was fine.  I guess it started with American Airlines moving our departure time in STL up by 3 1/2 hours.  It's not like they told us at the last minute.....we knew months in advance.  The 7:30 am departure, however, was just a lot earlier than 10:30....it also had us sit in Charlotte for an extra 3 hours.  

I also don't  think my strategy of getting up at 3 am the day of travel and trying to stay awake until 7pm to break the time difference was bad.....I guess it was the 35 diet Cokes that started the sleeping issue.  If anyone has flown with me, they know that I can fall asleep on the runway before take off and the landing  will wake me up......not so much on our 7 hour flight to Munich.    Wide awake the whole time.....seriously if I got an hour of sleep it was a lot.  This started the no sleep ....up for hours in the middle f the night vacation!

Self inflicted wound.

The only interesting thing about the travel day was the benefit/problem with the Admiral Club.  No, we do not belong to the American Airlines Admiral Club....but no sense letting that get in the way of trying to enter the club.  Sometimes a smile and a few jokes gets you in....also playing stupid..."really we don't belong?"  It's not like your at the Ritz, but free food...internet access without sitting on the floor in an airport....and of course....unlimited fountain soda....there in lies the problem.  

Sad news

As we flew  into Munich we learned that my sister Patty had lost her 5 year battle with Cancer.  I had seen her just last Thursday and knew her time was limited.  I spoke with sister many many times throughout her battle....I was always amazed on how positive she was and what a warrior she was,  She had a miserable health experience throughout those years....but most of the time you would not know it.  

An interesting, sometimes complicated , funny, supportive relationship was what we had ....nothing new with sibling relationships.  She lived a very vibrant and involved life....my saddest memory is the pain she was in for the past few years.

God Bless and RIP Pat.

 Wow... it's been a long time since blogging in Italy.  The past four years have been a whirlwind with grandchildren, travel, and living the retired dream.  Enough excuses.....Denise and I are off to Munich this morning.  We got up at three to start to address the time difference.  We now need to keep awake until 7 pm tonight on the plane to better our chances of being awake for the 7 am arrival in Munich....good luck with keeping me awake on the first flight to Charlotte.

Lots of little things that need to be done before you go......charge all the batteries to the house cameras, check all the water sensor batteries, turn down the water heaters to vacation mode, ready the pool to be closed the day after tomorrow when we are gone, set the thermostats, get rid of all items in the fridge....we are away for 3 weeks....this is a job unto itself....all first world problems so don't shed a tear for us.

Mel is picking us up at 5:15  am.

I'll try to get back in the swing of this blogging stuff.  Unbelievably nothing really went haywire this morning!