Jewels of Europe River Cruise - Part 2
 with Scenictours in 2014
 plus the
 Prague Tour
with Scenictours in 2014
with stopovers in Dubai and Singapore on the way home
Travel Europe 2014
Click Jewels of Europe River Cruise Insert

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Amsterdam, The Netherlands (Day 23/Cruise) - 17 June 2014
Ship Days 1 and 2.  Joined our Jewels of the Europe River Cruise Ship "Scenic Diamond" in Amsterdam.  After viewing our ship's living space, we were pleased with the balcony suit we ordered.  Somewhere for Denis to get lost for a few hours each morning!  Did a shore trip to see a bit of  the The Netherlands, including dikes and some old windmills.		 Scenic Diamond docked in Amsterdam waiting for us to join the cruise
Cabin 210 and our Balcony loosk great! Clever towel work from the staff! Safely bit done. Denis will pick up an adult life jacket in any emergency! Windmill near Amsterdam First lock on the trip travelling West on the Rhine River - only >50 to go!
Cologne - Marksburg, Germany (Day 24/Cruise) - 18 June 2014
Ship Day 3.  Cruised West on the Rhine River to Dusseldorf, Germany.  We elected to visit Cologne instead of Dusseldorf and did a little bus trip with the ship to follow and pick us up in Cologne.		 Denis and the Scenic Diamond Bell, as the ship goes under a bridge with another ship passing
First trip ashore to visit Cologne - Ship droping us off near Dusseldorf Cologne Cathedral - foundation stone of the Gothic building was laid on the 15 August 1248 Scenic Diamond coming into Cologne on the Rhine River to pick us up for more cruising Marksburg Castle, Markaburg, Germany
Marksburg Castle - Old cannon Old kitchen in Marksburg Castle, Marksburg, Germany Fran and Colleen enjoying dinner in Marksburg Castle, Germany Marksburg Castle as we sail pass on the Rhine River in Germany
Rhine Gorge - Rudesheim (Day 25/Cruise) - 19 June 2014
Ship Day 4.  Sailed the spectacular Rhine River Gorge. Lots of Castles, Villages and Vineyards.  Visited Rudesheim and did a bit of shopping, with the 100's of bikies, that were in the villiage for the Magic Bike Rudesheim 2014.  Also Denis took the cable car to the Niederwald Monument, which commemorate the foundation of the German Empire after the end of Franco-Prussian War.  The monument is 38 metres high.
Rhine Gorge, Germany

Rhine Gorge, Germany
Another Castle in the Rhine Gorge, Germany Another Castle in the Rhine Gorge, German Another Castle in the Rhine Gorge, German Another Castle in the Rhine Gorge, German
Rudesheirm - wine growing area on the Rhine River, Germany Rudesheirm - wine growing area on the Rhine River, Germany Denis at the Niederwald Monument high above Rubeesheim Arrived in Rudesheim at the same time as 100's of bikies!
Miltenberg - European Village Life (Day 26/Cruise) - 20 June 2014
Ship Day 5.  Docked at Miltenberg on the Main River and did a guided tour of the old town, established about 1237 AD.   Did a guided tour of the Weingut Johannes Deppisch vineyard and some tasting in the winery.  We had a Bavarian Barbeque after in the winery with musical,  entertainment and some drinking of the local Germany beer.  Colleen got to do some dancing! - woo hoo!  The ship picked us up at Marktheidenfeld after a great night of drinking and singing!		 Docked in Miltenberg, Germany
Denis in Miltenberg with his Scenic Riverview GPS/Guide commentary device Colleen and fellow tour travellers, Claude and Isabell at east end of the Miltenberg old towm, the Wurzburgertor Miltenberg Bridge/Gate that crosses the Main River. Blown up by the German Army in the final days of WW2 killing many of the locals- rebuilt in the 1950's Colleen in Miltenberg with her Scenic Riverview GPS/Guide commentary device
Weingut Deppisch Vineyard near Marktheidenfeld, Germany Colleen dancing at Weingut Deppisch Fran at Weingut Deppisch with a loan drink from the owner Colleen dancing at Weingut Deppisch
Wurzburg (Day 27/Cruise) - 21 June 2014
Ship Day 6.  We visited the old walled town of Rothenburg for a guided tour. The Rothenburg tower clock, built in 1683, shows the day of the month, hour, and minute.  A mechanical drinking scene from two windows portrays mayor Nusch's legendary drinking of over three liters of wine without stopping to save the town in 1631.  Insert shows one of the drinking scene windows.  		Colleen at the walled town of Rothenburg, Germany
The Rothenburg tower clock, built in 1683, shows the day of the month, hour, and minute. A mechanical drinking scene portrays mayor Nusch's legendary drinking of over three liters of wine without stopping to save the town in 1631 Denis in the old walled town of Rothenburg, Germany Part of the old Town wall and old buildings, Rothenburg, Germany Denis on the Old Town Wall in Rothenburg
Bamberg (Day 28/Cruise) - 22 June 2014
Ship Day 7.  Tour of Bamberg, the town, mentioned as early as 902 AD.  Checking out the old Town buildings including the old Town Hall in the centre of the Regnitz River, the Cathedral, the Michaelsberg and the Schienkerla, one of Bamberg's famous breweries and taverns.  On leaving Bamberg the ship crossed from the Main River to the Main-Danube Canal.		 The Schlenkerla, Bamberg, Germany
Michaelsberg Abbey, Bamberg, Germany Bamberg Cathedral Altes Ratuas on the Regnitz River, Bamberg, Germany Altes Ratuas on the Regnitz River, Bamberg, Germany
Nuremberg (Day 29/Cruise) - 23 June 2014
Ship Day 8.  Tour Nuremberg which held great significance during the Nazi Germany era. Because of the city's relevance to the Holy Roman Empire and its position in the centre of Germany, the Nazi Party chose the city to be the site of huge Nazi Party conventions – the Nuremberg rallies.  In addition, after WW2, German officials involved in war crimes and crimes against humanity were brought before an international tribunal in the Nuremberg Trials.  A very interesting visit to the city.  That evening on the ship we had a beautful sunset as we travel east on the Main-Daube Canal, passing thru a number of locks with lifts of about 25 meters.  		Sailing with a beautful sunset view from the sun deck
Colleen at the Nuremberg Museum - Inserts Nazi WW2 Site of the Nuremberg war crimes trial after WW2, Nuremberg - Inserts Nazi's on trial Old Nuremberg Nazi Party Rally grounds - Inserts before WW2 Entering a Lock on the Main River
Entering a Lock on the Main River Entering a Lock on the Main River Getting ready to leave the Lock after a 25metre lift on the Main River Crew guiding the ship out of the Lock after a 25 metre lift
Regensburg (Day 30/Cruise) - 24 June 2014.
Ship Day 9.  Still on the Main-Danube Canal and did a tour of Regensburg, including an organ rectal at the town church, before heading for Lassau by bus.  Due to low water level between Regensburg and Lassau, a ship change was required, hence we had to bus around the problem to join the 'Scenic Ruby" waiting in Passau, Germany.   		Farewell Scenic Diamond we enjoyed our stay
Early morning passing another Castle on the Main-Danube Canal Street in Regensburg Regensburg Church Organ Colleen and Denis at the rectal of the Regensburg Church Organ
Passau - Linz, Austria (Day 31/Cruise) 25 June 2014
Ship Day 10.  Our new ship the Scenic Ruby was waiting for us at Passau on the Danube River and all the locks now will lower the ship.  We did a day tour to Salzburg, Austria which can trace human settlement dating to the Neolithic age.  It also was the birthplace of Mozart and the main location for the Sound of Music movie.  We both enjoy our day in Salzbung and the scenic Apline surroundings.  After returning to the ship we sailed into Austria via Linz to for Melk.		 Scenic Ruby was waiting for us in Passau - same ship, different name!
On our way to Salzburg - Morning tea stop Schnaitl Braugasthof, Eggelsberg, Austria Colleen and Isabell at the morning tea stop Schnaitl Braugasthof, Eggelsberg, Austria Colleen and Denis at the gazebo used in the Sound of Music that was filmed in the Salzbung area The Salzbung gardens with the Hohensalzbung Castle in the backgrounda
The Satzach River with the Festung Hohensalzbung (Fort) in the background, Salzbung, Austria Lovers locks on the Satzach River Bridge, Salzbung, Austria Street in Salzbung, Austria - Note the McDonald sign! Salzbung, Austria
Colleen in Salzbung, Austria Funicular railway for public access to the Hohensalzbung Castle, Salzbung, Austria View from the Festung Hohensalzbung (Fort), Salzbung, Austria Denis at the Festung Hohensalzbung (Fort), Salzbung, Austria
View from the Festung Hohensalzbung (Fort), Salzbung, Austria Funicular railway for public access to the Hohensalzbung Castle, Salzbung, Austri Colleen and Isabell, Salzbung, Austria The Festung Hohensalzbung (Fort), Salzbung, Austria
Colleen and Isabell in a narrow street of Salzburg, Austria Sailing past the Ars Electronica Centre, Linz, Austria Fran, Isabell, Colleen and Denis enjoying the musical entertainment sailing on the Dunube River in Austria View from the Festung Hohensalzbung (Fort), Salzbung, Austria

View from the Festung Hohensalzbung (Fort), Salzbung, Austria
Melk - Durnstein - Vienna (Day 32/Cruise) - 26 June 2014
Ship Day 11.  Arrived and docked at Melk early in the morning.  Toured the Melk Abbey which is a Benedictine Monastery, founded in 1089, on a rocky outcrop overlooking the Danube River.  We then sailed on to Durnstein, which is famous for holding King Richard I (Loinheart of England) captive in the medieval Duerrstein Castle in 1192.   Sailed for Vienna in the afternoon. 		Benedictine Monastery in Melk, Germany
Benedictine Monastery courtyard, Melk, Germany Inside the church at the Benedictine Monastery, Melk, Germany Melk from the Benedictine Monastery Cobble stone street in Melk, Germany
Durnstein Durnstein Durnstein Durnstein
Vienna (Day 33 and 34/Cruise) - 27/28 June 2014
Ship Days 12 and 13.   Did a guided tour of Vienna.  Attended a Viennese evening concert at the Palais Liechtenstein featuring the music of Strauss and Mozart. On our second day in Vienna, we did a guided tour of Schonbrunn Palace.  Had a farwell dinner and some entertain by the crew as we sailed for Budapest, Hungary.   Note:  Colleen still likes a guy in uniform and with Fran and Isabell, had their photo taken with the Captian and Hotel Manager!		 St Stephen's Cathedral in the centre, downtown Vienna, Austria
Colleen, Fran and Isabell with a Kangaroo located in Vienna Colleen and Denis in front of the Hofburg Palace, Vienna Nice paint job at the Palais Liechtenstein, Vienna Colleen and Denis at the Palais Liechtensteiic, Vienna
Schonbrunn Palace, Vienna Denis and Colleen at the Schonbrunn Palace, Vienna On the Danube River in Vienna Schonbrunn Palace, Vienna

Schonbrunn Palace, Vienna
Colleen having a champagne as we sail for Budapest, Hungary Crew of the Scenic Ruby doing a show as we sail for Budapest, Hungary Colleen and Denis enjoying the show as we sail for Budapest, Hungary The Captain, Isabell, Fran, Colleen and the Hotel Manager on the Scenic Ruby
Budapest, Hungary (Day 35 and 36/Cruise) - 28/29 June 2014
Ship Days 14 and 15.   Kick off our stay in Budapest by doing a tour of both Buda and Pest (Parts of the City on each side of the river, that form Budapest)..   Did a night sail on the Danube River to see the lights of Budapest and Denis did a little bit of Hungarian folk hat dancing!		 Scenic Ruby alongside another Scenic Ship on the Danube River in Budapest
Matthias Church which was built in 1015 in the Romanesque style, Budapest Looking over Buda to the Hungarian Parliament on the Pest side of the Danube River Heroes' Square, Budapest, Hungary Parliament House at dusk from the Danube River
On board Hungarian flok dancing in Budapest Denis and Claude doing some Hungarian folk hat dancing in Budapest Colleen with Parliament House at night in the background Parliament House at dusk from the Danube River

Budapest from Gellert Hill with the Szechenyl Chain Bridge linking Buda and Pest. Also Buda Castle on the left
Prague, Czech Republic (Day 1 to 4/Tour) (Days 36 to 39)
30/3 Jul 2014
Art Deco Imperial Hotel, Prague
 Bused on a very wet day to Prague, the capital of Czech Republic via a lunch stop in Bratislava, which is in the capital of Slovak Republic.  The first activity was a tour of the city starting at Prague Castle, which is still the offical residence and office of the President of the Czech Republic.  The castle has St Vitus Cathedral within its walls.Praque was a very interesting visit, which we both enjoyed.  We Learn what things were like under communism and about Prague in WW2, which was invaded by the Nazis. The head of Nazi SS and SD forces, Reinhard Heydrich was assassinated by resistance Paratroopers,  The Paratroopers were cornered in the Church of Saints Cyril and Methodius which is now an memorial to them and the Czech resistance.  Operation Anthropoid was the only successful assassination of a top-ranking Nazi!		 Art Deco Imperial Hotel, Prague
Colleen near our lunch stop in Bratislava, Slovak Republic on the way to Prague Prague Castle, Prague, Czech Republic Denis and the guards at the official residence and office of the President of the Czech Republic Prague Castle changing of the guards, the official residence and office of the President of the Czech Republic
St Vitus Cathedral in the walls of Prague Castle. The cathedral stores the Czech Crown Jewels Lots of cobblestone streets in Prague Interesting statue in Prague Prague from Prague Castle which shows some of it on the left

Prague from near the lower gate to Prague Castle. Note the vineyard on the left
Interesting statue in Prague   Lovers locks on a bridge in Prague Prague Old Town City Hall and Square. The Astronomical Clock "Orloj" is in this building still showing damage from WW2   Prague Old Town City Hall showing the Astronomical Clock "Orloj". Constructed in 1490 and is the oldest surviving clock in the world  The Astronomical Clock "Orloj". Constructed in 1490 and is the oldest surviving clock in the world The Astronomical Clock "Orloj" figures of the Aposites that appear in the windows the hour plus the crowing golden rooster
Old house sign at Golden, Lillova Street in Prague.    One of the Charles Bridge towers in Prague   One of the Charles Bridge towers in Prague Charles Bridge over the Vitava River and in the distance Prague Castle Charles Bridge wooden ice protection in Prague
Denis checking out the Prague underground Collleen looking at how far down to the underground railway station - 50 meters!! Colleen checking the size of our "Big" Hotel room door in Prague! Prague Old Town City Hall and Old Town Square Buildings.

Charles Bridge over the Vitava River and in the distance Prague Castle
Prague in WW2 was invaded by the Nazis. The head of Nazi SS and SD forces, Reinhard Heydrich was assassinated by resistance Paratroopers. The Paratroopers were cornered in the Church of Saints Cyril and Methodius and after brief but fierce gun battle, committed suicide to avoid capture Interesting statue in Prague Colleen and Denis at dinner near the Prague Castle Paul's Coffee, Prague
Singapore (Stopover) via Dubia UAE - 3/6 July 2014
Miramar Hotel, Singapore
 2 day in Singapore for a little rest on the way home.  Unfortunately Colleen was sick from the wog pick up along our travels and stayed in the Hotel. Denis got got in a bit of sightseeing and liked what he saw.  We hope to return and have a better look at Singapore in the future.		 Miramar Hotel, Singapore
China Town, Singapore Denis going topless in Singapore Raffles Hotel, Singapore Boat Building, Singapore
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