Our Grand Circle cruise began in Basel with the opening day of a fabulous Van Gogh exhibit at the Kunstmuseum. We had a day pass for the trolley and rode all over Basel; it was a Sunday and little traffic. We visited the Munster Cathedral where Erasmus is buried and which has a marvelous terrace overlooking the Rhine, shaded by chestnut trees with pink and white blossoms. The city was filled with wisteria and lilac- white, lavender, and purple.
The 120 passenger Rhapsody 
http://www.gct.com/gcc/general/default.aspx?oid=233466&linklocation=home_t2t
The town hall or "Rathaus" in Basel
The Fab Four - my new friends Betsy, Jackie, and Shirley from FL....Sally and Dottie joined us and somehow I didn't get their pictures!!
STRASBOURG
Strasbourg, FR was our next stop where we had an early morning boat ride through the city which has several very old locks and a covered bridge. Again, masses of wisteria and lilac.
The Astronomical clock in the Munster Cathedral in Strasbourg is a mid-nineteenth-century version of the original fourteenth-century clock. The seven different stories indicate the month and year, the time by the sun, and GMT, while angels turn over hour glasses, a crock crows thrice, and the twelve apostles parade before Christ.
These Alsatian buildings are typical
Just across from casino in Baden.
Look at the size of this asparagus from Bonn!!
View from Cochem Reichsburg Castle which was destroyed by the French and rebuilt in 1930s by wealthy Frenchman. Taken over by the Nazis in 1941, it was given back to Cochem in 1945.
Lovely day in Berncastel- May Day which is holiday in Germany.
I was up and out early on May 2 in Berncastel to take pictures before the crowds arrived.
Nijmegan
http://www.gct.com/gcc/general/default.aspx?oid=233466&linklocation=home_t2t
The town hall or "Rathaus" in BaselThe Fab Four - my new friends Betsy, Jackie, and Shirley from FL....Sally and Dottie joined us and somehow I didn't get their pictures!!
STRASBOURG
Strasbourg, FR was our next stop where we had an early morning boat ride through the city which has several very old locks and a covered bridge. Again, masses of wisteria and lilac.
The Astronomical clock in the Munster Cathedral in Strasbourg is a mid-nineteenth-century version of the original fourteenth-century clock. The seven different stories indicate the month and year, the time by the sun, and GMT, while angels turn over hour glasses, a crock crows thrice, and the twelve apostles parade before Christ.
These Alsatian buildings are typical
On to the Black Forest (Swartzwald) and Baden-Baden, the spa town. Very misty and lovely ride up the narrow road into the mountain. The 19thC town is full of old hotels and the spa Casino was the site of the April NATO meeting attended by Obama.
Just across from casino in Baden.Look at the size of this asparagus from Bonn!!
Koblenz
This is called the German "corner" where the Rhine turns into the Mosel.
This is called the German "corner" where the Rhine turns into the Mosel.
View from Cochem Reichsburg Castle which was destroyed by the French and rebuilt in 1930s by wealthy Frenchman. Taken over by the Nazis in 1941, it was given back to Cochem in 1945.
Lovely day in Berncastel- May Day which is holiday in Germany.
I was up and out early on May 2 in Berncastel to take pictures before the crowds arrived.
LUXEMBOURG
We visited the American Cemetery in Luxembourg. http://www.abmc.gov/cemeteries/cemeteries/lx.php It was a beautiful clear spring day with a slight breeze to ruffle the flags. General Patton is buried alongside his men of the 3rd Army.
As we stood there with our local guide, a veteran, the carillon began to plan.
Not far from the American Cemetery is the German Cemetery where four times as many German boys were buried, by Americans as there was no German army left to do it.
They are buried 4 to each grave with names, birthdates, and date of death.
I was interested to see all the German Kleins that were buried there.
In Nijmegan, the Netherlands, we visited the Liberation Museum. Nijmegan was mistakenly bombed by the Allies in Feb. 1944. Operation Market Garden as it was called, was to capture the bridge at Arnhem which proved to be "The Bridge Too Far".
In Nijmegan, the Netherlands, we visited the Liberation Museum. Nijmegan was mistakenly bombed by the Allies in Feb. 1944. Operation Market Garden as it was called, was to capture the bridge at Arnhem which proved to be "The Bridge Too Far".
NijmeganKinderjik- a UNESCO site of 19 windmills
If you are interested in the Dutch management of the North Sea flooding, you might enjoy reading about the Delta Works: http://www.deltawerken.com/English/10.html?setlanguage=en
The Antwerp home of Rubens, who designed it with his beloved Italy in mind.
http://www.bc.edu/bc_org/avp/cas/fnart/arch/rubens_arch.html
The Fab Four in Antwerp
If you are interested in the Dutch management of the North Sea flooding, you might enjoy reading about the Delta Works: http://www.deltawerken.com/English/10.html?setlanguage=en
The Antwerp home of Rubens, who designed it with his beloved Italy in mind.
http://www.bc.edu/bc_org/avp/cas/fnart/arch/rubens_arch.html
The Fab Four in Antwerp
