Long In The Tongue

Fountain sculpture seen in Regensburg, Germany.




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2018: The Dove On The Sea Of Cortez
2017: A Spicy Little Secret
2016: It's Uphill From Here
2015: A Place Of Rare Beauty
2014: Thumbs Up For A Real Bronx Tale
2013: A Mountain City Fit For A Queen
2012: Sprinkle Of Seaweed, Anyone?
2011: Shopping To The Maxx
2010: Ed Unloads An Oil Platform
2009: You Never Know When You Might Need It
2008: Eddie Climbs A Wall Friday
2007: What Showing Off For Your Kids Looks Like
2006: What’s It All About?
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

A Middle Aged Castle

The ruins of Ehrenfels Castle, located on the Rhine River above the Rhine Gorge, near the town of Rüdesheim am Rhein in Germany.

The medieval castle was built in 1212 and demolished in 1689.


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2018: The Malecón And More
2017: The West Side
2016: The Populace Of Winter
2015: Two If By Sea
2014: Beauty And The Bleak
2013: Don't Even Ask
2012: Click Mouse, Make Money
2011: Buttons Beware. There’s Someone Cuter In Town!
2010: Eddie Dials Up The Lunch Order
2009: Trucking Superhere And Sidekick
2008: I’m Just A Goy In Love With A Boy
2007: When Pork Goes Pornographic
2006: Now Where Did I Put Those Underwear??
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Hidden Prayer Garden

Semi-hidden statues in a garden in Old Town Regensburg, Germany.  


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~2018: Picking Peccary
2017: Sometimes Inspiration Comes From Having Cool Tools
2016: Roll On
2015: Adiós
2014: Shades Of SOBE
2013: Set In Stone
2012: How To Make A Mustache Famous
2011: Homemade Dessert Is The Bombe
2010: Olga And Eddie Travel The Country Viking Style
2009: They Say
2008: Eddie Lounges In Cozumel Friday
2007: I Think I’m Dating A Narcoleptic
2006: Groundhog Surprise
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005! 

You Won't Believe Your Ears

A piano in one of the music rooms at Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Cabinet museum in Rüdesheim am Rhein, Germany. 
The museum is a showcase of approximately 350 self-playing, mechanical music instruments spanning three centuries.  

People used these musical cabinets to entertain their guests.  Some are very rare, some are extremely large, and some are small music boxes you might remember as a kid, the kind you wind up to hear the music.  

It's not just player pianos, like the one seen in the photo above, it's so much more. My favorite was the one with the violins.  It was made my Ludwig Hupfeld.  

I didn't get any real usable video but you can see some of the mechanical instruments in videos other people have taken here, here, and the violin one here.

It's a wonderful way to spend an hour.  You'll feel like a kid again, discovering something new and standing in wide-eyed wonder at the complex configurations that make these machines work and produce music.  It's amazing.

And once you're done listening to the musical contraptions, you must head out into the town for their famous Rüdesheimer Kaffee.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2018: It's All About The Hat
2017: Stanley Steemer Gets Your Home Cleaner
2016: Cat Nemesis
2015: Bon Voyage!
2014: All This Entertainment For Less Than The Cost Of A Restaurant Entree
2013: Ten Things I Hate About Flying
2012: Teeth Or Another European Vacation? Ooooh, It’s A Real Toss Up.
2011: Not So Wacky After All
2010: Spreading The Word
2009: He Had A Dream. Tomorrow We See It Come True.
2008: Who Do You Know?
2007: South Beach Blue
2006: Jawl Spake Anglesh??
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!  

Reflecting Miltenburg

The small village of Miltenberg, Germany reflected in the Main River.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2018: Ed And The Ladies
2017: Descansos
2016: Please Come Back!
2015: Still Life
2014: Sunset Cycling
2013: Pit Stop At Home
2012: Adding A Few More Wheels To The Big Rig
2011: Again And Again And Again
2010: Hood Ornament
2009: Eddie Out Of Control Friday
2008: My Boyfriend Simon Is Back In Town
2007: A Little Taste Of Miami Beach
2006: Ooooohhhhhh, Jabra!
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Rock Solid Saint

A statue of St. Kilian in Würzburg, Germany.

St. Kilian was an Irish missionary bishop and the Apostle of Franconia.  He's also one of the patron saints for those who suffer from rheumatism. 




~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2018: Rainforest Adventures
2017: Low Ceiling In The Desert
2016: An Original Recycler
2015: There's A Black Hole In The Desert (With Truck Parking)
2014: Strength In Numbers
2013: Woman Cannot Live On Bread Alone
2012: Why Milk Is ALWAYS At The Top Of My Shopping List
2011: Fun For Sale
2010: Dublin Is Incredibly Corny
2009: Welcome To Snowhio
2008: When Big Hair And Denim Were King
2007: Open 24 Hours
2006: Lucky One Eye
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Spiked Kaffee

In Rüdesheim, Germany, they drink an alcoholic coffee drink called Rüdesheimer Kaffee.  It was invented in 1957 by German television chef Hans Karl Adam.

It contains Asbach Uralt brandy, which is combined with sugar cubes and added to a cup.  In Rüdesheim, a cup that is specially designed for this beverage is used (see photo).  The brandy is flambeed and stirred until the sugar dissolves.  Strong coffee is added, followed by a topping of thickly whipped cream sweetened with vanilla sugar.  Chocolate flakes are scattered onto the cream as a garnish.

It was so delicious, I drank it all before I got a picture of the whipped cream and chocolate flakes! 


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2017: A Superlative Example
2016: Sandwiches Fit For A King
2015: Rollin' With A Little Christmas
2014: Waterfront Biz
2013: My Boy And I Love Us Some Cheese
2012: A Visit To The Island Plantation of Hibernia
2011: Now They Are Heard And Not Just Seen
2010: By Request
2009: The Reason My Ass Is Not Getting Any Smaller
2008: Out Of This World Outport Life
2007: Max Says To Go Placidly, As It Is Still A Beautiful World
2006: Dangerous Beauty
2005: Big Bad Cherry Peppers

A Flourish Of Flying Buttresses

Attracting an average of 20,000 people a day (7.3 million per year!), and currently, the tallest twin-spired church at 515 feet (157 meters) tall, Germany’s most visited landmark is the Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom).

We caught the tail end of Sunday mass on the day we were there.  This is a view from the nave of the cathedral, looking toward the chancel. The cathedral is the largest Gothic church in Northern Europe. They began construction on it in 1248, but stopped in 1473, leaving it unfinished. Construction started again in the 19th century and didn’t finish until 1880. It took 632 years (and many men) to get the job done!!

Although the church was hit with 14 aerial bombs during World War II and endured more than 70 firebomb hits, the building never collapsed; it remained standing as the rest of the city fell around it.  Repairs were done in 1956, and some of the poorer quality work was fixed in the 1990s.

The cathedral is often referred to as the "black church" because of its exterior color.  The dark grey, almost black exterior isn't painted, nor is it dirty.  The sandstone which most of the building is made from reacts with the sulphuric acid in rain, turning dark grey over time.  The sections that are newer/repaired appear whiter and lighter than the rest of the building but will also darken over time.

It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2017: The Chief Troll
2016: Look, Ma! No Hands!
2015: My Counter Floweth Over
2014: Breakfast Served All Day
2013: A Peek At Mission Learning
2012: Pretty Yung Ting 
2011: How To Get Kids To Eat Vegetables
2010: Back In The Saddle
2009: Logging Lots Of Miles
2008: Apples, Fudge And Homemade Jam
2007: Eddie Hick Runs Deep Friday
2006: If You Can’t Make It To France
2005: I’m Sleeping With Someone New

Filled With Wattle And Daub

Half-timbered houses in Miltenberg, Germany - these three are from the 15th and 16th century.  The oldest one in town was from 1313, the 14th century.

I haven't had much time to sit down and write in any detail, or give any historical information about all the places we've visited, so I've just been posting pictures and short snippets to keep you interested.

Now that I'm home, I'll put together posts with a few more details on the places I've already written about -  Istanbul, Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic, and Germany.

After that, I'll write about the last two places we visited, which wrapped up our European vacation - Amsterdam, Netherlands and Paris, France.

So come on back!


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2017: No Flitting Taking Place
2016: We Do More Before 9 A.M. Than Most People Do All Day
2015: Grand And Important
2014: Winter Is A Table Set With Ice And Starlight
2013: The Romance Of The Road
2012: Celebrate With A Wild Desire
2011: Powerful Stuff
2010: Falling In Love With Ugly 
2009: A Love Like This Can Know No Death 
2008: Peace To This House
2007: The Sultan Of Love 
2006: It’s Even Better Than Arbor Day
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

When In Bavaria

Bäckerei Hench in Miltenberg, Germany had baskets of pretzel rolls, giant Bavarian pretzels, breads, cakes, and more.  It's been a family operation for nine generations.

If you're going to get a Bavarian pretzel (which I did), this is the place to do it!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2017: They Grow Everything Here
2016: Calling All Car Freaks And Geeks
2015: Waiting For Turistas
2014: The Still Before The Storm
2013: Sizzle, Drizzle, And Pour
2012: Dreams Explored Over Dinner
2011: I’m In Love And It’s Not Even Valentine’s Day Yet
2010: Eddie As Fisherman Friday
2009: Birds And Barbells On Muscle Beach
2008: A Girl On The Shores Of Cozumel
2007: I’m Not Exactly Sure What You’re Proposing Here
2006: The Blizzard Of 2006
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Miltenberg Morgen

When we woke on the day we were headed to Miltenberg, Germany, the river was shrouded in fog. Thick and cold, leaving the railings of our Juliet balcony covered in glistening water droplets.

Ed had a hike planned with one of the groups so he was hoping the fog would lift and give way to scenes ripe for photos. I don't think a wet forest hike was very appealing.  I was thinking about doing the old town walking tour but as I got ready for breakfast, was still undecided.

In the meantime, the ship sidled up to the left side of the Main River and docked. Looking out from the back deck we could see the fog lifting as the sun peeked over the Odenwald Mountains.  I decided to go for the tour.

The town was pretty amazing - lots of very old half-timbered homes, cobblestone streets, a butcher, baker, and probably candlestick maker if I looked hard enough.  Very charming.

Tomorrow we're off to the Rhine Gorge!

*Morgen is the German word for morning.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2017: Rise Above The Bullshit

2016: Bread Is Life
2015: La Bufadora And Almejas Gratinadas

2014: In The Nick Of Time
2013: This Business Means Business
2012: A Nodding Donkey On The Hill
2011: What A Croc
2010: Flash Of Pole
2009: They Hire ‘Em Young These Days
2008: Setting Sail At Sunset
2007: Happy Bee
2006: It’s Not Unusual
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Würzburger Domes And Onions

The tops of many of the buildings we've been seeing are often dome shaped or onion shaped. 



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2017: Turbines In The Valley
2016: Acute Nostalgia
2015: The Ancient And Mysterious
2014: The New Rest Area
2013: Sidestepping Nemo Wasn't All That Hard
2012: Fun, Fresh, Fabulous Little Neighborhood
2011: What Do You Get When The Daily Rant Meets The Plum Trucker? A Plum Crush!
2010: Industrial Morning
2009: Sunset On Venice
2008: Knots And Nautical Miles
2007: What Is The World Coming To When The Girls Next Door Think They Are Fat??
2006: T.T.D.L.I.T.H.A.T.I.F.
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

The Garden Gate

The garden gate at the Würzburg Residence in Würzburg, Germany.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2017: Soups And Stews And Chili, Oh My!
2016: Speechless
2015: Market Lighting

2014: Three Hours Of Mumbling McConaughey

2013: Pulling The Curtain Back
2012: A Great Way To End The Week 
2011: Squirreled Away In Olean
2010: Home Sweet Home
2009: You Build It, We’ll Haul It
2008: The Canadian MJ II
2007: Eddie In The Half Moon Hall Friday
2006: The Italian Death March
2005: How You Doin’?

Coffee On Demand

We started our river cruise on the Avalon Vista, but because of low water levels on the river we had to change ships and board the Avalon Passion for seven of the fifteen nights. Both ships were very similar, in decor and amenities.  

Our Panorama Suite stateroom is on the top floor, and has wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling windows that slide open.  The room is located at the very back of the ship.  Although the main lounge, front desk, and dining area at the front of the ship, being at the back is quite nice.  It's quiet, no one repeatedly walks past our room like you have to do up front, and we have a little lounge that feels as if it's just for us. The lounge in the photo above is located 15-feet from our door.  Marlaina and MacG are in the room just across the hall from us, so we meet in this lounge often.

The lounge has an amazing bean-to-cup coffee machine that's available 24-hours a day. I want one for my house!!  The machine produces coffee, cappuccinos, lattes, hot chocolate, and hot water at the touch of a button.  They have a large assortment of teas available, in addition to ice water, juice, and iced tea.  The pastry display case is always stocked with donuts, pastries, muffins, and cookies.  All complimentary.  

Between the wi-fi, the view, and the coffee machine, I can live in this room.




~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2017: Why Don't You Just Do It Yourself?
2016: A Perfect Sunday
2015: Who Puts Sweet Potato On Pizza? Geniuses, That's Who!
2014: This Sums Up Today's Events
2013: Wrecks Aplenty On Twenty
2012: Spanning The Straits 
2011: Diner In The Mountains
2010: Limone Costa d’Amalfi
2009: To Tattoo Or Not To Tattoo
2008: Sparkle And Glow
2007: I See Sea Scallops
2006: My New Favorite Song
2005: Lazy Sunday

Historical Central Square

The photo above shows The Frauenkirche, a 14th-century Gothic church (built 1352-1361) which stands on the east side of the Hauptmarkt (central square) in Nuremberg, Germany. 

Every year they hold the Nürnberger Christkindlesmarkt here.  It's one of the largest Christmas markets in Germany and one of the most famous in the world, drawing 2.4 million visitors per year in a less-than-4-week period. 

During World War II, Nuremberg (Nürnberg in German) was bombed 59 times by the Allied Forces. The heaviest sustained aerial attack was on January 2, 1945, when 90% of the city center was destroyed in one hour. In that hour, 1,800 residents were killed and approximately 100,000 were displaced. Ultimately, the air raids killed an estimated 6,000 people.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2017: 61 Things Left
2016: An Accident Waiting To Happen
2015: The Message Of The Testicle
2014: Gearhead Paradise
2013: Even When It's Cloudy, Ed Is Happy
2012: The Yoopers Little Piece Of Heaven 
2011: From Pot Roast At The Buckhorn To Gambling With An Inky Malbec
2010: Nestled In The Fertile Plain
2009: I Think I’m Kinda Lichen This Moss
2008: Holding My Breath
2007: Ahhhh…..Ahhhhh…..Aw Shit!
2006: Contemplating Flight
2005: Eddie Blurred By NyQuil Friday

Night Owl Transport

I got up in the middle of the night, peeked out the open sliding door of our cabin, and saw this.  It was cold and quiet as the ship sliced through the glasslike surface of the water.

I'd love to remember all of the stuff I've been reading and hearing from the guides, but I can't.  And I'm not taking notes on tours, so the best I can do for you is to give you a little blurb from Wikipedia and hope you'll research further if you're interested!

Here we go...

The Rhine–Main–Danube Canal, also called Main-Danube Canal, RMD Canal or Europa Canal), in Bavaria, Germany, connects the Main and the Danube rivers across the European Watershed, running from Bamberg via Nuremberg to Kelheim. 

The canal connects the North Sea and Atlantic Ocean to the Black Sea, providing a navigable artery between the Rhine delta (at Rotterdam in the Netherlands), and the Danube Delta in south-eastern Romania and south-western Ukraine (or Constanța, through the Danube–Black Sea Canal). 

The present canal was completed in 1992 and is 106 miles (171 kilometres) long.



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2017: Trucking Chores
2016: The Haunted Trade-Off
2015: High Shine
2014: Operating Empty In The Scenic South
2013: The Sun Shines For All Cyclists
2012: Lured Into A Tourist Trap 
2011: Dining At The Buckhorn
2010: Ancient Details
2009: Framed By Fake Fall
2008: Let’s Hope This Five Year Old Is As Accurate With His Predictions As He Is With His Aim For The Toilet
2007: Belated Greetings From The Great Pumpkin Pile
2006: Working Man
2005: Black And White