Bring Your Hat - Rhine River

We started our tour in Amsterdam where we took in the flower market and a canal cruise.

Next we visited the holy city of Colonge to visit the Cathedral, and try the local beer.

Later that afternoon we ventured into the charming town of Düsseldorf to see the European futbol fans getting ready for the game. Dancing and singing in the beautiful streets. The party got started early for them. 

The next day we floated down the Rhine gorge, and were treated to castles along each side of the journey for Miles. I don’t know if the director was reading, or actually knew all of the details about each castle along the way, but he was certainly impressive. When we stopped in Rudesheim we ventured up the steep hills for a breathtaking vineyard hike. There was a gondola also, but we like to get our exercise.

Later that night, we visited Siegfried’s mechanical music museum. It was fascinating. An unexpected treat before hoping back on the boat.

The following day we ported at Ludwigshafen and made our way by bus to the romantic town of Heidelberg. It was a little bit soggy out, but the town was absolutely beautiful and our guide was a doll. The sun did finally come out and we could’ve stayed all day if we had more time. We walked across the same bridge that Thomas Jefferson trekked many years ago, placed our foot in the fabled heel print outside the castle to bring us love and had another local beer, sausage and pretzels before getting back to the ship.

The following day we ported in Strasbourg on French soil for the first time of the trip. Unfortunately, it was another soggy day, but we did get to ride bikes through the city, see the sights and were able to stop in a truly authentic French café for lunch. We were the only ones that spoke English. It was perfect.

Back on the boat that night we had one of the many wonderful wine paired dinners with Samsara and Ken Brown. We tried to sit with a different couple every night. Meeting the other wine lovers also in the clubs out in Santa Barbara was a nightly treat.

Our last day was truly my favorite. We did a 19 mile bike ride in the rain through the vineyards in Breisach. The town itself was like a storybook. It almost didn’t feel like it could possibly be real. We tasted in the mountains at a wine coop on grapes from the Kaiserstuhl “Emperor’s Chair”. By far the best local wine of the trip. We happened upon unexpected lavender fields and too many swans to count. Stunning chilly day.

After a farewell wine tasting we called it a night and awoke in Basel Switzerland to explore for a few hours before we had to start our long journey back home. Thank you Joan, Dave, Ken and the crew for an amazing week of wine and friendship.