Germany and Elbe River Cruise
What a journey ! We are home from our fabulous trip to Germany, the Elbe River, Czech Republic, and Poland. A little jet lagged and sadly, sick with colds. Despite our best efforts - drinking Airborne each day, wearing masks on the plane, using hand sanitizer and wiping down trays, remotes, etc. - we both came home with colds and a cough. Luckily it did not ruin our trip.
Berlin was amazing...both John and I are huge history buff - and I love to read WWII historical fiction - so we were overwhelmed with all the historical sites.
The Holocaust Memorial in Berlin
A great clock with food for thought in a little cafe where we enjoyed lunch.
A fabulous guide on the Jewish Berlin tour...took us to places and showed us things we had never heard of before.
Memorial stones mark the places where Jewish people lived and were deported...tells where they perished. These stones are meant to "stick up" a little bit, so you feel them with your foot, look down, and remember.
The factory of Otto Weidt...he hired blind Jews to work in his brush factory and is responsible for saving 27 people...
Hiding some, and even traveling to Auschwitz to get some workers released.
Bombed out church that reminds everyone of WWII...the new church is next door with the blue glass. We were lucky enough to hear a concert there.
So glad we took the extra two days in Berlin...so much to see.We found the Museum of German Resistance. This is where Claus Von Stauffenberg was executed after his attempt on Hitler's life. So sad...
We stood in the spot where he was executed. The entire museum is dedicated to the resistance to the Nazis - and the second floor was all "Silent Heroes" - everyday people who did the best they could to resist and to save Jewish people. Very moving experience.
Berlin felt very safe...we enjoyed walking around at night, trying German restaurants...
Enjoying schnitzel and potato salad...and beer!
Apple Strudel!
The next day we took a Cold War Berlin Tour...
Such a sad memorial to all the souls who lost their lives trying to escape over the Berlin Wall to freedom....
Checkpoint Charlie...the gate between the sectors of Berlin during the Cold War.
Berlin is a beautiful city and even though it was cold, people were outside enjoying life.
Stained glass ceiling in the breakfast room of our hotel...
Donuts!
We said goodbye to Berlin, boarded a bus and headed to Potsdam - this is the famous Bridge Of Spies where exchanges were made.
Then off to the castle of Frederick the Great - this is the Andy Warhol painting of the king.
Palace was called Sans Souci..."without care".
Then over to the site of the Potsdam Conference at the end of WWII with Churchill, Stalin, and Truman.
then headed to our ship, Astrild, to enjoy our time on the Elbe River.
The ships on this river are smaller than other Viking River ships - due in part to the shallow river. We were upgraded to a French Balcony room and we loved it.
Everything is beautifully laid out and the service is amazing.
We enjoyed a welcome toast from the captain...
Delicious dinner of perch...
and fabulous desserts and lots of wine!
We woke the next day in Wittenberg - and saw where Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses.
Loved sailing along the river and enjoying the view...
Our server Lukas telling us the wine choices...
That evening we enjoyed a music trivia game in the lounge. We named our team THE BIG THREE after the participants in Potsdam - and WE WON!
Next day off to Meissen where we saw how the famous porcelain is made.
The table settings all over the museum were so beautiful!
A walk around the town and up the hill to the cathedral,
then lunch in town with lots of beer!
Then it was off to Dresden, which was devastated by bombing in WWII. Mostly everything is reconstructed.
Meals were outstanding...
John and the fabulous chef!
Aquavit glasses for Viking Explorers.
We had to switch to another Viking ship - the Beyla - due to a bridge out in Dresden and the ship could not pass...
A beautiful day of scenic sailing with a new friend.
We headed up the mountains up to what is called Swiss Saxony...beautiful views of the Elbe River.
Last day on the river...we are heading to the Czech Republic.
Can't say enough about how wonderful the trip on the river was...will tell you all about the second part of the trip in another post.
Hope you had a wonderful March and are ready for a great month of April. Have you take a river cruise? Do you like to travel?
Please leave a comment below - I love hearing from you!
