December 2017

2017 Xmas Cruise

A 17-day adventure by Stuart Read more

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Trip start
December 13, 2017
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- Day 1
- Wednesday, December 13, 2017 at 11:34 PM
- ⛅ 18 °C
- Altitude: 137 m
- Australia Rossmore Park -28.845586, 153.4545328°50’44” S 153°27’16” E
This is home
December 13, 2017 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
Well it’s now the night before departure. Bags are packed and just a few things to go in which are last minute add-ins which must be left to last. Excitement level is at fever pitch, so excited I wet myself 3 times and thought I was just the most excited person here til I discovered Anne had outdone me and wet herself 4 times. Leaving at 8:00 am for Brisbane and on the plane at 2:40 pm. Have a 3¼ hour stopover in Singapore.Read more
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- Day 2
- Thursday, December 14, 2017 at 11:21 AM
- ⛅ 29 °C
- Altitude: 24 m
- Australia Ithaca -27.448484, 152.98652627°26’55” S 152°59’11” E
In Bardon waiting for Uber
December 14, 2017 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C
Now in Brisbane with Bronté waiting for an Uber to take us to the airport. Already been savaged by Bibis long eared guinea pig and needed Dr. Bronté to administer the medical patch-up (a bandaid). First time at using Uber and it was great.Read more
TravelerBy Bibi's what? ??
12/14/17Reply
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- Day 2
- Thursday, December 14, 2017 at 1:14 PM
- ⛅ 30 °C
- Altitude: 24 m
- Australia Brisbane Airport -27.404107, 153.10995427°24’15” S 153°6’36” E
Brisbane International
December 14, 2017 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C
Now in the Bris. International waiting for flight.
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- Day 2
- Thursday, December 14, 2017 at 2:15 PM
- ⛅ 31 °C
- Altitude: 27 m
- Singapore Singapore Changi Airport 1.361769, 103.9907151°21’42” N 103°59’27” E
Changi Airport
December 14, 2017 in Singapore ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C
We have now arrived in Singapore. We are in the SATS Lounge. Anne has just had a shower and now it’s her turn to supervise the carry-on baggage.
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- Day 3
- Friday, December 15, 2017 at 7:26 AM
- ⛅ 2 °C
- Altitude: 131 m
- Germany Frankfurt Airport 50.050549, 8.57228950°3’2” N 8°34’20” E
Arrival in Europe at Frankfurt Airport
December 15, 2017 in Germany ⋅ ⛅ 2 °C
Okay we have now landed in Frankfurt after a 13 hour flight from Singapore and we now have a six hour stopover here in Frankfurt airport. So we shall go to a lounge for about three hours and the rest of the time we will wander the shopsRead more
TravelerStart your next entry with an exclamation! !😚
12/15/17Reply
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- Day 3
- Friday, December 15, 2017 at 5:19 PM
- 🌧 4 °C
- Altitude: 116 m
- Hungary Gellért Hill 47.489738, 19.05955547°29’23” N 19°3’34” E
Arrival in Budapest
December 15, 2017 in Hungary ⋅ 🌧 4 °C
Finally we have made it to Budapest. Our flight from Frankfurt was delayed by an hour due firstly to a late connecting flight, then there were other delays associated with getting back into the take off schedule. It’s now 5:00pm and dark outside. We are in the Three Corners ART Hotel, well positioned in the old city of Pest, Buda is on the other side of the river. We all think we shall sleep well tonightRead more
TravelerSleep well
12/15/17Reply
TravelerThinking of you and getting excited Christmas coming up enjoy can’t wait for pictures of the boat xx
12/16/17Reply
TravelerTell Michele I opened my parcel and love love it 💋👍🎄
12/16/17Reply
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- Day 4
- Saturday, December 16, 2017 at 9:16 PM
- 🌙 0 °C
- Altitude: 97 m
- Hungary Vörösmarty tér 47.498596, 19.04729347°29’55” N 19°2’50” E
Day No1 in Buda & Pest
December 16, 2017 in Hungary ⋅ 🌙 0 °C
Today we set off on our first exploratory day of Budapest. I we purchased tickets for the Hop On-Hop Off Big Bus and decided to ride the bus for the full circuit to begin and then pick somewhere to go. On that round we saw the Palace, the famous Chain Bridge, Parliment House, which is the third largest parliment house in the world St Stephens Basilica and many other monuments etc. So we decided to make our first “get off” the bus at St Stevens Basilica.Read more
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- Day 4
- Saturday, December 16, 2017 at 9:33 PM
- 🌙 0 °C
- Altitude: 115 m
- Hungary Gellért Hill 47.489521, 19.05950747°29’22” N 19°3’34” E
The Christmas Markets at Budapest
December 16, 2017 in Hungary ⋅ 🌙 0 °C
We made this choice because we wanted to see the inside of the cathedral and also because that is where the largest Christmas markets are in Budapest. The first thing we found at the Christmas markets was the mulled wine, it was 900 Forint per glass which sounds expensive but the Forint is a fairly small denomination. It was actually about $2.50 per cupful so we all had a glass, it took quite a while to drink as it is a really nice, sweet and spiced, we proceeded to wander through all the Christmas Market and then go into Saint Stevens Basilica.Read more
TravelerI can’t believe you guys are doing the Christmas 🎄 markets and I’m not there boo hoo so happy for you
12/16/17Reply
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- Day 4
- Saturday, December 16, 2017 at 9:44 PM
- 🌙 0 °C
- Altitude: 116 m
- Hungary Gellért Hill 47.48967, 19.05953447°29’23” N 19°3’34” E
St Stephens and Dinner
December 16, 2017 in Hungary ⋅ 🌙 0 °C
It is very impressive church. After we left church we all had a second mulled wine and decided, as it was 3:00 pm it was time to head back to the hotel. I had a sleep for a couple of hours and then we went out to find some Hungarian Goulash for tea, it was beautiful. I also had a Soporoni IPA and another mulled wine. That was our first day in Budapest.Read more
TravelerFantashtish
12/16/17Reply
TravelerAre you going to the baths???
12/16/17Reply
TravelerNo Tom, we embark onto the river ship today so unfortunately we won’t get to the baths
12/17/17Reply
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- Day 5
- Sunday, December 17, 2017 at 10:58 AM
- ⛅ 1 °C
- Altitude: 175 m
- Hungary Matthias Church 47.501869, 19.03466447°30’7” N 19°2’5” E
St Mathius Church & Fishermans Bastion
December 17, 2017 in Hungary ⋅ ⛅ 1 °C
Well we set off today with the objective of investigating Buda. So we went out and got onto the big bus and headed across the river to Buda, we got off at the end of the chain bridge. Here we bought tickets for the Castle Hill bus which is just a small electric bus which carries about 12 passengers. It is also a hop on-hop off service. We went up to the first stop which was Matthias Church. This was really ornate, very tall and and located above Fishermans Bastian. Unfortunately the church was closed so we could not view the inside. This church was built during the 19th century and completed just after the turn of the century in the very early 1900s. It is supposed to be a replacement for the original church in which the first Hungarian king was married and built on the same location.Read more
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- Day 5
- Sunday, December 17, 2017 at 11:16 AM
- ⛅ 2 °C
- Altitude: 164 m
- Hungary Fisherman's Bastion 47.502205, 19.03526747°30’8” N 19°2’7” E
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Fishermans Bastion
December 17, 2017 in Hungary ⋅ ⛅ 2 °C
From Matthias Church we went to the viewing platform and took some photos of the Pest side of the river and Parliament House and then proceeded down to the lower areas of the Fishermans Bastion The Buda side castle wall was protected by the fishermen’s guild and this is the reason why it was called fishermen’s Bastion.Read more
Traveler It looks cold mum
12/17/17Reply
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- Day 6
- Monday, December 18, 2017 at 6:10 PM
- ⛅ 0 °C
- Altitude: 91 m
- Hungary Gellért Hill 47.488823, 19.05370547°29’20” N 19°3’13” E
Finally we embark onto the Sapphire
December 18, 2017 in Hungary ⋅ ⛅ 0 °C
Basically has been a very low-key day. We left the hotel and walked down to the ship and come on board and have done very little house. Anne and Michelle went for a walk to the market and bought little stuff but not much I stayed on board setRead more
TravelerHappy sailing ⛵️ guys
12/19/17Reply
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- Day 6
- Monday, December 18, 2017
- ⛅ 0 °C
- Altitude: 81 m
- Hungary Budai vár 47.507195, 19.04296747°30’26” N 19°2’35” E
Night River Cruise
December 18, 2017 in Hungary ⋅ ⛅ 0 °C
Before we had dinner but after it was dark the ship made a lap up the river and back again to the dock so we would get a nighttime river cruise. This enabled us to see the highlights of the city under lights. We then docked again and the evening meal was served. Evening dining is very much a quality restaurant affair. There were five courses, soup, entrée, main, sweets and cheese and coffee. This was accompanied by as much beer and wines as you wanted to consume. Very nice evening. First night I’ve been able to stay awake past 6:00 pm.Read more
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- Day 7
- Tuesday, December 19, 2017 at 4:34 PM
- ⛅ 0 °C
- Altitude: 118 m
- Hungary Great Market Hall (Budapest)47.487072, 19.05845147°29’13” N 19°3’30” E
Budapests Great Market
December 19, 2017 in Hungary ⋅ ⛅ 0 °C
This morning we had a choice of having free time or going on the bus tour of Budapest. As we had already seen most of that which we wanted to see we chose the free time and decided to visit the nearby “Great Market”. This is a permanent market in a huge building. It is principally a good market with sections predominantly or each food type, ie meat, fruit and veg and fish. There are also many souvenir type shops on the upper level much akin to a bazaar, the fish section was down stairs and so was the ALDI store. The meats were surprisingly well fat trimmed and very lean. Probably because the sold the big chunks of fat as a speciality item. An interesting market.
We adeparted from Budapest at 12:15 and we now steam on until midday tomorrow when we arrive in Vienna.Read more
TravelerDid you resist the alure of Aldi?
12/22/17Reply
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- Day 8
- Wednesday, December 20, 2017 at 3:55 PM
- ⛅ 2 °C
- Altitude: 149 m
- Austria Donauinsel 48.267838, 16.36463548°16’4” N 16°21’53” E
Vienna
December 20, 2017 in Austria ⋅ ⛅ 2 °C
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- Day 8
- Wednesday, December 20, 2017 at 4:11 PM
- ⛅ 2 °C
- Altitude: 182 m
- Austria Michaelerplatz 48.20813, 16.3668548°12’29” N 16°22’1” E
A City of Fairy Lights
December 20, 2017 in Austria ⋅ ⛅ 2 °C
We spent the morning steaming up the Danube and finally arrived at Vienna at about midday. So it took a full 24 hours, from leaving Budapest to arriving in Vienna. After lunch there were coaches to take us to the old centre of the city. The coach took us around an amazing array of beautiful Old buildings many of which dated back three or four hundred years. We then had an opportunity to walk around in the city centre. Then all the fairy lights became very evident and they were truely amazing. Each street had a theme and that extended for the length of that street. Must be literally millions of lights. I can’t recall ever seeing such a display. The most impressive were the huge chandeliers each from thousands of fairy lightsRead more
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- Day 9
- Thursday, December 21, 2017 at 8:46 PM
- 🌧 4 °C
- Altitude: 146 m
- Austria Donauinsel 48.267471, 16.36631348°16’3” N 16°21’59” E
Christmas Markets in Vienna
December 21, 2017 in Austria ⋅ 🌧 4 °C
TravelerWish I was there can't believe it xx
12/21/17Reply
TravelerTell me you got something to bring home love the houses xx
12/21/17Reply
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- Day 9
- Thursday, December 21, 2017 at 8:50 PM
- 🌧 3 °C
- Altitude: 150 m
- Austria Donauinsel 48.267361, 16.36459948°16’2” N 16°21’53” E
Christmas Markets in Vienna
December 21, 2017 in Austria ⋅ 🌧 3 °C
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- Day 9
- Thursday, December 21, 2017 at 8:56 PM
- 🌧 4 °C
- Altitude: 150 m
- Austria Donauinsel 48.267361, 16.36459948°16’2” N 16°21’53” E
Christmas Markets in Vienna
December 21, 2017 in Austria ⋅ 🌧 4 °C
TravelerSpectacular stuff Stew
12/22/17Reply
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- Day 9
- Thursday, December 21, 2017 at 8:57 PM
- 🌧 4 °C
- Altitude: 150 m
- Austria Donauinsel 48.267361, 16.36459948°16’2” N 16°21’53” E
Christmas Markets in Vienna
December 21, 2017 in Austria ⋅ 🌧 4 °C
TravelerSo atmospheric, I love the Christmas markets in Germany, these look like a lot of fun too
12/22/17Reply
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- Day 10
- Friday, December 22, 2017 at 5:49 PM
- 🌙 5 °C
- Altitude: 232 m
- Austria Melk 48.228417, 15.3295248°13’42” N 15°19’46” E
The Abby at Melk
December 22, 2017 in Austria ⋅ 🌙 5 °C
A thousand years ago Melk was the capital of the Austrian Kingdom. That was when this building was begun. Nine hundred years ago it was decided that the capital should be moved to Vienna. So the ruling family at that time decided to give the former palace to the Dominican order. Since then it has grown. There are currently 27 resident monks, it includes a 900 student primary school a library withe over 140,000 volumes covering 14 languages and material dating back to the Dead Sea scrolls, up to 3,000 years old.Read more
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- Day 10
- Friday, December 22, 2017 at 5:51 PM
- 🌙 5 °C
- Altitude: 232 m
- Austria Melk 48.228417, 15.3295248°13’42” N 15°19’46” E
The church at the Melk Abby
December 22, 2017 in Austria ⋅ 🌙 5 °C
Of course there is always going to be a church at an Abby. Well this one just takes the cake. Never have I ever seen so much gold in a church. It absolutely takes your breath away. It isn’t a huge church but it is the most grandiose I’ve seen. Photography is banned, probably to encourage people to buy their postcards. I found taking photos of the postcards in the gift shop very effective. So long as you don’t get spottedRead more
TravelerHa ha, sneaky sneaky 😂
12/24/17Reply
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- Day 10
- Friday, December 22, 2017 at 6:53 PM
- ☁️ 5 °C
- Altitude: 180 m
- Austria Dürnstein 48.394005, 15.519448°23’38” N 15°31’10” E
The Medieval Village of Dürstein
December 22, 2017 in Austria ⋅ ☁️ 5 °C
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- Day 11
- Saturday, December 23, 2017 at 2:03 PM
- 🌧 5 °C
- Altitude: 288 m
- Germany Passau, Altstadt 48.576038, 13.46377548°34’34” N 13°27’50” E
Passau
December 23, 2017 in Germany ⋅ 🌧 5 °C
We spent most of the day cruising the river but docked at Passau in the afternoon. Was a lovely town and had a very nice Christmas market. This was the last Christmas market we will see because tomorrow is 24 December. Everything is closed on the 24th and traditions are such that it is a day of rest. They have a special thing they do at 10:30 when they eat pretzels and drink beer. In the evening after dinner We had a visit from the local Bavarian Umpah band and they were very entertaining. They played the spoons and they did the heel/foot/side slapping dance, they also played the drinking song MANY timesRead more
TravelerDid you get any footage of the spoons and slapping dance? That would have been awesome to see
12/24/17Reply
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- Day 11
- Saturday, December 23, 2017 at 9:25 PM
- 🌧 6 °C
- Altitude: 283 m
- Germany Anger 48.576855, 13.45891748°34’37” N 13°27’32” E
And Then More Passau
December 23, 2017 in Germany ⋅ 🌧 6 °C
The Umpah band lead everyone in the chicken dance, then the Congo Line and lots of fun. After they finished our resident muso played on with lots of music from the good old days, lots of dancing, singing and drinking followedRead more
TravelerI trust Michele was in that Congo line !?! Looks great I want to go next year 😂
12/27/17Reply
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