Glenda Cook

Glenda Cook

gereisd in 69 landen Meer informatie🇺🇸Asheboro

Volgen Bericht Statistieken

Atlantic and Europe
Seehof Palace
15 mei 2015, Duitsland ⋅ ⛅ 68 °F
The ship was delayed in its transfer to a new location, so cruise director Sacha took us for a brief visit to the summer residence of the prince-bishop, the Seehof Palace. We returned to the ship in its new location in time for a late supper and the evening briefing. We dined with Richmond and Debbie, and were joined by new friends Mike and Leah. Leah expressed some very strong opinions that we should still feel guilty for the atrocities committed by previous generations.Meer informatie
Zie vertaling
0 likes
Atlantic and Europe
Bamberg
15 mei 2015, Duitsland ⋅ ⛅ 70 °F
We left this morning for Bamburg, an important city in medieval Bavaria. Dmitri our guide led us on a walking tour of an ancient town that was as lovely as any of the towns we have visited over the last week. I feel as though I'm drinking from a fire hose. The cathedral was impressive but not as beautiful as the one in Wurzburg. I was impressed with the courtyard around the original palace of Hendricus II, which dates from the tenth century. The filming of a recent film version of The Three Musketeers was filmed at the site. We passed a hotel owned by the Messerschmidt family. This is the house in which the famous aircraft designer for the Third Reich was born. His father was an innkeeper here, and the house is still a hotel run by the Messerschmidt family. At the end of the tour we walked back to the Green Plaza, where green grocers originally sold their wares, got an ice cream cone, and photographed the Jesuit church. We got some free time at the end of the tour, and we spent it in a park. There was an evangelical youth group singing in German very loud rock songs about Jesus. It is hard to see that anyone would find such evangelism attractive. I walked to the nearby Jesuit church and took photos. Glenda waited for me on an interesting set of concrete pillars sitting beside a splashing pool in the public park. Near the cathedral, which was dark and forbidding, a bride was making preparations for her wedding. I snapped a shot, and her groom looked displeased. However, later when we were at the brewery, we met some of the wedding party's family, and they were very pleasant people indeed!Meer informatie
Zie vertaling
0 likes
Atlantic and Europe
Archbishop's Residence and St. Killian's
14 mei 2015, Duitsland ⋅ ⛅ 66 °F
The Residence of the Archbishop is the most opulent high baroque structure I can recall seeing. The artistry and craftsmanship are unspeakably beautiful. Everything was "over the top" in this attempt to emulate the aesthetic excesses of Versailles. The little chapel with its myriad of angels and gold sun bursts transports one to the throne of God. Unfortunately, we were not allowed to take photographs inside.

St. Killian's Church, despite its grizzly skeletons on the outside, was lovely inside. It is a monument to three Irish monks who brought Christianity back into Germany in the dark ages. On our way back to the bus we saw the church of St. Kilian, the site of the three Irish martyrs who brought Christianity to Franconia around 670 AD. Its white and gold interior are gloriously refreshing and joyful. The priest had just finished a mass for the Feast of the Ascension, and incense still hung heavy in the air. Without setting up a tripod, I attempted to hold the camera on a steady pew to take my slow exposures. We almost had to run back to the ship, and barely made the departure time of 6:15 pm. The activities briefing for tomorrow preceded our 7:00 pm supper with Heather and Don, joined by Mike and his wife Helen from Patuxent River, Maryland. The runny nose and the coughing is slowing down. I'm glad Glenda suggested continuing the full course of antibiotics for ten days. The doctor onboard the Royal Princess told me that I had to take that medicine for only 5 days.Meer informatie
Zie vertaling
0 likes
Atlantic and Europe
Rothenburg ob der Tauber
14 mei 2015, Duitsland ⋅ ⛅ 59 °F
We hopped on a bus and drove about a half hour along an idyllic route to Rothenburg ob der Tauber, a medieval town that still has a large number of its old buildings intact. Mary, our guide, is originally from Oregon, so English was no problem for her. In fact she is extremely articulate and clear. I suspect that she has had some graduate education. When we got off the bus we were met with a complete medieval wall, including its turrets and towers. We went on a walking tour of the streets, shops and warehouses and ended the morning with a lunch of bratwurst, kraut, and potatoes. Local high school bands were in the town plaza offering their music. There is a band competition in town now. We also enjoyed a delicious locally produced dry white wine. Glenda and I skipped dessert so that we could get an early start photographing the Jakobskirche. We stopped in at the local Catholic Church and took a few shots. Then we found the Jakobskirche. Since the Protestant Reformation this church has been Lutheran. In some ways it is more beautiful than the cathedral at Cologne, which has so many beautiful sights that they detract from one another. The walls of this church are simple and white so that all of one's attention is focused on the extravagantly lovely stained glass. One of the specialties here is a beer that has an undertone of bacon. Once in medieval times all of the town's barley was stored in a certain warehouse. It caught fire and much of the harvest was destroyed. However, some of the barley that was not completely burned was toasted, and brewers decided to try to use it. The result was a smoky beer, "Rauschbeer," which is delicious. Now the brewers of Rothenburg are deliberately toasted for making rauschbeer. Walking to the old town walls gave us other opportunities to photograph the city. We got some pastry and coffee as we waited by the town fountain for our group to gather for the walk back to the bus.Meer informatie
Zie vertaling
0 likes
Atlantic and Europe
Arrival in Wurzburg
14 mei 2015, Duitsland ⋅ ☀️ 54 °F
The Viking Ingvi arrived in Wurzburg around 9:00 am after passing swans, locks and other things on the river. Breakfast aboard the ship was wonderful, as usual. Locks are common now, as are the peaceful birds that stay right beside the ship as it passes.Meer informatie
Zie vertaling
0 likes
Atlantic and Europe
Miltenberg
13 mei 2015, Duitsland ⋅ ⛅ 64 °F
We spent a leisurely morning taking photos from the entryway since the sun deck has been closed. They had to remove it completely so that the ship can pass under the bridges on the Main River. Heather the park ranger was able to get the generic battery charger to work on her Nikon 7000. Chatted with Sam from Taiwan while outside. I took a photo of Cruise Director Sacha and a colleague, which he wants to extract and post on the ship's display board. We have an excursion this afternoon into the small German town of Miltenburg.

Miltenburg was magnificent. The half-timbered houses make one believe he is in the middle of a German fairy tale. Our affable Scotch-German guide led us through the medieval town, and then we had several hours on our own. I had an apple pastry and coffee at a local coffee shop. First, we found a way inside the big Catholic Church (we are now in Catholic Bavaria). I set up the tripod to take some high quality photos of the interior. Then we went to the Catholic parish church for more shots. Next Glenda went to find a shop that had a garment she liked, while I went back to find the site overlooking the town. I found myself alone on the path; I was a bit fearful, so I turned around and went back to the Catholic Church to refine my photos.

Miltenberg boasts the oldest hotel in Germany, the Gasthaus zum Riesen. Guests include Napoleon and Elvis Presley.

A right-wing group planned to have a political demonstration in the plaza outside the Catholic Church. They applied for the proper permits and received them. As they were having their demonstration, however, the priest started ringing the church bells so loudly that the demonstration could not proceed. He was tried and fined for disturbing the peace and for preventing a lawful demonstration. The citizens of the town paid his fine. When his bishop moved him to another parish, the priest received a considerable promotion.

We were to meet at the Maypole at 6 pm, so I headed there, stopping all along the way for photos. Two members of our party were missing, so we were delayed nearly an hour trying to find them. Cruise Director Sacha was attempting to pack the returning buses as densely as possible, and he asked for volunteers to transfer to another bus. Glenda volunteered, and as we boarded the second bus some folks must have concluded that we were the ones who were tardy. I had a lovely dinner of hazel nut encrusted cod with Len and Sandy from Sacramento, and Heather and Don from San Francisco. Heather showed me her pictures from Antelope Canyon, AZ a and gave me some practical advice on scheduling a guide. After the 9 pm briefing on tomorrow's visit to Rothenburg, we came back to the stateroom and got ready for bed.Meer informatie
Zie vertaling
0 likes
Atlantic and Europe
Castles on the Rhine
12 mei 2015, Duitsland ⋅ ⛅ 81 °F
Our tour director gave a running commentary for over three hours as we passed the castles, churches and villages on the Rhine. This river was especially important since Roman times. It served as the border between the Roman Empire on the south bank and barbaric Germany on the north. Of special note are the ruins of Durnstein Castle. Here Richard the Lionhearted was held for ransom when returning from the crusades. In 1192 he was held as a prisoner here until his family, primarily his mother, could raise 26.5 metric tons of silver.Meer informatie
Zie vertaling
0 likes
Atlantic and Europe
Marksburg Castle
12 mei 2015, Duitsland ⋅ ⛅ 66 °F
We visited Marksburg Castle, and Glenda was given the key with which to unlock the door. The castle's foundations go back to the year 1100. The view of the Rhine from the top of the mountain is fantastic. Down in the basement there is an exhibit that shows some of the instruments of torture and imprisonment from the Middle Ages. However, our guide told us that there was never a prison at Marksburg. I was especially interested in the dining hall, and in the fact that there is a sit-down toilet. It hangs over the side of the wall, and the droppings fall to fertilize a garden.Meer informatie
Zie vertaling
0 likes
Atlantic and Europe
Relaxing in Wesseling
11 mei 2015, Duitsland ⋅ ⛅ 77 °F
We returned to the large square in front of the cathedral and found our way to our bus pick up point. An adjacent coffee shop gave us a place to perch as we waited for the bus. I enjoyed an apple pastry and coffee. Our boat had moved during our excursion, so a double-decker bus drove us about half an hour south of Cologne to Wesseling where we boarded the boat. We had a light dinner of chef salad outside on the Aquavit Terrace because the weather was perfect. Chuck and Cindy from Lake Tahoe joined us for dinner, and later for a concert by a trio made up of a cellist, a pianist and a clarinetist. The musicians played some light classical works, and a few popular pieces from the last generation, such as "Moon River," and "Mister Sandman." I had forgotten that Jacques Offenbach was born in Cologne.Meer informatie
Zie vertaling
0 likes
Atlantic and Europe
Finding Duns Scotus
11 mei 2015, Duitsland ⋅ ⛅ 77 °F
We went to find the church of Saint Andreas. It was lovely inside, though not as grand as the cathedral, but the entrance to the nave was locked. Still, even though we did not have the opportunity to photograph it, we still found it quite beautiful. Next, just to see the town we set a tentative course for the Church of the Apostles. On the way, Glenda bought some chocolate. Before we reached our goal we happened past the Church of the Minorites. A plaque indicated that construction was begun in the year 1245. We went inside, admired it's quiet Romanesque beauty, and then found a plaque giving information about a connection between this church and John Duns Scotus. I happened to find the remnants of a very old painting on one of the columns in the nave, so I photographed it as well. John Duns Scotus was born in Scotland, as his name suggests. He was enslaved as a youth, then through a remarkable series of coincidences, was given an education in Paris. There he taught at the university. In a single day he was quickly and unexplainably transferred by the Pope in Rome to the frontier of Germany, without even being allowed to take his clothing. He died a year later in Cologne. His epitaph in Latin reads: Scotland birthed me; Paris taught me; but Germany holds me.Meer informatie
Zie vertaling
0 likes
Atlantic and Europe
Discovering Gaffel Kölsch
11 mei 2015, Duitsland ⋅ ⛅ 68 °F
We took our time photographing the nave and sanctuary and then we had lunch at Peters Brauhaus with James Swim and his wife Marcia from Arkansas. I had sauerbraten and a most delicious Koln beer.
Zie vertaling
0 likes
Atlantic and Europe
Cologne Cathedral
11 mei 2015, Duitsland ⋅ ⛅ 59 °F
We attended the noon office at the Kölndom, as it is known here. Brief prayers were offered, including prayers for the travelers present. I thought this was a very thoughtful touch. Interspersed were three Bach toccatas, probably chosen for this week in the liturgical year. I could not imagine a more worshipful experience. Cologne Cathedral has long been my very favorite, and when I actually saw it, I was not disappointed. A little girl got loose from her mother in one of the radial chapels, and Glenda snapped a shot of her.Meer informatie
Zie vertaling
0 likes
Atlantic and Europe
Walking to Cologne Cathedral
11 mei 2015, Duitsland ⋅ ⛅ 55 °F
At 6:40 am got a shot of a grimy old coal port at Düsseldorf-Benrath. We docked at Cologne around 9:45 am, then went on a walking tour that ended at the cathedral. Our guide is a Scotsman who now lives in Germany. Of special interest was the Cologne town hall. The building is bedecked with statues of famous persons in Germany. More are being added all the time.Meer informatie
Zie vertaling
0 likes
Atlantic and Europe
On the Waal to Nijmegen
10 mei 2015, Nederland ⋅ ⛅ 66 °F
While it is still in the Netherlands the Rhine River is known as the Waal. We had lunch with Richmond and Debbie, whose stateroom is across the passageway from ours. Joined at the table by Jerri and Mark from Anchorage, Alaska. I got good photos of a church and bridge connecting Waardenburg and Zaltbommel, then attended a lecture on Dutch water management. At 3:30 pm I got shot of church tower at Tiel.

4:15 pm. Went to afternoon tea and had warm shortbread with chocolate chips, waffle cookies, English trifle, and coffee with eggnog and cream. We are approaching Nijmegen. At 8:50 pm I get a shot of the bridge at Rees, Germany. At 9:00 pm we attended a presentation on the Golden Age of Dutch history and the Dutch masters.

I went up on the Sun Deck to make sure I got a photo of the railroad bridge at Nijmegen. Its destruction by the Dutch Resistance makes an interesting story from World War 2.Meer informatie
Zie vertaling
0 likes
Atlantic and Europe
Kinderdijk Windmills
10 mei 2015, Nederland ⋅ ☀️ 52 °F
I woke early to take photos on deck at sunrise. We ate breakfast then visited windmills at Kinderdijk. A Dutch guide named Ad was formerly engineer for US company. He was very knowledgeable about the mechanics and engineering of windmills. He explained old customs about millers communicating by the position in which they stopped their sails. He showed us the modern facility that uses hugh Archimedes screws to keep the polder dry. I tried to get a shot that resembles a picture my grandmother had hanging in her parlor. This was a fascinating tour.Meer informatie
Zie vertaling
0 likes
Atlantic and Europe
Aboard the Viking Ingvi
9 mei 2015, Nederland ⋅ ⛅ 55 °F
Before the cab driver left the registration desk we reminded the receptionist that the folks on the Viking Kvasir had said that they would cover the cab fare to the Ingvi, and the receptionist agreed that they would cover the cost of the cab. The reception team on the Viking Ingvi seemed a bit surprised at the request for reassurance that they would pay for the cab. Apparently the Viking crew on the Kvasir had not called the people on the Viking Ingvi to tell then that they had arranged to pay for the taxi, or even that we were coming. Because he had tried two other docks, I tipped the cab driver €2. We were quickly shown our room, and told that an introductory briefing was being held in the lounge. We attended the briefing, entering the lounge at about 6:20 pm. We must have been a few minutes late, but the cruise director was still just warming up the crowd. We and several of the people around us were a bit surprised at the silliness of his presentation. He was talking to the group as though we were a group of first graders. At 7:00 pm we went to an excellent dinner. Glenda and I had sea bass, and I had a wonderful cheese plate. Our dining companions were Chuck and Cindy from Lake Tahoe, and Bob and Nikki from Vienna, Venice, America and elsewhere. We came back to to our stateroom, which was lovely, clean and comfortable, despite its small size. We put away our luggage, got the room squared away, and got ready for bed.Meer informatie
Zie vertaling
0 likes
Atlantic and Europe
Viking Confusion in Amsterdam
9 mei 2015, Nederland ⋅ ⛅ 55 °F
I suppose traveling is always something of an adventure. Our flight from London's Heathrow Airport was delayed almost an hour because of high winds at our destination in Amsterdam. Glenda's suitcase was judged to be oversize by the ticket agent, so she had to pay to have one bag checked for $30. When we finally arrived back in the Netherlands, we met a representative from Viking Cruises right outside the baggage claim area. Our names were not on his list, but he put us on a van that took us to a boat anyhow. It turned out to be the wrong Viking River Cruise Boat. We told the representative that we were to board the Viking Ingvi and we're going down the Rhine and Danube through Vienna to Budapest. He asked us whether we were going to Basle. We said that we were not. He seemed confused, but put us on a van anyhow. I began to get a bit worried and insisted on keeping my luggage with me, since I feared it might get onto the wrong boat. They took us to one of the ports in Amsterdam where we boarded the Viking Kvasir. They were going to put us on a first deck room without a French balcony, and I told them that we had already been assigned room 224, a room with a French balcony. They asked us again what boat we were going on, and we told them again the Viking Ingvi. They asked us if we're were going to Basle, and we said that were were not. We would go to Budapest, then extend to Prague. They apologized profusely for their error and said that they would call us a cab and pay to have us taken to the Viking Ingvi at another nearby Amsterdam dock. Soon the cab came and after trying two other docks unsuccessfully, finally got us to the Viking Ingvi.Meer informatie
Zie vertaling
0 likes
Atlantic and Europe
Farewell, Royal Princess, Southampton
9 mei 2015, Engeland ⋅ ⛅ 50 °F
We woke early morning and started packing. At breakfast this morning a woman was standing in front of me at the Horizon Court serving herself cereal and humming a tune. Though she finished serving herself in just a few seconds, she continued to block the line until she had finished humming her tune! We said good-bye to the Royal Princess, then immediately took the bus to Heathrow Airport to fly back to Amsterdam for the Viking River Cruise of the Rhine, Main, and Danube.Meer informatie
Zie vertaling
0 likes
Atlantic and Europe
Bruges
8 mei 2015, België ⋅ ⛅ 63 °F
I would place Bruges as among the three most beautiful cities I have ever seen, along with Venice and Dubrovnik. As soon as one enters the old part of the city, the senses as inundated by architecture, beauty, history and theology. Johann our guide was very restrained yet informative as we walked through the park to the Beguinage, and then into the city's historic center. Then a canal boat ride let us immerse ourselves in some of the sights he had shown us. We grabbed the buffet at Pizza Hut, and I enjoyed a dark Belgian beer. A chocolate shop offered every candy imaginable, and Glenda bought some chocolate-covered orange slices. I had filet mignon with all the trimmings, and ate more than I should have. I can hardly fit into my athletic tailored dress shirt any more. I will really have to reign in the appetite on the river cruise to come.Meer informatie
Zie vertaling
0 likes
Atlantic and Europe
Leaving Amsterdam and Rotterdam
7 mei 2015, Nederland ⋅ ⛅ 57 °F
I love Amsterdam. It is beautiful and historic. I also appreciate the freedom which the people still have here. We caught the bus at 5:30 pm in front of the NH Barbizon Hotel, a grandly beautiful modern interior in a historic building. We used their rest rooms before leaving to hit a traffic jam that delayed our return to Rotterdam about an hour. Traffic and overpopulation are problems the government is still trying to solve. I went back out on deck to grab a few shots of the sunset as we left Rotterdam.Meer informatie
Zie vertaling
0 likes
Atlantic and Europe
Boating in Amsterdam's Canals
7 mei 2015, Nederland ⋅ ⛅ 57 °F
We got back to the center of town in time to take a ride through the canals. The beauty and charm of Amsterdam was almost palpable. This beauty was not missed by our camera lenses.
Zie vertaling
0 likes
Atlantic and Europe
Walking Through Amsterdam
7 mei 2015, Nederland ⋅ ⛅ 55 °F
A few photos in the plaza in front of the building preceded our attempt to find lunch. We found a hot dog stand. Glenda made a pylsa dog. We sat on a street side bench beside a guy from New Jersey named Artie Rizzo, who sets up huge pieces of art in museums throughout the world. Then a leisurely walk back to Central Station took us by lovely canals and streets, as well as the floating flower market. Bicycles were aggressively present everywhere. Glenda snatched a photo shot of a "coffee house," the Dutch euphemism for a marijuana store.Meer informatie
Zie vertaling
0 likes
Atlantic and Europe
The Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam
7 mei 2015, Nederland ⋅ ⛅ 52 °F
On the bus from Rotterdam to Amsterdam our guide Bob gave an excellent introduction to Dutch history, language and culture. I was glad to see that my old friend Erasmus is still remembered in Rotterdam in the names of a bridge, a university, and a medical center. Since we were on our own in Amsterdam, he thoroughly described the map, or "plan" as he called it, of the city. Glenda and I dared to take the number 5 streetcar down to the Rijksmuseum, which we found with just a little bit of looking once we passed the National Palace. We found Vermeer, then saw in the hall of honor Rembrandt's large canvas called The Nightwatch. Large crowds surrounded all of the well known paintings, so I just took pictures of the crowd. It was enough for me just to be near the actual paintings made by the masters. Glenda, being a woman, and shorter than I, was able to move in closer to the painting of the Girl With the Pitcher to get a photo. I had already decided that I would resist the temptation to take a picture of a picture, at least on this trip. We looked around at the other sixteenth century art, and made our way out of the crowded building, which has recently been gloriously restored.Meer informatie
Zie vertaling
0 likes
Atlantic and Europe
Arrival in Rotterdam
7 mei 2015, Nederland ⋅ ☁️ 50 °F
How exciting to be in the city of one of my heroes, Erasmus of Rotterdam. We sailed through a very long canal leading to the city, passing oil refineries, reconstructed windmills and thousands of high rise apartment buildings.Meer informatie
Zie vertaling
0 likes
Atlantic and Europe
Approaching Normandy
6 mei 2015, English Channel ⋅ ⛅ 52 °F
I awoke early and, went to breakfast, and took a few photos of a passing container ship. Glenda is still sick. The crew has advanced our U. K. passport check by half an hour. I guess bureaucrats must always find something to do to stay busy. After a light lunch of spaghetti, we got an ice cream cone at Swirls. We passed between Southampton and the beaches of Normandy, and I went up to the sky deck to take some photos just to remind me of D-Day on June 6, 1944. Since we had a late dinner planned, I brought back to the stateroom a fruit and cheese plate around 4:30 pm. We dressed for formal dinner We went down to the piazza to watch the dropping of all the balloons. I wanted to photograph the event, but when one of the entertainers began to drag people out onto the dance floor, I decided it was time for me to leave. So we're ready for bed now. Glenda is feeling much better and we're looking for a good day in Amsterdam tomorrow.Meer informatie
Zie vertaling
0 likes
Atlantic and Europe
Rock of Cashel
5 mei 2015, Ierland ⋅ 🌧 48 °F
We went on the the Rock of Cashel, a castle begun in the fifth century by the O'Bryan clan chiefs in this part of Ireland. A huge chunk of the bishop's tower as large as a Volkswagen was sitting on the ground. It was blown out of the northeastern corner in a single storm one night in the eighteenth century. Some of the wind we felt on top of that hill convinced me that such a catastrophe was entirely possible. However, since the building was abandoned at about the same time when a new bishop wanted a new residence down in the town, there was no need to replace the fallen material. Both the palace and the chapel were beautiful, even in their ruined state. The choir room, on the other hand, has been restored. At a restaurant at the base of the hill we enjoyed a lunch of baked chicken in mustard sauce, carrots and parsnips, and potatoes. The dessert was apple pie. We also got a complimentary Guinness Stout with the meal. Just after we climbed the hill to the castle, Glenda began to feel ill. She returned to the bus and took it easy, while I went on with my photography. Our guide Annie gave a very knowledgeable running commentary on Irish history, language, politics and culture as we rode back to the ship. Returning to the Royal Princess, I got us some pizza and brought it back to our room, where Glenda is resting and trying to recover. As we shoved off from Cobh, the Cobh town band was at the dock to play for our ship. They began with "Georgia On My Mind," and "King of the Road." Just as the lines were slipped, they broke into "Anchors Aweigh." About a hundred people on the dock began swaying their arms to the music, and we waved back. One little girl amused those of us on the port side of the ship by cutting somersaults down the dockside. As we left I got some good shots of the town and the cathedral. I went to the other side of the ship to see the place where the Titanic was docked before her fateful departure. When I tried to come inside, the automatic door for the promenade deck would not open, so I had to enlist help from some other passengers and crew to get the door to open. Finally they pointed me to another door. Coming back to the stateroom, I was engaged in a short conversation with another passenger about the wonderful conditions for photos today. I summarized our adventures, and he mentioned to me that he toured Cobh in a taxi with a driver named Patty O'Roark. Among other places, Patty took him to the Lusitania graveyard, where his grandparents are buried. Glenda just roused and says she thinks she has a slight fever. The captain announced that the voyage tonight may get a bit bouncy. High winds and rough seas are in our path.Meer informatie
Zie vertaling
0 likes

Creëer uw eigen reisprofiel

Gratis

QR code