Day 18 Disembarkation Day

The pages of this chapter of the Adventures of Paul & Donna are coming to a close.

We woke to a soft gray Vienna morning, the kind that feels like it’s whispering, “Slow down… today is different.” Outside our stateroom window, the city wore a thin dusting of snow — subtle, quiet, beautiful.

Many travelers had to rise long before the sun. We heard suitcase wheels and hushed voices rolling through the hallway as early as 3:00 A.M. Flights to catch. Connections to make. New destinations calling. To everyone heading out into the world today, we wish you safe travels.

Inside the Rinda, the ritual of departure was already forming: Suitcases lined the hallways like a final parade. The restaurant filled with guests savoring one last breakfast. Quiet goodbyes drifted across the tables.

We said farewell to staff, fellow travelers, and — most importantly — the new friends who became part of our story these past 18 days. Honestly, some of us may never cross paths again. That’s okay. Because we’ll remember the smiles long after we’ve forgotten the names. And as Bob Hope once said so perfectly:

“Thanks for the memories.”

Last night we enjoyed a final dinner with our Rinda friends Barry & Melody, and Mark & Natalia — a reminder that river cruising creates these tiny floating communities where strangers quickly become familiar, and familiar faces become something like family. Harley-Davidson says, “It’s not about the destination — it’s about the ride.” I get it now more than ever.

The other night we were handed our departure forms.

Out of the room by 9:00 A.M.
Off the ship by 11:30 A.M.

There was a line to fill in:

Departure time: _________

So naturally, I wrote 11:31 A.M. One last attempt at being funny on my way out the door. Viking will hail us a cab to take us to the train station were we will wait for the “All Aboard!” Signal for our next chapter to start. And YES, I will be posting our adventures on FindPenguins, a new trip called “Eight Days to Barcelona.”

While many travelers were racing off to airports, Donna and I are on a different timeline. Our next chapter doesn’t begin until 9:21 P.M. tonight, when we board the NightJet sleeper train from Vienna to Zurich — the start of our journey toward Liechtenstein. So we’re not in any rush to leave the Rinda. We’re lingering, absorbing these last quiet moments, letting the day unfold slowly.

And as we stood in the lobby one last time, surrounded by luggage, goodbyes, hugs, and that soft mixture of sadness and excitement, I remembered a toast a friend taught me long ago.

So with glasses raised…

“May the best day of your past
be the worst day of your future.
Cheers.”

Paul & Donna Gruhn
East Windsor, Connecticut USA

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