Reisling vineyards and fodder corn near Black Forest

(Sixth Female post)  So we got a little lost, a bit panicked... Took the boat´s shuttlebus into Strasbourg two days ago at 3 pm, with a return time of 5 pm. Walked the usual miles in search of a restaurant and a bar that we remembered from 4 years ago in the cutesiest part of town, "La Petite France." By the time we found them and had a nostalgic drink at the ancient "Academy of Beer," it was 4:30... In separate, very bad, moods we wandered, asked, saw 5 pm pass, and finally gratefully paid $25 for a taxi back to the boat. Will not be the last time for that particular scene, I´m sure!

No shuttle bus —what about a beer?

Snoopy neighbor

Awakened the next morning to find a troop of gorgeous swans right outside our water-level window, as if peeking in at us. We were in Breisach, city of swans and a place in which I could gladly live. Had a wonderful walk all over this 4,000-year-old town with a cathedral at its highest point. 

Black Forest Farm

Wandered out into the suburbs, where I fantasized about owning a home; we saw gardens boasting mini vineyards and even flocks of chickens! Wouldn´t see that in Suburbia, USA, never mind the dogs who are welcome in every market and restaurant... As if we were more hygienic than the Germans! These people invented clean. We even noticed the difference in our one stop across the Rhine in France... it wasn´t nearly as spotless.

Tidy Kraut chickens..."Forbidden to Feed"

More forbidden stuff... 

I hear my Cronkite roots calling to me here, as my Westfall ones do in England. So much fun to have my long-lost German coming back to me. Love that language! Only one more day of it (in Basel), and then it´s (oh, dear) Czech!!


Yesterday afternoon we took a 4-hour bus trip to the Black Forest. Gorgeous scenery on the way almost made Napa Valley look weak. Passed vineyards and dairy farms with tidy rows and tidy cows. 

We got to hike up into the "black" forest (well, I went part way), which was awe inspiring. The air there was intensely fresh and sweet and somehow timeless.

Black Forest trail

Auf wiedersehen, Deutschland. Morgen, in der Schweiz!

Cathedral dominating Breisbach

P. S. Paul, by the end of the cruise, is Mr. Popularity with all and sundry, and even gave a yoga lesson on the sundeck when the weather allowed. On the other hand, best we are leaving, after a heated argument with an Ohioan about unions... She brought it up: her fault!

[Male Version: The doom-ass's own daughter's a teacher, and she doesn't want her to have a pension or benefits —she asked for it.  After the rant and rave the guy next to me said out of the corner of his mouth, "good one."

Got off the barge this morning in Basel, Switzerland -—now the real journey begins.  The boat trip was great but only if you were able to get away from the 'boat trash' [us white people] once in a while.  Incidentally, the mini-disaster in Strasbourg had something to do with the  'special' AMS brownies smuggled on board.  Had no idea that Pamela did that.  Definitely a must-have in the Black Forest though.

Naturally the most interesting peeps on board were the staff - last night's going-away dinner was loaded with hugs, hand-shakes (no kisses - this is Germany!), and boocoo tips, but well worth it. The deck was a great place for yoga, and we had 3 days of sun.  The window of our cabin was inches above the water, and waking up to look out and see the swans peeking in, just on the other side of the glass, was practically the highlight of the cruise.]