Home!!!

What an incredible trip, but always nice to be back home.  Slowly getting back to normal, after many loads of dirty laundry!!  This is one of our 'dress up' evenings on the boat.  And a pick of our host Jeff Hutchinson--he kept us all laughing.   Finally a pic of a windmill in holland as I couldn't send it earlier.   Lots and lots of terrific memories.   Thanks to all who followed us on our journey.  Neil and Beth

Zurich

Our last day on the road and what a day it was.  The drive thru the Swiss alps was incredible, from Domodossola to Zurich--especially for me on the outside of a curve looking straight down into a 2000+ft valley, and no guard rails!!!  We went up through a mountain pass, one of the pics shows that we are on the same level as the glacier on the next mountain--and the temp had dropped to 12c.  Photos just don't do the mountains justice.    We still have no idea how the buses navigate the hairpin turns, but somehow they manage, we were just glad never to have met one on a corner.  Neil just can't imagine driving these roads in the winter.   With all the driving we have done, and navigating around the many bicycles, and the crazy motorcycles that pass anywhere, we never saw an accident.  This is grazing land for the cows!!!   Sure wouldn't want to lose their footing!!    So it's off to the airport early am------

Domodossola, Italy

Lots and lots of mountains today--this country is beautiful.  (But I wouldn't trade it for home!!!).  Driving is a bit scary--you will see in one of the pics--no guard rails, and the drop off might be a 1000ft or more!!!  We were hoping to arrive at our bnb early and walk about, but had a terrible time trying to find it.  We are way up the mountain side in a very old home built in 1735.  Our room used to have a huge fireplace --the hearth and mantle all made of stone are still in place, now closed off.    Even the floor is huge flagstones.  It has been storming and big rains since before we arrived, so no pics of the old exterior, with its slate roof.  Lots of stone building with slate roofs still being used.

Adding to today's blog

This is what we meant by the farms up the hillsides.  Pics never show how steep the hills are, but you get the picture

Davos, Switzerland

Left Austria today, and crossed the Swiss border around 2pm.  Drove between the mountains, in the valleys, with the rivers, and train tracks.  Spectacular views--well at least for me,  Neil has to keep his eyes on the road with all the hairpin turns, bicyclers and motorcycles.  I just have to show him the pics when we stop!!!   These mountains are beautiful, but both of us have decided we like the mountains of Austria better, because of all the hillside farms.  Everything us so green, so neat and tidy, you would think they cut the hillside with lawnmowers.   Not sure how they do it but they take the hay off those fields.  This morning at our bnb, Grandma, who could hardly speak a word of English presented us with a Rose from her garden to celebrate our anniversary--now how special is that!!!!   this isa glacier way up in the mountains

Finlenberg Austria

yesterday I told you about clear cold mountain streams--well these have now turned into raging muddy torrents!!   It rained heavily most of the day, but we were lucky--we went to the little town of Hallstatt this morning, and walked around, and no rain!!    Tons, and tons of people, I guess they also read Rick Steaves travel book!!!!   But it is a beautiful little town, salt is harvested from the surrounding mountains.   Then we headed west and are now just south of Innsbrook, near the Italian border.  So the pics are of Hallstatt, one showing the narrow road we were on, the fellow ahead of us had to stop and clear the road of a rock fall.  First pic is out our balcony

Austria

What a fantastic day!!   Small, clear, very cold mountain streams, lovely green glacial lakes, mountains, that we zigzag up and then back down, tunnels, castles, some roads so narrow that we had to back up to pass oncoming cars, cows on the road, and views that took our breath away.   Neil's comment " I've never seen anything so beautiful".  The mountain hillsides are covered with little farms.  Our bnb was half way up a hill, with wonderful view--that's the pic with flowers, from our balcony.   Sorry if you get this 2x, ????

Austria

what a day!!! Cold clear mountain streams, green lakes, cows on the road,zig zag up and down mountains, tunnels, and some roads so narrow we would have back up to pass at a safe place, and views that would take your breath away.  Our bnb is up on a hill side, in the country side.  The pic is from our balcony the the flowers

Another great day

left this morning on the train to Langenargen on Lake of Constance.  Water from the glaciers in the Swiss alps flows through this lake which is the beginning of the Rhine.   We took a boat ride from  Langenargen to Lindau, another wonderful old city.   Walked around, gawking, at the old buildings, had cake and coffee, then headed back to Guy and Susan's.  Weather has been wonderful.  We will leave these gracious hosts tomorrow and head for Austria

At Guy and Susan's at Laupheim

Arrived safe and sound, after a few U-turns!!!   Went into the old city of Ulm, saw the Munster Cathedral, which has at the moment the highest spire in the world.   Many old building dating from 13 century.  Another great day, and Guy finally figured out how to get my pics up

Gutingen im Gau Thursday the 3rd

Sadly left the boat yesterday morning!!!  Now it's back to finding our own food, and turning down our own bed!!!  Tough.  The boat was delayed at two of the locks so we couldn't get into Basel in time.  So we were bused from another port downstream into the airport in Basel.  Buses, trams, Switzerland to Germany we finally made it our car rental place--that was a nightmare, but that's a story for another time.   Driving through the Black Forest was lovely, we've had to stop for help many times, and everyone was so friendly.   We are off today to visit with Guy (Paulines son), and his wife

Germany

The river Rhine is beautiful, yesterday afternoon we cruised thru the Rhine gorge,  almost every bend we went around was another castle.  The boat is totally wonderful--service amazing--staff couldn't be more helpful.  We have a neat little balcony of our own, we can slide the window with a flick of a switch and just relax.  The excursions have been great, yesterday we went by bus up the Moselle river, beautiful with vineyards on every mountain slope (well maybe not mountains!! But high hills).  Today we are in Rudesheim and did an excursion into town to see the music box museum, and then took a cable car way up for a great view of the Rhine and city.  Weather has been suu y and warm-how lucky we are.   Can't rave enough about the food--smoke salmon for breakfast--or whatever you wish!!!   We are totally spoiled!!  Thankfully we have walked a lot, but not enough to wear all off the calories.  PS. German beer is very good.  Still can't send pics.  Wifi is very weak

Leaving Amsterdam

1. Wow, wow, and more wow.   Yesterday we did a canal cruise around old Amsterdam--passing by Anne Franks home, etc.  Over 100 Kim's of canals--needless to say we only seen a part 

in our 1hr cruise.  Walked forever--even thru the red light district--had to keep Neil--eyes forward!!!  The houses here are all built on wooden piers--and some are tilting! The boat is wonderful.  We left Amsterdam at noon today.  Amazing to watch the captain manoeuvre this huge boat around!!!  Our cabin -great--right now I am sitting in our own little balcony watching the world go by.  This morning we did a bus tour --to a cheese factory--Gouda, then wandered the streets of Edam, and Volendam.  Weather cloudy, but no rain.  Sure wish I could send pics, but no go yet!!!  Can't find anyone techie enough

Amsterdam

arrived safe and sound--luggage too!!!!   Tonight in a hotel in the old town of Amsterdam--canals everywhere.  Walked and walked some more this afternoon.  Had poffertjes, bitterballen, Dutch beer and Dutch gin.   Can't seem to pull up today's pics to send--so will have to get some help!!!!   Will do a canal tour tomorrow am then head for the boat in the afternoon