Sail-Away from Strasbourg

Strasbourg Reflections

Lights from a nearby ship and a bridge, which we will soon pass under, reflect in the waters as the captain and crew prepare for our departure from Strasbourg.   Our ship arrived here at 3 AM last night and now, shortly after 10 PM, we bid good-bye.

Our next stop will be Mannheim, Germany (technical stop only) at 7:30 AM.

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Captain at the Controls 

Since we didn't sail until after dinner, it was possible to be on the Sky Deck for the actual sail-away and see all the action first hand. The previous nights we had sailed sometime during dinner.

 Sailing Under the Bridge

Shortly after departing we were sailing under the bridge that could be seen while we were docked.  As you can see, there's plenty of clearance in this case.  Everything on the Sky Deck is designed to collapse if necessary for any bridges that have low clearance.  Even the ship's bridge can retract if necessary.

 Approaching the Locks

During our cruise, we would go through 35 locks, some of them multiple times.  After passing some river ships docked along our path, we saw a bridge in the distance.  Once beyond that bridge, we could see the locks straight ahead of our ship.

It was now almost 11 PM, so we decided to head to the cabin to get some sleep, as tomorrow was another day of exploring with an early start.

We hope you are enjoying this virtual tour of the Rhine & Moselle Rivers.

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Strasbourg - Sail-Away

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Strasbourg Evening Program

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Back OnBoard Artistry II

Following our Maginot Line excursion, there was time to relax in our cabin before getting ready for the evening programs.

Our CD, Mark, held the usual port talk at 6:45 PM.  Today's topic was Heidelberg & Mainz. 

Dinner

Dinner in the restaurant started at 7:00 PM with the Bistro Dinner, for those that had booked it, starting at 7:15 PM in the lounge.

 Soups & Starters

Each night the menu included two soups and several starters.   Tonight's choices included a pasta dish as well as the Caesar salad which was always available.

Soups on Avalon Artistry II were always a big hit with us.  We especially enjoyed the chilled soups at lunch.   Tonight's choices included Chicken Consomme and Cream of Tomato.

Main Courses & Dessert

In this image on the right, from top to bottom, are Grilled Guinea Fowl on Juniper Berry Sauce, Steamed Filet of Catfish, and the Grilled Beef Tenderloin Steak (from the everyday menu).

 All Aboard 10 PM

Live music by our musician Jerry started at 9 PM in the lounge.   You could take a stroll off the ship, go to the lounge, or up on the Sky Deck, like we did prior to sailing.   Everyone had to be back on the ship by 10 PM.


It was a gorgeous night, so we opted to watch the swans and other marine life who were swimming near our ship.  We still had some time before the sun would be completely gone.

Check back for sail-away.


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Strasbourg - Evening

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Strasbourg Shopping

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Attention Moms & Dads

Grandmas & Grandpas

Are you looking for something unique to bring back home for the kids in your life?   How about a stuffed Stork or Gingerbread Man?

Don't forget something for yourself as well, like one of these beautiful lace scarves.

As you walk through the streets of Strasbourg, you'll find stands like the ones pictured here with unique gifts to please your family and friends.  You can even get your holiday shopping done early - tuck your gifts away until the holidays.


Looking for a Snack?

You are on a cruise and there's never enough to eat - right?  Of course there's plenty to eat, but it's OK to try some of the local favorites as well, such as these Bretzels or Nougats.



 Market Day in Strasbourg

Sometimes it is fun just "window" shopping.   What's it like to go to the market in Strasbourg?   Here are just a few of the items that you could bring home from the outdoor markets.  If we didn't have plenty of food on the ship, we would have been tempted to bring some of these fruits back to our cabin.

 
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Strasbourg - Grill Lunch

Strasbourg - Maginot Line

Strasbourg - Canal Boat Tour

Strasbourg - Walking Tour

Strasbourg - Cathedral

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Avalon Grill Lunch

Strasbourg Mid-Day

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After completing our complimentary morning tour of Strasbourg, we returned to Avalon Artistry II for lunch.  We had signed up for the Grill Lunch the night before.

Due to the seating capacity on the Sky Deck, it was necessary to limit the number of passengers that can have the lunch on a given day.   In order to allow all passengers to experience this special lunch, it was requested that only passengers who had not already had the grill lunch sign up. 

Don't Miss The Grill Lunch

Each night our Cruise Director held a briefing where he'd go over the excursions for the next day, special meals, and entertainment.   If you didn't attend the briefing, you could miss out on opportunities to sign up for things like this.

The food was great - there's nothing like freshly prepared food over a grill.   Who would have thought you could enjoy a lunch like this on a river cruise?

 
Leave Room for Ice Cream

After everyone had been served the main course, the staff brought out the ice cream.   Today they served vanilla, chocolate, and pistachio ice cream.   We couldn't decide, so we had all three.  The pistachio was our favorite.

Just as in the dining room, you could have complimentary soft drinks (Coke products) with your meal.  The tables were set with water pitchers as well.   If you wanted something from the bar, they also had beer specials for purchase.


 
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Strasbourg - Grill Lunch

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History Lesson Near Strasbourg

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The Maginot Line,
named after the French Minister of War André Maginot, was a line of concrete fortifications, obstacles, and weapons installations that France constructed just before the border with Switzerland and the borders with Germany and Luxembourg during the 1930s.

The French established the fortification to provide time for their army to mobilize in the event of attack, allowing French forces to move into Belgium for a decisive confrontation with Germany.

While the fortification system did prevent a direct attack, it was strategically ineffective, as the Germans invaded through Belgium, going around the Maginot Line.

Optional Excursion from Strasbourg

We opted to go off the beaten path on the road less traveled to the Maginot Line.  The other choice for afternoon touring was a visit to the wine country of Alsace, France.  Since we'd have our fill of wine during dinners throughout the cruise, and since we'd see many vineyards along the Moselle River, having a live history lesson appealed to us.  The tour was very informative, with a local guide providing the commentary.

What to Expect

Once you enter the tunnels, the temperature drops dramatically, which for us was quite welcome due to the unusual heat wave in Europe this year.  You'll be inside the fortification for a couple hours,  so if you are prone to chill easily, you'll want to take a jacket, sweater, or other warm covering.  It is also dark and damp.

There was a lot of walking on this tour, as well as climbing some steps.   In fact, there were more than one hundred steps up to the turret (left image) and more than two hundred down (right image).  The stairs on the way down were very shallow. 

I had a walking stick from the ship and was able to traverse the stairs, even with my bad knee.   I would not recommend the tour if you have extreme difficulty walking or with stairs.

There is a small museum, which you can explore at the end of the tour.  The ticket window has a few souvenirs that can be purchased.  Don't forget some money for the tour guide, since he really makes the tour interesting.


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Strasbourg - Maginot Line

Strasbourg - Canal Boat Tour

Strasbourg - Walking Tour

Strasbourg - Cathedral

 

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Strasbourg Complimentary Visit

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Avalon Artistry II
Strasbourg, France

We sailed from Breisach, Germany over night, arriving in Strasbourg around 3 AM.  When we awoke, we were greeted by a beautiful sunrise.

Situated on the border of France and Germany, this city blends the cultures of both countries in a delightful way. As capital of the Alsace region and seat of the Council of Europe and European Parliament, it is, without a doubt, an important city that manages to retain its historic charm.

Due to the early tour, which departed at 8 AM, buffet breakfast was a little earlier.

 Canal Boat Tour

Unlike the day before where we had to be transported by motor coach to the starting point of our tour, we didn't have far to go this day.

The canal boat pulled up a short distance from our ship and we all walked there to board it.   The canal boat tour was followed by a guided walking tour and some free time.


Walking Tour

We visited the monumental red-sandstone Strasbourg Cathedral de Notre-Dame with its ancient murals, stained-glass windows, and fascinating astronomical clock.   It is known as one of the most beautiful gothic cathedrals in Europe.

Another highlight of the tour was the magical LA PETITE FRANCE district, home to half-timbered houses, quaint shops, inviting bistros, and a waterfront promenade.

At the conclusion of the tour, we were transported back to our ship by motor coach.  We returned just in time for lunch.

When we returned, we found the captain and one of the crew members in a small boat working on the ship's hull.   They were always keeping things "ship shape" for us.

Inside the vessel, we'd sanitize our hands and were handed a wet towel, to refresh from the tour, along with a glass of fruit drink.  These were always waiting for us upon arrival.

After lunch we'd depart for our optional tour to the Maginot Line (which we will cover in another post).



^{Additional photos can be found on our Rhine & Moselle Shutterfly page:}

Strasbourg - Canal Boat Tour

Strasbourg - Walking Tour

Strasbourg - Cathedral

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