Virtually travel around the world as you "Cruise with Chris" on her cruise journeys. Learn tips that will help you on YOUR next cruise vacation. Share YOUR experiences with readers. Escape, if only briefly, from reality as you put YOURSELF in these exotic destinations.
As we remain locked inside our houses, practicing social distancing, let us remember what we are trying to protect. God has made a marvelous world for us, and we want to be able to enjoy it through travel again. We want this for ourselves, friends, families, and people we don't even know. Through this blog we will share photos from our past explorations to give you something to look forward to when this pandemic is over.
Where is Chris? Here is today's post: See if you can guess where I am. As promised, we've updated yesterday's post, Where is Chris - Local Inhabitant Waves Hi, with the answer to the puzzle. Revisit that post and just scroll over the image to reveal the answer. You can also click on the link below the picture to read more. We'll update this post tomorrow. Make sure to follow us on our social media, so you don't miss any destinations.
If you can't wait for tomorrow for the answer, you can take my quiz in my Instagram story.
Formal gardens, a sunken pond and graceful obelisk commemorate the resting place of one of New Zealand’s most beloved prime ministers, await visitors to this memorial. It also offers views over Auckland city, its harbour and the Hauraki Gulf.
It was a gorgeous day in Auckland when we visited this past January. The skies were painted in shades of blue with streaks of white clouds. The eyes were drawn to the shadow in the reflecting pool in front of the obelisk.
Michael Joseph Savage was New Zealand’s popular prime minister from the Labour party, who established social welfare back in the 1930's. These grounds surround his grave inside a historic gun bunker. View the Auckland City Drive photo album for more images. Our coach headed to the Auckland Museum after our visit here.
After breakfast we began our tour of Trondheim, Norway’s third largest city, which was founded by the Viking King Olav Tryggvason back in 997 A.D. Trondheim’s architecture and surroundings create a beautiful, almost mystical atmosphere for any outing.
The city was originally given the name by Olav Tryggvason. It was for a long time called Nidaros (English: Mouth of the river Nid), or Niðaróss in the Old Norse spelling. But it was also just called kaupangr ("city") in the district Trøndelag. In the Dano-Norwegian period, during the years as a provincial town in the united kingdoms of Denmark-Norway, the city name was spelled Trondhjem.
Utsikten (The View)
We heard about the city’s many features as the bus took us through Trondheim’s streets and boroughs, including a short stop at Utsikten (The View) to admire the city from above. From here we departed to the main stop on our tour, Nidaros Cathedral.
Nidaros Cathedral
Nidaros Cathedral is a Church of Norway located in the city of Trondheim in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. The Nidaros Cathedral, as we know it today, began as a wooden chapel erected over the tomb of St. Olav, the Viking King who became the patron saint of Norway.
It was built from 1070 to 1300, and designated as the cathedral for the Diocese of Nidaros in 1152. After the Protestant Reformation, it was taken from the Roman Catholics by the Lutheran Church in 1537. It is the northernmost medieval cathedral in the world.
A short 15 minute walk over the bridge from where our ship was docked and we were at a local Vinothek for a complimentary wine tasting event. This wasn't your typical wine tasting with just a few varieties.
VinoThek
Upon entering the VinoThek, we were given a German Pretzel (bretzel), handed an empty wine glass, and directed to the wine cellar downstairs.
Bernkastel and the surrounding Moselle River valley is most noted for Riesling wines, so those were predominantly the wines we tasted. There were a few red varieties for those that prefer red wine.
As you can see in the picture, the wines were displayed in bins with descriptive signs overhead. Each variety was numbered and a chilled barrel contained one bottle for each variety.
You could pour as little or as much wine into your glass for tasting. It was best to cleanse the pallet between tastings by taking a bite of your pretzel. We quickly lost track of how many wines we tasted. I think there were more than twenty that we sampled. Someone would ask if we tried number 25, and we'd have to try that of course.
Finally, we narrowed down our search to two different bottles. We opted for the high-residual sugar varieties which were very sweet. Not being able to make up our minds, we bought both bottles. Avalon allows you to bring them back on board and consume them in your cabin without charge or you can bring them to the dining room and pay a corkage fee.
We almost skipped this complimentary event because we had a long day and thought about relaxing before dinner. Do not miss this wine tasting event - it was one of the cruise highlights.
Artistry II arrived in Bernkastel around 8 AM giving us the opportunity to capture some images as we first saw this beautiful region.
Walking Tour
A local guide would meet us at 9 AM for a walk around the small but pretty village. Because the other guides were running late, we were divided into two groups. The other guides would join us during the tour in progress.
Market Place
The entire Moselle Valley is famous for its beautiful and tranquil
scenery, and in the middle of this region is the charming wine village
of Bernkastel with its well-preserved half-timbered houses that have
stood since the Middle Ages. We enjoy a guided walk from our ship that included the
beautiful marketplace with its renaissance-style Town Hall and the
“pointed house,” built in 1416.
Rathaus (City Hall)
Today's City Hall facade is a magnificent work of the late German Renaissance of the Trier sculptor RH Hoffmann (built 1608).
St. Michael's Fountain
The heart of the market place dates back to 1606, and is dedicated to the archangel Michael, who, standing with one foot on a dragon, holds a sword and scales in his hands. St. Michael is the patron saint of the town.
During our free time in Bernkastel, we had some unexpected entertainment. First there was a couple playing Alphorns and then a Yodeling Group performed in the Market Place. We take you to Bernkastel market place live in this video:
Video Diary of Avalon Rhine & Moselle River Cruise on
Artistry II. This was a 13 day river cruise that started in Zurich,
Switzerland and concluded in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Avalon offered an optional cycling tour after lunch, but we opted to see the Moselle River from high ground instead. Those that went on the bike ride enjoyed themselves, so if that is of interest to you, we'd suggest including it in your plans.
Moselle River On Our Own
The ruins of Landshut Castle loom over Bernkastel. If you pay visit to the castle, which dates all the way back to the 9th Century, you will be rewarded with a captivating view of the awe-inspiring Moselle valley and the vast expanse.
Getting to Landshut Castle
The easiest way to get to the castle is by
the Burg Landshut Express. You can reach the castle ruins in just under 20 minutes for a cost of 7 Euro round-trip per person. The Burg Landshut Express buses were designed specifically for making this round trip, making them truly unique. The shuttle bus service runs daily from April to October. Buses depart every hour from the starting point across from the Doctorbrunnen, Bernkastel Doctor fountain.
The return or downhill journey takes you past the youth hostel and though the Tiefenbach valley back to the starting point in the Moselle car park.
View from Castle
Once the shuttle drops you off at the foot of the castle hill, you'll want to make your way to the top which involves climbing stairs and a ramp.
It is well worth the effort, if you are able to do so. You'll notice that I used my walking stick to get up to the top and was rewarded by these views.
You have about 20 minutes on top before the shuttle returns. You can optionally wait for the next shuttle bus, but that will be an hour later.
This is the heart of wine country - vineyards were everywhere.
Watch this short video to see the view from the walkway leading up to Landshut Castle ruins.
Video Diary of Avalon Rhine & Moselle River Cruise on
Artistry II. This was a 13 day river cruise that started in Zurich,
Switzerland and concluded in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
