September 8 2010:
**Note: I have been having significant issues
with internet connections and with getting my Netbook to send emails so I am very far behind. Hopefully I'll get the
issues resolved when I have a little more free time to work the problems.
It was mentioned to me that my emails from this trip have been....less than exciting.....OK,
the term used was BORING. I admit it.....it is true. There are at least 3 reasons that I am not performing up
to my usual (very low) standards. First, the AMAWaterways people are keeping us very busy with all of their various
activities. Second, we are traveling with friends. Most of the time, I like to write about the people we meet
on our travels as much as the places we go. But this time, uncharacteristically, I have to exercise a little self
control in what I say.....because our friends are reading the emails too....or at least they will be when they return home.
So, Ted and Peggy, just be aware that I have a large number of untold stories...all about you. The third reason that
I haven't been hitting on all cylinders is that AMAWaterways serves free, and free-flowing local wines at dinner every night,
so by the time we leave the dining room and actually have a few mintues to jot down some notes from the day, my attention
span is on a par with that of a goldfish.
Today we are cruising the last section of the Mosel River, from Cochem to Kolbenz, before joining the Rhine
River and continuing down the Rhine to Rudesheim.
It is raining again today....as it has rained everyday since we left Paris. Our clothes are getting
soggy, but not our spirits. The scenery is interesting and the people we meet are friendly....but the photos are not
going to be anything special.
We tour just a small part of Koblenz....partly because of time and partly because one of the main attractions,
the Deutsches Eck (German Corner) where the Mosel River enters the Rhine is being renovated. People are able to go there,
but only by dodging construction equipment and workers....something our tour guide does not wish to do. One unusal sight
in the city is the "Spitting Boy" fountain. Located in a small square, there is the statue of a boy with his
mouth open. The obvious place to view the statue is by standing on a plaza in front of the boy. Then about every
couple of minutes the boy spouts water out of his mouth and it lands, 15-20 feet in front of him.....right on the spot where
the unsuspecting tourist has positioned himself, camera in hand. Apparently the Germans get a great deal of entertainment
from this statue
We
are seeing many potenitally scenic churches, squares and parks....but they are not so scenic in the steady rain that we are
experiencing.
We have met several
other couples onboard; it seems that River Cruising is much more intimate and friendly than Ocean Cruising. Of all our
fellow passengers, our favorites so far are Tony and Jean. They are a very interesting couple who recently
celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary. Tony was born in Paris from English parents prior to World War
II. But the family returned to England in the 1930's as the political situation darkened in the run up to the war.
Both Tony and Jean have memories of the Blitz and the darkest days of the war as well as memories of the celebrations
that took place at the end of the war. Tony began courting Jean when she was very young...and against the wishes of her
father. Tony had a motorcycle and this was not acceptable at the time. But I guess Tony won over the family in
time.....or maybe not....maybe they ran off together. But somehow they were married. Later
they immigrated to Canada....I have lost the details in the wine fog that envelops my evening on the boat. I believe
that Tony has led an interesting life, though he refuses to talk much about himself. He spent his career in the
Canadian equivalent of the FBI or Secret Service......I was able to get that much out of Jean. But, even under
the influence of a second glass of a good French Chardonnay all Tony would say was that he was involved in the security
detail that provided protection for Pope John Paul when the Pope visited Canada. I don't know what all
Tony did in his younger days, but I can tell you that Tony is a Tough Guy. He is 86 years old and has significant problems
with back pain and walking and he uses two canes to get around. The first time I saw Tony, back in Paris, he was going
on one of the tours that we were taking. I saw an older man, with his canes and obviously not comfortable waiting in
the hotel lobby for the tour to start. The first thing I thought was: "I've got to get ahead of this guy
on the tour or we'll never stay up with the guide". But I was wrong. Once the tour starts, Tony is
on the march. Down the alleys, up the steps, in and out of the Metro. It clearly isn't easy for him, but he persevers
and migrates to the front of the pack at every stop. It seems that nothing holds Tony back....he just gets on with
the program. Jean, who we believe is 4 years younger than Tony, is quite the Sportswoman, playing golf 3-4
times a week when she is back home. They make quite the couple. We have now seen them many times on the boat and
had dinner with them often and I am continually impressed by their energy and the high level of activity that they maintain.
For this, and many other reasons, they are my heros on this portion of the trip. They have learned how to
extract the full flavor out of life.
