Embarkation Day
We convened at the airport
Movenpick Hotel in Zurich. Scenic Cruises had arranged transportation by bus
from Zurich to Basel where we boarded the Scenic Opal. An unexpected surprise was meeting someone
from Boca Raton who was traveling with several family members. Once on the riverboat, we met another couple
from Boca Raton and I must say, Florida was well represented among many cities
and countries.
After being escorted to our
cabin, from the first greeting to remembering our personal preferences, our
butler was always on hand to accommodate our every need. Spoiled is an understatement. With full access to a wellness area, massage
services and a hair salon, a gym (though small), on board entertainment, Wi-Fi
internet, e-bikes, trekking poles, and a luxuriously appointed suite, I just
knew that this was my own private riverboat.
On day one I had yet to know how diverse and delicious culinary delights
would be.
Day 2 was cloudy and cool. We
arrived in Kehl around 1:00 PM. Cruise Director,
Szilvia informed us during the lunch buffet that we had gone through 9 locks
and still had four to go. Myriad shore
excursions (all are complimentary) happen each day and, believe me, this
presents a big dilemma. We chose the
Alsace Wine Region
which included a visit to the Albert Seltz Vineyard situated
in the heart of Mittelbergheim. Albert,
the 14th generation owner took over from his father in 1980 when he
was only 19 years old. A passionate
winemaker, he has converted the vineyard to strictly sustainable organic
agricultural practices and he passed on his vast knowledge of how the soil
affects the grape. We sampled five
different ‘whites’. I bought a Riesling Brandluft 2010 to bring home. Reds are usually my choice but these were
quite special. A Strasbourg city tour,
Shopping with the Chef, and a visit to the Black Forest area were on the list
of excursions. Time didn’t permit to do
more than one.
Tonight we met the entire crew at
the Captain’s welcome cocktail party and then enjoyed a Gala welcome dinner
with many delicious choices on the menu. More decisions!
Day 3 we docked in Gernsheim.
Our choices for touring were Heidelberg Castle, Sweet tastes of
Heidelberg, and the Speyer Technical Museum.
Heidelberg nestles below the magnificent ruined Castle, which is one of
Germany’s most-visited historic sights.
Mark Twain stayed in Heidelberg for several weeks in 1878, and his thoughts
about the city and its surroundings can be enjoyed in the first part of “A
Tramp Abroad”.
Explored the historic university
town of Heidelberg known throughout the world as a lively, loveable city. Rightly so.
Located in the heart of the Old Town is a long-standing institution,
Chocolaterie Knosel, Heidelberg’s oldest confectioner’s store. Established in 1863, it became a popular
meeting place among Heidelberg’s residents and the students of the university,
especially the young ladies attending Heidelberg’s finishing school who loved
Fridolin Knosel’s exquisite creations.
The students would flock to the store, hoping to exchange glances with
the fairer sex but their ever-watchful governesses were never far away. Ingenious as he was, Fridolin Knosel created
a delicious chocolate delight which he called the Student’s Kiss. It became a gallant token of affection that
not even the chaperones could object.
Yes…it is delicious and I have one as a souvenir—never to be consumed.
We didn’t get to the Renaissance
Castle as there was so much to see in the picturesque town and we were having
an early dinner so that we could attend a private concert (preceded by a guided
tour) at Mannheim Palace. The castles
seem as if they were lifted from a Hollywood movie set. A lovely musical program in a magnificent
setting…a perfect ending for a memorable day.
The Rhine is one of the biggest
shipping lanes in the world. Being a
commercial passageway, traffic on the Rhine is so diverse: all types of transport barges, oil tankers,
tugboats, convoys of container ships, tourist boats, fishing boats,
ferries—even one named HELENE. During
daytime, sleep is not on one’s itinerary.
Sitting and staring is enough entertainment as compared to ocean going
vessels.
Many mornings we awoke already
docked only to discover we were parallel to a public walkway along the river’s
edge. Architecture along the river banks
ranges from castles to modern dwellings, RV parks, foliage, mountains, highways
filled with cars of all sizes, cyclists, runners along the river walks,
bridges, crops planted up the mountain slopes, churches and an area with flags
of all nations.
Yet to come: Rudesheim, Koblenz, Cologne and a few days in Amsterdam. Gregory and I hope you’ll continue to sail
with us…
So here we are in Rudesheim. This will only be a half day visit as we sail
in the afternoon through the Rhine Gorge to arrive in Koblenz by late afternoon. Our “Scenic Enrich” excursion took us on the
‘Winzerexpress’ mini-train for our private tour of Siegfried’s Mechanisches
Musikkabinett (Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum). The collection, housed in the Bromserhof--one
of the most beautiful medieval buildings in the 
In the summer of 1962 two young
people turned up at his home and said: “We know you’re interested in old clocks
and we also have an old music box which is contained in a beautiful
walnut-veneered case. The lid is
decorated with an inlaid flower motif and it still plays.” That was the beginning of one of the largest
collections of mechanical musical instruments in Europe—a collection so varied
that one can see, through these instruments, the history of mechanical music.
This evening we had a special
‘Portobello Dinner’ served in a separate section of the Crystal Dining
Room. Each all-Italian course was served
to each guest at the same time. It was
really a grand experience and a treat to remember. 
