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On time as of 12:30PM; preparing for takeoff. Scheduled departure is 1:05PM.
Snuggling in. See many of you soon. Can’t wait.
Mike, I miss you. Planning my next trip to see you now. -
Starting the trek home,
Yesterday was a bust. I wasn’t feeling well, I had this bronchial cough, and it didn’t sound good. It started late Thursday, and I hoped like heck it would just go away. By Friday midday I felt like crap, and I knew I needed to make sure it wasn’t COVID and get something to minimize whatever I had/have. So, I went to the Apotheke and bought an at home COVID test, Wick (not Vick in Germany, something about the way Germans pronounce Vick would create a questionable word) VapoRub, Ricola cough drops and these over-the-counter throat lozenges recommended by the pharmacist. Yesterday was rough. I rested all day and only went out a few times to get some fresh air. Fresh air is good for everything, right? I write this on Saturday at 4PM (my time). Taking it easy again today; I am feeling much better, not perfect, but again much better.
So, my other snag yesterday was my train to Amsterdam. Too long to explain here. The long and short of it is that I am flying to Amsterdam tomorrow/Sunday. Geez, I was looking forward to that train ride!!
I have been in Europe for six, going on seven weeks, not much has gone awry, as long as I get home on Monday at this point, I am chalking this trip up to fabulously great! Wish me luck.
PS the COVID test was negative–thank goodness!
PPS Pretty sure I am not going to Swan Lake this evening. Doesn’t seem fair to the hundreds of other patrons. Masked up, whatta think?
PPPS Hope all is well with you. See many soon.
Expecting that the next time you will hear from me is when I am boarding my plane and snuggling into my pod to Philly on Monday. Fingers crossed.
Berlin stands with Ukraine. The guy standing next to me at traffic light across the street says the literal translation is, freedom and contradiction. -
Urban Nation, pictures from walking around today. And, ok maybe a few more cultural differences.
I have two more days in Berlin. On Sunday, I take the train to Amsterdam and then fly home on Monday. Looking forward to getting home at this point. See everyone soon!
Berlin has been fun. It is a great place for history and today’s exciting life–a sobering reflection on the atrocities of the past but gives us hope for a peaceful, united future. Great museums and monuments. Great shopping. Great Christmas Markets. Great farmers markets (I am assuming these are year-round markets). Great food. Great, diverse nightclub scene, so they say–I have no one to check it out with.
Urban Nation Gallery
A museum/gallery for Street Art, Graffiti and Urban Contemporary Art. Really enjoyed it.
A short walk from my hotel, it was just over a mile.
PRIVILEGE, 2020. Christoph and Florian Schmidt, aka the Low Bros. 
So sorry, I did not get the name of this piece or artist. 
WE NEED TO TALK. Inviting us to make our contribution to the discussion. 
HOME. Icy & Sot, an Iranian artist brother duo. Depicting Ukraine’s plight. 
1UP CREW. A group of spray-can desperados from Berlin. Walking pictures – to and from Urban Nation.
I should have bowled. 
These pipes are everywhere! They take the ground water from construction sites and pump to the Spree River or one of the canals. Construction is all over the city. What does Philly do with all the ground water from construction? 
More pipes. I also saw blue pipes. They say the pipe color represents the construction or piping company. 
When was the last time you saw one of these? Maybe for emergency use only? 
This farmers market is right near my hotel. 
I may go back for a baked potato stuffed with carrots. My Thanksgiving dinner. : (
But since they don’t celebrate Thanksgiving, at least all the museums and stores are open. They do celebrate
Black Friday though.A few more cultural differences,
- why are European toilet flushes always mounted on the wall? Many are dual flush, but not all. I also didn’t see many bidets this trip.
- why do the men in Europe wear their wedding bands on their right hand. You know, I really haven’t notice which hand the women are wearing their rings on–gonna pay attention now, I still have a few more days.
- customer is not always right. I witnessed this big bruhaha yesterday.
- less gender specific bathrooms, but they are clean! And you pay for them.
- a fair amount of smoking and vaping.
- water in restaurants is never free. You can pay for sparkling or still.
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Panoramic Berlin. Some shopping–well, mostly browsing at KaDeWe. Plus, plenty of Christmas Market pictures,
Checkpoint Charlie. 
Occupying a prominent space between Brandenburg Gate and Potsdamer Platz, this Holocaust Memorial has
almost 3,000 gray oblong pillars, arranged at varying heights, that form a labyrinth intended to reference the disorientation felt by Europe’s hunted Jewish population.
One of the best-known landmarks of Germany. Throughout its existence, the Brandenburg Gate was often a
site for major historical events and is today considered not only as a symbol of the tumultuous histories of
Germany and Europe, but also of European unity and peace.
Built in 1791. The back of Brandenburg Gate, it was my better picture. 
The Berlin Wall Art. One side represents the free expression of the open society of West Berlin,
while on the other was the blank walls of the repressed society that was East Berlin.
The art was stunning. Behind me is the river dividing East and West Berlin.
I think this is a great example of art. It is a solitary figure shouting for peace towards mighty establishments as the world goes past without paying much attention. We walked from the Brandenburg Gate towards the direction of the Victory Column, and we saw this (rather) unusual statue in the middle of the road. Created by Gerhard Marcks in 1966. They said the inscription is a quote from Italian poet, Francesco Petrarch, “I wander through the world and cry ‘Peace, peace, peace.” 
Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church. 
Berlin stands with Ukraine. Kaufhaus des Westens, KaDeWe, department store.
KaDeWe is a huge and impressive department store. Whether you actually intend to
shop or casually stroll around, it is seven floors of heaven.
You have to be let in. They don’t approve just anyone. ; ) 
Here we are on the seventh floor, and this is the champagne bar and out-of-this-world food options floor. A Moet and Chandon bar, Veuve Clicquot bar, macaroons to die for and really anything else you wanted. 
Christmas Markets in Berlin. They are huge, we went to two or three. Their seasonal go to drink is glo-vin or Glühwein (glow wine–really a mulled wine) to keep you warm. ; ) Their specialty foods seem to be, at least by the sheer number of the vendors selling these foods,
- chocolate covered fruit skewers
- wurst and currywurst (the currywurst was very good)
- langos (my personal favorite)
- pretzels
- crepes
- stollen
- marzipan and/or almonds
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Berlin begins. The journey to get there and the last leg of my trip,
and I have to confess, I am getting a tad homesick.
The Potsdam Conference, Potsdamer Konferenz, was held in Potsdam, Germany, from July 17 to August 2, 1945, to allow the three leading Allies to plan the postwar peace. So much history! 
Potsdam topiaries. 
Potsdam Christmas market. We ate our way through it. : ) 
The New Palace, Neues Palais, is a palace situated on the western side of the Sanssouci Park in Potsdam, Germany. The building was begun in 1763, after the end of the Seven Years’ War, under King Freidrich II, Frederick the Great and was completed in 1769. It is considered to be the last great Prussian Baroque palace. 
Standing guard. In the palace guard station. 
Crossing one of the bridges into the former West Berlin. During the Cold War, this portion of the Havel River formed the border between West Berlin and East Germany. 
The gang. Dinner in Berlin. Italian. It was a lot of fun. Then off to the Christmas market. Pictures of the Berlin Christmas Market tomorrow.
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Last day on the river
11:15AM, disembarkation details gathering. I’m going and definitely not gonna forget my access card tomorrow. 12/noon, lunch. 1:30PM, Wittenberg walking tour. 6PM, captain’s cocktail (farewell) party. Busy day. ; )
Palace grounds of the then duke, built around 1340. It later became the official church of the University of Wittenberg and provided a pulpit for Martin Luther to preach Protestantism. It was here that Luther nailed his
95 Theses. The original door was destroyed by fire in 1760.
Martin Luther museum. 
Indulgence box. The medieval indulgence was a writ offered by the Catholic Church, for money, guaranteeing the remission of sin, and its abuse was the spark that inspired Martin Luther’s 95 Theses. Luther claimed the sale of indulgences was unbiblical, challenging the authority of the Church and its claim as God’s earthly representative.
There you have it–Catholic’s idea of payment for guaranteeing the remission of sin sparked the reformation.
Town Church of St. Mary. Renowned to have celebrated one of the first masses in
German rather than in the traditional Latin. Mother Church of the Reformation.
Wittenberg getting ready for Christmas. 
Wittenberg getting ready for the Christmas market. 
Hi from Wittenberg. I miss you all! See you soon. 
Having fun. -
It’s snowing in Dresden. Plus, Meissen and Torgau.
Yesterday was the first day that it was cold. And it snowed!
The boat. The front of the Viking Beyla. 
Back of the boat. 
Can you see the snowflakes? 
Dresden. Zwinger Palace. 
Part of our group with our guide in The Green Vault (Grünes Gewölbe), a museum Dresden. 
Joy and me just before dinner yesterday. 
Joy and Bella. 
Tuna. The food has been good. Today. Meissen City, Meissen Porcelain Factory and Torgau.
Meissen City. 
Meissen Porcelain Factory. 
Cows at dusk from my veranda. Torgau is a town on the banks of the Elbe River in northwestern Saxony, Germany. The Grand Staircase, a part of the Johann Friedrich Wing, is one of the highlights of German architecture. This spiral staircase was so cleverly designed that its survival to the present day appears a miracle
Schloss Hartenfels Castle. 
Beautiful store window on our walk this evening. 
Ok, maybe the best Neptune butt yet. Vote now. I’m all about the water/sea, so many Neptunes. 
Dinner group. We missed you Debra, I hope you feel better. -
Now this is cruising. And my first excursion in Germany,
We departed from Prague yesterday, late afternoon. Our ship is the Bayla. My cabin, first excursion this morning and a concert this evening. Picture of the ship tomorrow.
Love the balcony. 
Decent closet space. Lots of drawers. Even a mini frig. 
Waving from my veranda. 
The Bastei formation and the man-made Bastei Bridge are the highlights of the Sachsische Schweiz, Saxon Switzerland National Park. The Bastei is a rock formation rising 194 meters above the Elbe River in the Elbe Sandstone Mountains of Germany 
Below are some of the breathtaking views from our walk this morning. 
Joy and her granddaughter, Bella. We had a test of the emergency evacuation. 
From my veranda late this afternoon. 
Concert this evening was wonderful. The Dresden Residence Concert in the Dresden Zwinger Palace. Piano, two violins, flute and cello. Sorry, I cut off the cellist. -
Jewish Quarter in Prague
I think there are two main squares in Prague, the Wenceslas Square–really a (large, long) boulevard, and the Old Town Square, which are just five-minute walk from each other. Here is where I have been doing most of my walking. A third square, the Lesser Town Square, is located on the other side of the Vltava River (we were there yesterday).
This morning we walked the Jewish Quarter, Josefov, it is located between the Old Town Square and the Vltava River.
Over the centuries, with Jews banned from living anywhere else in Prague, and with new arrivals expelled from Moravia, Germany, Austria and Spain joining them, ever more people crowded into the quarter. The torrid history of the former Jewish Ghetto began in the 13th century, when Jewish people were ordered to vacate their disparate homes and settle in this one area.
Fortunately, many significant historical buildings were saved from destruction, and they remain a testimony to the history of the Jews in Prague. They form a preserved complex of historical Jewish monuments.
Maisel Synagogue. The Jewish Quarter has six synagogues, we saw three. 
The Old-New Synagogue. 
The Old-New Synagogue. 
Spanelska Synagoga, Spanish synagogue. It was built in 1868.
It got its name thanks to the impressive interior decoration in the Moorish style
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Prague, Prague and more Prague
Prague city’s architecture is wide ranging, from Art Nouveau to Cubist to Gothic and Baroque–we saw a lot. Buildings did not sustain significant damage during WWII. We started this morning with panoramic Prague. During our walking tour we learned of Prague’s colorful past and present. Tomorrow morning Jewish Prague and after that walk I board the ship.
Lots of pictures.
Mozart ate here back in the day. 
The House of the Black Madonna is a cubist building in the Old Town section.
It was designed by Josef Gočár and was the first example of cubist architecture in Prague.
It is currently in use as the Czech Museum of Cubism.
Wenceslas Square. Place of the Velvet Revolution in 1989. Nonviolently resulting in the end of the one-party rule.
The National Museum is building at the end of the square.
Church of Our Lady before Týn. In Old Town Square, it was constructed between three centuries—from mid-14th to early 16th. It was built in Gothic-style. 
Old Town Hall. 
Dum U Minuty, the House of Minutes. I think Renaissance style. 
Old Town Bridge Tower. City gate at Charles Bridge. 
Czech Republic stands with Ukraine. 
Charles Bridge, a stone Gothic bridge. Built in 1357.
For many centuries the only way for people to cross the Vltava River.
Certovka, Devil’s Channel. Canal separating Lesser Town from Kampa Island–likely built in the 12th century. 
Lesser Town, Charles Bridge Tower entrance. 
St. Nicholas Church at the center of the Lesser Town Square. Founded by Jesuits. 
Prague Castle and Saint Vitus Cathedral. Within the Castle’s wall you’ll find churches,
palaces, towers and many other building.
Prague Castle courtyard. 
St. Vitus Cathedral. Took almost 600 years to complete. 
Side of St. Vitus Cathedral. Plenty of flying buttresses. Ornate stone detailing can be found throughout the exterior. 
Our concert at Lobkowicz Palace, within the Prague Castle walls. We were treated to pieces by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schumann and Dvorak (hometown boy). 
Haymaking, Pieter Bruegel, oil on panel, 1565.
The Lobkowicz Collections, the oldest and largest private collection in the Czech Republic.
The Virgin and Child with St. Barbara and St. Catherine of Alexandria, Lucas Cranach, oil on panel, c. 1520/ 
London: The River Thames on Lord mayor’s Day. Ca. 1748, oil on canvas.
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