1. Mal & Bev Cockburn July 2008 1 Magnificent Europe Part I Amsterdam (Sunday 13 July 2008) to the European Watershed on the Main-Danube Canal (overnight Sunday 20 – Monday 21 July 2008)

2. Mal & Bev Cockburn July 2008 2 Our cruise boat moored in Amsterdam.

3. Mal & Bev Cockburn July 2008 3 Monday 14 July 2008 Did the guided tour of Amsterdam, including the Van Gogh Museum, this morning and are now back on board the “Viking Danube” and headed for Cologne. We had visited the Red Light District last night and viewed the attractions (from outside on the street). The food on board the boat has been great.

4. Mal & Bev Cockburn July 2008 4 Swans swam outside our cabin window in Amsterdam. (Photo taken from the wharf).

5. Mal & Bev Cockburn July 2008 5 Windmill that Rembrandt frequented in the 1600’s.

6. Mal & Bev Cockburn July 2008 6 Bev meets the great Dutch Artist, Rembrandt.

7. Mal & Bev Cockburn July 2008 7 Tuesday 15 July 2008, 8:30 am Sailing down the Rhine in Germany. Just passed Dusseldorf, next stop Cologne. Didn’t win the music quiz last night (fancy not recognizing “The Lambada”!). Marin, the Cruise Director, is a great personality – would make a great quiz show host on Australian television. Tour of the bridge at 9:45 am, some German drinking ritual at 10:30 am in the Viking Lounge, lunch on board at 12:30pm, tour of Cologne starting at 1:30 pm (including more German rituals at the Brauhaus), live German music in the Viking Lounge at 9pm after dinner, and depart Cologne at 11 pm. A great day ahead!

8. Mal & Bev Cockburn July 2008 8 The bridge and sun deck of the “Viking Danube” (Swiss- owned, and not Scandinavian as one might think).

9. Mal & Bev Cockburn July 2008 9 Bev takes confession at St Martin’s in Cologne.

10. Mal & Bev Cockburn July 2008 10 Cologne Cathedral

11. Mal & Bev Cockburn July 2008 11 The remains of the three wise men are supposed to be in these golden caskets at Cologne Cathedral

12. Mal & Bev Cockburn July 2008 12 They knew I was coming to Cologne!

13. Mal & Bev Cockburn July 2008 13 Wednesday 16 July 2008 Arrived in Koblenz at 8 am this morning, travelling overnight from Cologne. Visited Marksburg Castle in the morning, departing Koblenz during lunch. Spent the afternoon sailing up the Rhine past countless castles, picturesque towns, and the Lorelei Rock. Treated to Rhine wine spritzers and later (afternoon tea) Rudesheimer Coffee (with local brandy as one of the ingredients). Will have early tea (6:30 pm, instead of 7:30 pm) and then a shore excursion (a mini train ride to Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Museum) at Rudesheim. Having a wonderful time, with the only frustration being problems with internet access. Unable to access Facebook, Bigpond webmail & Bigpond photos at present.

14. Mal & Bev Cockburn July 2008 14 Rhine Vineyards

15. Mal & Bev Cockburn July 2008 15 Moored at Koblenz

16. Mal & Bev Cockburn July 2008 16 Entrance to Marksburg Castle

17. Mal & Bev Cockburn July 2008 17 Marksburg Castle

18. Mal & Bev Cockburn July 2008 18 Marksburg Castle

19. Mal & Bev Cockburn July 2008 19 Marksburg Castle overlooking the Rhine

20. Mal & Bev Cockburn July 2008 20 Marksburg Castle – toilet overhanging the herb garden

21. Mal & Bev Cockburn July 2008 21 Marksburg Castle – Chastity Belt above the lances

22. Mal & Bev Cockburn July 2008 22 The Rhine River in Germany

23. Mal & Bev Cockburn July 2008 23 Bev and Mal on the Rhine

24. Mal & Bev Cockburn July 2008 24 Lorelei Rock

25. Mal & Bev Cockburn July 2008 25 Friday 18 July 2008 Spent the morning in Wertheim, a lovely old town that had no strategic importance and was bypassed by both World Wars. Now a centre of the glass making industry, courtesy of refugees from East Germany during the communist era. Lost all my photos from Mainz yesterday – deleted them from the camera and then found I hadn’t saved them properly on the laptop. Took another 41 this morning – one of Bev in front of the “Rathaus”. “Rat” means “advice” in German and the “Rathaus” is the Municipal Council offices. Have had lunch – then a glass-blowing demonstration in the Viking Lounge at 2:30pm, booked a spa and sauna for 4pm, and then it’s bingo after dinner tonight. We visit Wurzburg and Rothenburg tomorrow. Currently in about #23 of 33 locks on the Main River / Canal.

26. Mal & Bev Cockburn July 2008 26 Wertheim

27. Mal & Bev Cockburn July 2008 27 The Fountain in the Market Place at Wertheim

28. Mal & Bev Cockburn July 2008 28 The Rathaus (Town Hall) in Wertheim.

29. Mal & Bev Cockburn July 2008 29 Bev on the right side of the law in Wertheim.

30. Mal & Bev Cockburn July 2008 30 Saturday 19 July 2008 Bus Trip to Wurzburg and Rothenburg

31. Mal & Bev Cockburn July 2008 31 The Prince-Bishop’s Residence in Wurzburg

32. Mal & Bev Cockburn July 2008 32 Lunch at Rothenburg ob der Tauber

33. Mal & Bev Cockburn July 2008 33 Bev did some shopping in Rothenburg ob der Tauber

34. Mal & Bev Cockburn July 2008 34 Guess who has added to her Teddy Bear Collection.

35. Mal & Bev Cockburn July 2008 35 Rothenburg Castle

36. Mal & Bev Cockburn July 2008 36 Who knew that when Mark, aged 2 – 3 years, asked to go to the “Toi Toi”, and Melanie translated for us, that our children were speaking German?

37. Mal & Bev Cockburn July 2008 37 “Fahrt” means “drive” and “aus” means “out”, so this is actually a sign on an exit for vehicles.

38. Mal & Bev Cockburn July 2008 38 Lots more photos of Rothenburg – will upload them to “Bigpond Photos” eventually.

39. Mal & Bev Cockburn July 2008 39 Sunday 20 July 2008 Nuremberg / Nurnberg

40. Mal & Bev Cockburn July 2008 40 Hitler’s unfinished Congress Building in Nuremberg – modelled on Rome’s Collosseum but of course much bigger.

41. Mal & Bev Cockburn July 2008 41 Another view of Hitler’s Congress Building in Nuremberg.

42. Mal & Bev Cockburn July 2008 42 Where the Nazi Nuremberg Rallies were held in the 1930’s.

43. Mal & Bev Cockburn July 2008 43 Nuremberg from the bus.

44. Mal & Bev Cockburn July 2008 44 Nuremberg Castle

45. Mal & Bev Cockburn July 2008 45 Bev looks over Nuremberg from the Castle Ramparts.

46. Mal & Bev Cockburn July 2008 46 Nuremberg. It was Sunday, with few shops open.

47. Mal & Bev Cockburn July 2008 47 Nuremberg

48. Mal & Bev Cockburn July 2008 48 Albrecht Durer’s House in Nuremberg

49. Mal & Bev Cockburn July 2008 49 A kurline (spelling?) on a house in Nuremberg – lets you talk to the neighbours without leaving the house.

50. Mal & Bev Cockburn July 2008 50 A decorated house in Nuremberg