Part 2 of the chook and Rooster's sojourn in Europe

From Vienna to Linz Looking from,in and at some of the 32 locks we went through.

Opera House,Vienna

Night lights

Dom

Vienna shopping street

Next stops were Durnstein and Melk with some pretty views along the way.

Durnstein's pretty blue church

Somewhere to have coffee and strudle

Durnstine main street

Part of the huge Benadictine monastry in Melk

Death Cappe for funerals

Ceiling in the Royal Quarters

The Benadictine Library, a small section

Melk

In Linz most of our fellow cruisers left us to go to salzburg and return to us in Passau. We stayed on to cruise the beautiful river which now has many more pretty villages and other sights to see.In Passau we got off and decided to skip the conducted tour and do our own thing. It was most enjoyable.

Passau''s beautiful Dom has the largest organ, with 17 600 pipes.

Pretty PASSAU

Walhalla

Such Great Memories for the Chookpen owners(Part 3)

Well, I think I have said all there is to say. If EVER you should contemplate doing an Avalon Cruise, don't hessitate, DO it,there will be no regrets. One proviso though, we had good weather. A few days with light showers but never a problem. I'd hate to think what anyone cruising there now would say because they have had storms and rain and floods.I was selective also in my taking pictures but still had 185 of them. It will be hard to decide what to put on , but here goes.I"ll group them Regensburg ,A pretty Town,we did our own city walk again. Pretty Squares Pretty Streets

Pretty Buildings

The place for our free brattwurst,saurcraut & Beer

Lesley,Trevor & Lisa at our Farewell dinner.

Nuremburg was the least interesting town and the Third Reich Tour was a waste of money.We disembarked here on the 21st after one night still on the ship.

The never completed colloseum

Where Hitler held his massive parades

Fountain on Nurenburg square (i know it is sideways, can;t find turning icon)

PRAGUE(PRAHA)

The pouring of the wine

Trev dancing with folk dancer lass

Folk Instrument,like bagpipe

The Hilton hotel atrium

From our window

In and around the Old Castle.

The Astronomical clock

The Old Square

The fantastic Imperial cafe, good food,reasonably priced. (Also a beautiful hotel)

The Chookpen has transferred to the MS "Tranquility

What superlatives are available to describe our wonderful Danube Cruise? Budapest is beautiful but needs much restauration. We loved the optional tours there and the Hotel was great.The Tranquility is superb. friendly, efficient, well laid out, great staff and a wonderful mixture of nationalities and personalities. we have not taken all the optional tours, it is expensive and far too tiring but have loved the ones we have done and we also have loved the hours of peace and tranquility just admiring the views, which are to die for. No facilities to add photos, I'm sorry , but be assured that we would recommend this holiday to anybody and everybody.

The chookpen has transferred to the MS TRANQUILITY

It would be so wonderful if I could add photos to this blog because we have just one great view after another on this sublime cruise on the river Danube. If ever you think of cruising anywhere, this is the place to do it. Budapest is beautiful, with a lot of restoration work required.We did a couple of excellent optional tours there as well as a river cruise, which we did on our own. The Intercontinental Hotal was really good with good service and friendly and efficient staff, able to speak good English Then the cruise, what superlatives can I use? The cabins are quite roomy enough for 2 people, the bathroom is very efficiently laid out, plenty of storage in the bathroom and the stateroom. The staff are just great. The lounge and dining room and other common facilities are beautiful. Our food, cooked by 6 chefs, is tops, 3courses for lunch and 4 courses for dinner. The tours are good though I think if you were not selective, as we were, you would be extremely tired by now. Some people do almost every optional tour and that is not only expensive but also too much. We have really enjoyed what we did but also the sitting back and enjoying the cruising.They had a staff show, amaturish but very funny and they recognised the birthdays with champagne and a beautiful rendition of tha alternative Happy Birthday song, so I was there,up on stage as well. I even got a big kiss from our room stewardess, much appreciated as she is a great girl. Those of you who have been to Austria and Germany know what kind of views I am talking about. Again, I am sorry I can't add photographs on this ship's computer facility but in a way it is easier because now I don't have to make the choice. We are sailing into Regensburg in Germany and tomorrow we get to Nuremburg. We disembark after breakfast on the 21st and will be taken to Prague , where we remain until the 24th for a return to Holland. We have Australians on board, as the largest group. then, in order, Canadians, US, New zealanders , British and 2 couples from Hong Kong. We have basically teamed up with a mother & daughter from texas, a couple from Ohio and 2 Canadian couples. Yes, the cruise was magic and we would recommend it to anyone. HAPPY BIRTHDAY , KAREN.

AMSTERDAM and BRUSSELS,a visit for the chook & Rooster

We went to Amsterdam to buy curtains for our kitchen but the shop is no longer there, we found some in the market here in Hilversum today, instead.Yesterday we went to Brussels,that was great but the lunch was an adventure!!!! Early tomorrow we fly to Budapest and I doubt that I will be able to blog for the next fortnight. I think this was the 'Prinsen Gracht Uitsmijter for lunch. The flower market

Amsterdam,bikes,canals. Now to Belgium and Brussels for the day

Just one beautiful building on the "Grote Markt"

Some detail

Pop eating escargot!!

This is the place,,they charge extra for the use of the plates and cutlery and a small water is $A10.!!!!!!

These streets are like Foodstreet,more of the same.

The waffles

Lolly shops

The chocolate shops.

Trev and a "Halve Warme"from the Hema.