Christmas Markets on the Rhine

I began my journey at 8 a.m in Missoula on Friday and arrived at 8 a.m in the Amsterdam Airport on Saturday. The journey brightened half way through as I was able to meet my best friend in Dulles and finish my flight with her. We ended up taking a nap at the hotel on Saturday afternoon and then went out to see Christmas lights in the city and get some dinner. There is a fun Dutch specialty called "bitterballen." It is little balls of meat that has been breaded and deep fried then served with sauce. It can also be breaded cheese. I ate my fill that Saturday night and couldn't get enough! If you would like to try bitter ballen visit "Bar Bitterballen" as they have more choices than any other restaurant in Amsterdam.
  Sunday morning was fantastic as we met up with Freedam Tours for our free city tour. They have sign ups available online and no registration fee is required. They simply ask that you give the guide a good tip. Our guide's name was Mike and he was fantastic! We walked through the city with him learning about the local culture and history. The tour brought so much depth and perspective to my time in Amsterdam that I can't imagine my trip without it.  We made our way to boat around 3 pm and ended up staying on board the rest of the evening relaxing and enjoying our fantastic 4 course dinner. 

After cruising through the night, we arrived in Cologne on Tuesday. After all the traveling to get to Europe, it was so nice to relax on the boat Monday afternoon and evening. It really helped me recharge and be ready for our afternoon excursions in Cologne. 
 
Cologne has 10 Christmas Markets and I was able to visit four of them. My friend and I chose to do a walking tour of Cologne and we had such a fantastic guide. He happened to be a local history teacher so he presented information that really enriched the experience. Once we went through important parts of the city with him and through the beautiful Gothic Cathedral, we were then set loose to enjoy the markets. 
The Christmas Markets were surprisingly cute! I pictured a bunch of pop up tents but found stick built stalls with boardwalks and they all matched and were decorated. There is plenty to look at and enjoy, and they also had a lot to do. Enjoy some Gluewvein while strolling through the market looking at the hand made ornaments and shopping the Christmas Village decorations. Don't forget to try the food! If you don't know German, it may be useful to have an app to look up words. I found myself being quite unfamiliar with the food but it sure smelled good! Cologne is also a fantastic stop if you would like some modern shopping. There is an endless strip of stores right off the main square of the cathedral. Make sure you have extra room in your suitcase!

Wednesday morning may be one of my favorite memories from the cruise. I rolled out of bed, grabbed some breakfast and went up to the sun deck to enjoy a few hours of castle viewing. It was chilly but everyone put on their coats, grabbed a blanket and enjoyed the beautiful views. Our cruise manager, Fredericko, would pipe through the speakers and tell us about the different castles. Our audioboxes were even equipped with little stories to tell us here and there. However, we were all having too much fun together to be too concerned with the audioboxes! After we had our fill of castles, we went back to our room and got ready for the day and then headed to lunch. Before we knew it, we were in Rudesheim and ready to go on our excursion. One of the things that I love about AmaWaterways is how many options they have for excursions. Whether it is active, for gentle walkers, or historical, they typically have something for everyone. We chose the wine tasting. After our taste of German wines, we explored the local Christmas Markets. 
  Rudesheim was extremely charming. We spent the afternoon exploring and didn't feel short on time when we headed back to the ship for dinner. Though the fun wasn't over then. After dinner we went back into town to experience and enjoy the local specialty, "Rudesheim Coffee." The closest thing I can compare it to is Irish Coffee. However, this specialty is made with a local brandy and they even set it on fire!
 

Whenever you see Mannheim or Ludwigshafen on an itinerary, you will most likely be visiting Heidelberg. Heidelberg is a beautiful city with castle ruins overlooking from the mountain. I quite enjoyed my tour of castle with our very knowledgable tour guide. After the tour we made our way down for more food tasting and exploration at the Christmas Markets.
  Heidelberg is another city that has multiple markets and a good amount of modern shopping. There was even a Lindt Chocolate store that had flavors I had never heard of. Be ready to stock up! 

I was more than excited to visit Strasbourg, France on day six  of my cruise. It was nearly 10 years ago when I lived and studied abroad in Strasbourg. The city is filled with history, charm, culture and modern amenities. Strasbourg has been Germany and France many times over the century and because of this has such a unique blend of the two cultures.  The cruise provides a lot free time to explore Strasbourg. You will usually start with a guided small bus tour and then continue walking through the old city with your guide. I won't lie, once I got to the old part of the city I took my band of friends (that I had made throughout the trip) and ditched my guide to explore my city on my own. Make sure to stop in a bakery and get a French baguette and a cafe au lait. No one else in the world can make baguettes like the French and the coffee is oh so delicious. And if you can find the room in your stomach, try some french pastries and make sure to get a Tarte Flambee. Tarte Flambee is an Alsatian specialty you won't want to miss!
  The Christmas Markets in Strasbourg are of course wonderful. I liked the change from Germany to France. You will see different kinds and styles of merchandise in the stalls as well as different foods. That is one of the great things about a Rhine River Cruise - you get to experience more than one culture! It rained throughout the entire day in Strasbourg and even though I was soaked, it was completely worth it. My band of friends and I thouroughly enjoyed the beauty and culture of Strasbourg. Make sure to take your time in the 1200 year old cathedral, visit Le Palais Rohan if you have time (right next to the cathedral) and eat as much food as you possibly can!

On the last full day of the cruise, there are two cities you have the option of visiting, Frieburg, Germany or Riquewihr, France. Because of my love of all things French, I quickly chose Riquewihr and I am so glad I did! It is the only city that was completely untouched by both WW1 and WW2. Other than the city wall, the city is in the same condition it was in the late 1500's. This is also the city that Gabrielle-Suzanne de Velleneuve visited to receive her inspiration for Belle's village in the world famous "Beauty and the Beast." My little group had a great time in Riquewirh. Our city guide brought some great perspective with history of the city. That day also had some favorites like a ham and cheese crepe, raspberry tarte, pain au chocolate and macaroons. In fact, the oldest macaroon ship with the original recipe is in Riquewihr!  It was a bitter sweet day. The cruise was enjoyable in every way. I have never been so spoiled and pampered in my entire life. Each day, breakfast consisted of an elaborate buffet and a menu you could order from as well as a light late risers breakfast buffet in the lounge. Lunch was similar. Dinner was a fantastic four course meal each night with several things to choose from. Your wine or beer glass will never get empty as the staff are very attentive. The staff was actually half the fun of the cruise. I have never had so much fun making friends with a staff before. We quickly had our favorite waiter and bartender. The hotel manager, Jochem, was also a complete delight and joy. He knew exactly how to make you feel welcomed and made the cruise feel more like a family. It was because of these things that honestly made the vast majority of us teary eyed when we had to say goodbye. I have never had such a lovely vacation in my life.  On Sunday morning, you have to be checked out of your cabin by 9 a.m. However, that is plenty of time to get ready and have breakfast. If you have a few hours before your flight, there is no problem waiting in the lounge until the time comes. The staff even brings your luggage outside for you. Due to flight times, I wasn't able to fly out until the following morning. I spent the afternoon wandering around Basel and enjoying the local Christmas Markets. Fair warning, Basel is very expensive. The same Ham and Cheese crepe that is 3-4 Euros in France is 14 in Basel. Most of my time was spent wandering and not shopping. I retired early and got ready for my flight the next day, sad to say goodbye to Europe once again.