December 17

Mannheim / Day On Board / Speyer - Germany

Welcome to Speyer, Germany!

Despite the fact that we really didn't do alot today, it was a wonderful day.  We opted - because the temperatures were in the low 20's and to go on the morning excursion you HAD to stay in town for 2 1/2 hours - not to go to see the closed Christmas Market.  Khloe took advantage of the long, leisurely morning to catch up on sleep and I spent the morning in the lounge with Mike & LuAnn.  We shared lunch together and then at watched the countryside sail by in the afternoon.  Arrived in Speyer, Germany around 3:30 and we were off the ship at 4 pm for a brief walking tour of the town and the Christmas Market.  To be honest, even though it was in the low 20's none of us were that cold.  We enjoyed the brief tour and when given the opportunity to browse the Christmas Market we quickly found that E-V-E-R-Y stall was either Ghluwein,  food, or both.  Not a single stall with any Christmas ornaments or decorations.  So it didn't take us long before we headed back to the ship - a 20 minute walk.  Kudos to Khloe for the directions back without a single wrong tour.  We had a wonderful dinner again, the four of us and then when dinner was over it was time for what we assumed was a Christmas Tree Decoration program where we'd be able to personalize an ornament and add it to the tree. OH but it was so much more - a son and DANCE competition where the three of us (Khloe opted not to participate - talking with her Mom) finished third.  But it was a good team effort.  A great day.  And the scenery - as you'll see in the photos - truly a winter wonderland.  Tomorrow supposed to be a chilly TEN degrees when we tour Strasbourg, France - and the all the way to nearly 50 when we land the next day!

Scenes from cruising along the Rhine - ALL day long like this

Cruising this afternoon - love the "winter wonderland" snow-covered scenery

View of our docking area out our window - WOW - for a Florida guy, that's really magical at this time of the year

Could you have painted a more "winter wonderland/Christmas theme" scene for our walk into the quaint town of Speyer, Gerymany?

Speyer Beer Garden Restaurant on the waterfront

First view of the Speyer Cathedral

Medieval city gate tower

Speyer Cathedral Inside view

Speyer Cathedral outside

Speyer Christmas Market Merry-Go-Round

The Christmas Market

Literally E-V-E-R-Y Christmas Market stall was either mulled wine, food, or both - NOTHING to buy that was a Christmas trinket/ornament, etc.

Well, duh....yes, of course I got MY mulled wine & souvenir cup

Fun Times .... how did we NOT win?  :)

Personalized our ornament - "13 Viking Trips" (WOW) / Listed EVERY itinerary :)

Happy Holidays From the Speyer Christmas Market

Tomorrow we will be in FRANCE!  Probably THE most picturesque towns, Strasbourg, on the itinerary.  And get this....it will be COLDER there!  WHOOO HOOO.