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Day 12 - April 11: Bad Schandau, Germany; Decin, Czech Republic
Weather: In the low 60's and finally sunshine
Breakfast: On the Ship Lunch: On the Ship Dinner: International Dinner Comments: We left Dresden at 7am and arrived in Bad Schandau at 12pm. At 10:30 am we had a Saxonian Früschoppen (snack), which really was an early lunch, considering how many people skipped lunch.
This area of Germany is called "Saxon Switzerland" due to the many rock formations. It's a little like Bryce (just a little), and now is the "Saxon Switzerland National Park". We took a bus to the park and spent about 2 hours there.
We left Bad Schandau at 5pm and after a couple of hours we were at the border to the Czech Republic. We then continued on to Decin which we reached about 8pm. We are staying overnight here, but it's really too late to do anything in the town and we will leave at 6 am, so this is not really a 'port' for us.
Once we crossed the border, contrary to Germany, there is a lot of industry along the river. Many barges are tied up here.
Tomorrow is our last full day on the cruise. We will go through 6 locks. There were none in Germany.
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Decin - - - - - - - - - - - "Saxonian Früschoppen" - - - - - - - - - - - Sale - - - Along the Elbe - - - - - - In Bad Schandau - - - - - - - - - - - - - - "Saxon Switzerland National Park" - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - "Saxon Switzerland National Park" - - - - - - - - - - - Top | Back to Index | Prior Stage
Day 13 - April 12: Litomerice
Weather: Cloudy in the morning, sunny in the afternoon - around 60
Breakfast: On the Ship Lunch: On the Ship Dinner: Gala Farewell Dinner Comments: Most of the morning we cruised along many industries along the river. We went through two locks before lunch. The cruise director had a lecture on the European Union. At 11 we had another quiz which our team won, no doubt about it this time :-). Some of it was on the cruise and the ship and our studying helped!
Our last stop was Litomerice. We had a walking tour of the town, but since our group went to a wine tasting first, we left the group at the town square We walked around a little, and then went back to the ship. The most interesting thing I found that every street and sidewalk in town had cobblestones. Since it was Saturday afternoon not many store were open, not that we need anything.
It was the Captain's Farewell Dinner tonight. Many people wore jacket & ties (no tuxes, though), but I wasn't alone with no tie and no jacket. We even had Baked Alaska!
After dinner, in the lounge, they introduced the whole crew - all 28 of them. The the cruise director showed pictures, most of them of the passengers, that he had taken during the cruise.
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Litomerice - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - "Downtown Litomerice" - - - - - - - - - - - - - - At the Lock - - - - - - - - - - - Baked Alaska - - - - - - - - - - Angelina Johanna & Sid Winfried & Bob Last Night Top | Back to Index | Prior Stage
Day 14 - April 13: Melnik & Prague
Weather: The best day yet, sunny and about 60
Hotel: Diplomat Hotel, Prague
Breakfast: On the Ship Lunch: Snack in Prague Dinner: At the Hotel Comments: Today we got off the ship for the last time. With only 80 passengers this is all done without any stress. Before 9:30 we got on the road to Prague. Since the Elbe (Labe in the Czech Republic) does not run through Prague we covered the last 30 miles or so by bus.
We had about an hour by bus to see Prague and then we got off the bus for a walking tour of downtown. Lunch was on our own, and then we went back on the bus to see the Prague Castle and the St Vitus's Cathedral.
Then it was time to check into the hotel. Viking usually uses the Hilton and most people are staying there, but we and two other couples are staying at the Diplomat. All of us booked rather late and I suspect the Hilton was full. Doesn't really matter. It's a nice hotel, closer to the airport and the only hotel in Europe that I have found that has a 110V outlet in the room. And there is a subway station right near the hotel.
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Prague - - - - - - - It's the End of the Cruise - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - In Prague - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - In Prague - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - St Vitus's Cathedral - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Our Leader Top | Back to Index | Prior Stage
Day 15 - April 14: Prague
Weather: Sunny, high 60's
Hotel: Diplomat Hotel, Prague
Breakfast: At Hotel Lunch: KFC Dinner: At Hotel Comments: We started the day with a buffet breakfast at the hotel. Then it was in the subway for a ride to the TV Tower. After that back in the subway to get to the "Charles Bridge", a major landmark in Prague. On or near the bridge we ran into several of our fellow cruisers.
Then we wanted to take a tram back to the hotel and we took one but realized we were on the wrong tram. We got off and the subway station was right there - talk about being lucky!
In Berlin many of the subway lines were real close to the street, but here the subway is way down, reminded us of Russia where we also had to ride long and fast escalators. There are no barriers here, but they do spot checks like Berlin and we ran into one. Good thing we had a ticket!
Near the hotel we checked out the neighborhood and found a KFC for lunch.
Tomorrow we have to leave for the airport at 5:30am. It's only about 20 minutes from the hotel.
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Prague - - - Buffet Breakfast - - - - - - In the Subway - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - TV Tower - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Prague from TV Tower - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Prague on or near the Charles Bridge - - - - - - - - - - - - KFC - - - Diplomat Hotel - - - - - - Our Room - - - Top | Back to Index | Prior Stage
Day 16 - April 15: Prague - Charlotte
Via: AF 2583: 7:00 am - 8:45 am to Paris (CDG), A318 CO 57: 9:55 am - 12:05 pm to Newark (EWR); 777-200 CO 2167: 2:35 pm - 4:27 pm to Charlotte (CLT); ERJ-145
Breakfast: At Hotel Lunch: In Flight Dinner: At Home Comments: We got to the airport before 6am, took a taxi. Since it was too early to eat at the hotel, we got something to eat in the restaurant at the airport - at an obscene price!
The Air France flight was about 25% full, if that. We had about an hour to catch the Continental flight at the airport in Paris (CDG) and we need just about all of it. I had never connected at CDG before and hope I never have to do it again. We had to take a bus to another terminal, then walk to a third terminal, go through two lines (passport & security) - we were among the last on the plane.
When we got to Newark we again had to change terminals and go through security again. Three times in one day is enough for me - at least they didn't confiscate any of our stuff.
The flight to Charlotte left on time and got there early. All in all a very good trip - maybe our last to Europe!
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