Viking Cruising on the River in Germany was a dream trip. We probably should have waited and didn’t know the pandemic was going to raise its ugly head again. We followed all the tips and filled out all the forms, little did we know the paperwork would be unending.
We were going with an aunt and cousin and I helped them with their paperwork on line as well. Thankfully, my work in the financial and medical field prepared me for the computer and numerous sites we had to go to.
Since we were flying internationally into London, Germany and Prague, the rules changed day to day, country to country!
On our way.
We met at the Charlotte airport from Asheville and Myrtle Beach. We compared notes and found they did not have all the links I had. Thankfully, we had 4 hours to get them set. We boarded and the flight went smoothly, plenty of empty seats. We transferred quickly to the plane to Berlin
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| Jim and Scott wishing this was our transportation |
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| The InterContinental Hotel Berlin |
Monday 15 Day 1 Berlin Arrive 1130 meet Viking Representative, and was transferred to hotel InterContinental Hotel Berlin Budapest’s Strasse. We had a beautiful room, went on a walking tour downtown. It was exhausting for our Aunt and wished we had a wheelchair it was beautiful outside but we were tired. We searched for a traditional German restaurant but no luck and headed back to the hotel. We finally seated ourselves at the hotel restaurant. Their was confusion on if they could serve us, but after showing our vaccination records we ordered. We were lucky they spoke some English. Our dinner was great and the wine even better off to bed we went
Tuesday 16 Day 2 at hotel Berlin 0930 to 1 pm Panoramic Berlin tour by bus and some walking. The highlights were checkpoint Charlie and the Berlin Wall. Our tour guide gave us insights into living behind the wall during the time before it came down. One fact she mentioned was not seeing her relatives that lived just on the other side. She was unable to visit her aunt before she died. Also, she had to order and pay for a car and did not get it for 10 years and it was a small plastic car!
When we approached the torn down wall, I could not imagine the feelings of sadness that was felt knowing your family was just a few yards away, separated by a thin wall of concrete. Many people died trying to get over that wall. President Regan was considered a hero when he stated “Tear down that wall Mr. Gorchechev”.
When we got back to the hotel, Jim, Scott and I ventured out to the city. We wanted to go to the Zoo. When we got there we were told we needed a bar coded immunization document. We were told to them them we were Americans and had our passports and immunization paperwork. We were directed to the pharmacy, 4 blocks away. Mind you it was cold and wet! After going there, we were told they could only issue the papers to European citizens. Great, now what to do. We went back to the zoo and were told the rules changed that day and they could not let us in without the correct documentation.
So, what is the correct document? Back to the Viking representative we went. Of course, the hotel had to call him back. My cousin explained everything to our guide, we couldn’t eat or drink in the restaurants or go to the attractions. Not what we expected for sure. The guide didn’t know the rules had changed, how was this going to affect our trip if we couldn’t eat or go on the tours?!
After discussing options our guide agreed it was a mess. We were worried about our aunt and ourselves for dinner (what about the other 24 guests). We were told to go to the shopping center or eat again at the hotel. This was not our idea of a traditional German meal! We made our dismay vocal to our guide. He made some calls and we were set up to join a tour to a German brewery.
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| Our host was very animated and the brewing process explained |
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| A lot of electronics used in the brewing process and of course water |
Our starter included pretzels ( not served with mustard, that’s an American thing!) and different beers
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| A traditional German meal, yum |
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| A good time was had by all |
Wednesday 17 Day 3 Wittenberg. 0830 to 3 pm Sanssouci Palace & Potsdam Walk after tour lunch on your own and transfer to ship Viking Astrild @ 3 pm light buffet
Thursday 18 Day 4 Wittenberg. 900 to 1230 walking tour Martin Luther Torgau Germany
Friday 19 Day 5 Meissen 1330 to 1730 Meissen porcelain Factory, market square
Saturday 20 Day 6 Dresden panoramic 0900 to 1230 by Motorcoach to Neustadt district, Grunes Gewolbe then stroll
Sunday 21 Day 7 scenic cruise Saxon Switzerland, Elbe River, Bad Schandau 1400 to 1730 The Bastei rock castle of Neurathen
Monday 22 Day 8 Disembark in Decin check in Hilton Prague Hotel. Prague Czech Republic 1030 to 1430 Panoramic Prague Old Town, Tyn Church Astronomical Clock , Prague Castle, gothic St, Vitus Cathedral with St. Wenceslas tomb
Tuesday 23 Day 9 Prague Hilton Hotel Pobrezni 1 420 (0) 224 841 111
Wednesday 24 Day 10 Prague transfer to airport 5 am flight BA 853 leave PRG at 7 am arrive LHR 737 pm; LHR > CLT AA731 1150-4pm; CLT - AVL AA5052 6:37 pm - 7:37 HOME
Thursday 25 Thanksgiving
