DANUBE Cruise. Regensburg and Nuremburg, Germany

DANUBE Cruise. Linz, Austria to Passau, Germany

Linz and Passau

LINZ, AUSTRIA

A larger city on the Danube. Trolleys, large office and apartment buildings. Still, brick streets, old centers and cathedrals, always cathedrals.  

PASSAU, GERMANY

A small village situated in between the Ilz and the Danube. Complex streets, up and down. We had a nice lunch here sitting by the river. But we lost our way getting back, and had to ask which way was the Danube! Dumb tourists....

CESKY KRUMLOV, CZECHIA

Loved this little Czech town. We took a bus here from the boat for a day. Quaint streets, very old. Bridges over the little canals. Had to use Krowns or Kroners here. Very confusing, Euros to Kroners, etc.  

The bus from the end of our cruise at Vilshofen was great. Big comfortable, and gave us the opportunity to see the landscape and beautiful countryside of Austria, Germany, and Czechia from land. We made numerous stops, esp at Pilsen, Czechia, half way on the 5 hour trip to Prague.  

DANUBE Cruise. Vienna, Austria to Durnstein and Melk

DURNSTEIN, AUSTRIA

Our first stop

MELK, AUSTRIA

Loved this little charming old city. Full,of charm, shops, bikes, etc. we found a shortcut thru the woods that led from the riverside and our boat dock to the town, remember. It was VERY hot all these days. Any shade was welcome. A woman was picking wild blackberries i. The woods. Very quaint. The Huge Benedictine Abbey dominates the hillside and towers over the town. It is beautiful, arches, walls,gardens. It is still an active monastery.  

LINZ, AUSTRIA

A larger city on the Danube. Trolleys, large office and apartment buildings. Still, brick streets, old centers and cathedrals, always cathedrals.  

VIENNA, AUSTRIA. 2018

DANUBE RIVER TRIP. AUGUST, 2018

VIENNA, AUSTRIA

WOW, THE LONG AWAITED ODYSSEY BEGINS!

The JohannStrauss Hotel is our home for several days. Old, small, elegant, so European! Asking questions and with recommendations and map in hand, off we go. No time to waste. 

A grand city, full of the arts, history, music, and pageantry of the old days. Kings and queens, emperors and empresses. Palaces and real live castles. We saw the Belvedere, the opera house, and my favorite, the nachtmarkt! It literally means to nach. Many delis, cheese, local chocolates and sweets. A blend of Middle Eastern, Greek, Italian, etc. Knick knacks, beautiful local pottery, etc.  

And did a Hop on Hop off bus tour to give us a sense of where things were. We went up to the area around the city, which is mainly woods and vineyards. Gorgeous view from a high point. 

An added treat was to meet Gilbert and his family. They sought asylum here many years ago from Syria, when things were at their worst. He is a pastor and now works with refugees here. Our church has supported him in His efforts. He and his family, wife Sanabel, son, 2 year old Jonathon and 5 year old Grace, loved showing us about, buying us ice cream, and sharing their ministry. We loved their multi ethnic, global church, and bringing news from the US.  

FRIENDSHIP. SUMMER 2018

FRIENDSHIP...   Donna, Carolyn, Susan, Nancy. .

HOW PRECIOUS IS A FRIEND! And how special is a long time friend, one who knows your history, knows your heart, who has been through thick and thin with you, who has celebrated and endured thru the chapters of your life.  

We are a special group of such friends! Donna, Nancy, Susan, Carolyn.

We met in the youth group of Albany Park Presbyterian church. It was a tiny congregation in the midst of the mostly Jewish neighborhood of Albany Park, on the north side of Chicago. The church was the foundation, not only of our faith, but of our friendship.  

Since the church was small, everyone, from the pastor, deacons, leaders and congregants, multitasked! We all served on committees, planned prayer and worship, sang in the choir, did outreach, and decorated the church for events.  

The year was 1959.

We all attended Roosevelt High School. We spent a great deal of time at each others’ houses. Pajama parties were our trademark. School night or not, we were together. We did homework together, listened to musicals on the record player, played a lot of cards! The mom of whoever’s house we were at, would make us all lunches and be sure we did what we needed to do.  

The years went by.

We attended college, had professions and careers. We married, had children. Some divorced, remarried, became widows. At various times we have lived all over the United States. At this time, 2018, we live in Georgia, Virginia, Minnesota, Illinois.

But somehow we have managed to stay connected and close. We try to get together every year or two, usually with a pajama party! Talk is easy, like no time at all had passed. But do the math.... it’s 60 years.

So cherish those friendships! Do what you can to stay close.  

But somehow we have  Talk is easy, like no time at all had passed. But do the math.... it’s 60 years.

So cherish those friendships! Do what you can to stay close.