RAFINO CRUISE - Log #1

Sat left Dallas on a Lufrhanus Airbus 340 at 3:30 pm.
 In Frankfurt Germany 8:30 Sunday (loss 7 hours) and on to Zurich Switzerland by Boing 737.  Avelon welcome showed up in about an hour and took us to Zurich Hotel.  All time I had heard that the Rhine was flooding and barges could not clear bridges. 
Guide said we would go to KEHL Germany instead of BASEL S.
At the Hotel the tour guide added the rest of the tour to 2 busses and we went to KHEL.  He told us that the river was navagable which was a relief.

Cabin wonderful, Food great
Monday am the boat moved up to Strasbourg, France, first stop.  By bus we went to the highest Gothic Cathedral in Europe, 142 meters high, built in 1200 to 1400 & a walk through the shpos in that area.  We then took a Camal boat for a city tour.  Geography:  The French/ German border is in the middle of the Rhine River between Strasbourg and Kehl. No border guards or checking.  The guide said that the Strasbourg people do not know which country they are in and may prefer neither.  Said most citizens are under 24 years.  Big city.

After lunch to the Black Forrest to visit a Museum showing the way early people lived.  The house is all under one roof, including animals, home, work shops and implement storage. 

A little further on we visited a Kucko clock place where we got a piece of Black Forrest cake and coffee.  Only Hal Golden bought a Kucko clock but others did well for the owners. 

Lots of corn fields that the guide said was used by French to make beer.  Illegal to use corn in Germany. After dinner Virginia starred in the skits in the lounge.  She will have to comment on that later.

I cannot get my Laptop on line so no pictures until I get home.  This costs about $1.25 a minute and I am not fast.  May only be every other day.  Tuesday in Speyer for am and Heidelberg in pm.  All are fine and happy.  J. Claud