Visit to Germany

After the cruise, I returned home with Wilhelm, Ursula and Alexandria to spend time with them at their home. I spent a lot of time with Wilhelm delivering plants and visiting his clients and just enjoying the beautiful scenery of their part of the world. It was truly magnificent!  They were very gracious hosts and I could never thank them enough for all they did for me. I had a wonderful time and will always cherish the memories of my visit and I hope I will have a chance to reciprocate sometime soon!

 

Traveled all over this beautiful part of Germany

                                     

Neighborhood celebration of Ursula and Wilhelm’s anniversary 

 

The town mayor came to celebrate

  

Dinner at Rebstock Durbach

 

Thermal baths at Baden Baden

Standing in the highest point in the southern part of the Black Forest 

Camping on Lake Konstanz

  

Crossing Lake  Konstanz  on the car ferry

Crossing the Rhine River

On the shore of Lake Konstanz

 

 

Zwergele(Little Dwarf) leading the good life!

Wilhelm  checking a plant for one of his clients 

 

Disembarking in Rome

Friday, June 8th

This turned out to be the day from HELL!!  We disembarked on a day that a strike had been called from 1PM to 5PM!  Our afternoon flight to Frankfurt had been canceled and we were rescheduled on a flight leaving Rome at 7:45PM. Alexandria was able to get us a day room at the Hilton at the airport so at least we were not stuck at the airport and could get some rest!  We went over to the airport around 5PM and faced a nightmare!!  Flights were overbooked and others were still being cancelled! Alexandria found a line for handicapped.....she made me get my cane out of my suitcase and we got in that line!!  She then told the lady I needed a wheelchair!!  It actually was pretty funny!  That made it a breeze to get thru security....we went to the front of the line!!  Our flight was again delayed....it was around 1AM when we got home!

Ibiza

Wednesday, June 6th

This is a new port on a lot of itineraries that I really don’t see much value for adding.  It really is just a beach stop..not much else. We took the shuttle in to town and just walked around.

Lighthouse in the harbor 

Yachts of the rich!!

Malaga

Monday, June 4th

Today, we took the HOHO bus around Malaga. I had been here before and took an excursion to Alhambra.  This time, we decided to take it easy and just check out the city.  Really not much to see of historical interest other then being the birthplace of Pablo Picasso

Me and Pablo

Beautiful....trees in bloom

Anniversary Dinner at Murano

Sunday, June 3rd

Tonite, we celebrated the special day when, as Wilhelm described it, he acquired his housekeeper 50 years ago!!  They are really a very special couple. The love they share just radiates.  Alexandria arranged a beautiful table in Murano speciality restaurant.

To many more years!

Lobster prepared at the table

Charlie was there in spirit

Gibraltar

Sunday, June 3rd

Today we took a tour up to the “Rock” to see the famous Barbary monkeys and also to visit St. Michael’s Cave.......also special today is that it is Ursula and Wilhelm’s 50th Anniversary!

St. Michael’s Cave......much better than the Ape Caves!!

 One of the monkeys wanted to come home with Alexandria

Hitching a ride

Road across the airport!  Closed when flight takes off or lands. Gibraltar on bottom of picture....Spain on top

Barcelona

Thursday/Friday May 31st & June 1st

Sail in to Barcelona on the helicopter pad

On this first day in Barcelona, we took the ship’s tour to Monserrat. Charlie and I had been here previously, but Alexandra and her family had not. The scenery up the mountain was spectacular!

Monserrat was very crowded so we could not get up close to view the Black Madonna as I had the last time I was here.

The next morning we took the HOHO Bus and walked LaRambla. Since we had all been to Barcelona several times, we took an easy day

Gaudi creation on Passeig de Gràcia 

Enjoying a Sangria on LaRambla