Wittenberg

​Wittenberg is a nice quite small city. The focus of history here, for those that don't know, revolves around Martin Luther.
Our tour of the city included a visit to his house, the abbey he attended and taught at as well as a visit to the church he attended, preached at and posted his 95 theses.

Days 3 & 4
Mon, Oct 31, 2016 & Tue, Nov 1, 2016 Wittenberg, Germany
An important center of culture and learning, Wittenberg is a quiet town known mostly as the birthplace of the Protestant Reformation. It was here that the Augustinian monk Martin Luther, in 1517, famously nailed his “95 Theses” against the selling of indulgences to the door of the palace church, launching the spread of a new religious movement throughout Germany, then all of Europe. Wittenberg’s incredibly preserved Old Town was spared destruction during World War II, and so its charming houses remain as they have for centuries, with those in the market square huddled around the beloved statue of Luther. Included  Tour Wittenberg City Walk Duration: 2.5 hours Witness the Legacy of Martin Luther Stroll in the footsteps of Martin Luther, founder of the Protestant Reformation, during a walking tour of his city. Wittenberg’s history centers around the courageous actions and teachings of Martin Luther, the Augustinian monk who nailed his “95 Theses” to the door of All Saints’ Church, the palace’s revered Castle Church. You will walk with your guide to this Late Gothic gem, which today hosts a Lutheran congregation. Luther preached here, and you’ll see the “Theses Doors” to which he attached the message that changed the world. After, continue to the Luther House Museum. The famous theologian lived here between 1508 and 1546, and the museum has preserved many of his manuscripts, printed books and paintings from the period. You can walk through his sitting room and his lecture room, which contains his pulpit. In the market square, you can admire the Town Hall and the statue of Luther.

We are now cruising down river to Torgau for our next stop.

I will be posting fewer pictures due to the satallite connection, but will add them later.

Torgau

​Day 4, Tue,
Nov 1, 2016 Torgau, Germany

Situated on the Elbe, Torgau played a key role in the Protestant Reformation. In the 16th century, the city was a hotbed of Protestant activity, resulting in the founding of the Torgauer Bund (Association of Torgau) in 1525, a refuge for Protestants. The first purpose-built Protestant church was built here. The city’s fortified Hartenfels Castle, the most important early Renaissance palace in Germany, dominates the city and the riverbank, framed by the spires of St. Mary’s Church behind. The most famous residents of the castle, three brown bears, are kept in the dry moat according to a centuries-old tradition.

Dessau to Wittenberg

​Day 3, Mon, Oct 31, 2016
Dessau, Germany Renowned for its Bauhaus architecture, Dessau lies hidden behind boggy woodlands, part of the Elbe Biosphere Reserve. Red kites, herons, crows and storks make their home here. The founder of the Bauhaus movement, Walter Gropius, moved his school here from Weimar.
About 85 percent of Dessau was destroyed during World War II, but it has reemerged as a cultural hub on the Middle Elbe. Among its restored buildings are elegant palaces, some of which open their doors as museums. Many of them are surrounded by picturesque parkland, including the sprawling Garden Kingdom of Wörlitz, Europe’s first English park.
Included  Tour Worlitz Palace & Gardens
Visit Duration: 4 hours We Visited the First English-Style Gardens Built on the Continent Tour the beautiful parks and gardens of Worlitz, affectionately called the Garden Kingdom of Worlitz, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The town of Worlitz, inland from the Elbe, is admired for its stately palace and lush park. Many famous personalities, including the poet Goethe, visited the palace and its English-style gardens, created by Leopold III Friedrich Franz of Saxony-Anhalt in the 18th century. It was the first garden park built on the continent in the English fashion. Upon arrival, you will pass the summer house with its orangery and continue to the prominent palace beyond. The gardens cover nearly 17 square miles and are graced by lakes and canals as well as classic and Gothic temples.

Emmett via Blogaway

First Day Aboard

Today we transfered to the ship with a few excursions along the way. We left Berlin at 9 AM, arriving in Magdeburg at around 4:30. By 5 they had us settled in and we had departed.

Day 2, Sun, Oct 30, 2016 Magdeburg, Germany
Although heavy bombing in 1945 destroyed much of the city, Magdeburg today is a glorious example of a lively German town. The former seat of an archbishopric in 968 AD, the city was also a member of the Hanseatic League. This once influential imperial city reveals its historic roots in the architecture that survived the war, from the 11th-century Monastery of Our Lady to the Cathedral of Saints Maurice and Catherine. The town also boasts the famous 1240 AD statue of the Magdeburger Reiter (Magdeburg Horseman), the oldest equestrian statue in Germany. A number of Gothic-style buildings and churches grace the riverfront.
Included  Tour Potsdam Walking Tour Duration: 4 hours City of Glittering Palaces Then Traveling  to the palatial city of Potsdam, Berlin’s neighbor built by royalty. Once the residence of Prussian kings and the German Kaiser, Potsdam grew to include no fewer than 16 castles, palaces and beautifully landscaped parks. Today, it is better known for its World War II history. In July and August 1945, Truman, Churchill and Stalin met at Cecilienhof Palace to sign the Potsdam Agreement and shape postwar Europe. We  stoppd outside Cecilienhof, today a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the last palace built by the Hohenzollern family for Crown Prince Wilhelm of Germany. Our tour also included a visit to the summer home of Frederick the Great, the magnificent rococo palace of Sanssouci. This yellow confection and its glorious garden strewn with temples was built as a rival to the magnificent palace Chateau de Versailles.

Emmett via Blogaway

Bear with me

Posts will be erratic due to the ships unstable satellite  internet connection.

Emmett via Blogaway

A Day of Leisure ?

Everyones new purse

Now That's an organ

Photo bombed at the Ishtar Gate

Today was a free day from the Viking schedule, so we winged it.

After breakfast we walked a few blocks to where there was supposed to be an artesians market. Unfortunately THERE WAS and everyone ended up buying things.

At noon we went to a noon service at a local cathederal, not that we all are relegious, to here one of the largest organs in Germany. The dome of the cathederal was destroyed ,now rebuilt, during the war but the organ survived untouched.

After our church visit, we hit a museum and saw an exhibit of the Ishtar Gate and other Assyrian artifacts.

The day ended with another excellant meal, this time Italian.

Made It

After a long COLD night on the plane I am now in Berlin and can relax and enjoy the trip.

The plane had to be the coldest I was ever on, one of the gentlemen on our trip had his water bottle against the outter wall and it actually started to freeze.

Anyhow, the hotel is very nice and centrally located.

I will  try to post something for those of you who couldn't tear yourself away from the election.