Holland & Belgium Viking River Cruise
Day 8: Friday, November 01, 2024 - Wesel, Germany
The day's statistics:
- Weather: upper 40s, overcast
- Steps: 14,690 Linda; 16,085 Steve
- Miles traveled (approximately): 52
We awoke to heavy fog. Very heavy fog.
Today's excursion, Xanten during the time of Rome & today, departed at 8:30.
Our bus ride began with a crossing of Friedrich-Ebert Bridge in Duisburg, Germany.
There were more sights but many were obscured by fog, includiing this church near Xanten.
After about an hour, we arrived at the Xanten site, a Roman town from about 13 BC.
We were dropped off in front of the visitor's center. We then walked through it and met our guides.
The three groups separated and we began our tour.
We began at the site map.
While the original town was large, what is visible today, not so much. Also, some of the ruins are original,
but most are recreations based on what is known. I think they could do quite a bit more, ala Williamsburg.
In other words, erect more buildings. There was a good amount of open space.
The first structure we visited on the tour was a coloseum. It is supposed to be 100 meters across - which would
be the size of a US football field. It could be an optical illusion, but it doesn't look quite that big - though
it could have been maximum length and not taking the field width into account.
Just outside the coloseum was this statue of a Roman soldier. Indeed the head is out of proportion - but this was
because the head was changed, frequently, and it wasn't always in proportion.
There was a collection of three original foundation pieces showing what the original foundation was.
Again... a lot of open space.
This tree lined road is actually narrower than the original road.
A tiny portion of the original aquiduct.
There was a manmade water channel under the road.
There was some active excavating going on.
There was a separate building that had the foundation of a family home.
A communal latrine. Apparently socializing while going to the bathroom was a thing back then.
The next building had a communal bath, adjacent to the bathroom building - apparently being partially or fully
naked with others was a common social convention back in the day...
At this point our hour long guided tour was over. However, we still had abouot an hour before we had to leave.
So we decided to go around the back of the bathhouse to visit the church, then make our way over to the museum.
The section of wall we came across was actually a rebuild.
We continue and came across the old temple.
A windmill - not sure if it is functioning or not - with an attached restaraunt.
It took us nearly 15 minutes to walk to the museum.
Hulgar and Ole passed us while they made their way to the museum too.
We entered and there was some brief confusion until we identified ourselves as Viking travelers - then we were
granted access. We went downstairs to see the large portion of original wall that the museum was upon.
We unfortuantely did NOT have a lot of time to peruse the museum, so we walked the length of the lower level while
I took whatever pictures I could of anything that looked interesting.
Most of the artifacts appeared to be items that were unearthed during excavating.
To the side off the landing between the lower level and the main lever, in the corner was this floor segment.
I took whatever pictures I could of anything that looked interesting. Then we went upstairs and did the same thing -
though the main floor looked more interactive than containing artifacts - on the way to the door.
After the brief museum visit, we headed toward the visitor's center.
I made a quick detour on the way to take a picture of an excavation site.
Lastly, on the way out, we saw this windmill in town.
We boarded the bus and headed back to the ship, which was now at a different port - Düsseldorf. This was an
originally unexpected port visit due to the change in travel because of the canal construction.
On the way we saw this segment of original wall.
The bus stopped, we got off, and we passed a small park on the way to the ship.
We had less than an hour between embarking and lunch, which was at 1:30 today.
This was a later time than usual, but that was because the staff was loading food and goods onto the ship.
They created a human transport line wherein the items were passed from person to person.
Some of the items were a little too big to do that, though.
We had lunch with Harry and Dori, and Edward and Jerry from New Jersey.
Linda had the leek & potato soup, spaghetti alla puttanesca, and peach melba ice cream.
I had the leek & potato soup, pulled bbq pork sandwich, and flan parisien.
This afternoon's excursion was Düsseldorf Walking Tour.
We were on foot, and set out from the ship, and Martina was our guide.
We walked toward the Tonhalle concert hall, crossed the street, took a path through a pedestrian tunnel.
We were across the street from the Kunstakademie, the Academy of Art.
Are you familiar with the paining of Washington Crossing the Delaware? What would you think if I told you
it was actually Washington Crossing the lower Rhine? The artist, Emanuel Leutze, painted it in Germany.
While we learned of this history, this guy "unlocked" his bike (a local asked him about it).
We continued on to the Schlösser Quarter.
We continued further on, and came across this mosaic - that is supposed to represent... a bumble bee. Near this spot
was a segment of the original city wall, with a marker in the cobblestone walkway indicating its original location.
We emerged from Parkplatz to find someone needing medical emergency help.
We crossed the street and walked along the front of the Kunsthalle.
This was part of the front of a Hilton hotel, diagonally across the intersection on the corner.
Along the side of Kunsthalle, we passed these statues.
The "longest bar in the world" - a collection of about 300 pubs in a single area.
We entered Saint Andres church.
We weren't in the church long, but viewed as much as we could in the time we had.
We stepped out at the end of the "longest bar" street again.
On the top of the building on the corner was this mural - an homage to an old lady that
used to house local students in her home for many years.
And continuing on.
Our journey weaved around the city a little, and we eventually found ourselves back on the "longest bar" street.
It was early-ish - not quite 4:00 - and the street was fairly busy. But it was Friday, so there's that...
As we walked down, we came across many drinkers, and one that was drunk enough to sing - and who was joined by
another singer as we were passing by (not audio or video of this, so take my word for it).
The caption reads "This fairy tale will probably never come true. Life teaches you to be smart and save."
Apparently touching this statue is good luck.
And continuing on.
There was a ferris wheel in operation. Not sure if it was permanent or just for the holidays.
Just past the wheel was a park with a fountain, and a number of canopy trees.
We exited the far corner of the park and came across a marker in the cobblestones.
1288 was the year of the Battle of Worringen.
On a corner near the marker was a statue / artwork / monument dedicated to the battle.
There was only one spot that showed a "1288" within the sculpture itself - on the leftmost side, almost at the end.
Adjacent to the monument was a canal with some artwork on the posts.
We walked down the sidewalk a little and Martina told us about this church.
The steeple was supposedly built with fresh wood and it developed a twist.
The story is that no one wants to get married in the church because the steeple is supposed straighten out
when a virgin couple gets married in the church.
We returned to the park, crossed the right side, and headed out the other corner.
At this point Martina told us that we had another hour before we had to be back on the ship. She was returning so
those of us that wanted to go back could go with her. Anyone that wanted to stay in town a little longer were free
to do so too. I think most, if not all, of us returned to the ship.
Similar to the couple kissing at the beginning of our tour (above) was this mother and child statue by the same artist.
Further on was a church that had this crucifix display outside. Usually it is just Christ on the cross...
And this is the same twisted steeple church we saw from the other side.
The walkway we were on was actaully over a roadway underneath. We walked along the riverside until we reached the ship.
The last few views on the way to the ship, including a "fashion photo". Also, in the parking lot next to the ship were
a nnumber of "campers" - they were more like vans, but regardless, they are permitted to park in this lot.
When we got back onboard, I headed to the sundeck. I got one last shot of the city. I also took a shot of the ship's
statistics printed on the side of the wheelhouse.
We headed to our room to shed our belongings and freshen up a little. Then we headed to the lounge.
After the daily port talk we headed to the dining room for dinner.
We say with Sally and Scott from MN, and David and Cindy from TX.
Linda had the wild mushroom soup, Buffalo mozzarella in baked eggplant rolls, and lemon matcha cake.
I had the wild mushroom soup, Mediterranean chicken breast, and apple crumble pie.
We finished our meal and chatted a bit.
After returning to the cabin, I grabbed the camera and headed to the sundeck [again] to try to get a night shot of the city.