J CLYDE FAMILY: Nurnberg

Overcast and cold

Happy Anniversary Day - the ship was kind enough to leave a bottle of champagne in our cabin for our anniversary! Okay, they left it in the cabin a week ago, last Friday. We definitely benefited from the champagne considering that we don't drink alcohol...but all our new friends would be more than happy to consume the product. We, of course, shared it with our new friends across the hall, Jan and Chuck. Today they surprised us with a party of Schneeball, Strudel and 7-Up!

Learned last night that we have been sailing down the Rhine-Main-Danube Canal (RMD) which took some seventy-one years to construct. Several early attempts in the 1700's and1800's were made by various Roman and German groups, but failed. The canal connecting the Rhine River and the Danube River is 161 miles long and goes basically from sea level in the north to an altitude of 1340 ft. and then back down to the Baltic Sea. The irony of the RMD is that it will never be profitable. Currently revenue fees for ships to pass thru the 16 locks only generates 2% of what is required to break even. Few cargo ships utilize the route due to weight limitations and cost. I was amazed to hear that for $1200.00 our cruise ship can pass thru all 16 locks. This evening we should pass the largest locks which will elevate the ship some 80 plus feet each time.

Today, we visited the renowned city of Nurnberg. Nurnberg is known for the creation and manufacturing of toys. On the sadder side it is also known for the famous Nazis Propaganda Campaigns and the rallies held by Hilter to promote the Third Reich. It was amazing to see the parade grounds and to imagine how one individual could lead a nation astray. Yet, a well calculated plan was implemented by Hilter and nearly worked. He had a massive PR campaign to promote the Third Reich, by constructing massive buildings (similar to the Rome Coliseum), massive rallies and parade grounds that influenced the German citizens...convinced them that they were unconquerable and could rule the world. It is a lesson to be learned and remembered.

The other famous Nurnberg site, across town from Hitler's rally grounds, is Court Room 600. Where, for the first time, International Law was utilized to seek justice for war crimes committed by the Nazi Party Leaders. It was humbling to sit in the court room and think about the proceedings and the sentencing of 21 Nazi leaders who believed what they were doing was right. Also interesting was that the Russians had two judges participating and yet had committed similar war crime themselves. Where is the justice?

The remainder of the afternoon, the bus dropped us off and we visited the Jewish part of the city. We were then free to roam for several hours. Cheryl and I did a little window shopping, something about looking for more Christmas Ornaments. Then we observed the (Cheryl and the Germans have a special name for this clock...I just call it the Cookoo Clock...glockenspiel...added by Cheryl) strike noon and watched the little short men run around in a circle. We had a wonderful lunch of brats and wienerschnitzel, and then walked thru the toy museum.

The Jewish Well in the center of town

Sorry Honey, turning the brass ring will not bring more children as legend claims.

Glockenspiel

A Germany wedding - time for a family photo.
They just didn't appreciate Cheryl and I photo-bombing!

A German restaurant for lunch. Brats and wienerschnitzel, mmm...

Needless to say this was an amazing city. To visit and see the historical sites and to visit the toy museum, where the ravages of war can be forgotten and a more enjoyable life can be remembered.

Back to the ship and now the final climb up and over the Continental Divide if we can get under the low bridge that is.

Low Bridge Ahead! Everyone on deck must sit down!
Lower the Ship bridge so we can clear the highway bridge.

Everyone Duck!

Once we reached the continental divide it's time to enter the tallest locks that we will pass thru, some 82 feet high. Of course, if you ask everyone on the ship, they will tell you that the celebration on deck had nothing to do with the fact that we were all curious about passing thru this lock. No...everyone on deck was invited to celebrate our anniversary with us. What better way than a party on the sun deck at midnight.