On June 13, we reached our final day organized in an excellent way by Viking!
The day before, our luggage was waiting inside our room 455; organized by Viking so we did not have to touch or handle that ourselves.
Viking also organized at what time we had to place our luggage out for being handled.
For us, being cabin number 107, that meant 10:30 and departure for the airport 11:00.
Kudos to Viking indeed for organizing this 11 day journey to perfection!
We had started this Viking Lif PASSAGE TO EASTERN EUROPE in Budapest, Hungary and now ending and departing from Bucharest, Romania...
Sorry for the dangling loop in the bus...
This is the Romanian Airmen Heroes Memorial in Bucharest.
Click through for more info about: Monumentul Eroilor Aerului din Piaþa Aviatorilor (Ceremony organized at the Memorial of Air Heroes in Aviatorilor Square) - foto Cãtãlin Ovreiu
In about 25 minutes we reached Bucharest Henri Coanda International Airport
Again a lovely sunny day!
We flew back again with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines from Bucharest to Amsterdam...
On our flight Amsterdam to Budapest we had seats 7C and 7D but now it was 11C and 11D
We never wanted to use Viking's much cheaper option for flying directly from the USA to Budapest...
That would have been criminal, being in Europe and not seeing my 98-year old Dad!
So we went around that, even though it was complicated...
Again did arrange a rental car from our favorite BB&L with fastest airport service as they meet you right outside of the arrival hall and you go up the escalator to departure hall, where you get into your car. Drop off is also in front of the departure hall!
BUT, I would be in for a surprise... the worst traffic jam experienced in all 36 years coming from Schiphol/Amsterdam Airport!
This was a stand still in Breukelen, Province of Utrecht on the Interstate or 'Autobaan' as it is called in Dutch.
Culemborg, Gelderland the Province where Pieter is born but he lived to the east.
Always those low hanging Dutch clouds, famous from paintings the world over!
One wants to almost duck... We were so lucky for traveling during the lovely summer time with green fields and gardens.
Approaching the River Waal near Waardenburg, Gelderland
Cable Stay Bridge... I've always liked this Cable Stayed Bridge!
Bridging the River Waal
Click for some interesting facts: One of the few Dutch Cable Stay Bridges: Martinus Nijhoff Bridge | Zaltbommel
This is very close to the Radisson Blu hotel, once more the University Library with just visible the back of the horse of Carol I, equestrian statue.
We did have a great night at this Bucharest City Center Radisson Blu Hotel click it
Our Radisson Blue Hotel Room just like this... click it
Bucharest Radisson Blu serves great breakfast too at one of their 5 on-site restaurants! Just click it
After a relaxed breakfast time, we placed our luggage in the hallway for pick up.
For us, being cabin number 107, that meant 10:30 and departure for the airport 11:00.
Kudos to Viking indeed for organizing this 11 day journey to perfection!
This is the Romanian Airmen Heroes Memorial in Bucharest.
Again a lovely sunny day!
That would have been criminal, being in Europe and not seeing my 98-year old Dad!
So we went around that, even though it was complicated...
Again did arrange a rental car from our favorite BB&L with fastest airport service as they meet you right outside of the arrival hall and you go up the escalator to departure hall, where you get into your car. Drop off is also in front of the departure hall!
This was a stand still in Breukelen, Province of Utrecht on the Interstate or 'Autobaan' as it is called in Dutch.
Always those low hanging Dutch clouds, famous from paintings the world over!
One wants to almost duck... We were so lucky for traveling during the lovely summer time with green fields and gardens.
That again was a long day and there still was one hour time difference from Romania.
We both felt under the weather and wanted to REST
Well, this actually would be the 67th time in our 36 years visiting our birth country; coming from Bucharest, Romania this time.
From May 21 till June 3, prior to our cruise, I had driven 1,301 km or 808 mi
From June 13 ill June 16, after our cruise, 367 km or 228 mi
Total driven: 1,668 km or 1,036 mi
Thanks for your visit and comment!
We both felt under the weather and wanted to REST
But it took us quite a long time to drive to the South of the country, to Limburg...
Below you find two short Relive.cc videos, just click below:
Relive 'From Radisson Blu to Bucharest Airport'
Relive 'Schiphol - Horst aan de Maas Sevenum'
From May 21 till June 3, prior to our cruise, I had driven 1,301 km or 808 mi
From June 13 ill June 16, after our cruise, 367 km or 228 mi
Total driven: 1,668 km or 1,036 mi
Thanks for your visit and comment!
Related links:
Day 10, by bus from Giurgiu to Bucharest, Romania | previous post
Day 9, Russe, Veliko Tarnovo & Arbanasi, Bulgaria | previous post
Day 8, Bulgarian Danube and Belogradchik Rocks & Fortress | previous post
Day 6, Panoramic Belgrade, Serbia | previous post
Day 5, from Vukovar to Osijek, Croatia | previous post
Day 4, Kalocsa Baroque Cathedral with Organ Music and Puszta | previous post
Day 5, from Vukovar to Osijek, Croatia | previous post
Day 4, Kalocsa Baroque Cathedral with Organ Music and Puszta | previous post
Day 3 Departure from Budapest on Viking Lif | previous post
Day 2 Passage to Eastern Europe - Panoramic Budapest | previous post
A great way to see many countries. Looks like it was a great trip despite not feeling well for some time. Take care.
ReplyDeleteDearest Tammy,
DeleteYes, all in all it was a fabulous trip and for seeing those 5 countries on this PASSAGE TO EASTERN EUROPE cruise with Viking! So glad Pieter is doing well again, for me it takes somewhat longer but no doubt that too will come soon.
Hugs,
Mariette
Thanks for showing us the beautiful plain and artistic clouds. I do not like heavy traffic jams without some snacks in my car.
ReplyDeleteDearest RTC.,
DeleteYes, plain clouds in Romania and mainly blue but The Netherlands is famous for its rather low hanging clouds! Well, we had zero snacks as we just had landed and had nothing. Thought I can drive home within two hours but that did not happen...
Hugs,
Mariette
Liebe Mariette,
ReplyDeleteherzlichen Dank und sonnige Grüße
Elisabeth
Liebe Elisabeth,
DeleteGleichfalls für dich und sonnig Sonntags Grüße,
Mariette
Dearest Mariette,
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the lovely travel photos and commentary.
Have a great Sunday,,,,,*s*
Dearest Suzi,
DeleteThank you and glad you could kind of travel along...
Wish I had found that much information myself, before we went.
Hugs and happy Sunday!
Mariette
Your hotel room in Bucharest was very nice Mariette.
ReplyDeleteThe Martinus Nijhoff bridge is beautiful.
Dearest Sami,
DeleteYes our hotel room was fabulous and all seemed rather new as well.
Beginning in Budapest was royal and the ending in Bucharest was also in grand style.
Don't you love such a Cable Stayed Bridge like this Martinus Nijhoff?!
Hugs,
Mariette
Hi Mariette! Wow, how exciting your journey has been;-)
ReplyDeleteDearest Anne,
DeleteYes, it sure was exciting and through lovely nature with lots of surprises!
Hugs,
Mariette
Se ve un confortable hotel donde descansar después de los desplazamiento por la ciudad.
ReplyDeleteLas imágenes demuestran muy buenos recorridos.
Besos
Querida Ventana de Foto,
DeleteSí ese hotel era el paraíso después de pasear por la ciudad. Me alegra que haya disfrutado de las imágenes tomadas.
Abrazos,
Mariette
It looks like a very nice hotel with spacious room and many restaurants.
ReplyDeleteHow great you went to see your dad. BB&L offers nice service that you can pick up/drop off car in front of departure hall. Very convenient :-) And the cable stay bridge looks spectacular! Enjoyed all the photos.
Have a wonderful new week, Mariette xo
Dearest Tamago,
DeleteYes, it is a very nice and upscale hotel. The many restaurants make it even more pleasant as you can stay in and don't have to roam the streets or get a taxi.
Oh, the BB&L rental car service is the best both of us have ever experienced.
Never having to get on a shuttle and having to handle your luggage many times by doing so.
Thank you for your kind comment and yes, that bridge stands out.
Hugs,
Mariette
Wat een hotel...zo groot, en die kamer!!! Fantastisch..
ReplyDeleteEn ja, Breukelen, dat is daar altijd zo, behalve nu, in de vakantietijd, dan is het wat minder... En die Hollandse wolken,die zien wij al niet meer, mooi zoals je 'zegt' dat ze beroemd zijn van de schilderijen...wij maar denken dat er overal zulke wolken zijn. Mooi zoals je de reis in je blogposten 'herbeleefd' hebt..
Beste Marian,
DeleteJa, je kijkt wèl je ogen uit daar, ze zijn echt niet mis! Wij waren er blij mee en konden er heerlijk slapen tussen het dons! Deed Pieter veel goed.
Oh, elke keer als wij weer in Nederland uit het tuig kwamen dan had je de neiging om te búkken voor die laag hangende wolken. Zó typisch en de Grote Meesters hebben dat ook altijd mooi weer kunnen geven.
Hier bij ons is de lucht zo enorm hoog en vaak strakblauw. Je kunt van geluk spreken als het bewolkt is; dan gaat het niet over de 40ºC...
Wij genieten van sommige dagen nu, achteraf, méér dan toen we half gammel waren.
We zijn er tevreden over en dit was wel veel werk maar het is ons verhaal en onze belevenis sámen en ook wel de laatste keer in Europa...
Liefs,
Mariette
Oh my gosh how beautiful and spacious the Radisson Blue Hotel is ... and not at all lacking in charm!
ReplyDeleteMariette, your last comment that you left on my blog came to my email in box, but when I hit the "publish" button, I get a message that it has been deleted, therefore I didn't cut and paste it under the blog, in cause you deleted it. I also didn't want to ignore your comment, if a computer glitch of some kind is responsible. After updating Safari, I can no longer comment or Blogger, on my or other people's blogs, but and must use a different browser, thereforeI wonder if other glitches are/will arise also ... like I can no longer publish readers' comments. Stay turned! :)
Dearest Debra,
DeleteYes, that was quite a humongous hotel in Bucharest! Very clean, highest courtesy and good food too. The bed made us sleep like roses.
I've gone back to my deleted items on my Mac and retrieved the comment and reposted it. Only the wish for a happy weekend doesn't make sense of course as it is no longer August 2nd.
For quite a while I can only post and update in Safari and commenting I have to do in a GoogleChrome browser! Annoying and one wonders what is next?! Competing about power and more power... and we have to manoeuvre in-between all that power struggle.
Hugs,
Mariette
Dearest MAriette,
ReplyDeletewonderful pictures of our trip again! Your hotelroom looked really big and good!
Thank you for sharing all this with us!
Wishing you and Pieter an wonderful week,
Lots of Love, Claudia xo
Dearest Claudia,
DeleteYes, this was no doubt another high light and great hotel, lots of luxury!
Hugs,
Mariette
Hello Mariette, That is the miracle of Europe--to tour such exotic and seemingly distant spots, and then be lucky enough to manage your route to visit your father on the way back. A perfect ending for your trip.
ReplyDelete--Jim
Dearest Jim,
DeleteIt was not easy for doing it 'our' way as Viking wants you to buy the complete package.
In the next post I will explain more about that.
We did visit Dad several times before we even went on this cruise and I'm forever grateful that I did.
Did you see my previous post as it shows spectacular architecture in Bucharest.
Both of us were very impressed with that city and it ranks right up there with Budapest, it is lacking of course the scenes and bridges of the Danube as it lies some 60 km north of the Danube.
Hugs,
Mariette