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Here I would love to share with you our travels and adventures as international mushroom consultants. MEMOIRS about husband Pieter Vedder, who was a SCIENTIFIC PIONEER in Mushroom Cultivation Education. His practical handbook is in 9 languages and is called the MUSHROOM BIBLE: https://mariettesbacktobasics.blogspot.com/2020/08/modern-mushroom-growing-2020-harvesting.html
Showing posts with label Viking River Cruise. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Viking River Cruise. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 7, 2019

From CitizenM Hotel on Delta Airlines from Amsterdam to Savannah, Georgia

And so we were returning home from our 66th trip to The Netherlands!
It was a LONG trip this time since we did not want to use the much cheaper, all included flight + cruise from Viking!
Having your Dad, living in The Netherlands and bypassing him would be criminal in my humble opinion.
So here we went, right after having had a very hectic week with our choir, daily rehearsals for choreography and then 2 x performing on Saturday, May 18, at the local theatre.
Here I am, after getting back from Mass, in-between 2 performances.
Did not wear this to Church though... My Go-Go boots belonged with the 60s A-line style of dresses.
Found me this at Neiman Marcus Last Call and JIT = Just In Time. Click the link to read about the A-line silhouette, which did bring back very fond memories of me going to Fashion Design School...
Haha, half a century ago that is, but see, such styles DO return!
Go-Go boots came straight form China as I did not want any heels.
If you click the link, it shows them being very high, but not so on my long legs...
This dress can be pulled on over the head so I decided to take it with me to Europe.
Viking was offering this as: RIVER CRUISE AND AIR SAVINGS... Indeed, they offered very cheap flights from Atlanta to Budapest!
But we did NOT want to bypass The Netherlands.
Sure the VIKING INCLUSIVE VALUE was super!
Ground transfers with Viking Air purchase...
If air is not purchased from Viking, transfers may be purchased separately.
We ran into lots of bottle necks but with some back and forth writing it worked out.
BUT... 'After many long discussions with my management team and our operations team, I'm able to have transfers on your sailing at no additional price. All you need to do is provide us with your flight information.' - That was great news and we proceeded with the bookings!
This is U.S. time but it was 9:15 when our flight from New York landed in Amsterdam, The Netherlands and I got a message from Verizon with welcome to The Netherlands you are connected... We had not even arrived yet at the terminal!
Still had to get off the plane, through customs and collecting our suitcases.
So I sent my youngest brother Jan a location snapshot...
And again after arriving at Dad's place shortly after noon, when I drove the approx. 2 hours south.
Happy for being able to surprise my 98 year old Dad with a visit!
And several visits that is, he was SO HAPPY, never have seen him 'show' it the way he did this time.
And so talkative... we stayed some 2.5 hours after we had landed in Amsterdam and I'd driven straight to Dad's place for a visit.
The above photo is from June 2, the Sunday before we would be flying to Budapest next day, to start our Viking cruise adventure together.
Dad always had drilled us while picking tomatoes or gherkins about what is the capital of Romania/Bulgaria/Hungary etc. He himself loved Geography and so did I.
Little did I know then, that I would get to see quite a number of those capitals...
But we both had never been to Eastern Europe outside of Hungary, Czech Republic and Slovakia.
I'd given Dad my booklet from Viking, so he could study it and read all about it.
He would know day by day where we were and what we would be visiting.
His question was IF we would come back...
Well, as we both wanted to surprise him on Father's Day for being once again at his place with my siblings, we did not openly tell him we'd be back.
WISH I had...
After returning from Bucharest when Pieter was so sick and I too was weak, we rested a few days and there comes the message that Dad had been taken by ambulance to the hospital, serious heart problems.
So instead of visiting him at home, we ended up visiting him at the hospital.
He was SO Happy again and said: 'So yet you are here!'...
We did bring him the remainder of the dark German Lindt chocolate, that we brought back from Bad Münstereifel, where I took Mom and Dad and they always LOVED being there.
On Saturday, May 25 we visited Bad Münstereifel together with our German 'Son' and family.
They had given Pieter a wonderful belated 90th Birthday celebration at their home...
We'd left Dad four of these sticks in the week after that...
Remainder got saved for FATHER'S DAY
Like Dad, I too LOVE dark Chocolate and Lindt has the 70% Cacao... so good!
Even for diabetic type 2, a daily small piece is okay.
So this is what we left on Dad's bedside table at the hospital after saying our FINAL GOODBYE... EMOTIONAL as Dad and we knew we would NEVER SEE HIM AGAIN - ALIVE THAT IS...
Hope he got to enjoy his chocolate and remembered both of us with each bite!
Sad that we had to depart from there, to return my BB & L rental car and next walk the 300 m to the CitizenM Hotel at Schiphol Airport.
CitizenM is a Netherlands-based hotel chain... click above link.
CitizenM says: wise travellers carry a small bag a big heart and good sunglasses
~
Convenient for our early departure as we were next to the Departure Hall already.
You sleep in a HUGE bed and under a light and soft down duvet on down pillows...
Only wish you had the luxury of sleeping in or at least till a more decent hour than 5:30!
It is the most convenient way to spend the night and for my Pieter especially, not having to walk too far is a big PLUS.
CitizenM is located at Jan Plezierweg 2
Pieter was in awe as with our boarding passes in my Wallet on the iPhone, I could self check our suitcases!
They had to be placed on their side, with handle up and then holding the iPhone with boarding pass, in front of scanner. Label got printed and you tied it around the handle and you also received the above Claim Tag! With the weight... mentioned and directing you to Please go to Gate: E20
So there we went, off on our Delta flight to Detroit at 9:20 in the morning...
We did have quite a lay-over in Detroit so we solved that in a nice way.
Since we have the Platinum Delta SkyMiles credit card, you can buy a day pass for the Delta Sky Club at $ 29.00. One of its perks! So I got us both a pass and we could relax, Pieter even could nap in an armchair and they provide salads, soups and light snacks with drinks.
Also WiFi available so I could check my mail etc. for the day before traveling on.
At 22:00 I arrived safely home by car, from Savannah, Georgia... that would be 4:00 o'clock next morning for Dutch time! A long day from 5:30 till next day 4:00...
We went straight to bed, left the suitcases in the car till next morning when I woke up around 5:30 again.
Of course, Dad had been released that afternoon... Murphy's Law!
~
But on June 30, I received a WhatsApp message from brother Piet, that Dad had passed away, in his chair, in his garden on a Sunday...
A jogger had spotted him, sitting a bit lopsided in his chair.
So my ESP, or heightened intuition/empathic accuracy proved to have been once more right.
I'd heard it in Dad's voice soon after his 98th Birthday, somehow he'd lost his spark for life...
Also when he told me that after his bad cold, my sister Diny had cancelled his membership as an elderly choir member of Levensvreugd (Joy of Life)...
Dad has reached a unique 70th and last year even a more unique 80th Anniversary for being a Choir Singer.
He got two Royal Awards in The Netherlands for that!
Sure enough, when no longer being with his tiny circle of friends, his joy for life was kind of snuffed out, like a candle...
Especially dramatic changes for elderly, do have a huge impact on their overall well being.
On Wednesday, May 15 of 2019, Dad received this big nosegay of fresh flowers from an anonymous person through the soon to be Foundation of Bleumkes vaan Geluk (Flowers of Happiness) puts lonely elderly in the sunshine!
Dad proves in this excellent photo that he was pleasantly surprised!
He was scraping off the old paint for obviously wanting to repaint his window...
This was handed to him only 6 days before we arrived by surprise!
Maybe these happenings did inject him with some more life-elixer?
While we were in the Bad Münstereifel, Germany we received this page from best friend Ellie via WhatsApp. Dad rehearsing for his upcoming performance...
And yes, Dad did manage to perform one more time on May 30, on Ascension Day!
Just imagine, at age 98...
Photo courtesy of Hub Vermeeren of Horst aan de Maas
Notice that Dad is reading his typed text without reading glasses!
Photo courtesy of Hub Vermeeren, also member Fotogroep Horst aan de Maas
Showing where they set up a sheltered podium for eventual rain.
It was adjacent to the St. Lambertuskerk (Church) in Horst aan de Maas
Dad sang a very old Horster Folk Song and in the context of 800 years Horst he performed several times, also in the studio.
Dad after his performance... photo courtesy of Hub Vermeeren.
On Dad's nose they'd removed a skin cancer and created a nasty scar... Here in the USA they do a far better job!
There is a video on YouTube: Horster volkslied Piet van den Munckhof, Jan Joosten en Bas Nellen just click it.
My comment is gone...
The other bitly link above: June 30, 2019 ←click link for English comment by me on FB.

At the end of May, at the opening of the 800 house on the Kerkstraat in Horst, Piet Van den Munckhof, togeether with Jan Joosten and Bas Nellen, sang the old Horster national anthem. A month later, on June 30, 2019, Piet passed away unexpectedly, at the age of 98.

Dad didn't die unexpectedly... We came extra for him on May 21, our 67t trip to say goodbye to him. You could hear it in his voice and also in what he said when we called him, So we had sensed and estimated that very well.
We were on Ascension Day at a 1st Communion party in Sevenum but regularly visited Dad and he enjoyed it and talked a lot!
After the absolute and very emotional goodbye in the hospital on Father's Day, we drove to Schiphol and after a short night back to the USA with a very satisfied feeling!

In the local Hallo Horst aan de Maas, the Horster Mannenkoor (Male Choir) published this very warm text:
On the weekend we heard that has died our honorary member
Piet Van den Munckhof
Piet has been a member of the Horster Male Choir to this day; He joined in July 1938 and was by far the oldest member of our association.
Although he has not been active in our choir for many years, we have been able to enjoy his singing qualities in May during the singing of the old Horster Folk Song. As an accomplished performer, he recited this song adjacent to the St. Lambertus Church.
 "Horst can boast on scholars, sparkle by their great talent ", he sang then.
Piet was as 1st tenor for years our mentor and we are grateful for his contribution and dedication.

Board and Members
Horster Male Choir

🎼

R.I.P. Dad!

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Saturday, August 3, 2019

Day 11, From Radison Blu Hotel to Bucharest Airport with KLM to Amsterdam

On June 13, we reached our final day organized in an excellent way by Viking!
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.
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
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
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'

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!

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Tuesday, July 30, 2019

Day 10, by bus from Giurgiu to Bucharest, Romania

Day 10 on June 12, meant the ending of our PASSAGE TO EASTERN EUROPE cruise with Viking...
So we left our luggage in the hallway early for being picked up and transported separately to our hotel. Great Viking service and they know how to handle all the details!
After our final breakfast, we left our Longboat Viking Lif and we got on the bus by 9:00.
So from our Port of Giurgiu, Romania we now would head some 60 km north to Bucharest by bus.
Giurgiu is on the River Danube and facing the Bulgarian city of Ruse where we were yesterday and only needed to cross the Danube for docking on the other side...
About one hour by bus away from Giurgiu, we came across this Saint Spyridon the New Church, Bucharest.
By passing by on the E70, we only got to see the actual back side! Click here: Saint Spyridon Church in Bucharest
Just click Saint Spyridon Church Bucharest to learn that it is actually the LARGEST CHURCH in the Romanian Capital at Unification Square! The Old Saint Spyridon Church is behind the United Nations Square...
Only about 15 minutes on our way, we crossed a river in the Ilfov County in which Bucharest the capital is also located.
Also after one hour driving time, we could catch a glimpse of the Palace of the Parliament, seen on the left of the 2 lanterns to the right, with fountains in front. Will show later more up close.
University Palace, on University Square, Bucharest
We even did pass by this Arch of Triumph in Bucharest, Romania!
On our way from this Arch of Triumph to Park King Michael I...
By 10:30 in the morning we reach this special Museum where they did bring Modest Rural Dwellings to this beautiful Park area for viewing...
It is a special outdoor Muzeul National Satului, also known as the Village Museum where they literally did bring together different dwellings from all regions into a kind of village.
Quite a task for relocating and reassembling them!
This is an old wooden Church that got relocated here inside Park King Michael I.
Rural home that is partly built inside the ground for insulation reason, also relocated to Park King Michael I.
Very old Chapel in Park King Michael I.
Even though we did have the BEST guide we had on our entire Viking cruise's bus tours, a very knowledgeable young man, that knew everything about history and told it as it was, I walked fast back to the bus...
Just before exiting through the building I came upon this local Romanian Egg Painting Artist as she got interviewed by TV.
What an ART and how much I'd love to buy some, however not a smart idea for traveling across the Atlantic Ocean with delicate eggs...
Instead of covering a wider area, I went back to my dear husband who had been oh so ill during the night. Running a fever, shaking and difficulty breathing with an acute bronchitis.
Pieter was far worse than I, and we both did not want to see a doctor in Bulgaria but instead make it out of the country as good as we could, by resting enough to regain some strength.
Such a trip is quite demanding for any nonagenarian...
Around 11:00 I got back to the bus where husband Pieter was taking a nap for regaining some strength for the next lengthy Old City Walk after lunch...
Yes, he wore his linen blend sweater, due to having had fever at night.
We did a lot of praying!
By noon we approach our destination Restaurant Pescarus for lunch!
All within this beautiful green Park King Michael I.
Pescarus Restaurant in Bucharest Romania, click through for more info.
Good to know that this is from 1939 and that they had quite some famous people visiting: King Juan Carlos from Spain; Shimon Peres the former President of Israel; great chess master Anatoly Karpov...
Our guide took lunch orders from each passenger in the bus, after naming giving us the choices.
He then informed via smart phone the restaurant so they could have it all ready upon arrival!
Really great organizing and good food.
From the ABOUT US we learned that they could seat 400 people inside and 600 in the summer in their garden!
The interior looked incredible and as husband Pieter remarked, glass hanging down from ceiling was very much resembling the blown glass from Murano, near Venice Italy!
No wonder: Pescarus by Twins Studio just click the link and here above you see the long rows of tables and the incredible glass hanging above. There was another long row behind the lamp to the left. This is from the second part of video.
During this lunch at "PESCARUS" Bucarest, we could enjoy local Romanian Musicians and a lively folkloric performance again. Just click on pink link.
Back on the bus by 13:30 and I had to capture this tower of Vodafone as it was our server in Romania! Yes, we had an International Travel Plan with our Verizon Server and it worked perfect in all 7 countries we went to.
By bus we did pass by the University Library with the equestrian statue of King Carol I.
Born Prince Karl of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, was the monarch of Romania from 1866 to 1914.
Did sell once this vintage box with blazon of the Royal house of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen in Romania before  WWII.
In Latin 'NIHIL SINE DEO' and translated into Romanian as 'NIMIC FARA DUMNEZEU'.
Pronounced in old Romanian as 'NIMIC FARA DUMNEDEU'.
Translates to: Nothing Without God
C.E.C. Palace from where we would begin our Old Town Bucharest walk...
From the bus taken as we passed to park nearby.
Look at the weather on our final day...!
C.E.C. Palace of Bucharest
Feeling very happy for having arrived in the country whose language I understand, as we lived and worked in Italy, near Venice for about one year and I often watched the Romanian TV.
Did mention that in earlier writing... see link below post.
This architectural gem: Bucharest Centennial The C.E.C. Palace, a landmark of the changing capital just click for more of its history and info about the now 101 year old building since July 4, 2019.
Our very knowledgeable and courteous guide, a tall slender young man, walked us now through Bucharest Old Town to this Stavropoleos Monastery.
Click to see more: The Church of Stavropoleos Monastery in Bucharest, Romania and its iconostasis.
We should have sat down here too, at this beautiful patio from The Church of Stavropoleos Monastery!
The National Bank of Romania The Old Palace now museum (WHY did I tilt my camera that way...?)
The Old Palace of the National Bank, considered "the most beautiful building in Bucharest" by architect Ion Mincu, impresses through its monumentality, regularity, distinction and size. The contrasting interior, with an "ample and spectacular configuration that is very well contained" (architect Nicolae Lascu), is suited to the esthetic and functional needs of a central bank at the end of the 19th century. It is the first important bank building in Bucharest, the most imposing building of a financial institution, which can be compared with other great constructions of the time in European capitals. 
The National Bank of Romania The Old Palace now museum click for more info
Carturesti Carusel bookstore in 19th century building
Click to see more: Carturesti Carusel Bookstore
Dacia Palace what would become the Jewish Holocaust Museum...
Elie Wiesel, Nobel Prize winner and Holocaust surviver who died on July 2, 2016 was also Romanian born.
By the way, Bucharest has its first female mayor: Gabriela Firera.

The C.E.C. Palace comes in view again and that's where we get back onto our bus.
Palace of the Parliament, mind you only part of its right sight!!!
The People's Salvation Cathedral an Eastern Orthodox Church
This is still under construction and will become the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Romanian Orthodox Church.
It is the tallest and largest Orthodox Church in the world by volume and the 3rd in the world by area. 
The People's Salvation Cathedral in Bucharest, Romania - Tur virtual al Catedralei Mântuirii Neamului click link for a short video of how the end result of this Neo-Byzantine architecture will look like.
On November 24 of 2018, they did already the very solemn lengthy rituals The People's Cathedral in Bucharest, Romania Sanctification - Sfințirea Catedralei Mântuirii Neamului Romania
We walked here and I tried hard for capturing this HUGE Palace of Parliament without having all the cars below that are parked there... I had to crop it.
To the left, you still see the main tower of the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Romanian Orthodox Church.
Ceausescu's expansive Palace of Parliament is the largest civilian building in the world, with 3,000 rooms and 24-carat gold ceilings.
So that was our day, filled with very impressive and unique architecture.
By 16:15 the bus dropped us off at the luxurious Radisson BLU Hotel, where we took a good rest as this was a long day, especially for Pieter who was not in the best condition.

Relive 'By bus from Giurgiu to Bucharest, Romania + walk'

Our short Relive.cc video: By bus from Giurgiu to Bucharest, Romania + walk
Short Relive.cc video: Walk in Bucharest Romania, Old Center

Thank you for your visit and comment!


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