Uniworld Christmas Market Cruise in Germany, December 2016

A cruise on the Main River from Nuremberg to Frankfurt Germany from December 19-26, 2016

I got an offer from Uniworld that I could not refuse.  The cruise fare was cheaper then the airfare.

December 18-19, 2016 - Frankfurt, Germany

I arrived in Frankfut a day early and walked through their Christmas Market.  I didn't realize that almost every city in Europe has these markets leading up to Christmas.

Frankfurt train station - I can't pass up a train station picture

I was lucky that the exchange rate to euros was still low, about $1.04

The Frankfurt Christmas Market

Candy at the market

Cookies at the market

Love locks on the bridge

Main square in Frankfurt

December 20, 2016 - Nuremberg, Germany

In the morning I took a city tour and then visited the Christmas Market.  We did pass the famous Nuremberg Courthouse where the WWII trials were held.  I was shocked to hear how few were punished.

Cookie in Nuremberg

Jewish stars in Nuremberg

Protector of the city

December 21, 2016 - Bamberg, Germany

Today we did a walking tour of the old town, ending at the Christmas Market.

Trimmed Linden trees

The roofs of Bamberg

December 22, 2016 - Rothenburg, Germany

Today we docked in Kitzingan, Germany and took a motor coach to Rothenburg, where we spent the entire day.  This is a preserved walled medieval city.  We returned to the ship in Wurzburg.

Rothenburg's famous Snow Balls - sweet crumbly pastry

The town center

My knight in shining armor

The town hall

The wall surrounding the city

The walkway on the wall

December 23, 2016 - Wurzburg, Germany

We started our tour at the Wurzburg Residence, which was completely destroyed during WWII.  Millions were spent to reconstruct the building.  Most of the furnishings had been hidden during the war.

Wurzburg Palace

Cute art

December 24, 2016 - Wertheim, Germany

No more Christmas Markets, yesterday was the final sale.

Here is a leaning tower in Wertheim.  I guess my picture made it worse.

The original entrance door was on the left, but the street was raised due to flooding.

The abandoned castle on the top of the hill

A view of the river and the river boat

December 24, 2016 - Frankfurt, Germany

The cruise ended in Frankfurt, but I did take a walking tour of the city.  

European Central Bank building

Panama Canal Cruise - Los Angeles to Ft. Lauderdale - Nov/Dec 2016

Silver Whisper cruise from Los Angeles to Fort Lauderdale through the Panama Canal - November 27 - December 13, 2016

November 27-29, 2016

I joined the Silver Whisper at noon and enjoyed the day relaxing and visiting old friends.  The first two days were at sea, as we headed down the Baja Peninsula.

November 30, 2016 - Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

This is an amazing and beautiful resort town.  The weather was perfect and I took a nice long walk through the tourist area and beach.

December 2, 2016 - Acapulco, Mexico

I walked along the beach, heading to the resort area on the other side of the bay.  This is definitely a much more crowded city then Cabo San Lucas.  I enjoyed seeing the old Volkswagen Beetles.

There are 100s of these taxis on the streets in Acapulco

December 3, 2016 - Huatuico, Mexico

Today I again took a long walk, which is much easier then walking the deck 10 times per mile.

December 4, 2016 - Puerto Chiapas, Mexico

Today I took an excursion to learn how to cook Mexican.  Luckily there was no cilantro.  Well there was, but I didn't use it.

Three chefs - Tom, Stephanie and me

December 6, 2016 - Puntarenas, Costa Rica

Today I walked to the end of this resort island.  Since it was a weekday, it was deserted.  I here it is packed on the weekends.

Looking up the beach from the cruise pier.

December 8, 2016 - Crossing the Panama Canal

We started in the Pacific where Panama City is located.  We traveled the entire day across Lake Gatun.  We ended in Colon, on the Atlantic side.  You take three locks to get to the lake, and then three more down to get back to sea level.

I did get a glimpse of a large cargo ship going through the new canal, but we used the older one.

This was my third time in the canal and I've seen it many times from the shore.

Entering the Panama Canal

Looking at the new canal

Casting the lines to this small row boat

Going through the locks

December 9-10, 2016 - Cartegena, Colombia

I was in Cartegena many, many years ago and did not recognize anything.  In the morning I had a very relaxing massage.  Then I walked through the walled city.

Tower on the wall surrounding the old city