Going, Going...

Köln-Düsseldorfer (KD), largest operator of day cruises on the Rhine River, offers roundtrip cruises on its ships like this one, MS Godesburg; winter cruises on the Rhine are rare but sightseeing cruises are popular during Advent and Christmas season, for instance this very evening, New Year's Eve: Christmas Day is is the First Day of Christmas, tonight the 7th Day of Christmas!

 

To all who visit and view, and – especially – express support and satisfaction: you are much appreciated!

 

Die Godesburg, ein Dreideck-Fahrgastschiff mit einem Salon im geschlossenen Hauptdeck, wurde im Jahr 1994 durch die De Hoop-Werft in Rijnwaarden unter der Baunummer 361 gebaut

 

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Rhine River – Album Description – Mainz, Germany – 2017DEC31:

 

I was super thrilled to get a river view room!

 

The Rhine glistened New Year’s Eve, day/night, 6 floors below.

 

I saw two events from my window, a River Plunge & fireworks!

 

My photo favorites: cruise boats docking/leaving, & solar halo.

 

The best of 1121 photos on this layover are in an 8-album set:

 

• Mainz, Germany – 2017DEC31 – Rhine River

• Mainz, Germany – 2017DEC31 – River Plunge

• Mainz, Germany – 2017DEC31 – Old Minster Church

• Mainz, Germany – 2017DEC31 – Shopping Centers

• Mainz, Germany – 2017DEC31 – St. Quentin's Church

• Mainz, Germany – 2017DEC31 – Market

• Mainz, Germany – 2017DEC31 – City Hall!

• Mainz, Germany – 2017DEC31 – New Year's Eve

 

Enjoy this 8% of the 393 Rhine River photos I took here today!

 

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New Year's Eve – Album Description – Mainz, Germany – 2017DEC31:

 

My New Year's Eve layover in Mainz!

 

We took off early (scheduled 1645/actual 1638) and arrived in Frankfurt, Germany, early (scheduled 0115/actual 0044), for our 2720 layover, 20 minutes longer than our scheduled 27 hours.

 

At the crew hotel I got a river view room! Unusual! I ran a hot bath and hopped in the tub; suddenly hotel guests opened my door and came into my room! In the unexpected excitement of getting a rare river view, I forgot to lock and latch my door!

 

After my nap I eagerly headed up the hill past the "Sun" where Joe and I ate Christmas Eve dinner with 7 other crewmembers a week ago to the Old Minster Church for their New Year's Eve 5:00 p.m. service; I learned of it from their pastor, my friend Hendrik Maskus. Heartwarming! Flute teacher Katrin Schild played beautiful duets, accompanied by Makoto Mikawa. She said to bring my flute for us to play duets this coming year!

 

Meandering back to the crew hotel I paused to admire some lovely Christmas lights and decorations along the way.

 

 

My room faced the hotel elevators, just a mere few feet away: after loud fireworks, waves of late-night revelers spilled out of those elevators sharing volumes of celebratory experiences.

 

Several hours later our full flight took off, and we crossed the southern tip of Greenland, arriving 33 minutes early, at 1352; at home I greeted Joe, whom I saw last year (48 hours prior)!

 

When Joe got up the next morning at 7 here it was 7⁰F (-14⁰C).

 

Hope you enjoy this 9.7% of 1121 photos I took here this day!

Done