Retired Nomads Part 4: Reims, France & Luxembourg American Cemetery, Luxembourg to Cochem, Germany

Monday, July 7

We had our last breakfast at the hotel and boarded the bus to what was supposed to be Trier, Germany where the ship was docked. However, a few days prior another ship hit one of the gates in the locks and no ships were transiting. Instead, we were meeting the Viking Hild in Cochem, which was to be our second stop. It added an hour and a half to our already 9-hour bus trip. We did have a few stops along the way.

The Viking Hild is identical to the Viking Kadlin that we took on the Eastern European cruise last year. All of Viking's Longships are identical. The big plus on Viking and it is adults only and they do include one tour in each port. There are almost always additional tours you can book should you choose. She holds 190 guests, 53 crew and is 443 feet long.

Last time we booked a French balcony (like a sliding glass window) and were upgraded to a full balcony which provided way more square footage actually in the cabin. We won't book the French balcony again since it was so cramped.

The bus ride was amusing in that we were told that the light won't turn on in the onboard bathroom. However, when I tried the door, it wouldn't open. Several guys on the bus tried to get it open and the guide didn't have a key. Of course, knowing it was broken everyone needed to use it. The guide made a short stop at a gas station and the door was broken into by one of the pax. So, the light worked, and the door shut but didn't lock.

Our first stop was Reims, France where we took the walking tour and then had lunch on our own. The rain continued to nag us. (gentle to hard at times) We visited the Reims Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which pays homage to the fallen US soldiers of World War II. It was a beautiful Gothic cathedral with lovely stained-glass windows designed by Marc Chagall and other more modern ones. (13th through 20th centuries)

It was pouring rain so we skipped the outside and went inside to visit that first in hopes it would calm down. I'm sure the stained-glass windows would have been really pretty if there had been some sunshine, but when you travel, you get what you get.

flower by the bus

astronomical clock

north rose window

The Gallery of Kings is composed of 56 statues standing above the central portal.

walking to lunch - only light rain

this is the napkin since it started pouring and impossible to get a photo of the restaurant

warm goat cheese salad with tomato, bacon & potatoes

we stopped for a pastry

The cathedral from the souvenir store door

We met the bus and proceeded to the Luxembourg American Cemetery which has 5,073 US soldiers who lost their lives, including General George S. Patton laid to rest here. As we arrived the sky decided to open up and it was a torrential downpour. I did manage to grab a few photos. As we were leaving it started to clear.

white stone chapel

General Patton's grave

a small portion of the cemetery

We continued on to Cochem in the pouring rain. We arrived in time for dinner and the Welcome Aboard where I rediscovered the Kir Royal. Crème de cassis is a blackcurrant liqueur mixed with a dry Champagne or other sparkling wine. They were passing those out as one of the choices of welcome drinks.