Still catching up from trip on the Rhine River!

 11 October 2025 - Saturday - docked in Dusseldorf, Germany, one of Germany's wealthiest cities.  

Memory stones in honor of people who died from AIDs including Freddie Mercury of the singing group "Queen".

Our hilarious local tour guide called this an ATM - and yes it looks like the statue pooped gold coins.

Great candy and we got a gift of German gummies candy made with real fruit and sugar so we tasted and got 2 large bags to bring home and of course nice Molly's girls were happy to have the bag when they popped in for a short visit after we returned.

I did walk with 2 other friends to this tower and took the elevator up for his view - got 12,000 steps this day!

12 October 2025 - Gorinchem, Netherlands - "the most beautiful fortified town in the Netherlands".  Forinchem was founded in 1000 AD, fortified in the 13th and 14th centuries and boasts the largest fully intact fort in the country.  Then Special dinner at Slot Loevestein, a 14th century castle in a nature reserve on a private island which served as a prison, residence and toll station at the strategic location where the Maas and Waal Rivers meet.

Slot Loevestein Castle where we had a reception and dinner and it is set on a nature reserve on a private island.  A 14th century medieval castle has served as a prison, residence, and toll station reigning unrivaled over its strategic location where the Maas and Wall rivers come together.

13 October 2025 - Antwerp Belgium - The capital of Flanders known for its diamond industry, major seaport and rich artistic heritage.  Endured heavy WWII damage, the city has rebuilt and is now a key center for finance and services in Northern Belgium.

I went with a few others on the tour of Royal Fine Arts Museum and Ross and several others went on the Belgian Beer tasting tour - I don't like beer!

14 October 2025 - Brussels, Belgium - last day of the tour!

City tour - and since there were protests by firefighters and others and of course street construction the bus we were on headed downtown was quite delayed - took about 1.5 hours but I must say it was a nice way to relax and gawk at people.