Behind the Iron Curtain - Day 1 in Prague

Here are some pics from our Danube

tour. First pic is of Valerie May, a

singer who came on board for some

terrific entertainment - wonderful

voice. Sorry that I didn't rotate it.

Second pic - we were really good

doobies during the cruise so we got to sit at the Captain's table for dinner the last evening on board. This pic is

of everyone at the table while the next one is of Joan rubbing shoulders

with Captain Vlad (yes he is from

Romania and no he's not related to Count Vlad - Dracula that is).

Pic 4 is one taken when we are in the lock, the water has been filled in and the gate is open so that we can head out to higher ground.

Here is Captain Vlad at the helm in the wheelhouse. We go under many bridges and some are so low that they have to lower the wheelhouse hydralically so that the wheelhouse doesn't get taken out. We were sitting on deck while going under some of these bridges and could reach up and touch the cement girders with our hands!

Here's one of Joan and me while the AMACELLO is in one of the locks. The highest lock we went through raised us 81'. We went through the 'continental divide' for the Danube during our last day then went down (lowered) during the last 4-5 locks. Celebrated the occasion with 'Blue Danube Champagne' and wind in our hair.

Here's one of Joan helping Lorenzo put things right when we were in Regensberg. He even let her work the push-button controls to bring up the gang-plank!!!

Last pic is of "Walhalla" the German Hall of Fame - celebrating people like Goethe, Wagner, Kepler, Durer, Einstein. It is built on the side of a hill out of Regensberg and barely accessible to the general public.

Arrived in Prague around 5 pm and to our hotel by 5:30. After settling in, walked over to the Charles Bridge - very famous - it was like walking into a fairytale, medieval castle - together with all of the modern tourist kiosks!! From Nuremburg, we drove to a small city (Kaelvay Vary)just into the Czech Republic where there are many hot springs with healing baths. Beautiful place - had lunch there but very little time to shop.

Will post again, with more pics in two days.

Jim and Joan