Photo diary of my Rhine River Cruise

The Rhine valley seems to hold a romantic fascination, with picturesque castles perched on high rocky points, built in the Middle Ages by princes who gathered enormous wealth by taxing the traffic passing along the Rhine River. On my recent Rhine river cruise with Lüftner Cruises, I kept a photo diary by posting pictures from my iPhone to my Instagram, Facebook and Twitter accounts.

Our journey took from Basel in Switzerland, the city of public sculptures and fountains where we embarked the Amadeus Princess, which took us to the city of Strasbourg where we learned how the local people have lived for centuries with the uncertainty of whether they would be citizens of France one week or citizens of Germany the next. We enjoyed our visit to a family run vineyard where we tasted a few different Alsace wines with a view over the vineyards behind the property. Next stop was Speyer where we found the crypt in the cathedral where many of the kings and emperors of Germany are buried and had a look around the famous university town of Heidelberg with the ruined castle on the hill.

At Rüdesheim we were charmed by the organs and music boxes in the Music Museum before the boat sailed down the stretch of the Middle Rhine that is known for the castles and the Loreley rock, where the beautiful siren’s song may distract the unwary sailor. At Koblenz we found that while Brussels has its Manneken Pis, this town has a fountain of a spitting boy that has become its symbol. A detour along the Mosel river took us to Cochem where we visited another of those picturesque castles on the hill and borrowed bikes from the Amadeus Princess for a cycle along the river. Finally our journey ended in Cologne, where we visited the famous cathedral, with a sweet ending at the chocolate museum. While we had to get back to work, the ship continued to Amsterdam with views of the windmills and a cruise on the city canals.

To enjoy my instagram photo diary below, hover over each photo for my commentary. If can’t see the photos, click here to view them on my blog.

For more stories from our Rhine River Cruise

While I was on our Rhine River Cruise I also posted a daily account of our journey at the Online Travel Journal – Read my 6 part series on Cruising the Rhine.

My thanks to Lüftner Cruises who hosted my Rhine River Cruise – Lüftner Cruises specialise in European river cruises on the Rhine, Danube, Rhône and other destinations in Europe, with personal service and Austrian hospitality. You can also follow them on their Facebook Page. I travelled on the Amadeus Princess on a 7 day Classical Rhine Cruise which travelled from Basel to Amsterdam, although we disembarked at Cologne.

This article by Heather Cowper is originally published at Heatheronhertravels.com - Read more travel articles at Travel Blog Home

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The Delights of Dalyan: Family Fun in Turkey

Turkey is great as a holiday destination, as it’s very accessible, but there are still parts of the country that are off the beaten tourist path. The area around Dalyan, not far from Dalaman on the Turquoise Coast, is one of those parts. Plan a Turkish family holiday and you’ll have a wonderfully relaxing and unforgettably fun time. Here are five things to do on a holiday in Dalyan:

Get muddy

Mud, mud, glorious mud. There’s nothing quite like it for improving your skin tone and keeping the kids entertained. The area around Dalyan is probably best known for its unique sulphur mud baths. Turks and tourists alike flock to the natural pools to cover themselves in the stuff, and take ridiculous photos, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to wallow in goo.

Go white-water rafting

There’s no family bonding exercise quite as effective as the experience of being utterly terrified together. But don’t worry, in reality, white-water rafting isn’t actually scary when you’re with one of the professional guides that manage the trips in the mountains behind Dalyan. Sign up for an afternoon adventure, and you’re bound to have fun. You might even succeed in exhausting the kids enough that you’ll manage to squeeze in a civilised grown-up evening.

See baby turtles

As if the unspoilt Iztuzu beach wasn’t enough of an attraction by itself, it also plays home to lots of turtles, and even a turtle hospital to look after any poorly ones. If you’re lucky enough to be there at the right time of the year, you’ll get the chance to see the babies on the beach. But in any season, the turtle hospital makes a great visit, with lots of information and enthusiastic staff to teach you and the children all about the life of the native turtles.

Visit 12 islands in a day

This special boat trip leaves from the port of Göcek, just near Dalyan, and fills the day with island hopping. You’ll see all sorts of interesting sights, from caves and coves to mini-islands, and you’ll get plenty of chance to relax, soak up the sun, and appreciate the scenery. Don’t forget your snorkeling gear, as the sea life is well worth investigating. Trips usually include lunch and drinks on the boat, too, so it’s a real stress-free experience.

Explore some ancient history

It’s not only history buffs who will appreciate the magnificence of the ancient ruins of Kaunos. The hill top site is accessed by a short boat trip from Dalyan, and a bit of a climb, but it’s worth it. See the rock tombs, a Byzantine basilica, a Roman bath, and the ruins of a large Roman theatre. Then, on the way back down, stop off at one of the little stands lining the path where locals sell lemon and pomegranate juice for a refreshing break.

This article is brought to you by Monarch who offer flights, package holidays, city breaks and hotels to Europe’s top destinations.

More Turkish tales
A sun-soaked coastal holiday on the Turkish Riviera
Visit the Kozak Mountains on a Day Trip from Dikili Turkey
Sightseeing in luxury in Istanbul

This article is originally published at Heatheronhertravels.com - Read more travel articles at Travel Blog Home

You’ll also find our sister blog with tips on how to build a successful travel blog at My Blogging Journey

 Don’t miss out – subscribe to Heather on her travels

A day out in Barcelona for the family

Barcelona is a fantastic place to go as a couple for a city break but there are also a wide range of great attractions and activities that are fun for the whole family. From theme parks and zoos, to museums and breathtaking sights, you are guaranteed a family holiday to remember in Barcelona.

Tibidabo Mountain – more than just the Amusement Park

Take a train from the city centre and then change to the Tramvia Blau tram to take you halfway up the Tibidabo Mountain. Taking a funicular train from the halfway point to the top, you will find the Tibidabo Amusement Park waiting for you on the summit. Before introducing the family to the rides and mayhem inside the gates, take some time to enjoy the gorgeous views of Barcelona from the top of the mountain. There is also a beautiful church to explore at the summit, which is well worth a peek before the amusement park. Take the Tibidabo Sky Walk, which offers stunning surroundings and views, and was the location Woody Allen chose for filming ‘Vicky Cristina Barcelona’.

The amusement park itself is over a hundred years old, making it one of the oldest in the world. Aside from the obvious theme park attractions: rides, restaurants, picnic sites, Tibadabo Amusement Park also features the curious Automaton Museum, which contains some fascinating examples of late 19th century and early 20th century automata. The exhibits in the museum are in excellent condition and the collection is widely acknowledged as amongst the finest in the world. You can easily spend a full day at the summit of Tibidabo, however don’t lose track of the park closing time or you could face substantial queues for the return journey downhill, or worse, find yourself stranded at the top of a mountain!

Hands-on science and historical experiences

Barcelona has plenty standard city attractions, such as the aquarium at Port Vell and the nearby IMAX cinema. At the aquarium, children may be able to engage in ‘Sleeping with Sharks’. This is an event where 8-12 year old kids are given the chance to spend the night at the aquarium, following a programme of educational activities. The Cosmocaixa Science Museum features an outstanding recreation of the Amazonian rainforest ecosystem, with piranhas, crocodiles and other animal and plant species. Kids will also go wild for the Museu de la Xocolata (Chocolate Museum), which, alongside learning about chocolate’s cultural and historical impact, features activities and workshops for a more hands-on experience of the sweet stuff!

More out of the ordinary attractions include the fascinating Poble Espanyol, a real village comprising of a range of streets and squares, free of traffic and surrounded by lush greenery. The Poble Espanyol is an open-air museum, with full-scale replicas of 117 buildings from different parts of Spain. The Poble was built on Montjuïc Mountain, for the 1929 International Exhibition. In addition to an engaging experience of authentic Spanish architecture, the Poble Espanyol also comprises over 40 arts and crafts workshops selling one-off signature pieces. The ‘Poble for Kids’ programme organises activities such as performances and interactive workshops for children.

To feast kids’ eyes as much as their minds, take them up to the observation deck of the Mirador-Collserola Tower, 560m above sea level. From there, it is possible to see 70km views of Barcelona. However, you will need to pre-book a taxi to get there. It is worth asking your Barcelona airport transfer taxi driver when you arrive about how much they’d charge to get you to the tower. For a short drive, the views make the experience utterly worthwhile.

Breathtaking views

And, if it’s views you’re after, you could do much worse than visiting the Montjuïc Magic Fountain, at the end of Avinguda Reina Maria Cristina, during one of the famous displays. During the spring and summer, displays take place every Thursday to Sunday night, from 9-11:30pm (Fri and Sat 7-9pm in winter). The displays are absolutely spectacular: moving water jets, lit in a shifting spectrum of colour, synchronised with light and music. Sometimes, the displays are accompanied by large firework displays, making the spectacle all the more breathtaking.

These are just a few ideas for the myriad ways you and your family can enjoy Barcelona. There are few cities in the world as vibrant, safe and engaging as Barcelona, where a new adventure is around every corner.

This article is brought to you by Holiday Taxis and Holiday Transfers, offering top quality airport transfer service from thousands of destinations at an affordable price.

Photo credits: Barcelona Tbidabo by Shaun Woods, Barcelona Cosmocaixa Science Museum by Wojtek Gurak, Poble Espanyol de Montjuic by gadgetdan, Collserola Tower by Oh-Barcelona.com, and Barcelona Montjuïc Magic Fountain by Christian Baudet.

For more info on Barcelona

Montjuïc in Barcelona – the hill that has it all
Barcelona: Portal to the Fantasy World of Gaudi

This article is originally published at Heatheronhertravels.com - Read more travel articles at Travel Blog Home

You’ll also find our sister blog with tips on how to build a successful travel blog at My Blogging Journey

 Don’t miss out – subscribe to Heather on her travels

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