Speyer, Germany

All aboard but on a bus 
The water levels are the lowest in a decade. The riverboat companies have had to make huge changes in their itineraries and many boats just stopped and docked for the season. Since river levels are low cargo ships with petrol can not deliver to the riverboats. Today while we were being bused for a day excursion the captain had to take the boat on a 6 hour detour to get petrol in a canal. Then we were picked up and currently the boat is turning around to go back another 6 hours to the river and then continue on the trip. Cruising past the castles on the Rhine will not be part of the trip as we will be bused to another town and picked up by another boat to continue our trip on the river. All of this is so unfortunate, but was expected. It is really staggering how much money tour boat companies are losing with cancellations and adjustments.. We are told it would have to rain 2 weeks straight to make a difference. And with winter coming the water needed to raise levels may not happen until late spring. Many compensations have been made to the passengers but then again costly for the tour companies. 
So by bus we arrived Tuesday in Speyer, Germany (a few hours from Strasbourg) 
Located beside the river Rhine. Speyer was founded by the Romans and is one of Germany's oldest cities. Speyer is dominated by the Speyer Cathedral (inside beneath the high altar, are the tombs of eight Holy Romans and German Kings), and the Altpörtel (old gate). 

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Speyer is famous for the 1529 Protestation and the invention of the German Bavarian pretzel. 

There is religious symbolism (The Trinity) attributed to the pretzel made by the monks. For more detailed information go to https://bookofthrees.com/pretzel-trinity-symbol/
We spent a lot of afternoon time exploring the huge Technik Museum  Speyer.

This technology museum is so full of items ranging from vintage boats, ships, planes, cars, bikes, musical organs, space travel and locomotives. You can purchase coins and insert them into some of the exhibits to hear the sound of the train, musical organ etc. The exhibits are both inside and outside. Some of my favorites in the vintage car section are pictured below.  And I might add all items in this museum were in mint condition.  

 My husband once owned one of these vehicles, a Karmann Ghia.

The exhibits outside - boats and planes and a Russian space shuttle were some you could actually go inside and look around. This may be the closest I will ever get to the moon. 

Next door to the Technology Museum is the Whelmsbau Museum exhibiting thousands of dolls and more musical organs and costumes from the last hundred years or so. There is also a room displayed stuffed animals.
Little time for shopping on a tour as choices have to be made about what to explore in a town. These two very fashionable items caught my attention. 

Just in case you are wondering what are the "popular " womens fashion items for locals- it's puffy quilted jackets black or blue accessorized with short skirts, black tights and boots. For men short puffy quilted jackets and the scarf still remains supreme as a staple fashion attire for men and women.  







I continue to be dazzled by the ship's food presentation. I have seen the galley and it certainly is not large by American standards to put out 125 food creations for lunch and dinner. 

Chocolate Banana Crepes with Coconut Ice Cream on a Cookie 

Veal Wellington (Puff Pastry) and Duchess Potatoes

Next Stop Baden-Baden, Germany

home to Europe's oldest casino-the most opulent stop of the trip