Scribbles and Smiles by J Christina: Uniworld Boutique River Ship Cruises

Showing posts with label Uniworld Boutique River Ship Cruises. Show all posts

1/13/2020

Is European River Cruising really all that?

Welcome! Join our journey to postcard perfect destinations.

Having traveled on the great rivers of Europe for 18 years there are few journeys more endearing than slowly plying Europe’s waterways, on-board a specialty designed river ship. Sailing these great rivers of Europe, including the delightful Danube, the mighty Rhine, river Rhône, and the romantic Seine; is simply a one-of-a-kind bespoke experience with Uniworld Boutique River Cruises.

Douro River Valley

Embarking on a river cruise allows travelers to step-off into the heart of great historical cities steeped in tradition, with grace and anticipation. Intrepid travelers dream of being up-close and personal with iconic landmarks, flower-laced villages, and picturesque hamlets, all lying within steps of their boutique river ship. With river cruising you will experience vistas and landmarks that some only glimpse on postcards. So simply put – yes, European river cruising is all that!

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6/19/2017

Charismatic Bernkastel-Kues, Germany

Bernkastel-Kues is an attractive little twin town in the Moselle Valley, halfway between Cochem and Trier, Germany. In the early 20th century, Bernkastel on the right bank was merged with Kues on the left bank along the Moselle River.

Our river ship, the River Queen set sail from Trier, on Sunday June 18, 2017, at 1:00p.m. and arrived in Bernkastel, Germany at 9:00p.m. and will remain in port overnight. We began Monday, June 19, 2017, with a village walking tour. Our guide, Marita is the daughter of a winemaker and she lives in the town of Kues, which is directly across the Moselle River from Bernkastel.

Looking across to Kues, Germany

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6/16/2017

The Grand Duchy: Luxembourg City, Luxembourg

The River Queen arrives in Trier, Germany at 1:00p.m. on Saturday, June 17, 2017 and will remain in dock overnight. Where we will visit Luxembourg American Cemetery and also a walking tour of Trier, Germany - birthplace of Karl Marx.

Luxembourg is officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and is a landlocked country in western Europe. It is bordered by Belgium to the west and north, Germany to the east, and France to the south. Its capital, Luxembourg City, is together with Brussels and Strasbourg one of the three official capitals of the European Union and the seat of the European Court of Justice, the highest juridical authority in the EU.

A grand duchy is a country or territory whose official head of state or ruler is a monarch bearing the title of grand duke or grand duchess.

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6/13/2017

Cologne Cathedral: Cologne Germany

Uniworld’s River Queen departed Amsterdam at 1:00p.m. on Tuesday, June 13, 2017. To begin our 24-hours of sailing, gliding southbound, on the Rhine River. At about 6:00a.m. we pass Dusseldorf, Germany and reach our destination of Cologne, Germany at 12 noon, on Wednesday, June 14, 2017. From the ship's sundeck, we begin to see Cologne Cathedral - where the twin spires soar 157meters high.

Our ship docks on the banks of the Rhine and within walking distance of all to see-and-do in Cologne. We begin with a guided-walking tour of Old Town Cologne and with a visit to the Cologne Cathedral. Also know as, the High Cathedral of St. Peter, an iconic landmark, along with a self-guided tour in the Museum Ludwig. The cathedral, in 1996 was named a UNESCO world heritage site, retains many original treasures.

The cathedral suffered fourteen hits by aerial bombs during the war. However, It did not collapse, but stood tall in an otherwise flattened city. The twin spires are said to have been used as an easily recognizable navigational landmark by Allied aircraft which may be a reason that the cathedral was not entirely destroyed.

Inside are the relics of the Magi in the reliquary and other sacred figures. The bones of the Magi arrived, wrapped in first century Syrian silk. King Otto placed gold crowns on the skulls of all three of the wise men. Analysis has revealed that one skeleton is of an old man, one of middle-age, and the third of a young man. And this coincides with legend, that the Magi were about ages 60-, 40-, and 20-years old. The Star of Bethlehem is, understandably, an important motif in the Cathedral.

Cologne Cathedral-High Cathedral of Saint Peter

On 15 August 1248 Archbishop Konrad Hochstaden laid the foundation stone for a new Cologne Cathedral

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6/12/2017

Welcome Aboard: Uniworld's River Queen

Welcome Aboard! Today we embark on Uniworld's boutique river ship the River Queen in Amsterdam. Where we will enjoy the next 13 days cruising the mighty Rhine and meandering Moselle rivers. While quietly gliding out of the Netherlands and on to magical destinations, we will admire the riverscapes along five European nations. With daily ports-of-call in Germany, Luxembourg, France, and reaching our final destination ashore in Basel, Switzerland.

Travel with us by boutique river ship, on foot, motorcoach and private transport, while immersing ourselves in the best these regions have to offer. We invite you to travel with ease, grace and anticipation to places some only glimpse on a postcard.

Have your creative passport stamped and lean into a daydream.... through our words, images and experiences on-board our elegant and stylish European river ship. Bon Voyage!

About J. Christina:

J. Christina is the founder, travel writer and hobbyist photographer behind Scribbles and Smiles. Christina (Christie) is married to John, a.k.a. Mr. Christie. Where Mr. Christie is right on-board with their travel jaunts around the world - sharing in their blogging endeavors. He supports, encourages, handles gadgetry and embraces the role of assistant - hence, their bespoke pen name, J. Christina.

After many years of intrepid travel, they thoughtfully opened their treasure-trove of European travelogues, artfully sharing with a worldwide audience. Intentionally sharing the joie de vivre through their words and images, so others can travel vicariously. J. Christina believes smiling with your eyes is a beautiful thing.

You can read their most recent dispatches from aboard an elegant European river ship, sharing the allure of Europe’s great rivers and their capital cities. Or, follow them through serendipitous discoveries in the Cote d’Azur, where J. Christina captures the essence of two perched medieval villages, Gorbio and Saint Agnes.

J. Christina’s work has been featured on France Today, Bonjour Paris, The Good Life France, and Perfectly Provence.

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5/01/2017

Every Traveler's Dream: European River Cruising

Few journeys are more endearing than traveling on Europe’s rivers. Embarking on a one-of-a-kind European river cruise allows travelers to step-off into the heart of great European cities, with ease, grace and anticipation. Every traveler dream of being up-close and personal to iconic landmarks, flower-laden villages, and picturesque hamlets. With European river cruising you will experience vistas and sights that some only glimpse on postcards.

Pont de Pierre - Bordeaux, France - Garonne River

Seventeen magnificent arches - one arch for every letter in Napoléon Bonaparte. Connecting the left and right banks of the Garonne River, commissioned by Napoléon and inaugurated in 1822, the first bridge ever built in Bordeaux.

J. Christina has followed this traveler’s dream now for more than a decade. “With cruises down the plentiful and enchanting rivers of Europe, including her most recent along Bordeaux’s alluring Garonne and Dordogne and the not-to-be missed, gleaming waters of Portugal’s Douro River.” Where indulging in the sample, sip, and stroll among some of the world’s greatest vineyards and river destinations.

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4/27/2017

Way of St. James - Le Chemin de St. Jacques de Compostelle

The Scallop Shell and the Camino de Santiago

As we traveled through Spain and Portugal, the historical bronze scalloped shell was always prevalent in signaling the way to the Way of St. James Pilgrimage route. If we looked closely, we would find the emblem embedded in sidewalks, buildings and fountains leading the way to Santiago de Compostela.

In Bordeaux, France, we discovered the same historical markers throughout the city, guiding pilgrims on their journey to reach Le Chemin de St. Jacques de Compostelle - in northwestern Spain.

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4/12/2017

Porto, Portugal: The Real Port Wine Town

Porto is considered the real Port wine town in Portugal where port wine tastings rooms are plentiful. Historic port wine producers; store their wines in caves, aging tanks, and tasting rooms along the waterside docks in Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia. Signs emblazed the rooftops and upper deck areas along the riverbanks, advertising the Vintner's wines and tasting rooms. It’s remarkable - the voyage of the grapes, from the steep, hot terraces of the Douro region, to being transported down to Vila Nova de Gaia, where it is aged and fortified into wine in the maritime climate before being shipped around the world.

Tuk-Tuk rides in Porto, Portugal

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4/09/2017

Pinhão is the Best Kept Secret in Portugal

Pinhão is the best kept secret in Portugal. One main attraction is the Pinhão train station showcasing the perfect example of Azulejo (aZHəˈlāˌhō) tiles. A decorative, hand painted ceramic tile-introduced into Portugal by the Moors, around 1500. There are 37 Azulejo tiles in the Pinhão train station, created in 1937 - using the traditional blue and white ceramic art design. All telling the story of grape harvests, and depicting scenes of the Douro Valley wine region and landscape...documenting the history of the country.

Pinhão offers postcard perfect views, mountains that reach 3000’ high and fall right right-back down into the riverbed-terraced vineyards, with lush green grapevines; along with romantic and rustic country houses spotted on the hillsides.

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6/15/2016

Welcome to our travels in Spain, Portugal & Bordeaux, France - June 2016

With great pleasure, J. Christina would like to share the jewels of Spain, Portugal and the Douro River valley wine region with our readers. We enjoyed an outstanding month of travel: on foot, river ship, motorcoach and private transport to places that will linger in our memories forever. We had the great privilege to wake up each day to vistas that some only glimpse on a postcard. Therefore, we invite you to travel vicariously through our images and travel journals at Scribbles and Smiles.

Follow J. Christina on the second half of every traveler’s dream by exploring southwest France - one ancient village at-a-time. Join us as we cruise on the Garonne River and wind through picturesque hamlets, stroll beautiful cobblestone streets, sip regional wines, and climb to the tippy-top of medieval ramparts. Follow J. Christina through Spain, Portugal and France in this series 2016

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5/31/2016

Visiting Madrid, Spain - 2016

We have arrived in the Spanish-speaking city of Madrid, Spain. This is our first stop in our month long journey in Spain, Portugal and France. Continue to travel with us vicariously and enjoy smiling with your eyes. J. Christina will continue to blog and post images for your enjoyment during this series of travels 2016.

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4/13/2016

Stavropoulos Church - Bucharest, Romania

Reflecting on Bucharest, Romania -2015

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11/07/2015

Istanbul,Turkey: Blue Mosque - Hagia Sophia

Ceiling inside Blue Mosque

Hagia Sophia is a former Christian patriarchal basilica, later an imperial mosque, and now a museum in Istanbul, Turkey

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11/05/2015

Giurgiu & Bucharest, Romania

Bucharest, Romania

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Rousse, Arbanasi & Veliko Bulgaria

Stunning beauty performing Folklore Dances during our visit to Rousse, Arbanasi & Veliko, Bulgaria

16th Century icons - Church of the Archangels Michael and Gabriel - Church of the Nativity of Christ in Arbanasi, Bulgaria - follow our day in Rousse, Arbanasi & Veliko, Bulgaria

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11/02/2015

Vidin, Bulgaria - Uniworld European River Cruise

Belogradchik Rock Formations - follow our journey to Vidin, Bulgaria

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10/28/2015

St. Matthias Church - Budapest, Hungary

St. Matthias is a Roman Catholic church located in Budapest, Hungary- in front of the Fisherman's Bastion and at the heart of Buda's Castle District. A restoration project at St. Matthias Church has recently been completed and it is spectacular! On the roof are 150,000 Zsolnay porcelain tiles which form the artistic patterns. Zsolnay Porcelain factory was family owned in the city of Mohἁcs - but was taken away during WWII. In current day it is owned by a Japanese group and tiles are still designed and handcrafted. read more about Zsolnay Porcelain here