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We
are now quite used to travelling to the Rhineland but each trip is different to
the last. This time we had a very early start and required two coaches for the
largest group yet to travel on holiday with The Sheppey Organ Club. We got away
on time, no forgotten passports and no late comers, a smooth ferry crossing to
Calais and then the first problem - a long delay before the ship could berth,
putting us well behind schedule. The journey to Cologne was uneventful but
where was the ship? Eventually the ship was found but we were late and the
captain was not happy! However, once on board we soon forgot the earlier
setbacks.
The ship, the Victoria Amazonica, was very comfortable, beautifully furnished
and spotlessly clean. The food excellent and the service efficient. At least
most of us thought so! After dinner on our first night we enjoyed the company of
our friends in the lounge/bar and danced until quite late. The ship's resident
musician soon had us in party mode.
Our excursion to Burg Eltz on Sunday morning was most enjoyable and many of the
group walked from the coach down the steep road to the castle and were rewarded
with some really spectacular photo opportunities. The castle is a gothic
masterpiece and beautifully preserved.
After lunch we moved on to Cochem, a delightful town on the Moselle with many
timbered buildings, narrow streets and picturesque squares. The ship was to meet
us in mid-afternoon but it’s non-arrival gave us some concern. In fact the delay
was due to the time taken to pass through some of the locks. The commercial
traffic takes precedence. We were to experience similar delays at a number of
the locks on following days.
Sunday night was party night with Jean Martyn providing the music. We had a
great evening and a visit by three Irish leprechauns proved to be entertaining.
On Monday we continued our cruise through the majestic beauty of the Moselle
valley, some of us just enjoying the scenery, others playing deck games on the
sun deck. Before lunch there was musical entertainment in the lounge with Keith
Pilbrow playing the piano accordian. The afternoon brought us to Bernkastel -
Kues, a delightful picturesque town with, like Cochem, timbered buildings,
narrow lanes and a chance to do some shopping. Back on board another splendid
dinner followed by more good fun in the bar/lounge with the ships entertainer, a
very competent Keyboard player.
Tuesday, our last day cruising, took us to the ancient Roman town of Trier. The
town is an open air museum and Roman remains are everywhere to be seen. We
arrived early in the afternoon which allowed plenty of time in which to explore
the city, a mixture of ancient and modern and quite unique outside Italy.
Our last dinner together on board was a candlelit affair and most enjoyable,
putting us in the mood for the party which was to follow. The fancy dress theme
was “Pirates and the Caribbean”. Some of the costumes were very exotic, grass
skirts and flowers, while others concealed the identity of the wearer totally.
Jean Martyn was completely unrecognisable! But we had a problem which although
not spoiling the party for most of us proved to be of great concern to Colin.
The ship was required to move from Trier to an overnight berth which proved to
be about seven kilometres out of town. The coaches could not find us and the
coaches could not be contacted. Eventually the problem was resolved and the
party ended on a high note.
Next morning our departure was uneventful and we made our way through Luxembourg
into Belgium and a two hour stay in Namur. Here we had lunch and were able to
see the sights and take more photographs.
On arrival at Calais we met another problem - the ferries were again delayed due
to the fact that not all the berths are in operation. A delay had been expected
but fortunately the delay was not as severe as it might have been. So it was
back to England with it’s yob culture, filth and bad manners.
We had enjoyed a wonderful holiday in spite of the problems which, on
reflection, were rather trivial. Thanks to Colin, Grace, Jean Martyn and Bob
Cole we had little to complain about. But some did!
Those who go on a Sheppey Organ Club holiday expecting everything to be perfect
should stay at home because it is in the nature of the beast for things to go
wrong. If you are not prepared to take petty annoyances in your stride then stay
at home. Those who go away on holiday with the club should set out to enjoy
themselves, the greater majority did on this holiday. The final word has to be
from Jean Martyn. She said that it had been a privilege to be with us on our
holiday. |
