Fall 2012 - Trailcon

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TRAVELTIPS Cruising the Danube, Main, and Rhine Rivers By Dave Ambrock, Regional Manager, Western Canada, <strong>Trailcon</strong> Leasing Inc. Our boat, the Avalon Affinity. My wife, Patti, and I have always shared a love for travel. In fact, it’s partly what brought us together over 24 years ago. During this time, we have had the good fortune of seeing a number of great places in the world, but strangely enough had never taken a trip to Europe. Patti had been through Germany, Austria, and the former Yugoslavia shortly after her college years, and had mentioned to me many times that I just “have to see Vienna.” We determined that this was the year. After considering several options, we decided on a river cruise. As I am inherently lazy on vacation, I liked the idea of not having to unpack my suitcase every day, as well as having everything looked after in terms of sightseeing, meals, and travel. We booked with Avalon Waterways, and were not disappointed; the service, food, cleanliness, daily excursions, and overall organization of the entire trip were top shelf! Our trip began in Vienna, Austria, and took us through Austria, Germany, and The Netherlands. We passed through 64 locks and an equal number of bridges. Given the nature of our travel, it is not uncommon to have one or two delays along the way. Our cruise director, Sylvia Kok, did an outstanding job of juggling our itinerary to ensure we didn’t miss anything. Patti and I arrived in Vienna a couple of days 8 REPORT on TRANSPORTATION Patti and Dave exploring Henneberg Castle in Aschaffenburg. early, as we wanted to spend some extra time there. The first thing I noticed about the city was how spotless it was. In fact, all the places we visited in Austria and Germany were refreshingly clean. The old part of Vienna is very easy to get around, and a bicycle is a great way to cover the area. There are bicycle lanes throughout the Old City, and you can rent bikes at any number of depots and just drop them off them at the end of the day. The architecture in Vienna is spectacular, and I could see why Patti had always wanted to return. A couple of “must sees” are the Schönbrunn Palace and Stephansdom, Austria’s finest Gothic building. And of course, music is always in the air in the city that was once home to Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, and Schubert. Taking in a concert is one of those “when in Rome” things, and there are many options. The next part of our journey took us through the scenic Wachau Valley and to the small towns of Grein and Melk, Austria. Grein is just a little village, but you feel you could just sit down and stop there forever. The Stadtplatz (Main Square) is flanked by houses spanning the Renaissance (16th century). I would recommend visiting the Old City Hall, built in 1563 and converted into a theatre in 1790. The Benedictine Abbey in Melk, built in the 1700s, is also worth a visit.
Don’t forget the wine! The Rhine, Main (pronounced “Mein”), and wine go hand in hand. There are vineyards all across the countryside. The mild climate and loamy soil of the Wachau Valley and surrounding regions ensure that the wines of lower Austria are remarkably good. Our next stop was Salzburg, the city of music and home of “The Sound of Music.” It’s also the birthplace of Mozart, although we were told by one of our guides that he once referred to it as “The Piss Pot of Europe.” The gardens throughout the city are spectacular. The Festung Hohensalzburg, Europe’s largest 11th century fortress, is the main attraction. We can’t agree with Mozart; Salzburg was one of our favorites. On to Regensburg, Germany. In 1517, Maximilian I remarked that Regensburg surpassed every German city in terms of outstanding and vast buildings. It boasts more than 1,300 listed buildings of historical interest, and the whole of the Old City has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Steinerne Brücke, a medieval stone bridge built from 1135-46, is probably the most photographed spot in Regensburg. Don’t forget the beer and sausages, a staple in all of Bavaria – and the rest of Germany, for that matter. Our next disembarkation was at Nuremberg. Allied Forces heavily bombed the city during World War II, and as a result, many significant structures are now gone. However, there are still a number of attractions that are worth the time – for instance, Kaiserburg, the former Imperial Castle, which offers great views over the city, as well as the Emperor’s Chapel and Gothic Palace. And don’t forget the beer! Bamberg, like Grein, was one of those places that begs the question: “Can we just stay here” While parts of Franconia are famous for their wines, the area around Bamberg is known for its beer. The city itself houses 10 independent breweries producing 30 different ales, the most notable being Rauchbier (“smoked beer”), an almost black beer that has a hint of bacon flavor. As you’re wandering through the Old City, you will invariably come to Altes Rathaus, Bamberg’s Old City Hall, finished in 1440. Another great photo op is “Little Venice,” a fisherman’s village on the west side of the Regnitz River. Altes Rathaus, Bamberg’s Old City Hall, finished in 1440. IF YOU GO TRAVELTIPS Iwould highly recommend Avalon Waterways (www. avalonwaterways.com); everything was first rate. That being said, you learn as you go. By chance, we had an opportunity to board one of the Scenic Cruise Lines (www.scenictours.com) boats, and were very impressed. They are a little higher end, and apparently cost about 30% more for the equivalent tour. All of the boats are small, ranging from 135 to 165 passengers. There were no kids on our boat, and there really isn’t a lot for them to do on board. The Rivers cruises tend to be a couples tour, and are dominated by the 50-70 set. If you’re looking for some nightlife, this won’t be your cup of tea. But if you want a history lesson and have an interest in architecture, I can think of no better way to get a taste of Europe. Lastly, take a good pair of walking shoes or sneakers, as there are cobblestones and jagged stairways everywhere. If I can provide further information, feel free to e-mail me at dambrock@trailcon.com. Würzburg was the next stop on our itinerary. Marienberg Fortress, which reflects a building history dating from around 1200, is a must see, as is the Residenz of the Prince Bishop, completed in 1790. There was no expense spared on this gem! One of the optional excursions we took was to the town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Massive stone walls studded with 42 towers surround the city. You can walk along the top of the walls for some great views down below. It is considered the best preserved medieval town in Germany, and fortunately escaped the bombing raids of WWII. My main reason for choosing this particular tour was the Rhine Gorge. The stretch of the Middle Rhine Valley between Mainz and Koblenz boasts some 38 castles. I personally counted about 28, and I can Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna. assure you my digital photo collection increased dramatically over this part of the trip. Around every bend in the river it seemed another fortress hove into view. It was without question one of the most interesting places I’ve ever seen. We had a chance to tour Rheinfels Castle in Sankt Goar, started in 1245 and developed through the 15th century, and Henneberg Castle in Aschaffenburg. Our excursion ended in Amsterdam, the “Venice of the North.” Amsterdam sees itself as a city of tolerance and diversity, and one walk through the famous “Red Light District” explains everything. A boat trip along the Grachten is one of the best ways to see the historic buildings lining the famous canals. Bicycles are the favorite mode of transportation, with over one million of them owned by 780,000 inhabitants. The Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum are great places to spend an afternoon. Our only regret was that we didn’t have as much time in Amsterdam as we needed. Ah, well – an excuse to go back! FALL <strong>2012</strong> – Volume No. 51 9
Page 1 and 2: Report on Transportation Presented
Page 3 and 4: I am fortunate to live in Caledon,
Page 5 and 6: PITCHING IN Trailcon awards student
Page 7: CUSTOMER CONNECTION WASTECO Putting
Page 11 and 12: Among other changes, the annual roa
Page 13 and 14: FOR YOUR INFO Site-seeing Epic gram
Page 15 and 16: BOYS TOYS AND THEIR Trailcon’s Mi

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