Germany

IN JANUARY MY FATHER DIED.

I MISSED HIS FUNERAL.

IN MARCH, I WENT TO SEE MY MOM & AS IT TURNS OUT, THAT WAS THE LAST TIME I SAW HER.

IT'S NOW JULY & I AM ON MY WAY TO HER FUNERAL.

BOTH LIVED TO A RIPE OLD AGE. SURVIVED A WORLD WAR AND HAVING TWO KIDS. NOT TOO BAD A LIFE.

ON THE WAY, I CALLED IN TO NEUSCHWANSTEIN CASTLE OUTSIDE MUNICH, JUST TO TAKE SOME PHOTOS FOR A FRIEND WHO LOVES CASTLES.

I DOUBT SHE WILL EVER GET TO SEE THIS ONE.

MY MUM WOULD HAVE LOVED IT TOO..

LEAVING OTTAWA & FLYING INTO MUNICH,

I TAKE PHOTOS OF McDONALDS ALL OVER THE WORLD. I MENTIONED THAT TO SOMEONE WHO SAID 'THATS GOOD, NOW YOU KNOW WHERE ALL THE CLEAN BATHROOMS ARE.'
GOOD TO GO & GOOD TO KNOW.

THIS ONE IS IN MUNICH - WITH THE NAME IN ARABIC!

MAYBE THE PIED PIPER IS AROUND HERE ..

IT IS A VERY PLEASANT TRAIN RIDE FROM MUNICH INTO THE FOOTHILLS OF THE ALPS BEFORE GETTING TO FUSSEN..

ON THE WAY BACK I WAS SEATED WITH TWO KOREAN GIRLS. ONE OF WHOM WAS JUST STUNNING. DRESSED ALL IN WHITE. THEY NODDED OFF FOR QUITE A WHILE & I WAS SO, SO TEMPTED TO TAKE THEIR PHOTO, LOOKING LIKE A PAIR OF ASIAN ANGELS.

NO - NO PICTURE..

THE GUY WHO BUILT THE CASTLE WE ARE ABOUT TO VISIT HAD THIS ONE BUILT BEFORE HAND SO HE COULD WATCH THE OTHER BEING BUILT.

HE NEVER SAW IT COMPLETED. MANAGED TO GET DROWNED.

MURDER?

ACCIDENT?

SUICIDE?

IT'S A MYSTERY.

THIS IS WHAT HE WOULD HAVE SEEN HAD HE NOT BEEN UNDER WATER AT THE TIME. NICE LITTLE PLACE..

I COULD HAVE TAKEN A HORSE & BUGGY OR THE HANG GLIDER

I CHOSE TO WALK

INSIDE THE CASTLE YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO TAKE PHOTOS. THIS IS ONE LOOKING OUT AT THE BRIDGE OVER THE GORGE.

I WILL BE OVER THERE MOMENTARILY.

THIS IS FROM THE BRIDGE ....

ON TO ENGLAND

THIS IS AT A ROMAN VILLA NOT FAR FROM MY MOMS..

A LITTLE FOX NEXT DOOR TO MY SISTERS PLACE

TEACHING MY NEPHEW'S DAUGHTER CATS CRADLE.

....GONNA HAVE TO WORK ON THAT YOUNG LADY..

ON TO LONDON & ABBEY ROAD. SOMEONE OBLIGINGLY IN WHITE. THANK YOU.

I AM SURPRISED THIS IS MY FIRST TIME HERE.

REGENTS PARK IN BLOOM - VERY PRETTY..

BYE...BYE...

HAVING TAKEN A CANAL I DID NOT KNOW EXISTED, THROUGH HOLLAND TO AMSTERDAM & BACK OUT TO THE NORTH SEA, WE ARE NOW TAKING THE KIEL CANAL THROUGH NORTHERN GERMANY.

I HAD HEARD OF THE KIEL CANAL BUT HAD NO IDEA HOW NICE A JOURNEY IT IS.

A SHORE EXCURSION TO HAMBURG WOULD HAVE MEANT MISSING THE CANAL SO I AM NOT DISAPPOINTED THAT TOUR WAS CANCELLED.

MICHELLE - ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THOSE WANTING DRINKS ON DECK ....

AN UMPAPAH BAND ON SHORE - THEY CAME ON BOARD A LITTLE LATER TO PLAY WHILE WE TRANSITED THE CANAL...

ANAIT SNEAKING A PEAK ON DECK .....

SHE GETS VERY EXCITED WHEN WE SEE THIS SHIP FROM HER BAR. THE NAME OF THE SHIP IS HER HOME CITY IN RUSSIA .... TYUMEN, 16 HUNDRED MILES EAST OF MOSCOW ...

WE POP OUT ON DECK TO GET A BETTER LOOK ....... WE WAVE AT THE CREW BUT THEY DON'T RESPOND

THE SHIP SAT A GOOD WHILE AT THESE LOCKS WAITING FOR PERMISSION TO ENTER THE CANAL. EVENTUALLY IT WAS GRANTED AFTER WE SOMEHOW SHAVED A FEW CENTIMETERS OFF THE HEIGHT OF THE SHIP. WE WERE TOO TALL FOR SOME OF THE BRIDGES APPARENTLY .

AND THE BAND PLAYED ON .....

IT IS A VERY BUSY CANAL & A BIT OF A TIGHT SQUEEZE AT TIMES .....

BY THIS TIME I HAD MET THE TWO YOUNGEST GIRLS ON THE BOAT & THEIR MUM & DAD ..... THEY SPOTTED THESE BALOONS IN THE DISTANCE

ARE WE GONNA MAKE IT UNDER THE BRIDGE?

YES - JUST!

ANOTHER SET OF LOCKS & INTO THE BALTIC .....