October 19 - Baden Baden

What a piece of crap Scenic Tours internet service is.  For the second time on this trip the internet has been unavailable for over a day.  It is taking 10 to 30 minutes or longer to get a page on the internet so there won’t be any pictures in today’s blog.  The cruise director tried to explain to me that is was because we are on the boarder of France and Germany, as if the French had erected a giant screen to stop internet traffic from going to Germany through their air space.  In truth they are using an outdated satellite connection that is inoperable when there are hills, of which there are none in this area, or when there are clouds which is the case today and tomorrow.  For few bucks they could invest in a 4G service and everyone would be happy.

We continued our trip up the Rhine to the port of Gambsheim.  This is right at a narrows in the river that separates France and Germany.  We got off the boat and took a trip into Baden-Baden.  The NATO base there was mainly occupied by Canadian troops after the Second World War, until the reunification of Germany in the 1990’s.

Baden-Baden is a wealthy city with over 900 millionaires in a population just slightly bigger than that of St. Thomas. It is noted for its mineral springs and classy casino.

The highlight was a trip to their casino.  We got the tour but the casino doesn’t open its tables until the middle of the afternoon, but which time we had already returned to the boat.  Marg was not too pleased as were some of the other passengers. But as it was pointed out later there is a very strict dress code.  I was expecting James Bond to appear in his tux at any moment.

This was not a particularly interesting trip.  Maybe because the weather was rainy and cold, the casino being closed or the fact our guide did not seem to be very enthusiastic but it seemed a chore instead of fun day out.

Tonight we celebrated Marg’s birthday with a special dinner at the boat’s Portobello restaurant.  It was a seven course Italian meal.  To use Rocky’s favourite expression, Marg looked spectacular.  The food was excellent.

After dinner we had drinks with our new found friends.  Dave Fahrner who is a former CFL player for the Ticats and Eskimos had us all in stitches.  His wife, Susan,  said that Rocky walked like her husband, to which Dave replied that he had the ankles of a thoroughbred and the body of a Clydesdale.

Pictures of Baden-Baden