Winter in Yuma

We arrived in Yuma and was there until April 1.  This winter in both Phoenix and Yuma was wetter than normal, but still so much nicer than Oregon/Washington's weather.

We had an invite to our friends 70th birthday party up in Sun City which worked out great, as we were going to fly to Seattle that weekend to also be with Craig's Dad to celebrate his 90th birthday.  It was great that our friends in Graham let us stay with them and invited our friends from Estacada to spend the night with all of us.  Weather was cold and snowy, and we were glad to be back in Yuma.

Bob's BD party:

Dad's Birthday - taken with Mother and his friend from middle school:

Once back in Yuma, our old neighbors, Pastor Lyle and Donna, had a visit from their kids from Canada.  The kids/grandchildren sang in church and then they gathered that afternoon for a music jam  with selected friends.

Life in the RV park in Yuma is pretty quiet.  Just meeting up with friends and we got together with family a few times.  One cousin and her husband who lives in Yuma, and my aunt and her family come down to Yuma for the winters so we met them for lunch a couple of times and went and saw them at the RV lot they were staying in before they left the beginning of March.

In February we helped our friends with the walk through of their new home.  They are on the same street where our home is being built.

Also had a great treat, two gals I worked with from the Seattle area, came for a visit so we had lots of catching up time since they were in Yuma overnight.  They both now live in the greater Phoenix area, one lives only a couple of miles from our new home.

We had quite a surprise one evening as we started feeling the motorhome shaking while we were watching TV.  Thought it was the wind, but soon discovered it was an earthquake.  No damage, but the epicenter was about 50-60 miles and it was over a 5.0 earthquake.  Of course in reading up on earthquakes, we found out how many shakers they have in AZ, but most of them are not significant.

By March 16, evertything was becoming very quiet in the park.  Most of the Canadians were leaving and most activities were shut down.  The first confirmed corona virus was reported in Yuma on March 20 - so immediately all restaurants started shutting down.  Paper products were flying off the shelf and they started restricting the number of people in stores.  We felt pretty safe in Yuma, and by the time we left the confirmed cases had expanded to 10.

The house got off to a slow start, but they are still working on it.  They reported they were digging trenches and putting in the plumbing lines, so we will take a look once we get to Sun City.

We had lots of beautiful sunsets in Yuma, which we will miss as this was the last year we will be staying in Yuma for the three months during the summer.

Time in Sun City - Oct 14 - Jan. 1

We arrived into Sun City at the Paradise RV Resort on Oct. 14.  This will be our 4th fall staying here for the three months.  After the park moved sites on us 4 times before we arrived, we actually ended up in a North facing site that was primarily all paved.  Great location!

We met up with our friends who were having their motorhome worked on in Avondale area and went out and toured a 55 plus community in Buckeye and the model homes from various builders.  I had toured before, but everyone was quite impressed with the area.  Within a week our friends purchased a home that was under construction but it took us another month to decide, but we decided to have a home built in the same community that will be gated.  Also, the HOA fees include them taking care of the landscaping in the front and 60' of side property, which will allow us to continue to travel in the motorhome.  We won't close on the house til the end of Sept. 2020, and then we'll have to buy furniture and appliances before moving in.

The home below is the same style and color as ours will be.  The one with the light pole shows the mountains that our outdoor sitting area will somewhat face.

Most of the 2 1/2 months we were in Sun City we kept busy with the home and all the selections we needed to make at the David Weekley design center - cabinets, flooring, countertops, sinks, lighting, smart home wiring, etc.  But we did have time to tour the (very small) Penske Museum on one outing with friends.

We also helped out one of our friends in the park who found out she had bladder cancer and we kept her little dog "Bella" while she was in the hospital and on her cancer treatment days.  We also walked her in the afternoons and evenings while our friend was recovering.

Craig made it out a few times to the Driving Range, but that was the extent of his golfing this year.

We also were able to meet up with some of our friends and had a couple of people over for dinner.  It's nice knowing people from Washington who now live in the area.  We also participated with three other couples in a monthly wine party.

The group of friends we met at Paradise over the years, are a great social group of people, so again we participated in the various get togethers throughout the two 1/2 months that various people host every year; a Welcome back party, After Thanksgiving party and New Years Eve party.  Also, a couple of nice Happy Hour get togethers.

We attended three Christmas performances in the Phoenix area;  Went to Dream City Church for their yearly Christmas performance, attended a concert of "5 Browns" as part of Arizona Musicfest which was 5 siblings playing 5 grand pianos on stage, and then we attended another Jim Brickman concert.

We drove to Las Vegas this year on Dec. 22 and spent 5 nights in a casino hotel close to our nieces home who hosted Christmas.  It was great having our nephews family from Portland this year along with my brother and his wife.

Niece and Nephew and spouses

Great Nieces and Nephews

On Jan. 1, we said our goodbyes and drove to Yuma where we will spend time til April 1.

Trip South to Lake Powell - Houseboat

We arrived into Sparks on Sept 20  to spend the weekend in Sparks before heading east.  We loved walking the marina and introduced Mike and Angie to Coffee Diablo at our favorite steakhouse.

We then made a couple of 1 night stops at Clark RV in Battle Mountain, NV and at the West Wendover KOA in West Wendover, NV.

We then travelled to Fillmore, UT and spent two nights, enjoying the burgers at Cluff's Car Hop.  Next stop was at the Zion River RV Resort in Virgin, UT for 3 nights.  The motorhome and trailer did fit in the spot and they gave us another area to park the car.  Very beautiful park next to Zion National Park, but turning radiuses were a little tight.

On Monday, Sept 30 we arrived into Wahweap Campground getting ready to take a houseboat out on the lake on Thursday, Oct. 3.  When in Page, AZ we love the Mexican restaurant, Fiesta Mexicana.

We spent 7 days, 6 nights on the 65' Axiom houseboat.  What a great adventure.  We went about 26 miles up the lake, but only docked in two different locations.  The second night we had a wind storm so we had to dig the sand holes again to get better grip with the 4 sand anchors.  The guys enjoyed fishing and we got the kayaks out, along with enjoying the lifestyle, hot tub and scenery.  

Then onto Flagstaff for three nights which included reservations at Black Bart's Steakhouse/Saloon, which was right in the RV park where we stayed.

On Monday Oct 14, Craig and I said goodbye to our friends and then arrived into Paradise RV Resort in Sun City where we will stay til Jan. 1.

Since we made our reservation in March 2019, they moved our site from 2334, 2330, 2328 and 2543.  Since there was a shed on the site at 2543, we couldn't fit so they assigned us 2537 - which was the best spot of all.

Grand European River Boat Cruise

We arrived into Budapest on August 28 for a pre-extension trip to include two nights on the Buda side of the river in the Hilton hotel.  

Castle Hill

Fisherman's Bastion - 7 towers, built in 1905 named for the medieval guild that defended this portion of the castle wall.   

Parliament building across water - built between 1885 - 1902.  It has 24 slender towers and is lined with 90 statues of Hungarian heroes.  Inside the building is the original crown of jewels.  

Matthias Church, Church of our lady - named for the country's most popular medieval King.  

Matthias Church

Holy Trinity column  - 1713

On April 29 we took an optional tour of "Jewels of Andrassy Avenue".  We visited St. Stephen's Basilica, Budapest's largest Roman Catholic Church.  We also toured the Hungarian State Opera.  

Famous stairs at Opera House

At the Royal palace we watched the changing of the guards, which has been the home to Hungary's kings for almost 700 years.  We also walked around the old Palace which is now a museum and the beautiful gates.  The bird statue is of "mythical bird tural".  

We also had drinks and pastry in the main hall of the Paris Department Store and then rode the Millennium Underground Railway, the continent's first subway which opened in 1896.

On August 30, we walked down the hill to the Chain bridge and across the Danube River and was able to board the ship Viking Vili,  around noon.   The chain bridge was the first bridge built in 1849, that connected the Buda and Pest sides of the city.  Big surprise for us, we got upgraded to a Veranda suite (one of 8).  We later found out that we had taken more Viking cruises than anyone else on board.  

On August 31 we took the "Panoramic Budapest" included tour.  We drove by Heroes Square that has monuments and statues commemorating the Magyar state.  After the tour we then walked backed to the Parliament buildings and visited the Shoe Memorial.  

Heroes Square

On August 31 we started the river cruise at 5:30 heading to Vienna, Austria.  The captain informed us that we would be sailing through 5 countries, going about 1000 miles and going through 67 locks.  There are about 175 guests on board with 50 staff.  

We arrived into Vienna around 7:00 and attended an optional excursion "Mozart & Strauss Concert" at the Vienna Residence Orchestra.

In the morning on Sept 2, we took the included tour "Panoramic Vienna" for a drive into the city and then a walk around Ringstrasse, to include Hofburg Palace the winter residence, with 18 wings, of the Hapsburgs and home of the Spanish Riding School with its Lipizzaner Stallions.  We also saw the Gothic St. Stephen's Cathedral.  We had major rain in the morning so it was hard to get pictures.  

Palace and Maria Theresa square

Trinity column

St Stephens cathedral

In the afternoon we took an optional tour "Behind the Scenes at the Lipizzaner Stallions.  We could only take pictures of the horses in the courtyard. They keep about 72 horses in Vienna 6 months and then send them to the country stables for 6 months.  We ended the day strolling through the gardens and then had the famous Austrian chocolate cake and drinks at a cafe.  

Inside of Cafe

Vienna's Riesenrad is the oldest ferris wheel in the world with very interesting cars.  

 Sept 3 am - Scenic cruising of Wachau Valley - wine growing region

Dumstein Abbey

Schloss Schönbühel

Nose statute by ferry - takes in scents of the valley

On Sept 3, we arrived into Melk, Austria and went off to see the Abbey and Monastery.  While we were there, the boat moved to Ybbs.   We could not take pictures inside of the Abbey.

The Abbey is active with 30 monks, 800 students and 90 public teachers.  The building started in 1702 as a royal palace and then in the 11th century it was presented to the Bendictine monks.  The Abbey has 350 windows, one for each day of the year.  The building was rebuilt during the 18th century after a fire.  

                                            

On Sept 4 we docked in Passau, Germany, one of Bavaria's oldest cities on the German/Austrian border.  The ship then picked us up in Vilshofen around 6 pm.  We took the 9.5 hour optional tour to Salzburg known for the "Sound of Music" and Mozart's birthplace  

The next four pictures were taken in the Mirabell gardens and were used for the filming of the Sound of Music. 

 

Fancy sign for McDonalds

Weather Station

         

Salzburg is also known for Mozart, the yellow building was his birthplace, the cafe was where he would have coffee every morning and the third one is Mozart square and statute and the building behind the statute is where his widow lived.  

 We also saw Salzburg Cathedral, had lunch in St Peter's restaurant where the Sounds of Austria performed music from the Sound of Music and then we walked through town and took the elevator up the hillside to a viewpoint looking over Salzburg.  

On Sept. 5 we arrived in Regensburg and from there we traveled to Munich, driving through all the hop regions and rejoined the ship in Kelheim around 6 pm.  

On our way to Munich we first stopped at the BMW place for a rest stop and then drove past the Olympic Park, constructed for the 1972 Olympics.  

During our free time we stopped at the Hofbrauhaus Brewery and listened to the oom pah band and of course had a beer.

St Peters Church: 

At noon we made it to Marienplatz the city's main square in time to see the Glockenspiel spring to life in the New Town Hall.  The white building below is the Old Town Hall.  And then we had lunch at the Ratskeller restaurant and walked through the Viktualienmarket, the city's most popular outdoor market.  

 On Sept 6 we arrived into Nuremberg, Germany, known for it's metal and toy craftsmanship.  In the morning we walked through the town with friends and then we took an included tour "Nuremberg Through History" in the afternoon.    The city is surrounded by 3 miles of 13th century walls.  We also enjoyed the German Christmas cookies,  Lebkuchen & Elisenlebkuchen, one that is flourless and one w/ginger.   

Schöner Brunnen Fountain

St Sebaldus Church

Church of Our Lady - Frauenkirche Church

St Lawrence Church

Old Town Hall

St John's Cemetery

Site of Zeppelin Field's Nazi rallies and the site of the Nuremberg Trials, war crimes trials at the Palace of Justice.   We also went to Nuremberg Castle.  

On Sept. 7 we arrived into Bamberg, Germany.  We took the "Bamberg Walking tour" which was the included tour.  We rejoined the ship in Zeil am Main.

St Martin's Church

Old town hall (Rathaus) with painted angels built in the middle of a double arched bridge over the Regnitz River.  

 

Rauchbier - smoked beer

New Residence built in 1613, for Bamburg's Prince-Bishops  - now 40 rooms are open to the public to include the gardens. 

11th century Bamberg Cathedral - rebuilt in 13th century.  Emperor Henry II and Pope Clement II are buried in cathedral.    Has the statue of the Bamberger Reiter or Bamberg Horseman inside the cathedral.

Courtyard used in filming of Three Musketeers

On Sunday, Sept 8 we arrived into Wurzburg, Germany. We took the included tour "Wurzburg Resident and walk".  We toured the Wurzburg's Bishops' Residence one of Germany's largest and most ornate palaces, built over 25 years starting in 1719.  Ceiling art at top of staircase has a 6400 square foot "four Continents - a fresco painted.  We could not take pictures inside the Residence.  Then onto old town walking tour.  

Kollegiatstift Neumünster Church

Roman Catholic Cathedral

Marienkapelle Chapel

Wurzburg Cathedral

Main House of Falcon

Main Bridge 

Marienburg Fortress

On Sept 9 we arrived into Wertheim, Germany.  We took the Modern Aristocracy tour, traveling to Miltenberg and viewing the MespelBrunn Castle and Schloss Lowenstein.  We rejoined the ship in Freudenberg.  

MespelBrunn Castle, privately owned since 1400s.  The picture on the right is the Mill.  

Town of Miltenberg was one of our favorites.  

Of course we enjoyed the statute outside 

the water closet as well as lunch at the old

guest house.  

Zum Riesen, oldest guest house

Miltenberg castle and view from the castle overlooking Miltenberg.  

Schloss Lowenstein, which is now a hotel.  They also have a 
chapel and winery on the grounds.  The winery use to be the 
old stables.  

On Sept 10 we cruised the Middle Rhine River and then that afternoon we arrived into Braubach and took the included tour of the Marksburg Castle.  We met back up with the ship in Koblenz, Germany.  

Marksburg Castle

  

Monument - unification of German nation. Statute is in Koblenz at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle Rivers.  Equestrian statue of Prince William I.   

On Sept 11 we arrived into Cologne and we took the included "Cologne Walking Tour".  That afternoon we took an optional tour out to the "Bruhl UNESCO Palaces.  

Chocolate Factory/Museum

St Martins Chu

Colorful Narrow houses - numbers show year they were built - merchant homes 

The Cologne Cathedral took 632 years to complete - 3 wise men are buried within.  Largest cathedral in Northern Europe.  Construction began in 1248.  Completed in 1880,  but it is constantly under repair and restoration so very hard to get pictures without scaffolding.  

Shows how many meters the Rhine River is at the time  

Laurel & Hardy statute - rub nose for good luck

Fountain of the Elves

Bruhl Falcon Hunting Palace

Chapel at Hunting Palace

Schloss Augustusburg - Palace and garden.  Completed in 1786.  We could not take pictures inside either of the Palaces.  

On September 12 we arrived into Kinderdijk, The Netherlands.  We took the included tour of the Kinderdijk Windmills in the corner of South Holland. There were19 windmills completed in 18th century.  Kinderdijk is 6 meters below sea level.   

Last stop was Amsterdam on Sept 13.  We really did not see anything as we had an early flight back to Portland.