#MyVikingStory

I originally made elaborate plans for us to visit Germany’s Christmas markets back in 2020, but like everyone’s plans for that year they got cancelled. Two flights, multiple train trips, 16 hotels in 16 different cities – it was a whirlwind tour spanning 3 of the 4 weeks of Advent. All those plans had to be “undone”, and were fortunately 100% refunded.

Our “replacement” trip is much less ambitious. We’ll be taking Viking’s Christmas on the Rhine river cruise, beginning in Basel Switzerland and ending in Amsterdam. We’ll visit 8 Christmas Markets over 7 days. That leaves the markets in cities on the Elbe, Danube, Mosel, Main, and in the many northern cities not on a river, to do some other year. (Sorry, Ted, but you know I’m ALWAYS planning – and Dresden is high on my wish list.)

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We may or may not have snow in the cities we’re visiting in December, but we certainly need to be prepared for cold, which means bringing winter-ish outerwear. Temperatures along most of our route are forecast to hover just above 0°C/32°F overnight, with the days a few degrees higher. As of today, the predictions are for rain, and grey skies. Our daytime gear under our coats will be jeans and sweaters; evenings on the ship for dinners we’ll swap the jeans for casual pants, and the sweaters for shirts or slightly fancier sweaters…. or, in my case, my dirndl!! I knew when I bought it in Melk on our last river cruise that I’d have to create a chance to wear it again. Episode 362 – Melk

For a week-long casual cruise it’s easy to take just a carryon each and a small duffle bag for our bulky shoes. Our seats on the plane are fairly near the front, so we’ll board early enough to snag overhead bin space, which has been at a real premium on our last few flights as more and more folks have become wary of their checked luggage getting lost. We rarely worry about that on direct flights, but this time we’re transiting through busy Frankfurt, which is also where we expect to clear customs entering the Schengen zone. En route home from Amsterdam we may opt to check our carryons rather than drag them around Schipol.

Our final list: I’m taking 6 long-sleeved knit tops and 2 tank tops (all but one in varying shades of navy blue) which can be layered and dressed up or down, 1 pair of boot-cut jeans (because my usual skinny leg style won’t accommodate my ankle boots), 1 pair of skinny jeans (for running shoe days), 1 pair of dressier pants, 2 fancier tops (1 blue print, 1 green & blue print, each with some inexpensive blingy jewelry), my dirndl, and a pair of dressy navy blue suede flats. Add my navy blue Viking 3-season jacket, a fleece under-layer, a raincoat, and matching scarf, gloves, and headband.

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Ted will have 2 pair of jeans (one blue, one black), 3 merino pullovers, 2 long-sleeved athletic tees, 3 lightweight short-sleeved tees (as layers), 4 long-sleeved collared shirts, his waterproof black Vessi running shoes which do double duty as “dress shoes” with his black jeans, and a pair of tan leather shoes that have been waterproofed with Dubbin (as have my leather ankle boots). Add Ted’s Viking jacket, a rain shell, scarf, hat, earmuffs, and gloves.

Both of us will be packing a pair of merino wool socks to keep our feet warm – essential for hours spent outdoors strolling the markets while our insides are kept warm by glühwein.

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While we’re gone, everything else we currently own, the sum total of which is packed into 4 suitcases and 2 small bins, will make the move to son #2’s new home. When we get back to BC to celebrate the holiday season with them we’ll retrieve the 1 large suitcase already pre-packed with what we need for our 2 month January/February cruise & land vacation, and leave behind one of our carryons.

I think I can speak for Ted too (don’t I always?) when I say that we’re both looking forward to being on the go again! Seasonal festivities first, and then a 2024 calendar full of new adventures.