We were originally to have a second day in Constanța, with Ted and I splitting up for optional excursions tailored to separate interests.

I had originally chosen (no surprise to anyone who knows me) “Wines of Southern Romania”, visiting the Murfatlar Vineyard. Luckily for me, that vineyard had been part of yesterday’s tour.

Unfortunately, Ted was less lucky. He had chosen an opportunity for wildlife and landscape photography on a full day (10 hour) excursion called “Danube Delta UNESCO Biosphere Reserve”. That excursion was cancelled and refunded.

Instead, today we were en route from our extended stay in Bucharest to Turnu Măgurele, Romania to meet the Viking Rinda in deeper waters at the confluence of the Olt River and the Danube. En route, our guide (George, again!) gave us some perspective about the history of the Roma (“gypsy”) minority in Romania, who came here from the Punjab in the early 14th century, via Persia, Turkey, Greece, and Armenia. The community, treated almost as slaves to the nobility here until the mid 19th century, now have a seat in parliament, and measures are ongoing to integrate them more fully into mainstream society.

Turnu Măgurele is not a particularly picturesque town. Its fertilizer plant is no longer operational but still dominates the northern shoreline; we did notice a beautiful Greek Orthodox church and pretty town centre park as we drove toward the ship.

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Nonetheless, it is wonderful to be on the Danube again, and wonderful to be back on a Viking river cruise.

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Once we were onboard today, our priority was snagging a seat on the Aquavit Terrace for lunch. We don’t want to waste a single sunny late summer day.

Today’s lunch menu featured lots of interesting choices, but we both opted for Chef Eko’s grilled Romanian sausages accompanied by green beans sautéed with sweet onion, and spiced potato wedges. Ted enjoyed a Bitbirger German pilsener, and I had a lovely Austrian Grüner Veltliner white wine, which is a special treat since it’s hard to get in Canada. For dessert, Ted chose an “After Eight” sundae with stracciatella gelato, minted whipped cream, and a piroulline; I had a slice of pear tart.

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Because of the embarkation location change, our first “sail” was simply a 5 minute transfer from the bank of the Danube in Romania to Nikopol, directly on opposite bank in Bulgaria!

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After our safety orientation, welcome champagne toast, and introduction to the multicultural officer-level staff (hailing from Slovenia, Slovakia, Romania, the Ukraine, Serbia, Hungary, Austria, and England), it was time for dinner, which we chose to have on the terrace under the stars.

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We not only experienced a glorious sunset, and watched the stars come out, but we also saw the International Space Station crossing overhead!

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Tomorrow: Pleven, Bulgaria