This is what a river cruise ship/boat looks like. 
http://www.vikingrivercruises.com/cruiseships/europe/viking-europe/shipinfo.aspx
I think I am going to like this!

When you sign up for a carry-your-own-bags adventure, the bags are not large. Whew! But it's all in there, except for what didn't fit, and David's carrying that in his bags. Fine husband, he is.

We are getting ready for another adventure- this year it's another transatlantic flight- I figure if I could get through it last year, I can do it again. Last year's flight to Rome was 9.5 hrs, and this year the trip to Frankfurt is an hour shorter.  OK then, easier! We fly out Thursday May 2- from Jacksonville to Charlotte, then the big one to Frankfurt.  We have 2 tours scheduled, and a 5 day independent train trip, 600 miles or so, between the 2.

We spend one night in Bacharach Germany, at Pensione Lettie.  Lettie rents out 4 rooms, and we scored one of them.  Yes!  And then next morning back on the train to Trier, where we meet up with the first tour group.

 First tour is a Rick Steves tour of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.  If you have ever watched any of his PBS tv shows, you've seen how the philosophy is to go to small towns as well as large cities, to go to small family-run hotels rather than to big chain places.  Groups are small, there is a lot of walking involved, and everyone has to be able to carry their own bags through the streets and up the stairs.  Cheerfully.  We signed a statement that we understand this.  Including the  'cheerfully, and without help' part.  I think this should be a lot of fun.  Hallstatt, Vienna, and Salzburg in Austria, and Murren in Switzerland are the places I am especially looking forward to, but the whole 14 days should be an adventure.

Then we take the  train  to France. David has made overnight reservations in Hall, Austria, near Innsbruck, in Lucerne Switzerland, and in Chamonix France.

A Viking River Cruises trip from Avignon France is the second tour.  There are not a lot of miles (or km' s either) covered, but it sounds like a great way to see Southern  France. Always thought a river cruise sounded fun, whether the Mississippi River or the Rhone, so finally giving it a try.

Another train trip, an overnight in downtown Frankfurt, then to the airport and home.

I put lots of places names of places in this entry; lots of options to google.

We should have good WIFI frequently, so I hope to keep this updated.  Whether I can get pictures uploaded is another issue though... so this log might only be text, no pictures.. Help me out here; leave comments so I know someone's out there reading.