Raul Dederichs was the Cruise Manager on my 50th Wedding Anniversary Cruise with Ama Waterways. This cruise was a 14 Night Magnificent Europe cruise on the Ama Viola which left on 25 August 2019.
Background
I was diagnosed a year ago with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and given a medication which I was unable to drink alcohol while taking. This was not going to work for my 6 week vacation to Europe. My choice was take the medication and not be stiff or don’t take medication and drink and be stiff. I chose not to take the medication and drink. After all I was in Europe on vacation. Extreme hot and extreme cold locks my body up so I have trouble moving. At the start of the trip Budapest was 100 degrees in the shade. I was alright if I was under air-conditioning on the ship or in a tour bus. As each day went by life got real interesting but I was able to drink. I spent 3 nights at the Sofitel in Budapest. I traveled for two of those days in a private car with guide and driver popping in and out of air-conditioning. My first Ama Waterways tour was to the Magyar Horse Farm which I loved but I could hardly walk outside at this point. Once back on the ship in the air-conditioning my body unlocked.
My Hero to the Rescue in Budapest
We had signed up for the “Queen of the Damned Tour” which I thought was going to be a bus ride in the air-conditioning. To reach the Great Market Hall we had to climb up from the river, then cross the street twice before getting into the Great Market Hall. Once inside finding a seat was difficult. My husband did all my shopping for me as I moved along seat by seat. We only had to walk in one direction and the Ama Waterways Bus picked us up on the backside of the building. As we drove along looking at all the sights my body started to unlock. The bus took the road up to the Castle District and I needed to leave the bus here. I had walked the entire Castle District the day before with my private guide and knew I couldn’t make it in the heat with my broken body. My hero Raul meet the bus, just about the time I wanted to sit down and cry. Raul took us up to a coffee shop and sat us down. He had an errand to run, suggested we get a coffee and pastry. Raul came back after his errand with a taxi cab which took us back to the ship. As soon as I was back on the ship, my body unlocked in the air-conditioning. Oh yes, I had a couple of drinks too!
Bratislava
The next day was Bratislava and I was on the Pink Gentle Tour again. We crossed the street and boarded a red train which took us through the city. I didn’t attempt to get off the red train but my husband got on and off. I got to see quite a bit of the city. So far, so good, I got back on the ship and had some drinks.
Vienna
Vienna was next on our tour. 50 years ago we spent a lot of time in Vienna when we lived in Germany. I loved the Imperial Palace, the gardens, St. Stephan’s Dom and the horse-drawn carriage tours. I was on the Pink Gentle Walker’s Tour. I made it through the gardens from bench to bench and walked from the Inner Ring Strasse to Stephan’s Dom (I still don’t know how I made it). We got instructions for the nearest taxi stand and left the tour. We stopped for coffee and pastry then toured the church. Afterwards we hired a horse-drawn carriage for the extra long tour. After the carriage ride we followed our directions for the taxi stand though all kinds of construction. When we got to end of the street there was no taxi-stand only a Mc Donald’s and a big wide street. This is where I crashed. My husband called my hero Raul on the telephone. Raul told us to sit tight in the Mc Donald’s and he would call us back. Seems the taxi stand was moved two streets over. He met us as we boarded the Ama Viola. Okay, I earned my drink for this day.
Durnstein
Durnstein was an easy walk off the ship and onto a train which took us into the town square. From here I was walking but there were plenty of seats and I was able to sit and listen to our guide and of course enjoyed the wine tasting.
Melk
This is where I ran into big trouble. The ship was docked over a mile from the bus stop for the Melk Abby Tour. It took me forever but I made it from bench to bench. Once we were at the Abby I knew I couldn’t make it inside. Raul was right there, bought everyone else’s ticket and came back for me. My hero bought me a beer while we waited for the group to come out of the Abby. Upon returning to the bike path and the mile walk back to the ship he had the tour bus take me back most of the way so I didn’t have to walk it. Again Raul saved the day! My Hero!
Passau
I stayed on the ship for the day and relaxed and enjoyed the river.
Regensburg
On the sail into Regensburg we had our Wedding Vows Renewed. We were married 50 years ago in Germany. Raul, Stefka Kurlakova, and the Captain Imre Valentyik arranged and officiated everything for us. It was just beautiful. This service will be in an additional chapter. Raul took all the pictures and emailed them to us. When we reached Regensburg, I thought I’d try a bike, as I ride a bike at home. It was about a mile along the bike path to the Sausage House. Raul got me a bike. Well by now I was so locked up that it was hard to control the bike. We locked the bikes up at the Sausage House and walked into town for a beer and shopping. I rode the bike back but it wasn’t easy. At least I was on a bike path and not a road with traffic!
Nurnberg
We were in Nurnberg on a Sunday on the WWII Tour. I stayed on the bus at the Parade Grounds and the Palace of Justice. I had visited the Palace of Justice over 50 years ago. Once we got to the town square, we walked around in and out of the gift shops that were open, then stopped for ice-cream before boarding the bus back to the ship.
Bamburg
This is where my trip got so easy. Raul bought out a chariot for me. Pictured above. From this point on I rode everywhere. I was able to handle the cobble stones and stay up with the guide and life was good. I don’t even know how to thank Raul for providing me with the scooter. This scooter was loaded on the tour bus so I would have it when we got there. Raul got it charged every night.
Rothenburg, Wertheim, and Mittenberg
Oh, the Christmas shopping we got done all thanks to Raul and the Chariot!
Rudesheim
My trusty scooter couldn’t get around the narrow streets. Leaving the scooter behind we got on the bus into town. We were on the Cable Car Tour over the Vineyards. I stayed at the top and enjoyed the view before we headed down. This worked out well for me. We went into a few stores and checked out all the Beer and Wine Gardens. I got plenty of seats and rest stops. Then we took the shuttle bus back to the ship.
Cologne
My chariot was loaded onto the bus in Bonn and taken off the bus in Cologne. Here too I was on the scooter and able to keep up with the guide and enjoy the tour. By now I had figured out how to travel around people, cobble stone streets, and stairs. My chariot also went into the restaurant for the beer tasting. Life was good thanks to Raul.
Amsterdam
My chariot took me to the dock for the Canal Tour Boat. Raul took it back to the ship for safe keeping. We walked back to the ship after the canal tour.
Although, I am not a drinker, it may appear so, but I had gone a year without any alcohol including wine or beer. I was so pleased to be able to taste the German beers and the wines during this trip. This is all because of Raul and his problem solving abilities. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for everything!
Besides all this my hero was giving lectures on the different ports of call, helping guests decide what tours to take, and solving everyone’s problems. This man has the patience of a Saint. Of course I’m prejudice but I think Raul is Ama Waterways number one asset. I can’t imagine this trip without him!