Norway

   

 

Ok Folks, you get photographs this round. Why? Well we were on vacay on a cruise in Norway and the scenery is unbelievably beautiful.

Also, I was writing this post on an iPad! There’s no keyboard feel so typing takes considerably longer with more typos.

Mea Culpa!

OK, so on with the show! Journey started a week ago last Saturday, flew Houston to London. 16 hours later in the evening,we met our tour guide. Checked in to the hotel and did a front leaning face plant on the bed. Awakened by a phone call. It was light out. Our son and family were in the lobby to take us to the ship. (They are going with us). Could have swore we’d only been asleep 5 minutes or so. 

Got to the ship. It was pretty easy to determine which was the Disney ship.

                                 

On board and checked in, bags unpacked and ready to sail.

Little J, LJW and Miss B got a welcome aboard from Chip and Dale. This is a Disney greats you. You might have ascertained by now. 

 

Good for a chuckle however.

Monday we spent a day at sea, overcast sky, but the North Sea was fairly calm (in North Sea terms).

 But the Fjords were AWESOME!

 

 To gain an understanding of size.  That white dot just to the right of the center of the picture is a 33 foot Sailboat about 3000' away.  The Fjord mountains are huge!

Tuesday, we arrived at our first (of 5) port, Haugesund (pronounced h aa oh j ee sz uu uu n d) At least that's how THESE folks do it.* I’ll leave it to your imagination. The ladies (4 plus a 4 yo) decided shopping was the mission of the day. It was fun and kind of cool looking as well as temp. At least until it started raining. So we flagged down a cab and RTB’d.

When we woke up Wednesday, we were docked at a medium sized town named Olden. The town wasn’t as old as its name, so we decided to visit the local aquarium.

This fine fellow was pretty old.

Not as old as Sarge, but there’s a strong resemblance!

Just kidding!

Anyhow it was a pretty interesting “kettle of fish”. No pun intended …..RiiiggggghhhhTTTT!!!

So we’re now headed to Alesund, which is down a LONG fjord. Another nice, neat, friendly town. But tonight is “Pirate Night”.  All passengers and crew are expected to be in pirate garb.

 

So the Ladies did. Lots of fun!

Last town visited was Stavenger. Unfortunately, I acquired a digestive problem requiring a close radius to a facility, so didn’t go downtown. The gang said it was nice, clean and the shopping was good.  I got to look at a sailing ship from our veranda when I wasn't.....well, you know.

So the next day we’re back on the North Sea headed to London followed closely by a run through the airport and a 16 hour flight back to Houston. Mrs J decided caution was required so reserved a hotel room in Austin for the night before we driving ourselves to finish the  RTB.

 

Although the flight home was boring, we were in Business Class which was extremely comfortable. (A reward which Mrs J had been given by her travel agent company). However, we were sitting one cubicle behind another. So not a lot of conversation.

 

Upon rising in Austin, a shuttle lift to the airport parking lot and a 1.5 hour drive home and an early to Bedtime, we're back in business.

 

What a great vacation! Friends, Family, and Wine Tasting.  Doesn't get much better than that. 

All in all, a lot of fun! Peace out y’all!

 

*For whatever reason, Haugesund was the only one sounded out on that website that I could find on the web. 

 

Taking a Breather ...

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I know some of you read my scribblings, but yesterday's outing was weak, less than 200 hits. Which made me long for that place above.

I'm not getting the return on my investment in the time it takes to write this stuff, so today was a "Why bother?" kind of day.

Sigh ...

Those posts out in the water often had birds perched thereupon. The last couple of years I could have sworn that they were cormorants. So I just assumed that this year was the same.

Nope.

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This year I was surprised to note that the posts held pelicans, didn't realize that until I saw one go fishing. Those rather large mouths are hard to mistake.

Apparently brown pelicans head to the Chesapeake in the summer to breed. Perhaps we visited too early in June to see them the first two years. This year, coming as we did on the last full week in June, we saw pelicans.

We also saw raptors, two of the F-22 variety and one of the feathered variety, an osprey (the bird, not the aircraft). Also saw seahawks, er, I mean Seahawks, the MH-60 variety.

Saw lots of terns but no seagulls, something I've noticed before when visiting Virginia's shores. I'd research that but ...

Maybe another day.

Not now.

Bis gleich ...

There and Back, Again x 3

First day
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So for the third year in a row we spent a week at a lovely place on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay. As you might guess by the title, this year's trip is in the history books. It's over, we're back at our base in Maryland, contemplating a return to Little Rhody after Independence Day. While it's a big parade in the old home town, we've "been there, done that." The parade (America's Oldest) doesn't change much from year to year and once you've seen one, you've seen most of 'em.

Yes, there are new marching bands from one year to the next but hey, it's all the same to me. While it's a pretty big deal in town, it attracts thousands of tourists. It also attract lots of traffic, parking issues, and noise. In my dotage, I prefer a quiet 4th of July. As I can see the fireworks from my deck, I don't need to go into town to see those. Yes, I still enjoy a good simulation of cannon fire and the rocket's red glare, but I can sit at home, adult beverage in hand, and watch it in comfort.

The trip to the beach house was, again, spectacular. The weather, for the most part, was cooperative and the water was just right, not too warm, not too cool. We did get a couple of impressive storms, one of which my granddaughter and I watched come in from the west and provide some incredible lightning shows from well to the south and well up to the north. According to the radar the storm stretched from North Carolina up to Delaware.

The family surveying the aftermath ...
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We strolled down to the beach to see the waves first hand, the photo doesn't do them justice ...

OAFS Video

Wind was gusting up to about 30 mph after the storm, a steady 20 mph in the video. It was pretty wild. The temperature stayed reasonable throughout.

Don't know if you can tell, but the beach is private. My grandson Roberto thinks the whole world lives this way. Why disillusion him now?

We even had a kayak this year, I talked to the maintenance guy, Carl, on Sunday last as we were loading up to leave, he said the kayaks blew ashore from further up the Bay from a rental place. There were four of them, three back in the dunes, one right on "our" beach. So we availed ourselves of that, grandkids loved it!

Carl did let the owner know where his kayaks were, seems the fellow hadn't found the time to come collect his property yet, he lost them over a month ago! Oh well ...

Anyhoo, the beach vacation is done, the Maryland vacation continues. I'll let juvat continue to regale you with his MoH series (which I'm enjoying) and I'll be back on board in a bit. We'll see. Being idle is a joy all to itself!

Last day
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Until next year!
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Ciao!

Return to Paradise

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So for the third year in a row, we're heading down to Virginia's Eastern Shore, staying at the same place, with the same people. The Nuke and her tribe and The Missus Herself and Your Humble Scribe. To say I love it down there is an understatement.

Juvat has Medal of Honor posts scheduled through part of next week and I plan to let those flow. After that he'll revert to his normal Monday schedule. I dare say, if I hit a bump in the road, posting wise, he'll have a whole bunch written up and ready to go.

Good wingman, that.

For the vacation I plan on doing vacation-type posts, ya know, today we went swimming, then we threw some meat on the grill (well, Tuttle does that, the boy LOVES to grill and I'm not one to stand in the way.), ate that meat along with whatever sides were prepared, then we drank some beer. Er, um, well, I drank some beer. Tuttle will join in on occasion, but he's more of a wine/liquor kind of guy. Must be the fighter pilot in him, Big Time is the same, though he's all about rum and whiskey, though not at the same time. Only old maintainers make that mistake.

Stop looking at me like that. (See Matthew 7:1 for further guidance.)

I'm not sure if I'm going to finish the Franco-Prussian War tale, I'm almost done with the second book I've read on that conflict and, while fascinating, it's also rather confusing.

It all goes like this:

• France invades Germany, just a little poke really, then falls back
• Germans (think Prussians, Bavarians, Saxons, Württembergers, various Hessians, and a few others of that ilk. Germany was, at the time, a concept, not a country) swarm into France and start kicking ass
• French and their "Emperor" (I put that in quotes because the man who held that title wasn't worthy of shining his uncle's boots, if'n you catch my drift) get surrounded at Sedan, the army there and the "Emperor" go into the bag. So basically the Imperial government is vacant at the head (though the Empress, note, no quotes, the lady kicked ass, did a creditable job of trying to carry on)
• Then the remaining professional army also goes into the bag after yet another siege
• The "Government of National Defense" is formed and the French hope to fight on, with thousands of semi-enthusiastic untrained (for the most part) volunteers, a few "voluntolds" in there as well
• The French "strategy" is to save Paris, which is surrounded, and that is pretty much the only strategy
• Most of the French populace doesn't live in Paris, but the government does and ... Well, you can guess the rest.

It's all rather confusing, both sides had a plethora of incompetent generals and both headquarters in the field had lots and lots of toadies and minor nobility clogging things up - remember, Prussia had a king at the time, he was the HMFIC. Though not everyone listened to him.

So for the time being, that story will sit idle. Rather like a TV show that gets stopped in mid-season while the execs try to determine if it's worth bringing back.

I won't regale you with politics, as I abhor that topic and most of those who participate in that "sport." I'll leave that to Tuna, Beans will wax political at times as well. Not sure how they get through it without vomiting on their keyboards.

Anyhoo, that's all for now, the Chesapeake Bay beckons and I cannot wait to stand on her shore once more.

Sarge, out.

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Deep in Contemplation ...

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So what am I contemplating? Well, the beauty of nature, the pleasure of being with family, the warm sun on my face as I sit in the yard like an old cat, and sometimes I give a thought to what's going on in the world.

Though I don't look at current events here at The Chant, I do think about them. I don't write about them as far too often I get angry over the state of things. So it's a subject I avoid, like the plague.

Suffice to say, there are three groups of people in the United States, among the citizenry and a pox on the invaders: those who wish everyone would sit down, shut up, and take a deep breath, those who want their vision of this country (no matter how insane and unworkable that vision is), and those who try to make things work but are hampered at every turn.

And that's all I have to say about that.

For the most part, I am enjoying my time in Maryland, it's a pretty state even though it seems to have more than its fair share of idiots. Both politically and behind the wheel of an automobile. Then again, now that I think about it, the "Sarge Rule" of 75% of the world's population are incapable of independent, rational thought applies not just here, but everywhere.

As I once told someone, "Sure, most of the people on this planet aren't that bright, doesn't mean that they're not good people, just dumber than a box of rocks." Sometimes I fall into that 75% when I find myself pontificating on something I have no expertise in.

Hey, it happens.

Anyhoo, enjoy your day, methinks I will sit outside and enjoy Nature for a while. I mean, I've got the time now, don't I?

Where Is Sarge?

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Well, right here, that's where I am.

Right here being Annapolis, in Maryland, visiting The Nuke and her tribe. In her new job she travels, a lot at times. The completion of the mulching and the cleaning of the pond at Chez Sarge coincided with her having to travel for most of two weeks. Tuesday through Thursday, then a second trip Monday through Friday. As Tuttle is also gainfully employed, it was thought that a visit from us would help with the grandkids.

As my birthday fell into that two week period as well, we headed south. The weather has been grand, a little rain here and there, but mostly sunny and not abysmally hot and humid as it can get around the Chesapeake Bay area. So we've got that going for us.

I'd mentioned before my departure that I didn't plan on blogging much, if at all. Juvat, being his usual useful self, stepped up and entertained y'all. That seems to have gone well, but as he's about to undergo a slew of medical stuff, I need to step back up.

So here we are.

Have I missed blogging? A little, but the extra free time has been appreciated. Am I going to continue my Franco-Prussian War tale? Yes, indeed I am. To that end I bought two books on the war and the one I've started reading has already given me some ideas of which directions that tale might take.

The two books are:

The Franco-Prussian War                                                                                        Bismarck's War

I've started with the book on the right as the author looks at the social backgrounds and culture of the participants, a different take on some histories of the war which has, so far, proven rather refreshing. The book by Michael Howard (a favorite historian of mine) I bought because I've read Mr. Howard's work before, he's a superb historian.

Anyhoo, in addition to reading I've been running errands with my daughter as her car is in the shop. While she's in town she's got things that need doing and I enjoy her company, so we use my vehicle.

I was in DC on Friday (my birthday) and it was a very lovely day. We went down the Potomac, across the river from the Jefferson Memorial, and it was grand. I'd never seen the Jefferson Memorial from that angle.

Drove by juvat's "favorite" place, the Pentagon and saw the Air Force Memorial up the hill from there. As much as many of you don't like DC, I do, so hold your water. Lots of history in the place, some good, some bad, but hey, that's what history is.

I'm enjoying the down time and will continue to do so for a while.

Y'all stay frosty now, ya hear?

"Viva la France"

 

Well Viva La France!  We are here.  Stayed in Lyon for a couple of days.  The first day was to recover lost sleep and the second day was to improve the French economy.  Somewhat successful on the first, the French were very grateful on the outcome of the second.  Nice place,  met up with the folks on the boat.  About 145 people.  Enough to meet new people and listen to their stories, but not so crowded that you can't get around on the boat.  Weather is a bit chilly as we sail down the Rhone River.  Seems there's a castle on every hillside.  Most were in pretty good condition.  Others not so much, but...

I thought all were pretty cool and I could see why they were pretty well needed as things could get a little shaky fairly quickly and the associated town didn't provide much protection.  A castle with the draw bridge dtawn up was a lot more effective (if somebody was coming to your assistance to break the siege, else....)

Yes, this winery in Beaujolais has been owned and operated by many (many, many) generations.  And...The wine is quite excellent

 

The other thing we sought out was French Wine.  Down in this neck of the woods (AKA France), the two primary wines are Beaujolais and Viognier .  Man are they excellent.  

This is a "Wine Tour", we've got a Texas Wine Maker on the cruise with us.  We've visited a few winery's and have several more to visit in the next few days.  Lots of fun and I have found several wines that I hadn't heard of nor tried up to then, but now am very sold on them.   

 

Lots of wow's from the gang.

Stopping in Touron and tried a couple of wine tasting rooms.  Excellent!  Mouvedre, Sauvignon Blanc and Syrah, oh my goodness! And, paired with French Cooking, out of this world!

Yes, I bought a few bottles and am bringing them home.

On to Arles tomorrow.  The gang will then disband and Mrs J and I will jet up to London to visit R3 and his gang.  Been a while, looking forward to seeing them again.

Peace out, y'all! 

 

What a week! Or maybe 5 months!

Ok, Campers,  been a great couple of weeks lately and an even better one coming up.  After that opening, I know y'all are chomping at the bit in excitement.  Right? So let's get started.

As, y'all know, back on Halloween, Mrs J and I were involved in a car accident after I had an unexpected (I'd never been diagnosed with it) Atrial Flutter* incident.  I lost consciousness at 75MPH (the speed limit there, Beans) and went off the highway and into a ditch and hit a rock embankment.  

The truck was totaled.  Mrs J was bruised and sore, but essentially ok.  I had hit the steering wheel and was unconscious for a bit, but regained it as the ambulance drove up.  Long story short, I had 3 cracked vertebrae in my neck and my sternum was broken from hitting the steering column.  Yes, we both had our seat belts on.

 Spent a week in the hospital, not because of the injuries but because of the heart issue.

But because of the bone and neck injuries, I wore a neck brace for 4 months and recently (finally!) got permission to take it off.  During a visit with my Cardiologist a few days ago, he said everything about the AFib was coming along nicely, and released me from my indenture.  I'm having another procedure, called an Ablation, done next month to, hopefully, finish up the process.  

I'm not a doctor, nor have I played one on TV, but apparently, they run a tube up one of the blood vessels in my leg into my heart and do something up there in one of the other chambers of my heart to get that fixed.  It's an outpatient procedure, so shouldn't (Please, Lord!) be difficult.    

But everybody seems confident, so...full speed ahead. 

I found it interesting, that after the Doctor gave me the release blessing, I was released from my restriction on driving.  Didn't have to go beg for mercy from TEXDOT, just saw that my name was no longer on the prohibited list. 

I got to drive home!  Wow!  Big Smile on my face.

And all this came about just in time.

Mrs J and I are flying to France on Wed, 8 Apr, to go on a wine cruise on a river there .  Over the past few years, she has set up a few of these with the winemakers we know in our area.   They, in turn, invite their wine club members to sign up. While cruising, the winemaker conducts wine seminars and the guests get to enjoy tasting his wine, what's not to like? Mrs J has set up a few of these in the past and they're gaining popularity, so it's a win/win for ALCON.

And they're fun.  This one will be on the Rhone River in Provence.  Nice scenery, nice friendly customers, nice wine...what's not to like?

Our boat on the Rhone River

 

So, I think there's internet on the boat, and will keep you up to date if so. But, it you're hearing the sounds of silence, the lack thereof might be explainable.  

We'll see.

Peace out y'all! 

*When Mrs J read this article this morning, she corrected me on the medical diagnosis.  Given that she was there and conscious and I was there but unconscious,  she was correct.  No surprise, she usually is. 

 

Ta Da!

Well... finally got on line! Posting a blog post on an iPhone should be "interesting" to say the least. 

Anyhow, the Disney Magic is about 2 hours out of Cozumel. The population on board is about 25% Grandparents 65+, parents 30 + 30% and kids 10 and under 45%. 

One must be VERY careful and keep a downward view or one or more of the younger gang will take you off at the knees.

Still they're fun to watch as well as the parents trying to corral them!

Getting too hard to write on my iPhone. Talk to you next week

What a Month It Was ...

No those standing cranes are NOT native to this region.
(But they look cool ...)
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Hi, remember me?

Yup, I've been away from the keyboard for about a month, at least it feels that way. Seems I've been down in Maryland rather a lot lately. Which means grandkids, which is a good thing, a very good thing.

Now back in July you might recall me regaling you with tales of LUSH and her progeny visiting and The Nuke with her whole tribe at the same time. Much fun was had though I did catch some vile bug which lingers still. That hasn't been much fun. But it's the vicissitudes of aging, I suppose. (Those of you wishing to offer me advice at this point, here's a tip - write out your comment, then delete it. I'm a big boy now, whatever advice you might give I will ignore, guaranteed. It's just the way I am, set in my ways and all. But thanks for playing.)

Anyhoo.

It all started with a call from The Nuke, due to Tuttle needing to travel for work, and her being needed in Washington DC for a number of late meetings which would preclude her from picking up the boys from camp/day care, someone was needed to provide limo service for the grandsons. I was an obvious candidate.

So multiple trips to Maryland and back later, I get a few weeks respite. I really need them. I ain't as young as I used to be!

But those trips convinced me that we, as Americans, are among the worst drivers on the planet. Don't feel bad now, we're tied for second with a number of countries. There are certain countries in Europe and Asia where the automobile is not something the locals seem all that familiar with. Who are the best drivers on the planet?

Here's a clue, they speak German.

Anyhoo.

Juvat has done a great job keeping the blog going. He's republished a number of his classic tales, most involve his service in the Air Force, most involve flying. All good stories which was the reason I hired him. (He's still bitching about the pay! Hahaha!)

So well done, juvat. Bravo Zulu in Navy-speak and Sierra Hotel in Old AF-speak. Yeah, we actually used to talk like that.

So I'm back. Not sure how long it will be before there's any new fiction, as I mentioned a while back the "Prequel" is in the editing process so I can start writing about WWII from December of 1941 to June of 1944. I miss the old characters from Almost a Lifetime, this is a way of writing about them some more.

Anyhoo, it's off to breakfast with a couple of dear friends from the old days of naval combat systems. I'll have something for Sunday as well, so juvat, you can stand down until Monday.

Be seeing you.

Hawaii Revisited

Since Sarge is on an extended leave of absence and Beans has been pulling more duty than an aviator in hack, I figured I would try to help. 

That opening photo is recent, just last week when wifey and me were visiting Oahu for the first time in many years.  We decided on that island since we were bringing first timers in the form of my sister-in-law, her husband, and their recently graduated 18-year-old. We prefer the less busy islands like Kauai or Maui, but Oahu is perfect for the newbies. 

I think I was last there in 2018 or 19, before COVID, at some conference that I can't recall, but that was during my previous job which I have load shed when it comes to some of the memories.

Punchbowl National Cemetery

The ladies at the memorial to those who died on Wake Island, which includes their great grandfather.  

Big Mo

Much of my time on the island was spent over on the Leeward side at Barbers Point NAS where our annual ASW qualifications were achieved. My squadron would either ride the carrier over from Japan for RIMPAC and fly back, or fly there and back with stops on either Johnson atoll or Wake Island.  No, we didn't have the legs of an Israeli F- 35 😉, as our 4-plane division flight required a refueling "stop" halfway there from Hawaii, and halfway from there to Japan.  Thanks Air Force!

Barbers in 1958 By Father of JGKlein, used with permission, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10907334

Our resort happened to be on the Leeward side so our grocery shopping was in the vicinity of where the NAS was. In fact some of it was actually on land that once was part of the air station. That side of the island has grown massively since I was there in the late '90s, with many more houses, schools, and malls from what I remember.  The base itself, which was turned over by the Navy to the state of Hawaii seems to have transitioned well, with several Hawaii government agencies and organizations taking up residence there.  A huge FBI office building has been built just inside where that gate was.  The old BOQ and BEQs have been converted to apartments, some of the hangers are taken up by the Hawaii National Guard, and the runway is still in operation as a Coast Guard Air station. But there's still a lot of surplus buildings that seem to be falling into disrepair.  It's nice to see that the street names have maintained their Naval history character such as Boxer and Midway, Lexington, Yorktown, Saratoga, Saipan, etc.

From Google Maps

Another historical note is that the former base is also home to Naval Air Museum Barber's Point featuring only a few airplanes, ones that served from the site.  Apparently there was a battle, and maybe a bit of corruption, that prevented this museum from growing, to the benefit of the one on Ford Island. 

From Google Maps

From Google Maps

This was the hangar my squadron trained from.  It looks just a little worse for wear, but the Pacific Aerospace Training Center for the Univ of Hawaii has taken up residence and it seems they have taken some care of it.

I do wonder what became of the base housing there, which was seemingly new when I trained there while in Japan.  Google maps shows that they are lived in, but how the Navy handled that transfer makes me curious. States don't like to be landlords I don't believe.

Okay, I did some more research and found out that the Navy retained the housing, but that's quite a trek to Pearl Harbor.  I guess base housing is better than the high costs outside.

Anyway, a lot has changed there so I guess the adage 'you can't go home again' still rings true.  Although Barbers was never my home, yet it was a place where we could get a little bit of America while stationed in Japan.

As for the vacation it was wonderful. I drove the family up to the North shore, over to Kaneohe, up that beautiful drive that is the H-3 South through the tunnel, and a little bit of backtracking to see the Pali Lookout.  Did a luau and took the kid Waikiki for a surfing lesson which he loved.  Finally, we spent a bunch of time around the pool sipping Mai Tais, with an occasional dip into the lagoon for some pretty great snorkeling.  

All in all, a good vacation was had by all. I got back to work in time to take Juneteenth off the next day.  Don't get me started, I think it's a stupid name, but I will gladly take the day off thanks to the taxpayers.   

Hope your summer kickoff is as memorable.

Check or Czech?

 Well, campers, all good things must end, even cruises.  Mrs J and I are safely re-ensconced at Rancho Juvat.  The bags are unpacked.  The washer and drier have been continuously running for a few days now (only a slight exageration).  The Dogs have forgiven us for leaving them, the Cats have not.  (Yes, Beans, we had a friend coming by twice a day to feed and water the horses, dogs and cats and let the dogs out in the yard to "do their business".)

But...You're still going to get vacation pictures.

The main portion of the trip was to cruise the Rhine, Main, and Mosel rivers.  The ship was built to hold 150 passengers, but, this was the end of the season (which is Swahili for "It's gonna be cold and will most likely snow) so there were only 65 passengers on board, which made it very relaxing.

Mrs. J being the "plan ahead" lady she is, had also arranged a pre-cruise 3 day visit to Prague, Czech Republic.  Back in my flying days, visiting Praque would have been the last thing I ever did in my Air Force Career. You know, that Iron Curtain Thing, the bosses kinda frowned on folks visiting places behind it. Things have changed quite a bit in the ensuing years.  Very nice place.  But, nobody we spoke to locally had anything good to say about the Commies.  I wonder why?

In any case, I highly recommend visiting the place.  

 For several reasons!

 For a country that had, relatively recently, come out from under a "God does not exist" political system, there sure were a lot of "God related" buildings.

And...

 As well as quite a few statues.

 

 

Oops, one more church!

Lot of history in that town. But, when the commies ran out of money and gave the country back, the Czech's had to make some compromises.  Most of the major buildings there were somewhat Church related, some were bought by "new" companies for offices or storefronts etc.

 IIRC, this had been a school building back in the day.

 I'm pretty sure Starbucks has more citizen support than the godless Commies did, but what do I know.

It was an interesting way to spend a couple of days getting acclimatized to the weather and the change in time, but it was now time to get on the boat.  Stopped in 10 or so towns along the three rivers.  

 Most were very similar to this.  A dock on the river for trade.  A castle on the hilltop to protect against raiders and, finally, business buildings to make money on trade.  

 

As part of our post sail package, we had a 3 day layover in France. We stopped at the America cemetery for US troops killed during the Battle of the Bulge.  Quite sobering.  Especially when you realize this isn't the ONLY US Cemetery in the region or in the Theater, or in the World for WWII casualties.

 

The MIA's names are listed on this monument.  There's a LOT of names!

 Many were just never found. Our guide told us that the search is still going on for MIA's.  When found, a black spot is painted next to their name so folks looking at this display realize they are no longer missing in action.  Still hard to take if you are family, but maybe a bit less so.

 Wishing for some lighter sites to see, we stopped by the Dom Perignon winery.  I'm not a big fan of Champagne myself, but it was interesting to see it being made.  Above is the statue of Dom Perignon himself, holding a glass of champagne in his hand.  Shortly thereafter, it started snowing.  Fairly heavily.  So we went inside the Chapel on the site, mostly because it was warmer and dry, but discovered something interesting.

Dom Perignon is burried in the Chapel on the site.

Our last Champagne site was Chateau Mumm, makers of, of course, Mumm Champagne.

Here is their facility

 Nice work if you can get it.

Finally, I saw this and just knew it would get a chuckle out of the majority of you readers.

Enjoy!

And..... Just because

 

Peace out Y'all!