Homeward Bound

Sunday, April 26: Home!

Where did the time go? The past week certainly flew by, but not before lasting memories were made of the destinations, the Avalon Tapestry and its crew, and our Ensemble Travel Group colleagues from both the U.S. and Canada. The new connections made along the way, especially the professional and social interactions, have been priceless.

A thousand thank yous to our overall sponsors of the Top 25 celebration: Globus family of brands, Avalon Waterways, and Burt Wolf. And an enthusiastic merci to the following partners for their support of this wonderful river cruise experience:

Access America
Alio
AM Lithographers
Classic Vacations
Holland America Line
Oceania Cruises
Sunwing Vacations
Travel Bound

As I mentioned in the opening blog, most members had not personally experienced a river cruise prior to this sailing of the Rhine. But, based on the feedback I heard from a good number of our Top 25, it certainly won't be the last!

~ Jill Mross

A Feast For The Eyes

Saturday, April 25: Amsterdam

Our last day was spent in glorious Amsterdam - and oh what a finale it was. A morning canal cruise through what some call the "Venice of the North" whet our appetite for what was ahead in this bustling city founded in the late 12th century as a small fishing village. Along the way, our feisty local guide Ils fed us bits and pieces of Amsterdam's history, architecture, politics, culture, and general way of life. We passed the Anne Frank house, a rather non-descript structure except for the small white placard - and, of course, the long line waiting to get in. Several members passed on the canal cruise to visit this popular memorial. For them the experience was moving and emotional. It's a must when I return to this lovely city.

The afternoon was absolutely amazing as many of us traveled to the flower fields and Keukenhof garden located about 45 minutes outside of Amsterdam. Here, more than seven million tulip bulbs (700 varieties) are planted, along with fragrant hyacinths, delicate crocus, colorful daffodils, and so much more. Our resourceful motorcoach driver took us through the backroads because of traffic snarls on the highway due to the annual flower festival that day. Yes, indeed, the garden was overflowing with tourists, but we still got a close-up look (and smell) of what some people call the most beautiful spring garden in the world. Just as spectacular, in my opinion, were the surrounding flower fields full of blooming tulips and more. Flowering carpets of brilliant reds, purples, yellows, and oranges were a feast for the eyes. I've never seen anything like it. Incredible.

The day ended with a nice cocktail reception, champagne dinner, and cordial provided by our host Burt Wolf. Afterward, some members explored Amsterdam's famous nightlife. Definitely a day to remember.

~ Jill Mross

A City For The Senses

Friday, April 24: Cologne

Our visit to Cologne started with a guided tour through St. Martin's Square and ended at the famous Cologne Cathedral or Dom. Along the way we learned how the city became known for its beer (Kolsch), perfume (Farina), and annual carnival (held November 11 as one of the biggest street festivals in Europe)

The Cologne Cathedral was truly one of the largest religious edifices I have ever seen, rivaling Paris' Notre Dame. Our guide told us it took more than 600 years to build. The seemingly endless array of stained-glass windows, Shrine of the Three Kings (said to contain remains of the three wise men), and the choir's unexpected but oh-so-pleasing performance, made this a highlight, for sure.

Cologne's most popular pub fare? Crusty brown bread (almost like a seedless rye), a buttery gouda cheese, and of course a Kolsch, which we purchased at a wonderful and well-stocked gourmet food shop along one of the pedestrian streets and brought back to the ship for an informal picnic on board.

Later that day, over pretzels and beer, we learned about the beer-making process from Burt Wolf who surprised everyone with a bottle of 4711 Eau De Cologne. A nice touch, indeed.

~ Jill Mross

A Day To Remember

Thursday, April 23: Koblenz

You've seen one castle, you've seen them all, right? Not so, or at least not for our Top 25 members who today sailed 65 kilometers of the Rhine, from Ruedesheim to Koblenz, through a passage jam-packed with jaw-dropping scenery and stunning castles, each one more beautiful than the one before.

For those members who braved the cool temps and strong breezes on the sun deck, the views were absolutely incredible. And, for those who opted to view from the cozy captain's lounge, well, it too offered breathtaking vistas. This stretch of the Rhine offers nearly 20 castles in various stages of existence. Among the oldest is Burg Reichenstein, built in the 11th century as an abbey. It was razed in 1282 and last restored around 1900. Although many of the castles along the way are now ruins, Burg Reichenstein is a popular hotel and restaurant.

The Lorelei rock was one of the highlights of our "castle" cruise. Legend has it that the siren Lorelei would sit on the rock and lure passing boatmen to their death. Today, the rock is home to a hotel and open-air theater.

After several hours of sightseeing in Koblenz, it was time to get dolled up for the gala dinner, or what most of us know as the captain's dinner. Mid-way through the fabulous four-course meal (loved the salmon!), out came the captain (wooden shoes and all!) and his crew, followed by rounds of well-deserved applause from the Ensemble folks and other guests. The evening came to a close (officially, anyway) with a memorable classical concert in the lounge featuring a stunning violinist.

Back to you on Monday with the balance of the blogs.

~ Jill Mross

Life's Little Surprises

Wednesday, April 22: Mainz/Ruedesheim

After a morning business session and hearty lunch, we arrived in the pretty village of Ruedesheim. And what little treasure was in store for us this afternoon? A tour of Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum was first up. OK, I admit it didn't sound very exciting to me, but boy was I in for a pleasant surprise once inside. One of the world's largest collections of self-playing musical instruments, this museum showcases more than 350 exhibits from Siegfried Wendel's private collection.

From the humongous concert piano to the teeny silver music box with the twirling bird, each room drew tons of oohs and aahs from our group. One entire room is entirely devoted to instruments that produce the violin sound, including one that was part piano, part percussion, and a single violin with one bow that bounces back and forth between two playing strings. Several of the exhibits feature mechanical figures that come to life on cue with the music.

We later made our way to one of the local restaurants, the Rudesheimer Schloss, where we sampled some of the local coffee and a lively German band. Before I knew it, Ensemble members had taken over the dance floor with all kinds of fancy steps - well, maybe fancy's a stretch. Let's just say it was lively.

We returned to the Rudesheimer Schloss for dinner. And what an evening it was! Not only was the dancing more creative than during our afternoon visit, well let's just say that many members and sponsors left their inhibitions back at the ship. No worries, it was all in good taste, for sure.

And what exciting surprises do our friends at Globus family of brands, Avalon Waterways - and of, course Burt Wolf - have in store for us tomorrow? Can this already-spectacular river cruise get any better? Just wait and see.

~ Jill Mross

Synergy's Finest Hour

Tuesday, April 21: Heidelberg

Today, in the charming town of Heidelberg, we saw the meaning of the word "Ensemble" in its finest hour ... a diversity of groups working together for the common good - the Top 25 members and our sponsoring travel partners talking, laughing, networking, and strategizing for an agent's ultimate prize: a lifelong customer.

But allow me to amend the above ... instead of the "Top 25," it really was the "Top 50" as travel pros from both the U.S. and Canada freely interacted, sharing the ups and downs of selling travel in this challenging market. After lively discussions ashore in Heidelberg (at the castle, in the marketplace, over beer and bratwursts) and back onboard the lovely Avalon Tapestry during Burt's enlightening wine tasting, delightful dinner, and sweet surprises in the lounge, members walked away with many fond memories, plus a few tricks up their sleeve to help them grow their business.

Those across-the-border discussions will continue during a business session first thing Wednesday morning. Often those out-of-the-box ideas morph into new programs and products for all Ensemble Travel Group members to boost their bottom line. Stay tuned for more.

~ Jill Mross

Knowing When To Quit

Monday, April 20: Strasbourg

"TMI" … You've said it, your kids text it, and some sightseeing excursions suffer from it. I'm talking about the term too much information. You know the feeling, when your eyes starting glazing over on a tour and you zone out after you've heard about the highest or the tallest or the widest - or whatever.

Well, based on what I've seen so far on the Ensemble Travel Group's Top 25 river cruise on Avalon Tapestry, the company has done a bang up job selecting tour guides who are so knowledgeable - but more importantly, they're full of info that is enlightening AND memorable. Today's visit to the Cathedral Notre-Dame (in Strasbourg) and the Alsace wine region (about 45 minutes outside of the city) were just two examples of stellar escorts who were spot on with the amount, pace, complexity of material - even the delivery of local lore was just right. Guess this wasn't an isolated experience as several members who went on the other afternoon excursion - this one to the Black Forest region - said the same thing. And ditto for our host Burt Wolf who, during his onboard "lecture," spent about 15 minutes covering everything one needs to know about the six most important styles of architecture. Sure, if you have a client who is totally taken with the Romanesque or Baroque period, they'll want to know more - OK, a whole lot more. But for me, it was just the right dose of intellectual intelligence.

And guess what? I went away connecting some of Burt's comments to what I had seen earlier that day at the Cathedral and to some buildings along the canal cruise of the river Il.

An all-day outing in Heidelberg is next up on tomorrow's itinerary. Life is good!

~ Jill Mross

The Adventure Begins

Sunday, April 19: Basel on the Rhine

OK, raise your hand if you've never been on a river cruise. Believe it or not, based on a quick query of Ensemble Travel Group's Top 25 members taken on the first night of the annual recognition cruise on board the very comfortable Avalon Tapestry, few had ever experienced this product first-hand.

During the lively welcome reception held on the sun deck hosted by Globus' Paula Hayes and Larry McCarthy, I heard members comment on the seamless, speedy check-in and the friendly services from the Avalon staff. Hans Becker, the cruise director, was enthusiastic and genuine.

And then there's Burt Wolf. Personable, friendly, and oh-so-knowledgeable. And did I mention he was funny? We later got to meet his lovely wife and adorable three-and-a-half year-old son Nicholas, who's a hoot as well. Burt's been with us since we first stepped foot on the lovely ship. I have a feeling we're all going to get to know Burt quite well.

After a relaxed dinner and nice glass of wine (and sailing through a lock or two was very interesting!), it was time for bed. It's Strasbourg on Monday. Can't wait!

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~ Jill Mross