Travel Our World
  • Up-coming Trips
    • Route of the Vikings - 2021
  • Prior Trips
    • Africa - 2020
    • Arabian Adventure - 2020
    • Great Rivers of Europe - 2019
    • South America - 2019
    • 2018 Trips >
      • Northern Italy - 2018
      • South Korea & Japan - 2018
      • Cuba - 2018
    • 2017 Trips >
      • Australia & New Zealand - 2017
      • Maritimes Coastal Wonders - 2017
      • Eastern Canada - 2017
      • Spain & Portugal - 2017
    • 2016 Trips >
      • Ultimate Africa - 2016
      • France's Finest - 2016
      • Discover Scotland - 2016
      • Enchanting Ireland - 2016
    • 2015 Trips >
      • Flavors of Southern Italy & Sicily - 2015
      • Norwegian Coastal Voyage & Lapland - 2015
      • Eastern Europe to the Black Sea - 2015
      • Machu Picchu & Galapagos - 2015
    • 2014 >
      • Hidden Gems of the Dalmatian Coast and Greece - 2014
      • Turkey's Magical Hideaways - 2014
      • Essence of the Elbe: Prague to Berlin - 2014
    • 2013 and earlier >
      • Inside Vietnam - 2013
      • Russia Revealed - 2013
      • Untamed Iceland - 2013
      • Safari Serengeti - 2012
  • Blog
  • About
    • Travel Style
  • Contact
  • Tips & Tools
    • Solo Travel
    • Travel in Uncertain Times
  • FAQ

September 20 - Wurzburg • Optional Rothenburg

9/21/2019

 
Würzburg - GCT Photo
Rothemburg - Photo from internet
Problems with one of the locks last evening delayed our arrival in Wurzburg until late morning, so our innovative Program Directors lead a discussion on Immigration in Europe, which is one of the most controversial topics today.

The recent immigration surge began with the Arab Spring in 2011, though the great numbers didn't start arriving until 2015.  Initially the refugees were welcomed but within a year the unexpected large numbers caused a negative backlash.  The EU and the 28 individual countries within, were caught without a plan to deal with the number of people arriving at their borders.  Europe has had refugees from Africa, Russia and other places for generations.  The difference now is the magnitude.

After a year or two of unregulated immigration, Europe now has strict border controls and few refugees are entering.  Many are being held in EU funded refugee in Turkey.  


The 1951 Refugee Convention, is a United Nations multilateral treaty that defines a legal refuge as one who has a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion.  It sets out the rights of individuals who are granted asylum and the responsibilities of nations that grant asylum.   

One point most people miss, is this convention covers political refuges, not economic refuges who emigrate to improve their financial/social situation.  For more information on the Refugee Convention, click this link en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convention_Relating_to_the_Status_of_Refugees
Picture
Syrian refugees, photo from the internet
After lunch our ship docked in Wurzburg.  Several people disembarked and joined the optional excursion to Rothenburg, a lovely medieval town, nestled on the Tauber River.  It is home to undamaged 14th-century city walls, beautifully preserved fortifications and multiple Christmas stores.  I think I saw some shopping frenzy in the eyes of some who boarded the bus for this excursion.

​Wurzburg was 90% destroyed by bombing near the end of the second world war.  Much has been restored to its previous splendor of Baroque and Rococo architecture. One example is the Residenz, an ornate complex commissioned by the prince-bishop von Schönborn brothers, Johann Philipp Franz and Friedrich Carl.  It has nearly 400 rooms. and sits on grounds of many acres.  Napoleon proclaimed it the "largest parsonage in Europe".  While the structure was heavily damaged during WWII, it has been painstakingly restored to its pre-war form.
Picture
The Residence
​We were unable to take photos inside, so here are a couple from the internet.
Picture
A little opulent for my taste
Picture
All this for one man!
Picture
A Journeyman
Picture
View from the bridge (Randall's photo)
Picture
Flowers everywhere
Wurtzburg is a hot spot for wine enthusiasts. ​  Vines cover the hillsides and we  were lucky to be here at the beginning of the harvest.  Locals gather on the bridge to share a glass of wine in the evening, and of course we joined them.
Picture
Locals enjoy a sunny evening on the bridge
Picture
John, Terri and Carol enjoying a glass of wind on the bridge
We capped off the day with another delicious dinner.
Picture
John, Carol and Laura
Picture
John, Susan, Barb and Kay
Picture
Gayle and Glenda
Picture
Even the buses are charming in Bavaria
Carol Ogburn
9/21/2019 10:26:22 am

Hello to Laura! and of course, you and Rand. Wish I was with you!


Comments are closed.

    Join Us

    Follow our travels with stories and photos.

    Click to Subscribe


    You can unsubscribe at any time.

    Prefer Facebook Updates?
    click  below



    Categories

    All
    2012 - Safari Serengeti
    2013 Inside Vietnam
    2013 - Inside Vietnam
    2013 - Russia Revealed
    2013 - Untamed Iceland
    2014 - Essence Of The Elbe
    2014 Hidden Gems Of The Dalmatian Coast & Greece
    2014 Turkey And Uzbekistan
    2015-eastern-europe-to-the-back-sea
    2015-italy
    2015-machu-pucchu-and-the-galapagos
    2015-norwegain-coastal-voyage-and-lapland
    2016-france
    2016-scotland-ireland
    2016-ultimate-africa
    2017-australia-new-zealand
    2017-eastern-canada
    2017-spain-and-portugal
    2018 Northern Italy
    2018 South Korea And Japan
    2019 Great Rivers
    2019 South America

    Archives

    February 2020
    January 2020
    September 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    September 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    May 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    October 2015
    September 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    September 2014
    August 2014
    May 2014
    January 2014
    September 2013
    August 2013
    December 2012

Picture
Travel with the best friends you haven't even met yet
View upcoming events.
Copy them to your calendar.
Photo used under Creative Commons from Stormsignal