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Europe’s King River

CASTLES, CATHEDRALS & CHRISTMAS MARKETS CRUISE DOWN THE RHINE

| STORY AND PHOTOGRAPY BY PRISCILLA LISTER |

hile floating quietly and seamlessly down “Europe’s down the Rhine, and never have I experienced a more convivial
King River,” we wandered through castles, Christmas adventure. On Viking Kara, my fellow travelers and I mingled and
Wmarkets and classic cathedrals; we ambled through shared stories as well as exceptional excursions to destinations
picture-perfect riverfront cities whose half-timbered homes were along the way that were simply splendid.
models for those collectible ceramic Christmas villages; and we en- It may have been the most relaxing way to tour one of Europe’s
joyed new friends while we shared gourmet meals and world-class most fascinating regions. From Amsterdam to Basel, we cruised
wines in our beautiful home away from home. down the placid river, stopping at the fascinating ports of Cologne,
I was traveling by myself on a December Viking river cruise Rudesheim, Heidelberg, Strasbourg and Colmar, where expert

38 Wine Dine & Travel 2016