About a week ago, we found out that we would be traveling through the Kiel Canal (previously known as the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Kanal) in Germany to get to Belgium! Originally, we were going to travel by going around the Jutland Peninsula, which we went through to get to Russia from Norway. The Kiel Canal was built in the late 19th century and is the busiest canal in the world, with about 45,000 ships passing through each year! (funny, I had only ever heard of the Panama canal but this one is much busier!
) By going through the Kiel Canal, we have been able to save time and money. For those who are not familiar, the canal connects the North Sea with the Baltic Sea. According to wikipedia, most cruise ships cannot pass through the canal so we are quiet lucky! I did see many locals on the side of the canal watching as we pass through....it's pretty cool to say we've all actually been in Germany and seen the landscape (it is Germany on both sides of the canal) without setting foot on the land. But I've seen it! You would be amazed how close we are....hopefully later I'll be able to upload the pictures I took...we could easily swim to the shore....on both sides...we're THAT close. So here's a shoutout to Nina! I've been to Germany!
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One thing has all been on our minds as we get closer to sailing to the southern Europe...what will happen about Turkey. When we were in Denmark, there was an incident outside of the American consulate in Turkey, where six people were killed. It is not that unusual to change plans or be re routed...so we're not sure what's going to happen...the rumor I heard is the alternative is going to France, Spain, or Egypt...I would LOVE Egypt...but personally, Turkey was the highlight of this trip....so it will be quite a downer if it doesn't happen...unless, of course..I go see the pyramids and ride camels instead, .....hmm....
Tommorrow I have two midterms and then on monday we arrive in Antwerp...the plan is to get on a train to go to Amsterdam asap and spend monday and tuesday there...come back and hit Brussels and see Antwerp....busy!!
) By going through the Kiel Canal, we have been able to save time and money. For those who are not familiar, the canal connects the North Sea with the Baltic Sea. According to wikipedia, most cruise ships cannot pass through the canal so we are quiet lucky! I did see many locals on the side of the canal watching as we pass through....it's pretty cool to say we've all actually been in Germany and seen the landscape (it is Germany on both sides of the canal) without setting foot on the land. But I've seen it! You would be amazed how close we are....hopefully later I'll be able to upload the pictures I took...we could easily swim to the shore....on both sides...we're THAT close. So here's a shoutout to Nina! I've been to Germany!****
One thing has all been on our minds as we get closer to sailing to the southern Europe...what will happen about Turkey. When we were in Denmark, there was an incident outside of the American consulate in Turkey, where six people were killed. It is not that unusual to change plans or be re routed...so we're not sure what's going to happen...the rumor I heard is the alternative is going to France, Spain, or Egypt...I would LOVE Egypt...but personally, Turkey was the highlight of this trip....so it will be quite a downer if it doesn't happen...unless, of course..I go see the pyramids and ride camels instead, .....hmm....
Tommorrow I have two midterms and then on monday we arrive in Antwerp...the plan is to get on a train to go to Amsterdam asap and spend monday and tuesday there...come back and hit Brussels and see Antwerp....busy!!
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