Thanks to luck, good fortune, and the Wright Brothers, I have had the privilege of being able to travel to many countries around the world. In the ’50s the US government sent me to the Far East (see previous posts). Later I traveled with People-to-People as a chaperone for students who traveled as student ambassadors. I also traveled to many places on my own dime. All in all, I have been in over 55 countries and all 7 continents. The people I have met and the resulting experiences have enriched my life beyond all expectations.
My latest trip was in July – a cruise on the Rhine and Mosel rivers through 6 countries in Western Europe. There I visited parts of Switzerland, France, Germany, Luxembourg , Netherlands, and Belgium. I was particularly interested in the Alsace region of France (formerly Germany), and areas in Germany around Baden-Baden and Darmstadt since my family and many of my former Randolph neighbors emigrated from there. I also looked forward to visiting Luxembourg since two of my uncles fought there in The Battle of the Bulge during World War II.
Along the banks of these rivers are fertile farm lands, vineyards, forests, small villages, cathedrals, and medieval castles.
Below is a link to a YouTube presentation (29 minutes) consisting of some photos and videos taken during this trip.