Fine cooperation of the weather added enormously. River cruise service was excellent, with exception of falsely advertised, overtaxed wi-fi connection onboard. Stops were just right, with exception of inattentive shore guide in Cologne that caused me to get lost in that city on German Unity Day without a cell phone or credit card with me, and no way to contact ship, getting tired and more and more lost, and it getting dark. But this too was an unforgettable excursion! That's travel for you - the antidote to ignorance. With minor disappointment about the hurry-up-and-wait scheduling, and overall lack of concern for travelers with disabilities, I enjoyed myself immensely. I'd like to go back and cruise the Danube, though I'd fly KLM only, as Air France 2-legged return trip via Paris just about finished me off, arriving home sick and tired. Jet lag is real, Amsterdam delighted me, Germany surprised me, France underwhelmed me, Switzerland impressed me, and Italy surpassed even my fondest hopes. Did not like shlepping my own luggage on the Monograms extension, and Italian tour guide Tiziana was impatient and curt. All personnel were competent, and some will always be more appealing than others. Milano driver Allessandro stood out in conversing in Italian with me, and Milan accommodations at The President thrilled me. Just that Air France trip home, but I've already covered that. Next I wanna see Scandinavia, Eastern Europe, and Vietnam.
