Rhine Christmas Market Cruise Day 3: Baden-Baden, Tammy Faye, and a Honeyed Misunderstanding: Adventures on the Rhine"

Yesterday was a delightful blend of holiday magic, cultural discovery, and, well, unexpected distractions. We woke up docked in the port of Strasbourg, ready to soak in the festive spirit. But before we dive into the day, let me tell you about how Sean was spotted swimming past our cabin window. Yes, swimming. Whether it was a dare, a fitness routine, or sheer Rhine River madness, I have no idea, but it definitely gave our morning an adventurous start.

Sleeping In and Skipping Out

While the early risers headed off on a morning excursion, we decided to indulge in the rare luxury of sleeping in. Our plan had been to use the extra time to research Baden-Baden, our afternoon destination, but Tammy Faye Bakker had other ideas. A quick documentary watch turned into a full-on dive into her legacy, leaving us scrambling to make it to lunch without a shred of research done.

Lunch: Escargot and French Elegance

Lunch onboard was nothing short of magnifique. Fresh seafood, local French specialties like coq au vin, and more regional wines made for a decadent feast. Alice raved about the escargot — I think she might have eaten half the ship’s supply. As for me, I stuck to my usual plan: sampling every wine that came my way. When in France, right? Mom, well she just sampled everything that came her way and was not once disappointed.

Baden-Baden Bound

After lunch, we boarded a bus for a comfortable one-hour journey to Baden-Baden, located at the edge of the Black Forest. We crossed the Rhine into Germany and realized that the Germans built 4 beautiful bridges to welcome us into the country. The drive itself was a highlight, passing through picturesque vineyards, orchards, solar farms, dairy pastures, and rows of asparagus fields. It reminded me of my first visit to this area when I was pregnant with my first child Lizzie. I still remember buying my first Christmas ornaments and wooden toys and feeling a sense of magic that I was eager to recapture. Alice's eyes lit up when she heard about an all you could imagine product store called DM.....we didn;t stop the bus for her. Onto Baden-Baden, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known mostly by its world spa center.

The Most Beautiful Casino in the World

Alice, ever the adventurer, couldn’t resist a visit to the famous Baden-Baden Casino, often touted as the most beautiful in the world. Modeled after the grandeur of Versailles, it’s a place where even losing money feels luxurious. I didn’t dare enter — my luck with slot machines would be an insult to the elegance of the place.

A Honeyed Misunderstanding

While wandering through the Christmas market, enjoying my glühwein, a friendly German man struck up a conversation. He asked if my drink was sweet. When I confirmed it was, he mentioned he was searching for a "met." Naturally, I assumed he meant mate, and we began a lively discussion about what qualities he wanted in his "met." It wasn’t until several sentences later that we realized we were talking about two very different things. Met is honey wine, and let’s just say I’m no expert. The laughter that followed was worth the misunderstanding, though. Then, of course, we kept running into each other and toasting to our mets (yes I tried one).

A Felted Witch Hat and Festive Farewells

No Christmas market adventure is complete without a quirky souvenir, and yesterday’s treasure was a felted magic white witch hat. I can’t explain why I needed it, but I do know it’s coming home with me. We all purchased felted ornaments, angels and hand-blown glass trinkets. There were even chestnuts roasting on an open fire spotted at the market. After the day wound down, we returned to the ship, ready to indulge in the cocktail and beer of the region, stuffed ourselves AGAIN with a spread of dinner options before calling it a night.

Final Thoughts

Between French specialties, Baden-Baden memories, and accidental lessons in honey wine, it was a day filled with laughter and charm. And while we didn’t have time for the famous spas, I couldn’t help but recall all the historical novels where characters found romance in the healing waters of Baden-Baden. We all agreed we’d have loved a few days here.

For now, I’m off to see what adventures await tomorrow. Until then, Prost! 🍷✨