Europe in July 2026 Part One

I like to share my latest European adventure in July.  It was wonderful. We went on a cruise to Scandinavia and Estonia. Thank God, we escaped the European heat wave, even though it was very hot in Stockholm. My husband left a week earlier, and I spent a week at the farm with my family.

Let me begin with my experience with the German train system. 50% of trains are late. That is one reason I arrived at the Frankfurt Airport a day early to catch my flight. In my opinion, the Frankfurt Airport is difficult to navigate. If you are not a European citizen, you have to wait in the customs line. On my last trip, half of the people in line missed their flight. Often, you have to carry your carry-on down several flights of stairs, board a bus, and then board the airplane. I recommend packing light. That said, my husband had no problem when he left. I am sharing this so you are aware of any trouble if you're ever at Frankfurt Airport or need to get there on time by train. Like life, traveling isn’t always easy. But having my favorite meal, Matjes Herring with potatoes, made up for it. Here is my recipe for Herring.

On the way over, we flew into Munich and then to Hamburg, where my niece’s husband picked us up. We stayed 5 days in Lüneburg, a town I love. Read more about it here. I always try to book a cute, small hotel and visit my niece’s family whenever they have time. Lüneburg is a great town for shopping and relaxing. Here you can experience a German small-town lifestyle. Everything is within walking distance. Because it gets many visitors from Hamburg, the town has great restaurants and shops.

After Lüneburg, we visited Hamburg for 2 days and stayed at the gorgeous Westin Hotel above the Elbe Philharmonic.

Our ship was the Queen Anne, the newest ship in the Cunard group. It is a beautiful ship, with traditional English elegance and many modern touches. We splurged and stayed in their highest tier, the Queen’s Grill. The food was outstanding; they fixed you anything you wanted. My husband still cannot have anything near his tongue that has acid in it. They were so accommodating. 
We boarded the Queen Anne in Hamburg and left this beautiful city over the Elbe tunnel at sunset.  This is what I love best about cruising. 

I hope to post part two of my trip soon. 
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Here are some recipes you might like. My salmon rillettes are made with miso and salmon, of course. Click here for the recipe.

These little wonton cups are filled with smoked salmon and avocado, a healthy appetizer or just a snack. Click here for the recipe.

This avocado is filled with bay shrimp and tomato, making it a beautiful appetizer or a light lunch. Click here for the recipe.