Tour Leader’s Blog

Participants on our Scenic Rhine River Cruise (Castles along the Rhine), from October 13 to 21, had a wonderful time. Janet and I enjoyed the group so much as we viewed the beautiful fall colours while visiting quaint villages and cities and relaxed together on the ship.

Castle along the Rhine River

There was much to see as we sailed through locks, by vineyards, mountains, castles and towns and passed the many barges and ships traveling on this busy transportation route.

We gathered in Zurich, Switzerland, where we were met by a private coach hired by TourMagination. I led the group on a walking tour of Zurich, doing our traditional Anabaptist Heritage walk. Then, Jean-Paul Weber, our favorite European coach driver, took the group to board the River Ambassador ship in Basel where the cruise began for our journey to Amsterdam in The Netherlands.

The group gathered on the ship at various times for conversation and devotions. I shared the current life of the Mennonite church and historical aspects of the Anabaptist movement as it related to the areas in which we were traveling. The group particularly enjoyed the coach tour through the beautiful Alsace region of France where some of our tour members had family roots.

Our first Scenic Rhine River Cruise was a great success. Tour members from across the United States and Canada enjoyed the fellowship and interaction with each other, as well as meeting other persons on the ship.

TourMagination is already planning a second Scenic Rhine River Cruise for 2009. If you would be interested in receiving an invitation to participate in this cruise tour, please contact TourMagination

~ Wilmer Martin

The Lands of the Bible tour group enjoyed an amazing variety of sites in the Holy Lands. The small group of 12 quickly learned to know each other and enjoyed worshiping together as well as sight-seeing and laughing about our idiosyncrasies. The age range of 27-73 did not deter individuals from enjoying each other’s company.

One of the surprises that our outstanding guide Samer Makari arranged for us, at our request, was a tour of an olive wood factory. The olive wood products are visible everywhere one travels in Israel/Palestine, and we usually end up in gift shops and souvenir shops to purchase these products. However, to visit a small shop in Bethlehem was a treat the entire group enjoyed. The visit to the cooperative where 36 families sell their wares, including olive wood products, made the final product even more highly treasured. Group members felt by purchasing these products they were helping to provide income for families in Bethlehem where they are feeling more isolated by the walls erected to prevent clashes between frustrated civilians and law enforcement officers.

~ Ron and Ruth Guengerich