Between 2019 and 2024, we embarked on three European journeys, all with Viking River Cruises. Each trip offered a chance to see buildings that long predate the United States yet remain very much in use today. These travels deepened our understanding of Germany and World War II and gave us the chance to view the castles and vineyards that line the Rhine, Danube, and Elbe rivers. Exploring cities such as Amsterdam, Berlin, Dresden, and Prague has been a highlight.  In 2025, we added two more cruises to our European adventures — one with Viking Ocean and one with Viking River. We visited Sweden, Estonia, Poland, Germany, Denmark, and Norway, enjoying more history and being taken in by the beauty of the fjords and surrounding landscapes. Later that year, we traveled to Germany, Austria, and Hungary with one goal in mind: the Christmas markets. History was there, but the best part was the festive atmosphere of the markets.