The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : German vessel calls at Vizhinjam

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Apr 06, 2006

Kerala

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

German vessel calls at Vizhinjam

Staff Reporter

Tourist liner on a voyage from Germany

STOPOVER: Amadea, a German tourist vessel with 450 passengers, lying anchored off the Vizhinjam coast here on Wednesday. — Photo: C. Ratheesh Kumar

Thiruvananthapuram: A German tourist liner, Amadea, carrying 450 European passengers, anchored off the Vizhinjam coast here on Wednesday morning on a one-day visit to the capital city. The ship arrived from Colombo, the previous stopover on its long voyage from Germany.

The large ship dropped anchor off the coast at 7 a.m., arousing the curiosity of local fishermen. The tourists were then brought ashore in groups in a small boat. The majority of passengers on the vessel are from Germany, with the rest hailing from Russia, Italy, Sweden and the United Kingdom. The crew is German. Vizhinjam is the first port of call in India for Amadea.

The tourists were given a traditional welcome at the wharf. They were received with garlands and bouquets. Sita Tours, the tour operators for the group in India, arranged a sight-seeing visit for the passengers.

As many as 150 tourists were taken to Varkala and other places. They were treated to a backwater cruise and an elephant ride at Paravur before they returned to the ship.

Amadea set out for Kochi at 8 p.m. tonight on its way to Goa, Mumbai and Italy.

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