News : Lifelong dream: Long-time tour guide Inge Schminke swims with dolphin

Inge Schminke's recent Caribbean cruise included this swim with a dolphin.

After decades of leading nearly 2,000 Americans on tours across her native Europe, Inge Schminke has finally had the opportunity to take a vacation on her own – a chance to be the tourist, not the tour guide.

Her children paid for a February cruise, and daughter Heidi accompanied Inge from Puerto Rico to several Carribbean ports.

“I’ve always wanted to go on a cruise,” says Inge, who is also involved in the music and choir of the Vinton Presbyterian Church.

A highlight of her trip was the morning she had the opportunity to swim with a dolphin.

Inge encourages everyone to participate in such a cruise, and especially to do it in the winter. She left freezing temperatures for a week of sunshine and highs in the 80s.

Because of the many people she has introduced to that part of Europe, Inge was honored as an Honorary Citizen of her native town of Tulln an der Donau, Austria, in 2013. (See that story HERE.)

Inge is again planning a tour of Europe for the summer of 2015. She has alreadyhad 27 sign up and has space for three more. Click HERE for more information about her tours (and Villa Comagena, her store near Shellsburg).