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We survived Europe !



 
 
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  #11  
Old May 27th, 2006, 07:22 PM posted to rec.travel.europe
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Default We survived Europe !


Mimi wrote:
Jacqueline wrote in message
...
On Sat, 27 May 2006 14:31:12 GMT, Cathy L
wrote:

We survived our big trip to Europe! Thirty days blasting around twelve
countries in a bus. We left on April 21 and returned on May 22. It was
the "European Masterpiece" tour by Cosmos. Everything went fine, with
no problems what so ever. We stayed at three star hotels. We figured
we could have taken other tours with more expensive hotels, but we
didn't think we would spend that much time in them. We were right! A
couple of the hotels were pushing the three star rating, while a
number of others were actually four stars. Breakfasts were always
included and were quite adequate. We signed up for over $2,000 worth
of optional events. It kept us busy day and night.

We have never been on a cruise, so it was nice sleeping on a boat for
two nights. On the trip to Greece we were on the boat for 17 hours. On
the return to Italy it was almost 24 hours.

People ask what country we liked best. We honestly can't say. Each one
was unique, with different attractions. It would be great to return
and spend a month in each one.

Cathy


To spend a month in one country is a much better way of travelling
than most Americans do when visiting Europe! They 'hurry' from one
place to the next! That's not enjoying the beauties of Europe!


Jacqueline, Cathy was sufficiently blasted when she posted before her trip.
By frequent posters including Americans.

Remember, Americans get much shorter vacations/holidays than do Europeans.


Its easy. Just leave your job !!

  #12  
Old May 27th, 2006, 07:53 PM posted to rec.travel.europe
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Default We survived Europe !

Survival sounds like the correct adjective to describe the chaos of 30
days on a buse covering twelve countries.

I think those tours should be banned.

  #13  
Old May 27th, 2006, 08:08 PM posted to rec.travel.europe
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Default We survived Europe !


"Claim Guy" wrote in message
oups.com...
Survival sounds like the correct adjective to describe the chaos of 30
days on a buse covering twelve countries.

I think those tours should be banned.

what the f**k did you expect with that itinary, don't take much working out
with sightseeing and milage does it


  #14  
Old May 27th, 2006, 08:09 PM posted to rec.travel.europe
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Posts: n/a
Default We survived Europe !

On Sat, 27 May 2006 15:39:58 GMT, "PTravel"
wrote:


Jacqueline wrote in message
.. .
On Sat, 27 May 2006 14:31:12 GMT, Cathy L
wrote:

We survived our big trip to Europe! Thirty days blasting around twelve
countries in a bus. We left on April 21 and returned on May 22. It was
the "European Masterpiece" tour by Cosmos. Everything went fine, with
no problems what so ever. We stayed at three star hotels. We figured
we could have taken other tours with more expensive hotels, but we
didn't think we would spend that much time in them. We were right! A
couple of the hotels were pushing the three star rating, while a
number of others were actually four stars. Breakfasts were always
included and were quite adequate. We signed up for over $2,000 worth
of optional events. It kept us busy day and night.

We have never been on a cruise, so it was nice sleeping on a boat for
two nights. On the trip to Greece we were on the boat for 17 hours. On
the return to Italy it was almost 24 hours.

People ask what country we liked best. We honestly can't say. Each one
was unique, with different attractions. It would be great to return
and spend a month in each one.

Cathy

To spend a month in one country is a much better way of travelling
than most Americans do when visiting Europe! They 'hurry' from one
place to the next! That's not enjoying the beauties of Europe!


Please don't assume that most Americans travel this way. My wife and I
don't take organized tours and rarely spend less than a week in a city
That's how all of our friends travel, as well.

There is a stereotype of American tourists, but I believe that is simply
because there were a lot more Americans with discretionary income travelling
for the first time (up until the last few years) and, as inexperienced
travelers they may be more visible. There's nothing inherently American
about, "if it's Tuesday, this must be Belgium." Rather, it's inherently
"I've never been to Europe and want to see as much as possible."



Jacqueline


Oh, please, please don't assume that most Americans travel this way.
Give me a break!

I'm going to get real tired, real fast of people telling us how we
should have spent OUR time and money.

If you're not interested in "how we spent our spring vacation", by all
means block out anything I wright.

It's amasing, the last days were spent in Amsterdam, we visited Anne
Frank's house. We bought two books there. The most important message
they are trying to get across is Tolerance. Being respectfull of other
people's choices. Please respect mine.

Cathy
  #15  
Old May 27th, 2006, 08:11 PM posted to rec.travel.europe
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Posts: n/a
Default We survived Europe !

On 27 May 2006 11:22:30 -0700, "LekkerBelgischBier"
wrote:


Mimi wrote:


Remember, Americans get much shorter vacations/holidays than do Europeans.


Its easy. Just leave your job !!


My solution: retire.

************* DAVE HATUNEN ) *************
* Tucson Arizona, out where the cacti grow *
* My typos & mispellings are intentional copyright traps *
  #16  
Old May 27th, 2006, 08:18 PM posted to rec.travel.europe
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Posts: n/a
Default We survived Europe !

On 27 May 2006 08:50:24 -0700, "nicandal"
wrote:


People ask what country we liked best. We honestly can't say. Each one
was unique, with different attractions. It would be great to return
and spend a month in each one.

Cathy


Good to have you back! Did you find the bathrooms alright? What
in-flight movies did you watch? We're all aching to know!

Ha ha. It did cost me about $20 for bathrooms. They ranged from .20 to
1.00 euros. The uni- sex thing wasn't a problem. The long lines were
brutal.

The United Airlines flight from JFK to London was fantastic! You know
I don't remember the movies. It seems so long ago. We had the TV's in
the seats in front of us. We had a choice of seven movies. You could
watch three of them in the time it took to get there.

Coming home was a differnt story. Lufthansa Had the screens in the
ceiling. They had one movie scheduled, but the system broke, so we saw
nothing!

Cathy
  #17  
Old May 27th, 2006, 08:22 PM posted to rec.travel.europe
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Posts: n/a
Default We survived Europe !

On Sat, 27 May 2006 14:31:12 GMT, Cathy L
wrote:

We survived our big trip to Europe! Thirty days blasting around twelve
countries in a bus. We left on April 21 and returned on May 22. It was
the "European Masterpiece" tour by Cosmos. Everything went fine, with
no problems what so ever. We stayed at three star hotels. We figured
we could have taken other tours with more expensive hotels, but we
didn't think we would spend that much time in them. We were right! A
couple of the hotels were pushing the three star rating, while a
number of others were actually four stars. Breakfasts were always
included and were quite adequate. We signed up for over $2,000 worth
of optional events. It kept us busy day and night.

We have never been on a cruise, so it was nice sleeping on a boat for
two nights. On the trip to Greece we were on the boat for 17 hours. On
the return to Italy it was almost 24 hours.

People ask what country we liked best. We honestly can't say. Each one
was unique, with different attractions. It would be great to return
and spend a month in each one.

Cathy


It's good to hear that you're (a) back safe and not dead from
exhaustion, (b) that you enjoyed yourselves and (c) that after all the
ribbing you had before you went about bathrooms, in-flight movies,
toliet paper and whether the French would eat you alive, that you're
back to tell everyone you enjoyed yourselves.

What's better still is that you say you'd like to spend a month in
each of the countries you visited.

Welcome back!


Keith, Bristol, UK

Email: usenet[dot]20[dot]keefy[at]spamgourmet[dot]com

This is a sp*mtrap, but I will get your mail!

  #18  
Old May 27th, 2006, 08:27 PM posted to rec.travel.europe
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Posts: n/a
Default We survived Europe !

On 27 May 2006 11:53:34 -0700, "Claim Guy"
wrote:

Survival sounds like the correct adjective to describe the chaos of 30
days on a buse covering twelve countries.

I think those tours should be banned.


Yep, such a "tolerant" point of view.

Let's see, I don't like it, so it should be banned.

My word!

Cathy
  #19  
Old May 27th, 2006, 08:31 PM posted to rec.travel.europe
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Posts: n/a
Default We survived Europe !

On Sat, 27 May 2006 20:22:08 +0100, Keith Anderson
wrote:

On Sat, 27 May 2006 14:31:12 GMT, Cathy L
wrote:

We survived our big trip to Europe! Thirty days blasting around twelve
countries in a bus. We left on April 21 and returned on May 22. It was
the "European Masterpiece" tour by Cosmos. Everything went fine, with
no problems what so ever. We stayed at three star hotels. We figured
we could have taken other tours with more expensive hotels, but we
didn't think we would spend that much time in them. We were right! A
couple of the hotels were pushing the three star rating, while a
number of others were actually four stars. Breakfasts were always
included and were quite adequate. We signed up for over $2,000 worth
of optional events. It kept us busy day and night.

We have never been on a cruise, so it was nice sleeping on a boat for
two nights. On the trip to Greece we were on the boat for 17 hours. On
the return to Italy it was almost 24 hours.

People ask what country we liked best. We honestly can't say. Each one
was unique, with different attractions. It would be great to return
and spend a month in each one.

Cathy


It's good to hear that you're (a) back safe and not dead from
exhaustion, (b) that you enjoyed yourselves and (c) that after all the
ribbing you had before you went about bathrooms, in-flight movies,
toliet paper and whether the French would eat you alive, that you're
back to tell everyone you enjoyed yourselves.

What's better still is that you say you'd like to spend a month in
each of the countries you visited.

Welcome back!


Keith, Bristol, UK

Email: usenet[dot]20[dot]keefy[at]spamgourmet[dot]com

This is a sp*mtrap, but I will get your mail!


Keith,

Thank you for the kind words. France and the French people were
wonderful! Now those Italians, that's a different story.

The worst paper was near the Tower of London. It was like wax paper.

Cathy
  #20  
Old May 27th, 2006, 08:44 PM posted to rec.travel.europe
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default We survived Europe !

On Sat, 27 May 2006 14:31:12 GMT, Cathy L
wrote:

We survived our big trip to Europe! Thirty days blasting around twelve
countries in a bus. We left on April 21 and returned on May 22. It was
the "European Masterpiece" tour by Cosmos. Everything went fine, with
no problems what so ever. We stayed at three star hotels. We figured
we could have taken other tours with more expensive hotels, but we
didn't think we would spend that much time in them. We were right! A
couple of the hotels were pushing the three star rating, while a
number of others were actually four stars. Breakfasts were always
included and were quite adequate. We signed up for over $2,000 worth
of optional events. It kept us busy day and night.

We have never been on a cruise, so it was nice sleeping on a boat for
two nights. On the trip to Greece we were on the boat for 17 hours. On
the return to Italy it was almost 24 hours.

People ask what country we liked best. We honestly can't say. Each one
was unique, with different attractions. It would be great to return
and spend a month in each one.

Cathy


OK, hubby has finished typing on the lap top.

Cathy

Europe Trip
April 21 - May 22


We survived our big trip to Europe! Thirty days blasting around twelve
countries in a bus. It was the "European Masterpiece" tour by Cosmos.
Everything went fine, with no problems what so ever. We stayed at
three star hotels. We figured we could have taken other tours with
more expensive hotels, but we didn't think we would spend that much
time in them. We were right! A couple of the hotels were pushing the
three star rating, while a number of others were actually four stars.
Breakfasts were always included and were quite adequate. We signed up
for over $2,000 worth of optional events. It kept us busy day and
night.

We have never been on a cruise, so it was nice sleeping on a boat for
two nights. On the trip to Greece we were on the boat for 17 hours. On
the return to Italy it was almost 24 hours.

People ask what country we liked best. We honestly can't say. Each one
was unique, with different attractions. It would be great to return
and spend a month in each one.


Friday 4/21

We left JFK 5 minutes early on a B777. We had a 150 mph tail wind,
flew at 36,000 ft. We got whole cans of soda and a bag of trail mix.
Hot face cloth. Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, peas and corn. Water,
grapes, cheese & crackers, salad, roll & butter, cake, another full
can of soda. Coffee and tea. Lemon aid. Breakfast roll, butter and
jelly, fruit. Choice of 7 movies replayed 3 times. We could hear
Ground Control, Tower & Departure Control. Couldn't land at Heathrow
before 6 AM.

Saturday 4/22

The plane had to circle a few times because we were early and the
airport had a 6AM curfew. We went through customs and then got our
luggage. We saw the Cosmos "Lady in Red". She led us to the bus.

We got to our hotel at 8AM. We had to wait until 10AM for a room. Then
the hotel screwed up and the room wasn't clean.

We took the #27 bus to Baker St. Then the "Big Bus" around the city,
then a boat cruise on the Themes River. We had a late lunch at
McDonalds, then back to the hotel on the #27 bus.

Sunday 4/23

Back on the #27 bus to Baker St and the "Big Bus". We rode around
some more and got off at Harrods. We had lunch there, ( spaghetti
bolognaise). Then we took the subway from Kingsbridge, to Regents
something. We walked to the British Museum. We saw the Rosetta Stone
and Greek exhibit. Then we walked back to our hotel. It was a bit
rainy today.

Monday 4/24

Rode the Cosmos bus to the port of Dover. We saw the white cliffs.
Rode the ferry, (had a great chicken lunch). We got off at Calais,
France. We met the Cosmos Tour Director and driver. We rode to Paris
in the front seat. We got to our hotel about 8PM. There was a lot of
traffic. We had a bottle of wine in the hotel lounge. It cost 14
euros. We walked around a little bit, but it was raining.

Tuesday 4/25

We took the Cosmos tour around the city. We had a great local guide.
She led us all around the Notre Dame Cathedral. Then the bus dropped
us off in the center of the city. We walked around the Concord and up
the Champs Elysees. We stopped for a good spaghetti bolognaise
lunch. Then walked up to the Arc de Triomphe. We sat and watched the
crazy traffic around the circle. Through the tunnel and to the
monument. Then we took the subway to the Trocadero. We walked the
bridge over the Seine River. Then we took a one and a half hour boat
trip on the river. Then we walked to the Eiffel Tower and hung around
for quite a while. Then we walked to the subway station and took the
#6 train. We had to walk about a mile underground to find the right
train. We took the train to the hotel area, (mostly above ground). We
had to ask directions and made it back to our hotel. We bought a
bottle of coke and a bottle of wine at little market down the street
from the hotel. The wine cost 3 euros. They opened the bottle of wine
for us. The weather was great the whole day!

Wednesday 4/26

Off on the bus again. There is light rain this morning. We travel
south through Blois and then parallel to the River Loire past the
castles of Chaumont and Amboise. We saw the Troglodyte houses built
into the rocks. Then a lunch stop in Tours. We had spaghetti bluenose
at La Tratta. The waiter is going to open a bread and desert store in
New York. His girlfriend lives in Trenton, NJ. The place had a very
small spiral staircase downstairs to the uni-bathroom.

We took the Autoroute L'Aqitaine as far as Pointers. South again to
Saintes, then through the Champagne wine-growing area as far as
Angouleme, then 60 miles to Bordeaux.

We stayed in a nice hotel in Bordeaux, in the center of the city. The
trolley passed right in front. Dinner was included. It was pork,
potatoes and carrots. Nice cake to dessert. Two half crafs of wine
were 8 euros each. Quite high for being house wine, in the heart of
"wine country".

Thursday 4/27

On the road by 7:30 am. We travel eastward bypassing Toulouse to the
old fort city of Carcassonne,(at the foothills of the Pyrenees). We
had more spaghetti bolognaise in a restaurant in the center of the
city. Then across the Spanish border, (no guards were there), on
through Catalonia, and once across the River Ter and on to Barcelona.

We took the optional buffet dinner at a place on the La Romblas,
including wine and soda. Then we saw professional flamenco dancers,
singers and guitarists. We had a glass of champagne during the show.

Friday 4/28

We took a tour around Barcelona. Drove around Monjuich to see the
Olympic Stadium and a panoramic view of the port and city. Then to the
city center to Plaza Catalunya and Paseo de Garcia to see Gaudi's
architectural masterpieces in the Houses Batilo and Mila and the
Sagrada Familia.

In the afternoon we took the optional trip to Montserrat. Monserrat
means the "sawed mountain", in Catalan. It is in the center of
Catalonia, about 25 miles northwest of Barcelona. It sits way on top
of a mountain. The famous Romanesque sculpture of "La Morenta", (the
little dark one), presides over the XI century Benedictine Monastery.

Dinner at the hotel and a little walk around the neighborhood.

Saturday 4/29

Left Barcelona at 7:45. It's a nice sunny day. We backtrack North to
the French boarder into the Herault region. We stopped at Avignon to
see its world famous bridge. Seven Popes resided there during the 13th
century. We were very rushed, but managed to have the best pizza we
ever had in our lives! Then we headed westwards across the Rhone
towards the Mediterranean and our hotel at the Nice airport.

The optional trip to Monaco was fantastic! We rode along the water and
up into the hills. We had dinner in the La Malizia restaurant. Wine,
tossed salad, pork, carrots and string beans. Tiramisu for dessert. We
walked around the Principality of Monaco and saw the Cathedral and the
Palace of Prince Rainier. We saw the houses of Princes Caroline and
her brother's house next door, (Caroline's is white and her brother's
is pink). Then we went to the casino in Monte Carlo. Cathy lost 15
euros. We had a drink at the outside café in front of the main casino.
We got back to Nice close to midnight.

Sunday 4/30

Breakfast was messed up. Another group eat our food. They couldn't
cook more food fast enough. We took a tour around the middle of the
old town of Nice. Cathy and I walked down to the beach. There is no
sand, just rocks. Then we took the high costal road along the Riviera
and stopped at a perfume store in Eze, (didn't buy anything). Then to
the hilly Tuscany region of Italy. We stopped at a truck stop for
lunch. We had a coke-pizza-fries combo. The pepperoni pizza was
crappy.

We now went to Pisa to see the Leaning Tower and the Square of
Miracles. Our tour director rented a little train to take us for the
parking area to the tower. It was a good idea. Not a great area. We
had to walk past about 100 "brothers" from Africa. Selling watches and
other junk.

We spent the night in a little town outside Florence. We had a nice
chicken dinner at the hotel.

Monday 5/1

May Day holiday. We took a group photo, (10 euros), overlooking
Florence. We bought stuff from a nice lady in the overlook. Then down
to a stop at a leather store. We bought Cathy a neckless. Then a one
and a half hour walking tour all around Florence. We left for Rome
around 1pm. Headed through the Chianti country to our hotel in Rome.

We took the optional Night with Dinner tour. We saw the Piazza
Barberini, Triton Fountain, Via Veneto, Villa Borghese, the Spanish
Steps and Trevi Fountain. Then to a restaurant for dinner.

People are starting to get colds. Frank Ryan is first.

Tuesday 5/2

Up and out early, at 7am, in order to get to the Vatican early. The
optional tours takes us through the Vatican museum and then to the
Sistine Chapel. Then through St Peter's Square and to the Roman Forum
and the Colosseum.

In the afternoon we took the optional trip to the Roman Hills. We
drove through the ancient villages in the Alban Hills. To the Pope's
summer residence of Castel Gandolfo and Lake Albano. Then to Frascati
where we had the famous local white wines with our dinner. Two ladies
sang opera songs with dinner. Great pizza!

Wednesday 5/3

We leave Rome at 7am, heading South, down past Mount Vesuvius. Now to
Pompeii, where time stopped in 79 A.D. We had a real good tour guide
that sung songs in the forum. A fantastic place, with villas, temples
and stores.

Now we head for the Sorrento area and our hotel in the little town of
Massa Lubrense.

Optional Sorrento Flavours at a restaurant in Sorrento. Then to a
musical show at the Tasso Theatre.

Thursday 5/4

We head out at 7:20am to catch the boat at Sorrento, to Capri. We took
a fast boat to the island. Then a guided tour of three levels of the
island. The first is the port of Marina Grande. Then the next level,
the town of Capri and finally the top town of Ana Capri. After the
tour, we had lunch and had the 10-euro special. Cathy had spaghetti. I
had pizza with cokes and ice cream. Then we took a boat ride around
the entire island. Then our boat back to Sorrento and bus to our
hotel. Dinner in the hotel was very good. Spaghetti and meatballs,
beans, twice baked potatoes. Then we took a little walk around town
and a good nights sleep.

There a tons of lemon trees around here.

Friday 5/5

We didn't have to leave until 10am. We stopped for two hours in
Sorrento. Bought an 80 euro music box that plays the Capri song. Then
went to a super market and bought wine, soda and cookies. We are
headed to Bari.

The boat left at 8pm. We started the party at 8:30 on the back deck.

The room was quite nice. A great nights sleep.

Saturday 5/6

Breakfast at 8:30am. We had to be out of the room at 11am. We left the
boat in Patras Greece, at 1pm.

We waited for our bus to be unloaded then headed to our hotel in
Olympia. They had a snack waiting for us at the hotel. Some meat,
bread and salad stuff I don't eat. A glass of Ouzo, (liquorish tasting
booze). We took the optional tour of the site of the original Olympic
games to honor the King of Deities. The games were held here between
776 BC and 393 AD. It was a short walk from our hotel. Then a nice
dinner at the hotel.

Sunday 5/7

We left Olympia and rode into the mountains of Arcadia by way of
Tripolis and over the Corinth Canal to Athens. We stopped at the canal
for lunch, (we had some not great pizza), and watched the draw bridge
go DOWN! The coolest ever! Then to our hotel in Athens.

We took the optional evening trip. First by bus to the center of
Athens where we picked up the "train" that took us for a 20 minute
ride through the streets of the old part of Athens and the "Plaka"
district. Then back on the bus to a Taverna for a Greek feast with
unlimited local wine. On the way back to the hotel we view the
illuminated Acropolis.

Monday 5/8

There are 1400 islands in Greece of which 169 are inhabited. We
visited three of the Saronic islands of Aegina, the biggeast one,
Poros and Hydra. On Hydra there are no cars, the only means of
transportation is the donkey. We took another optional bus ride around
the island of Aegina. The trip also included a snack of grilled
Octopus, fried squid, a choriatiki salad along with a drink of Ouzo.
Lunch and a Greek dancing show was included on the boat, (M/V
Georgios).

We got back to the hotel close to 8pm. We walked down to a market and
bought more wine, coke, chips and cookies.

Tuesday 5/9

We took a guided tour around Athens, walking up the hill to the
Acropolis and the Parthenon. Then two hour's free time walking around
the Plaka. We had lunch at a little court restaurant. We had the place
almost to ourselves. Cathy had spaghetti bolognaise again. I had a
real crappy pizza.

We rode the bus to Petra to catch the boat back to Italy. The 8pm boat
was cancelled, so we had to rush and catch the 6pm boat. We boarded
at 5pm, with the party starting at 6:00 and early to bed.

Wednesday 5/10

Got up at 7:45 and went to breakfast at 8:30. Then back to bed till 12
noon. Showered and went to lunch, (spaghetti bolognaise). We docked
in Anconia at 3:30pm. We had to wait a very long time for our bus to
come off the boat.

We then rode to San Marino, up-up-up to the top of Monte Titano. We
had to walk the last part because buses are not allowed. Our hotel is
right in the middle of the town, way up there. It is the most
beautiful place we have been. We had dinner in the hotel roof
restaurant. Then we took a walk around town as dark approached.

Thursday 5/11

After breakfast we walked around town and did some shopping, (bought
the pocket books). We left for the Venice area around 11am. We ride
along the Adriatic coastline through the Po Delta to our hotel in
Treviso. Stopping at Pomposa for lunch.

We took the optional trip to Venice at night. A motorboat ride along
the Giudecca Canal. Then a leisurely walk to St. Mark's Square. Then
walked about four blocks off St. Mark's to a restaurant for a four
course dinner with live music. Saw St. Mark's at night then a boat
ride back to get our bus to the hotel.

Friday 5/12

Took the include tour back to St' Mark's, with a visit inside St.
Mark's Basilica. Then to watch Venetian glass blowers. Then we took
the optional gondola trip for 50 minutes.

Now we took a private boat across the lagoon to the picturesque
fishing island of Burano, with it colorfully painted houses. Looked at
the lace making and walked all around the town. Then back to Venice
and the boat back to the bus to our hotel. Dinner at the hotel.

Saturday 5/13

On the road at 7:45, headed for Vienna. We went by way of the Tarvisio
Pass into Austria. We stopped for lunch and spent two hours in Velden,
on Lake Worth. Then Northwards through the Styrian area. Then to our
hotel in Vienna.

We went to the optional Kursalon Waltz Show. We listened to the
orchestra and the operetta singers performing a program of some of the
most famous melodies of the Strauss family including, the Blue Danuabe
Waltz.

Sunday 5/14

We took the tour of Vienna, including the State Opera, Parliament and
the Town Hall. We stopped and walked in the Heros' Square to view the
Hofburg and then inside St' Stephen's Cathedral. We had lunch at
McDonalds.

Then we took the optional guided tour of the palace of Schonbrunn,
which was the summer residence of the Austrian Emperors for nearly 150
years. It was built between 1695 and 1749 with over 100 rooms and
beautiful gardens.

In the evening we took the optional Wine Village Country Dinner. It
was way outside of the city, in a small town. The meal was great, with
a lot of Heurigen, (new wine). Which has a lot more alcohol than
regular wine, (I know). We met another group that was from Koln,
Germany. Even though we couldn't understand each other, we all sang
together and had a great time!

Monday 5/15

Up and out at 7:45am. We head westwards, almost parallel with the
Danube, to Mozart's Salzburg for a stop. We took the optional one and
a half hour guided tour of Salzburg. We started from the Nonntal
Convent and finished at Mozart's birthplace.

We had Chicken McNuggets for lunch, and then strolled down the
Getreidegasse and around the old town.

Back into the bus and through Bavarian Germany, then back into Austria
and on to the very heart of the Tyrol and its capital, Innsbrook.

We had dinner at the hotel and then took a short walk around. We
bought two bottles of coke for 5.60 euros.

Tuesday 5/16

We take an orientation tour that includes the famous Golden Roof. Then
we visited a glass store and walked around town for two hours. After
that we drove through the valleys and villages of the mountainous
Tyrol to the Arlberg tunnel descending into Switzerland.

We stopped for lunch and a walk around town in Vaduz, Liechtenstein's
capital. It was raining a bit. Then on to Lake Lucerne, Switzerland.
The rain completely stopped when we got there.

We went to the optional Dinner and Swiss Folklore. We walked to the
old town and had a pork dinner. Then the Swiss stuff; yodeling,
blowing the alphorn, accordion playing and traditional dances. We also
had cheese fondue.

Wednesday 5/17

First, the optional boat ride around Lake Lucerne. Then a tour around
the town. Seeing the city walls, wooden bridge, ornate patrician
houses lining cobblestone streets and the Lion Monument.

We walked around the city for about three hours. A ten-year-old girl
tried to pick Cathy's pocket. She was on a little scooter. Cathy
bought a pair of sandals for 150 euros. We went back to the hotel and
took a rest. Dinner at the hotel at 7pm. A lot of noise outside. It
was the big soccer game, (Barcelona won).

Thursday 5/18

We left Lake Lucerne and head North. We enter France for a bit, before
going into Germany. We pass through the Black Forrest area. Trier is
the oldest city in Germany, (just a point of interest). It's raining a
bit as we leave. It clears up in an hour though.

We leave the autobahn and go to the town of Oberwesel. We get on a
boat and cruise the Rhine River past the legendary Lorelei Rock. Lost
of castles along the way. During WWII, America and Germany made a pact
not to bomb historic sites. The Germans disguised some tunnel
entrances to look like old castles so we wouldn't bomb them. Pretty
sneaky. We got off the boat at Boppard. Back on the bus, (speed limit
130k), for the trip to our hotel at the Koln-Bonn airport.

Dinner at our hotel, (Holiday Inn). No chance to go into town. It's
too far and dinner wasn't over until 8:30pm.

Friday 5/19

More rain as we leave the hotel heading for Amsterdam. We go through
the industrial Ruhr . Then into Holland and direct to a diamond
cutting and polishing store in Amsterdam. After the demo and sales
pitch we are loose to wander around the area. We get some hot dogs
from a stand in front of a museum. It's rainy and very windy.

Now we go on a guide tour around the city. Dam Square and a long walk
through the Red Light District. Up and down a number of alleys. Seeing
the girls behind the glass doors. Coffee houses all over the place
where you go buy and smoke pot. Then we all took a boat ride on one of
the canals.

We go to the optional dinner at an authentic 16th century
establishment, the Restaurant Haesje Claes, which is part of Amsterdam
history. We have a great piece of steak!

Back at the hotel we meet at the bar for a farewell drink. Saying
goodbyes to everyone. Most are going back to London to wrap up the
tour. We are spending two extra days in Amsterdam.

Saturday 5/20

We got up a bit late and went down and had breakfast. The best we have
had the whole trip! Then we took the hotel shuttle to the Schiphol
airport, (means "boats in a hole". It seems that the entire airport
property is on reclaimed land. When they emptied the water out they
found a number of boats). Then a train to Amsterdam Center station.
Then we took a tram to Ann Frank's house.

We walked around the city for a couple of hours. We had some more
spaghetti bolognaise and a pizza for lunch. We caught another tram
back to Center station. Train to the airport. Shuttle to the hotel.

Sunday 5/21

Back to the city and walked around some more. It's drizzling, so we
bought two cheap umbrellas. We stopped for lunch. Cathy had some
chicken. I had a crappy hamburger, (should have gone down the block to
McDonalds).

Back to the hotel to pack for the trip home.

Monday 5/22

Up at 5:30am. Packed everything up and went to breakfast. We catch the
shuttle to the airport and get a plane to Frankfort, then another to
JFK. We rented a car at Hertz and drive back to "Good Old Fishkill".
 




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