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Post by Owen on Oct 4, 2014 9:47:40 GMT
1 ~~~ Dear Members,
One of our travel partners,Jane from the UK, is currently taking vacation on the Highlights of Europe trip.
Here is Jane's blog which she will be updating from tour all this week.
Day 1 - London - Bruges - Brussels And we are off, our fabulous TD (Brian) kicks straight off with an interesting commentary of London, as we were heading out of the city. I have visited London many, many times but learnt a lot about London in those 20 minutes. My fellow travelling companions are a great mix of families, couples, including a couple enjoying their honeymoon and 3 other single travellers, with varying ages and backgrounds, a fantastic mix.
After arriving in Dover and taking in the White Cliffs, we set sail for France where on arrival we boarded our Insight Touring Coach. The extra legroom really is fabulous and during our drive to Bruges Brian gave us a tour briefing, including helpful fun tips. when we arrived in Bruges we embarked on a walking tour taking us to the market place and surrounding canals.
Bruges was a beautiful, bustling, historic town with fabulous buildings, history and a lot of life, I enjoyed seeing the regular Horse and Carriage rides, clip clopping past. Myself and several other passengers enjoyed lunch in a lovely local restaurant, sampled the local beers and enjoyed attentive and friendly service from the staff.
Once back on the coach we continued onto the Belgium capital, Brussels and embarked on a walking tour stopping to see and hear the story of the Mannikin Pis before continuing onto the Grand Place. Brian again gave us a fascinating and Insightful talk about the incredible baroque architecture, plus some good dining suggestions.
After which we were then left to our own devices, so again a group of us found a beautiful restaurant and enjoyed a great (and reasonably priced) meal, and of course some more of the local beer before heading back to our beautiful and very comfortable hotel for the night.
Day 2 - Brussels - St Goar - Heidelberg After a wonderful nights sleep our day started with a fabulous breakfast at our hotel. There was a vast selection of cereal, cheese, fruit, meats, pasteries and even a full cooked breakfast to enjoy. After breakfast we embarked on our journey to Cologne, where we viewed the Gothic Cathedral - so vast in scale I was unable to photograph the whole Cathedral top to bottom in one shot. We then ventured inside (whilst mass was in progress) and viewed the incredible stained glass windows and stone carvings and statues.
After which many of us went for a drink at a local cafe, recommended to us by our TD whose cakes and pasteries were as elaborate as the decor and enjoyed a Hot Chocolate with whipped cream and some Gateau - Ausgezeichnet!!
Then on to St Goar where we boarded our Rhine cruise ship and enjoyed views of the castles, the colourful - half timbered houses and scenery whilst floating down the rhine. Following the cruise we headed to Heidelberg and enjoyed a walking tour, taking in the hilltop castle and narrow streets and town squares before arriving in our hotel, situated in a former brewery which was a wonderful mixture of old and new architecture.
This evening we enjoyed dinner at the hotel, being our second day we are know all getting to know each other and mixing really well. Dinner was enjoyable with good food and great conversation.
Am surprised by how relaxed I'm feeling given the amount we have seen and done in the space of two days. Having somebody else taking charge of the driving, sightseeing, dining and restaurant suggestions plus having somebody liasing with the hotel check in, bringing baggage to the room, dealing with the tips etc is blissful.
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Post by Owen on Oct 4, 2014 9:49:39 GMT
2 ~~~
Day 3 Heidelberg - Rothenburg - Munich
After another great nights sleep and breakfast, we set off today for the beautiful town of Rothenburg.
We walked the streets taking in the beautifully clean and historic, colourful buildings taking photographs and soaking up the atmosphere before venturing into the Christmas shop.
Luckily we are now after Christmas as I would have spent a lot more money than I did. The shop was like a labyrinth of rooms filled with Christmas Pyramids, Cherubs, Nativity scenes and Nutcrackers. Afterwards us single ladies enjoyed a coffee and cake before browsing the wonderful trinket and handbag shops, also finding time to climb the steps and walk a length of the fortified wall before heading back to the coach, for our journey to Munich.
Once in Munich our TD took us to see, and filled us in on the background of the Marienplatz and glockenspiel before taking us to the hofbraeuhaus, a famous Bierkeller. We were served steins of the local beer and sauerkraut by men and women dressed in traditional costume. The setting was rustic, warm and welcoming, plus very reasonably priced, with everyone enjoying the beer and german music. We had extra time to explore the shops and buy some souvenirs before heading to our fabulous 5* hotel. After settling in, we all met in the lounge for a drink and to chat about our wonderful day.
See Jane's pictures in the Members Gallery Highlights of Europe - Jan 2012 |
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Post by Owen on Oct 4, 2014 9:50:15 GMT
3 ~~~ Day 4 - Munich - Dachau - Salzburg
We have awoken to snow! My Australian travelling companions are delighted as for many of them, this is their first experience of snow.
Another great breakfast selection, even including glasses of Prosecco if desired, it was a little too early for me to partake but some did.
This morning we chose to take an optional visit to Dachau, which was a very moving and emotional visit. The museum, film and visit to one of the huts was fascinating.
After several hours at Dachau we boarded the coach in a reflective mood for our journey to Salzburg. On route we enjoyed beautiful snow covered scenery, with the sun blazing down preparing us nicely for Salzburg.
We had a quick lunch stop before crossing the border into Austria arriving in Salzburg shortly after.
Our time in Salzburg "Salt Castle" began with a walking tour with the snow falling thick and fast. Our local guide (Gabriella) was wonderful, she took us to Mirabell Palace then over the bridge to the old town with views of the many churches (there are over one hundred in Salzburg alone) and the castle before taking us down to Mozarts birthplace. Her passion, enthusiasm and love for Salzburg was infectious, a truly enjoyable experience.
After, we spent time wandering the very elegant streets, with beautiful baroque architecture whilst we shopped for Mozart souvenirs.
Once back at our hotel (which plays The Sound of Music 24 hours a day, on one of the TV channels) we had time to meet for a drink in the bar with our TD Brian, before enjoying a wonderful meal in the hotel restaurant. Four day in, we are getting to know each other really well and enjoying one anothers company, so after dinner we stayed sat round the tables, swapping stories and having lots of laughs. |
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Post by Owen on Oct 4, 2014 9:50:35 GMT
4 ~~~
Day 4 ....continued
Just having lunch and there is WiFi. The Sound of Music optional was fabulous - will tell you later am now back on the bus bound for Italy!!
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Post by Owen on Oct 4, 2014 9:50:58 GMT
5 ~~~
Day 5 - Salzburg - Venice The day started after breakfast with an optional Sound of Music tour with our Local Guide (Gabby). We drove through Salzburg with a commentary on the surrounding buildings and churches. After which Gabby took us to the Von Trapp family home, (used in the film) the gazebo plus Alfin castle from in the opening scenes. we stopped to walk around the areas taking lots of pictures, whilst hearing all about what was used in which scenes. It was an exceptional optional tour, one which i was intially unsure wether to take but I would recommend it as the scenery and stories were fantastic - well worth it. Interesting fact - During World War II, Himmler used the original Von Trapp family home as a place for him to stay when he was in Austria. It wasn't used in the film as the Nazi's built an oppressive wall around it which was thought to be too ugly by Hollywood. Next we set off for the romantic setting of Venice, driving through stunning snow covered alpine scenery whilst listening to Johan Strauss - beautiful. On arrival, we left the coach behind and instead were taken to the hotel by water taxi. Once we were on the Grand Canal the scenery took my breath away, absolutely stunning. After checking into our hotel we enjoyed an illuminations tour, again boarding a boat and cruising the Grand Canal as the sun was going down, enabling us to see the buildings all lit up, plus giving us a sneaky look into some of them as having the lights on gave us a perfect view. We disembarked the boat and then we were on St Marcs Square, incredible (im running out of words to describe Venice!!) with all the buildings lit up it was a sight to be seen. After this we were taken to a restaurant (again, abroad a water taxi) for an evening meal, were everyone was so animated and excited about being in Venice and what we were experiencing.
Day 6 - Venice Sightseeing Bon Journo - after breakfast we joined our tour guide for the "Hidden Venice Optional Tour" which was fascinating exploring the backstreets of Venice. After, we met with our Tour Director and watched a glass blowing demonstration at Murano, following this we spent time deciding what to purchase from their shop, plus what we could "afford"! We then spent some time in St Marks square browsing the shops, before enjoying our Gondola cruise through the canals. What a fabulous experience, with a blanket over our knees to keep out the cold and the beautiful scenery it was incredible. Then, after changing boats we set off for Burano, for a stroll around the 'photographers paradise' snapping away and then stopping for a fabulous sea food lunch, with lashings of food, wine and great service. Shopping for lace in Burano is a must, as its all handmade on the island by the local women who, in summertime sit on their doorsteps working. So today has been a good day packed with great sightseeing, food and shopping - my purchases included jewellery, tablecloths, paintings and clothes! Am all spent out - until Rome. |
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Post by Owen on Oct 4, 2014 9:52:00 GMT
6 ~~~
Day 7 - Venice to Rome
Today we set off for the Eternal City of Rome, travelling through both Tuscan and Umbrian countryside, with the Apennine Mountains to the side of us - stunning scenery.
When we arrived into Rome, we checked into a beautiful hotel, then all met up in the bar for a Prosecco (or two) before setting off with our local guide for a walking tour of Rome.
We started at the Piazza Navona, with its baroque architecture - beautiful. I bought some paintings from one of the stalls around the fountain and was pleased with my haggling abilities, two water colours for €25 euros that were originally €22 each! Then we moved on to the Pantheon, which even had a tenor singing (busking) to the dinners and sightseers in the square - a true italian experience. Then onto my own personal highlight of the evening, the Trevi Fountain. It was everything I had imagined and more, and I threw in a coin as I definately want to return to Rome one day. The saying goes - One coin to return to Rome, two to get married and three to get divorced. I opted for one coin as im already married, but I watched to see if any of the married couples threw in three!!! Afterwards we enjoyed dinner at a local restaurant, with numerous courses of pastas, meats, and cheeses plus unlimited beer and wine, whilst being serenaded. It was great evening, which by the end off everyone was singing and dancing along to the musician.
Day 8 - Rome Sightseeing
We have been overwhelmed with art and history today - experiencing the architecture, customs, religion, paintings, sculptures and tapestries, by Michelangelo, Raphael and Bernini. Ive taken so many photographs (sometimes not knowing which way to look) all with the added bonus of the sun streaming down on us. The great weather gave me the excuse to sit and enjoy a Gelato outside the Colosseum taking in the atmosphere - perfect. We visited the Vatican Museums, St Peters Basilica, Sistine Chapel, the Colosseum finishing underground at the Catacombs. This evening we enjoyed another fabulous dinner with great food, service and music followed by an illuminations tour of Rome. So much to see and marvel at, so much history to absorb, so many pictures to take, day and night!
Day 9 - Last Day
Today I am leaving the tour early (work commitments) to head back to the cold of England. I bid farewell to my fellow travelling companions and Tour Director in the Piano bar last night over a glass of Prosecco. Time to pack all my souvenirs into my suitcase (if I can) and head back to reality, with a lot more knowledge than when I left.
The tour has been fabulous, we have been well looked after by our Tour Director and Driver, enjoyed wonderful hotels, food and restaurants, seen the snow in Germany and Austria and the sun in Venice and Rome, have experienced the history and culture of the countries visited in a way not possible if travelling alone, all whilst relaxing aboard our luxury Insight coach with extra legroom. Ciao!
Posts: 1039 | Location: London | Registered: 04 Ap |
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