2013 Europe Tour
This summer Gayle and I grabbed our passports and headed to
Europe. We joined the Expat Ultimate
Europe Tour where we traveled by coach to twenty six cities throughout fifteen
countries. The following is a glimpse of
some of our travel memories.
On July 3rd, we left Abu Dhabi for London,
England to arrive two days in advance of the tour departure to allow
ourselves some time to get to know London before we started our European adventure. Staying in Westminster, we made use of the
Hop-On-Hop Off bus system to make our way all around London to see the
Greenwich Maritime Museum, London Bridge, River Thames, St. James Park and Hyde
Park, Buckingham Palace and the Royal Gardens, the Tower of London, the London
Eye, Parliament, and so much more.
From London we traveled across the English Channel thru the
“Chunnel” to France. Our first stop was to
the beautiful medieval town of Bruges, Belgium, to visit the historical
buildings and the scenic canals.
In Amsterdam, Netherlands, we enjoyed a guided walking
tour of the city, its many canals and cafes.
We visited the Van Gogh Museum and took an evening stroll through the “Red
Light” district.
Our next stop was the fishing village of Vollendam,
Netherlands and onto Zaanse Schans, a windmill village. We visited De Kat, an operating windmill on
the Zaan River, where we stopped for a taste of Dutch cheese and saw how wooden
clogs are made.
In the capital of Berlin, Germany, our guided walking
tour introduced us to the remnants and history of the Berlin wall, Der
Reichstag, the Brandenburg Gate, the Holocaust memorial and all around the city
to see its architecture, its artistry and its nightlife.
Onto Dresden, Germany. This historic city, its Schlossplatz Square
and outdoor restaurants and cafes awaited us.
A stop to visit the 6th most visited city in
Europe, Prague, Czech Republic, where we saw the Old Towne Square, Charles
Bridge, the Prague Castle, Basilica of St. George, St. Nicholas’ Church and the
Old Royal Palace. It was remarkable to see
the workings and listen to the hourly chimes of the Astronomical clock in the
city square.
We went to the City of Bratislava, Slovakia, where we
enjoyed a guided walking tour of the medieval architecture of the Old Town
Hall, the Primatial Palace and St. Martin’s Cathedral.
And onto Vienna, Austria, for a guided walking tour of
a city of great history, immense culture and impressive sights as the Hofburg
Palace and St. Stephen’s Cathedral. We
could not pass up the German cuisine, schnapps and of course the Viennese coffee
and torte pastries.
Next stop, Ljubljana, Slovenia, which included a
local guided tour of the Baroque town including the Dragon Bridge, the Triple
Bridge and St. Nicholas Church.
The romantic city of Venice, Italy, was our next
destination. Our daytime and evening
gondola rides on the Grand Canal were everything we imagined them to be. We enjoyed an orientation tour of the oldest
and most famous Rialto Bridge, St. Mark’s Square, the Bridge of Sighs and the
Doges’ Palace. The views from St. Mark’s
Basilica were absolutely stunning.
We then set off to spend three nights in Rome, Italy,
to visit many sites including the Trevi Fountain, the Coliseum, the Roman
Forum, Spanish Steps, Piazza Navona, Temple Adranno and the Pantheon. A local guide provided us with easy access into
St. Peter’s Basilica and St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican City and the Vatican
Museum.
Our visit to Florence, Italy, provided a guided
walking tour of the city. Then we were
on our own to see the Duomo, Piassa della Signoria with Michelangelo’s David,
Ponte Vecchio, Santa Croce Basilica and much more. The sights
were breathtaking.
The next day we went to the Tuscan city of Pisa, Italy,
for a photo opportunity with the leaning tower, followed by a tour of the
famous Fragonard French perfumery.
During our visit to the French Riveria we walked and relaxed
on the beaches of Nice and saw the sights and the lights of this well-known
town.
Our visit to Monaco showcased the famous casino and its
very posh hotels. This city was truly
for the life styles of the rich and famous.
During our three days in vibrant Barcelona, Spain, we
made use of the Hop-On-Hop bus system to visit many of the city’s modernistic
sites, the Sagrada Familia Cathedral, the Arc de Triomf and Olympic stadium to
mention as few. We visited the sandy
beaches and went to see a flamenco show to top-off our visit.
Then a stop off at Pont Du Gard, France, to visit a
2000 year old Roman aqueduct over the Gardon River and the adjoining crystal
clear lake for some recreational time.
The walled city of Avignon on the Rhone River in France
was our next stop. There were many sights to be seen including the Palace de
Papes, the historic Pont D’Avignon and its bridge, the cathedrals and other historic
sights.
We then visited the globally known city of Geneva,
Switzerland, for a scenic tour.
After staying two nights in Wiildersill, Switzerland,
we proceeded to Jungfraujoch ‘Top of Europe’ on Europe’s highest altitude cogwheel
railway 11,333 ft. up the Swiss Alps to the research station and observatory at
a breathtaking 3,454 m. Here we were
presented with an awe inspiring spectacular views of the surrounding high-Alpine
peaks and glacier. We explored the
glacier and experienced the overwhelming excitement of its power and fragile natural
beauty.
Next stop Liechtenstein where we visited the 700 year
old Vaduz Castle and the Princely House.
We enjoyed dinner and festivities at a popular beer hall.
We made an unscheduled stop to the Church of Reconciliation
at the concentration camp memorial site in Dachau, approx. 12 miles
northwest of Munich, Germany.
We then departed for the
culturally rich city of Munich, Germany, where sightseeing and the
Hofbrauhaus beer gardens were the order of the day.
A scenic boat cruise on the Rhine River from St. Goar to
Boppard, to visit the Rhine Valley where we sought out Vineum Boppard
for a wine tasting of the region’s very best.
The next day we stopped to explore the city center of Luxembourg.
We then arrived in Paris, France, where we walked
along the Seine River and ascended the Eiffel Tower to enjoy a champagne toast
at the top. We went to Montparnasse which
offered a 360 deg. panoramic view 120 meters above the city of Paris. The Louvre Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral, Arc
De Triomphe, walks down the Champ des Elysees and Trocadero and the Seine River
were among the many attractions we enjoyed. A night time engagement at the famous Moulin
Rouge cabaret provided the ultimate entertainment before our departure the next
day.
From France we traveled across the English Channel via ferry
to the White Cliffs of Dover, England.
From there we returned to London to spend a couple more days of
sightseeing. The London Eye, Buckingham
Palace tour, London Bridge, Canary Wharf and Piccadilly Circus.
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