Trip Report DLP About This Page:

[a_bernard]

on the ferry to Calais, France

Brussel Arc de Triomphe

[a_bernard]

Brussel Royal Palace

[a_bernard]

Mannequin Pis Boy (very famous in Brussel)

[a_bernard]

Market Square - hotel de ville

[a_bernard]

a beautiful church as we walked back to the bus in Brussel

[a_bernard]

Saturday, May 23 Brussels - Wurzburg, Germany

I woke up at 3:30am and couldn't get back to sleep, i read from 4:10 to 4:40 am then tried to get some sleep. was up at 6am, showered, then went for breakfast at 7am (fruit juice, coffee, cappucino, canned fruits, 2 croissants, 2 slices cheese, 1 slice of ham, cream cheese. we left by bus at 8:10 to Germany, i read on the bus. at 9:35, we had comfort stop at the border. we left again at 10:10 to Boppard in the Rhine valley (2 Hour drive), Germany has 80 million people, the capital is Berlin. arrived in Boppard at 12:10, we had until 2pm for free time to get lunch, went with the chinese girls to Best Western for lunch, we ate outside at a patio by the Rhine River, it was a beautiful day. had for lunch Fanta, wienerschnitzel veal (battered veal) and potato salad, then we looked at shops and had ice cream cone, then at 2 we went on the optional excursion a cruise down the rhine river. we left at 2:10 on the boat. i had sparkling water as it was quite hot. we left the boat at 4, walked to the bus. We left for the hotel at 4:10 to Wurzburg. We arrived at our hotel at 6:45pm. i slept and read on the bus. i got sunburned today on the boat because i had forgotten to put on sunscreen! our hotel was Zurschoenen Aussicht in the Wurzburg area. after bringing stuff to my room, i went down to the lobby, our dinner was included (except the drink) in the hotel at 7:45pm, it was broth with noodles, chicken, potato croquettes, vegetables, gravy, ice cream with berries and whipped cream. i also ordered a glass of white wine. then i went with the people at my table for a walk from 9 to 10pm then some of our group talked in the lobby until 11pm, i went to bed at 11:15pm

[a_bernard]

our lunch at the Best Western by the Rhine River with our waiter. it was a beautiful day

[a_bernard]

walking along the Rhine River

walking around the area where we had lunch, beautiful buildings

[a_bernard]

sitting on the boat for our cruise down the Rhine river with our ice cream. look at how beautiful and amazing these buildings are. i just love the architecture of the buildings in Germany and Austria. it is so charming

[raftislander]

Looks like you had great weather! Can't wait to read more, although I can see not to read your report when I am hungry

[a_bernard]

yea, that's part of a holiday, good meals and trying the different foods and specialties of the countries that you visit.

[mcc0313]

What a wonderful tour, you covered so much already and I love the pictures. Looks like you were having wonderful weather.

[a_bernard]

Monday, May 24, 2010 Wurzburg - Innsbruck, Austria

I was up at 6, showered, went down for breakfast at 6:30am (fruit juice, bowl of yogurt with granola and fruits, 2 slices of rye bread, 2 slices swiss cheese, 2 slices of ham, jam, coffee). then we took the bus and left at 7:35 to Rothenburg, Germany. This morning i put sunscreen, as i got burned on the face and arms yesterday, also wear a baseball cap.

we arrived in Rothenburg at 8:50, walked around the town with the chinese girls. We bought each a box of 4 snowballs (german baking, it was everywhere) (i brought them home), also when you bought a box of 4, we got one free, so i got 5 snowballs. the stores were just opening at 10, so we didn't have too much time to look at shops. Our bus left at 10:25 heading to Ulm for comfort stop then to Castle of Neuschwanstein. Read on the bus.

We stopped at Ulm at 12:05 for comfort stop. in Europe, it cost 50 cents to use the washrooms, but at this place, you got a coupon with the 50 cents that you paid to use the washrooms and that gave you 50 cents reduction of something you buy at their shop, so i bought a Balisto muesli chocolate bar (that i brought back home). We left for the castle at 12:25 (1 hour drive).

We arrived at the castle (inspiration for the Disneyland Castles) at 1:35. First we stopped at a restaurant at the bottom of the mountain for lunch. Well we really didn't have enough time to eat and the waitress was quite rude, it was almost hilarious how she was, we had to gulped down our food, i sat with 4 people from our group and 2 of them had to put the rest of their food in a plastic bag to bring with them (i don't think they got to eat it, as we couldn't eat at the castle and we were not allowed to eat at the bus, so basically you had to eat at mealtimes, if you got the time), i had a fanta and ordered the turkey, well that came just a turkey steak with sauce and no potato and no vegetables, i couldn't believe it. i gulped down my turkey steak, as i didn't want to put it in a plastic bag and didn't think i would have time to eat it later, and i'm glad i did.

we got back on the bus at 2:20 to go to the area where we took the shuttle to the castle. we took the shuttle at 2:30 then walked up to the castle. our 20 minutes guided tour was starting at 3:25. This castle was built in 1869 to 1887 by King Ludgwig II, we saw the throne room (with Jesus the King of Kings on the celing), the chandelier made of brass weighing 2000 lbs, flooring 2 million stones, then the king's bed chambers, his living room (reading corner, book case, swan used as a flowering vase, (his favorite animal), conservatory hall (opera room). AT 4:25 we walked back to the shuttle, we took the shuttle at 5, we walked to the bus then the bus left at 5:15 heading to the Austrian border. we saw the alps and had a photo stop at 6. This whole trip was beautiful, beautiful scenery, we visited a lot of the alps, everything nature, buildings, architecture was very beautiful. we took pictures of the Austrian alps, just gorgeous. we left again at 6:10. Austria has 8 million people, the capital is Vienna on the Danube river, Mozart is from Salzburg, they claim that his music has healing property, so we listen to his music on the bus. i always loved Mozart and know his music quite well from having listened to it quite a bit, when i was in Montreal, not so here where they are really not into classical music (Edmonton is redneck country).

We arrived at our hotel in Innsbruck at 7:10, hotel Bonalpina, went to my room. then went down to the included dinner at our hotel at 8 (except for drinks) we got for dinner: salad, consomme with noodles, pork schnitzel with potatoes, apple strudel, i also ordered a glass of white wine. Then after dinner at 9:15 i went with some people from our group for a walk until 9:45 then we sat in the lobby and talked until 11:45. i was pretty tired and went to bed at 11:50 pm

[a_bernard]

Originally Posted by raftislander

Looks like you had great weather! Can't wait to read more, although I can see not to read your report when I am hungry

yes it was a wonderful trip, the schedule is pretty tight, but i don't mind, as this is how you get to see so many things. i loved it, the scenery was beautiful and we got to do a lot in a short time. i want to go back on more tours with this company, as they are pretty reasonably priced (Cosmos)

[Wendyismyname]

Great start Anne!! I love the pictures and I am so glad you did this!! You earned it mama!