Day 1 - Aug 2 - Flight to London
Our friend Sue drove us to LAX - 5pm flight
We flew Air New Zealand direct to London Heathrow
Flight time - 9.5 hrs, good food and service
We are really doing it!____________________________________________________________________
Landed about 11am England time
Took the Underground train to our hotel
Went on an "open top" bus tour - saw most of the landmarks
Met our Contiki tour group and got departure time
Enjoyed a view of the sunset from our hotel
Finally, sleep in a bed!
Where do we go now?
Big Ben
The view from our room at the Imperial Hotel____________________________________________________________________
Left London @ 6:45 am
Took ferry from Dover, England to Calais, France across English Channel
Drove through France and Belgium on way to Amsterdam
Ate at hotel
Took a canal cruise through downtown Amsterdam
Walked around downtown, taking in sights and sounds
Missed last train to hotel by 5 minutes, had to take a cab
Amsterdam
My Dream Home____________________________________________________________________
On bus at 8 am to go to Ann Frank's hideout in Amsterdam
Toured Heineken museum/factory
Accidentaly used public trains for free
Back on bus at 12:30 pm
Drove to Rhine Valley in Germany, specifically St. Goar
Saw lots of vineyards and castles
Ate dinner at hotel - good bland German food
Went to a winetasting in an old cellar - specialized in "ice wine"
Back to hotel early for a good nite's sleep
Anne Frank's Annex Museum
Shawn learning how to make the Heineken Perfect Pour at the Brewery
Our home on the road for 13 days!
Wine Cellar in St. Goar with Nadia and TonyDay 5 - Aug 6 - Munich
Short drive (relatively) to Munich Holiday Inn
Took bike tour of city - afternoon/evening
Finished at oldest beer-hall in the world - 1589
Went home in Mercedes-Benz taxis
Munich, Germany on my Cali Cruiser enjoying the sights
A surfer on a man made wave in the river
The oldest beer-hall in the world (Hitler spoke here before WWII, he was ambushed and jailed)Day 6 - Aug 7 - Austria
Up early and headed for Austria
Went white-water rafting in the coldest water I've ever been in
Stopped at Swarosky crystal factory/museum
Drove on through the Austrian Tyrol region - beautiful country
Good nite's sleep in ancient hotel
Swarovski Crystal Headquarters in Austria
Austria is beautiful!
Our hotel in Austria...it was as old as dirt!
____________________________________________________________________
Day 7 - Aug 8 - Venice
Up early for drive to Venice
Took chartered boat to island
Wandered the tiny streets, saw the sites
Took gondola ride - they don't sing in Venice!
Dinner with new friends at a small restaurant
Back to the boat - our hotel was on the mainland
Glassblowing demonstration
Narrow roads in Venice
Our gondola ride with Nadia, Tony, Jennifer, and Peter
____________________________________________________________________ Day 8 - Aug 9 - Rome
Up early for drive to Rome
Tour leader walked us to 4 main spots:
Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, National Monument, Pantheon
Ate dinner at nice restaurant with group - lotza pasta!
Walked past Colosseum, took bus back to hotel
The Spanish Steps
The Trevi Fountain
The Colusseum
Driver day off - took train to Rome
Waited in line to see Vatican & Sistine Chapel
Walked through Colusseum
Walked through unearthed portion of ancient Rome
Walked around some more - our feet were killing!
Ate in town and then took taxi back to hotel - red lights mean yield in Italy!
The Vatican
St. Peter's Square
The Colusseum
____________________________________________________________________ Day 10 - Aug 11 - Florence
Up early for drive to Florence
Took guided tour through monuments and huge church
No time to visit various museums
Ate dinner with group at a monastery in the Tuscan hills
Went to discotec with group
Taxi back with friends later
The David (a replica outside the museum with the real one)
The Old Bridge (only one not bombed during WWII)
Our Tuscan Dinner
All day drive
Arrived at hotel for quick meal
Took boat cruise of Lake Lucerne
Ate fondu to sample the Swiss chocolate
Slept the night in a converted prison
A beautiful lake bordering Italy and Switzerland (George Clooney has a home here)
This is what we used each day to figure out "The Plan"
Fondue Night
Our Jail for the night
____________________________________________________________________ Day 12 - Aug 13 - Paris
Travel day - made it to Paris around 4pm
Ran through the Louvre to see the Mona Lisa before closing
Drove around Paris in the coach to see the main sites
Checked into hotel
Took train down to Eiffel tower to see light show
Cabbed it back to hotel
The CRAZY TRAFFIC in Paris (this is a typical intersection)
The Mona Lisa at The Lourve
Can you guess what this is?
My Romeo
Up early to take bus to Eiffel tower to stand in line
Top was closed so we only went halfway up
Took river cruise of Paris
Met back with group at hotel
Went to cabaret show with group
Last official day of trip...
Lovers Park
Shawn and the Lourve Museum
The Notre Dame
Paris+Picnic+Park=Perfect
My Favorite!
Our last night as we hang out with the greatest tour manager ever
____________________________________________________________________ Day 14 - Aug 15 - London
Left hotel @ 7:45 am for London
Crossed English channel again
Arrived back at London around 5pm
Met with group one last time for dinner
Back to hotel for much-needed sleep
____________________________________________________________________ Day 15 - Aug 15 - Los Angeles
Took Underground back to Heathrow
Flew to LAX
Our friend Joey came and picked us up
Back to Palm Springs at 11:30 pm
Crashed.....off to work tomorrow!
London's famous phone booth
Our favorite subway
Shawn hold'n on during our last Underground ride to the airport**********
