europetrip

GERMANY, ITALY AND SWITZERLAND
March 11, 2000 - Saturday at 3:30 a.m., started preparing the last minute things for the 5:00a.m. departure for Europe. Steven (Tops) picking me up in his van to take me to him house where his wife, Kristi, son Brian and his sister Steleena and two more from Heavener are to meet to travel in his RV to Tulsa International Airport..we also picked up Bob Johnston, his wife, Joyce and their daughter Bonnie. Leaving for a ten-day trip in Europe, which had been in the making for over a year...hard to believe it is finally here.
The two ladies called from Heavener, were suppose to be at Steven at 5:00 a.m., it was five when they called..and Heavener is over a hour away. We didn't get away from Steven's until after six..and our check in time at Tulsa is 8:00 a.m. We are 190 miles approximately away from Tulsa., we were late by 30 minutes. We met the others at the Airport. Is 25 people in our Oklahoma group.
The night before we were to leave..was 6"-8" of snow fell in Tulsa. The roads were open, and the snow was really pretty. We were worried they might cancel our flight out of because of the snow, and again because we were late for our International Flight. Steven really pushed his motorhome, and by the time he checked it in at the rental place and we caught the shuttle to our destination, we could breathe easier, for the terminal hadn't even started checking in the passengers.
We each had the required limit of 2 bags. One carry on and one for the baggage ‘in the hole'. We were suppose to make them as light as we could, for we ourselves were the carriers of them for the next ten days.
We took off from Tulsa right on schedule, a 737 Continential Aircraft, arriving in Houston 1½ hours later with choppy winds and had only 30 minutes to board the plane that would carry us to Germany. A 777 Continential with over 350 passengers..nine seat across, with video TV's in front of each seat. The video had a listing of six movies..nine games..and any kind of audio you wanted to listen too..you could listen to audio as your were playing the games. Was really neat.
We had to have passport clearance when we boarded the plane in Houston, and took off on schedule, but inflight to Newark, New Jersey we had to divert the plane to Arkansas, and across Ohio, and a wide circle to avoid the rain and storms in New Jersey, and also get into traffic pattern for landing. New Jersey had seven miles visual. (We flew over Little Rock, inbetween Marion and Mansfield, Ohio.) After about over an hour of delayed flying time. We were cleared for landing. We were suppose to stay in Newark for three hours, but only stayed there under two. The plane refueled, and a trans-atlantic flight check.
Day 1 Flight - Overnight flight to Germany. Enjoy comfortable jet accommodations as you fly across the Atlantic.
We had a fabulous flight, over seven hours in the air..the service attendants kept us busy..tho, most slept..I played games and watch movies most of the night. The tough down was so smooth in Frankfurt, Germany..lots of people didn't even know we had landed.
Some of us only having 3 ½ or 4 hours sleep, some none, we gained seven hours on our clocks. While it was 9:00 a.m. in Frankfurt, it was 2:00 p.m. in Oklahoma.
The flight of the Continential 777 took us from Newark, up the Eastern seaboard to the Canadian coastline, south of Greenland and the southern trip of Ireland into Frankfurt.
When we got our baggage at the Frankfurt terminal, on Sunday morning, our EF Tour Director Helen Sheehan was there to meet us. (It is the 12th of March, Sunday). We had to set on the runway awhile before we could be unloaded..but for unloading over 300 passengers..the delay was seemingly quite fast.
A lot of us were tired from the traveling, and last minutes preparing for the trip, some of us not even getting any sleep when we left the states, and only just a bit of rest on the plane across the ocean. We boarded a bus..that would be ours for the next ten days and drove to Rothenburg, Germany.
Day 2 - Frankfurt/Rothenburg. Arrive in Frankfurt. Touch down in Frankfurt (birthplace of Goethe); from 1562 to 1806, the city served as the coronation site for emperors of the Holy Roman Empire. After clearing customs you are greeted by your bilingual EF Tour Director, who will remain with you throughout your stay.
Transfer to Rothenburg via private motorcoach to Rothenburg-og-der-Tauber, Germany's best-preserved medieval town. Here you'll check in to your comfortable hotel.
Tour Director-led sightseeing of Rothenburg. Recall the Thirty Year war as you stroll past half-timbered homes, through twisting cobbled lanes, and along the wooden ramparts of the city's walls. Learn how a 17th-century mayor of Rothenburg saved his city by drinking a jug of wine!
Our EF Tour Guide was there to met all 25 passengers and we met our motorcoach driver who also will be with us for ten days..he is from Germany and name is Mannfred.
We drove south of Frankfurt to Rothenburg in a bright sunny day, two hours away. Checked into our hotel, tossed water on our faces and took a walking tour throughout the little germantown.
Rothenburg, a quaint little cobblestoned town with it's history back to the 1300s. The church in the center of town was very old and very beautiful. Inside the church was a huge wall with a wooden hand carved structure of The Last Supper. The city was at one time circled with a huge wall with outlook towers for protection. Most of the World War II damaged some of the town. Most or all of the streets were cobblestones. It's ancient history was everywhere you looked. The church we saw was St. Jakobs, a Luthern Church.
Visited the little shops that were open, since it is Sunday..found my Germania Bear..for 195 marks..around 100.00..hated to spend that much..since saw on the internet for a cheaper prize..I declined in purchasing a bear. There was a little shop there..full of Christmas Decorations..and famous for it's artistry - again..I declined in purchasing anything.
The group split up and were told to meet at the hotel for dinner. Some of us went to Germany pasteries shops..adore and delicious. (I remember on my trips before to Germany how I loved their pasteries).
We returned to the hotel to freshen up for dinner in the hotel's diningroom. We had fried potatoes and chicken patties..was delicious..but really American. We also had a green salad, pancake soup and neo ice cream. Some of the group went back to the center of Rothenburg and the others went to retire for the trip to Munich the next day. I was one of the ones that went to bed and get ready for the next day..I was so exhausted..The bed was really comfortable and I dearly loved their feather beds and happy to sleep in one again.
Day 3 Rothenburg - Munich. Visit to Neuschwanstein. Visit ‘Mad' King Ludwig's fairy-tale castle of Neuschwanstein, the real-life model for the Disney castles. Ponder the young king's mysterious death as you learn the story of one of Europe's most eccentric rulers. King Ludwig so preferred dreams over reality that his servants could address him only from behind a screen! (In fact, the original designs for the castle were drawn up by a stage set creator, not an architect).
Transfer to Munich. Continue along the Romantic Road to Munich, the Bavarian captial. EF walking tour. Stroll through the very heart of Munich as you pass by the twin copper domes of the Frauenkirche, a long-standing symbol of the city. Arrive at Marienplatz, once the intersection of medieval trade routes; here you can see the beloved Glockenspiel, the neo-Gothic Rathaus, and the golden Queen of Heaven blessing Munich. Then continue past the Holbrauhaus of Oktoberfest fame!.
March 13, 2000 - Monday. After a very peaceful night - woke to have a breakfast of brochen and jelly with orange juice. We loaded the bus for ‘King Ludwig's Castle', which was 2 hours toward the Austrian Alps. Was the most glorious countryside landscape. The German people are so clean..everything looked spotless; the farms, houses and etc.
Neuschwanstein, Germany was where the castle stood on a peak overlooking the city, and at the edge of the Alps. Snow was on the ground at the higher levels. Not sure how high we were in elevation, but the scenery was breath-taking.
Some of us walked up to the castle, some rode the horse drawn carriages to just below the bottom of the castle and walked up the rest of the way.
The Castle built in 1860 with tons of cement and rock and very decorative and built on the ruins of another castles. We spent most of the afternoon with the tour guide going throughout the building and climbing 100 tower steps and coming town the 100 tower steps on the other side. (The steps going in a circle).
The sun was out and it was a bright warm day with cool breezes.
We had to be in Munich at 6:30 for reservations were made for us at a restaurant in downtown Munich. We made it with about 15 minutes later to spare. (Room 508) We had stuffed veal with spinach and rice and green peas, with a tossed salad with milk cheese squares. We had apple streusel with a dash of whipping cream for dessert. Our motorcoach brought us to the Herzog Hotel. Really nice and a fancy hotel. We were on the top and 5th floor. While other's went to downtown Munich on the subway, I retired for the night to get ready for the trip the next day. Was a great day and very full of so very much history..I was in sheer heaven.
Day 4 - Munich. Guided sightseeing of Munich. Your guided tour takes you past the Olympic Stadium, the headquarters of BMW, and the artistic quarter of Schwabing. You'll also pass the Residenz (once home to the powerful Wittelsbach dukes of Bavaria), the Deutsches Museum, the university, and the Alte Pinakothek. Note that "Munich" derives from a word meaning ‘Little Monk'; the original settlement grew up next to a monastery!
Optional excursion of Dachau. Visit somber Dachua, a World War II concentration camp that now serves a memorial museum.
March 14, 2000 - Tuesday. The tour group boarded their bus for a grand tour of Munich. It was raining. The bus drove throughout the city and beyond..pointing out interesting sites, and historical buildings, like the Olympic pool where Marc Spitz won his five golden metals and a huge beautiful university. We were driven to the Marion Plaza where a huge clock of six foot figures were moved with music and dance around with the time of a certain hour. We got to see the figures move and hear the music..was amazing.
We spent the afternoon shopping and eating in the square. We dined at a place called the Parkener. Was very good german food.
Later on in the afternoon, we went to Dauhau. Was a sad place to visit..How sad we could do that to mankind..just because they rejected the rules of the country. It was a concentration camp that was started 1930 when the people opposed the government were sent in horrid conditions. How mankind could do something like that to another human was just unbelieveable. I felt as I walked throughout the camp..I could feel the ghost surrounding me. While there, we saw a 30 minute documentary on the camp..film that was made back in the 30s and 40s to show the people then how it was if they opposed the government. The whole place was very touching. I hope to never visit that place again..it is great they are keeping a place like that as an memorial..to remind people to not do that to one another again.
After Dauhau, we came back to the hotel to freshen up and leave for dinner in downtown Munich, at the market place. We had a dinner where was crowed with three or four groups of Japanese. Some of us returned back to the hotel and some stayed in town. I returned to the hotel to once again get ready for the trip to Venice, Italy the next day..across the Alps. I will never forget Dauhua...
The dinner was of traditional German food, of sausages and veggies ..It was very good.
Day 5 Munich/Venice. Transfer via Innsbruck. Located at the intersection of several Alpine passes. Innsbruck is the capital of the beautiful Austrian Tyrol and the site of two Winter Olympics (1964 and 1976).
Arrival in Venice. Arrive in magical Venice, home of Marco Polo.
March 15, 2000, Wednesday. In Munich, woke to a heavy rain at 5:30, before six it turned to a heavy snow and a whiteout for about 30 minutes. Was a fabulous snow..there for awhile thought might have to cancel trip to Venice. We were worried if the Alps would be closed to traffic, but, within the hour..the snow quit..it covered everything, but melted on the roads. We left in wet streets and boarded the bus for Italy. Tho, cloudy the Alps always fascinated me. There is not any words to describe how marvelous the majestic Bavarian Alps are. We got up to rain, then snow, the sun and then fog driving through the Alps. About 45 minutes down the road was Innsbruck and saw the monster ski lifts and ski jumps from the Olympics. It was snowing in Innsbruck as we toured the shops for 1½ hours and the famous crystal shop for crystal-mined from the surrounding Alps. The day was spent in driving to Venice, Italy with stops here and there for straightening legs and changing marks into shillings and shillings into lire. We were six hours on the bus.
Was a grand day for traveling, was really beautiful to see all the different landscape..into the wine country of Italy...and all the grapevines going up the mountains and into the valleys.
Arrived in Lido Di Jesolo which is on the Sea of Adriatic about 7:30 p.m. and check into our hotel. We dined in our hotel (Room 303) after getting our bags up to our rooms...was dark when we arrived, so didn't get to see the sea. Lots of the group did walk down to the beach. Lido Di Jesolo, nice little resort town, and really clean.
Day 6 Venice. Guided sightseeing of Venice. Begin your tour of the Floating City at St. Mark's Square, ‘the finest drawing room in Europe', according to Napoleon. See the Basilica de San Marco; in the 11th century, the saint's remains were smuggled out of Alexandria and buried here beneath the altar. See, too, the Grand Canal, and the 324-foot Campanile (Bell Tower), whose steps were originally built so that a noble could ascend on horseback. Look for the clock where two bronze figure have been striking the hour for over 500 year!.
Visit to the Doges' Palace. You'll also visit the pink and white Doges' Palace, from which mighty Venetian dukes once ruled. See the Bridge of Sighs (names for the cries of prisoners who were led across it to execution) and the prison where Casanova was jailed. Then witness skilled craftspeople at work during a glass blowing demonstration.
March 16, 2000 - Thursday. We got on a boat at a port in Lido Di Jesolo with about 100 of us going across the bay to the outer edge of Venice. We had got up at 5:30 a.m. this day and left at 8:00 a.m.. The trip across the bay took about 35 minutes. The sun was out, and the wind was cold, but, a bright day. We spent the whole day in Venice, and rode the gondolos, and visited a glass blowing factory and watch them make a vase and small animal. Also, when we arrived in Venice, a tour guide took us threw the Basilica di San Marco, and Doges Palace, pointing out to us the highlight of the Basilica. which was from the 11th century. It had been burnt twice from that time up to now. It was very old and the paintings and scruptures was just magnificient. We walked through the Bridge of Sighs, where prisoners were taken on the way to their executions..the walls were very narrow, and ‘time' was all over. It was very ancient and was a odd feeling being there where the people had been centuries ago.
We went to a glass factory and was shown a demonstration of the blowing of glass and making of glass figures. Was amazing to watch the skilled craftsmen.
There is 43 in our group as mentioned before..and most of us rode down the streets of water (6 in a gondolo) to the Grand Canal and the Arch of Rialto. Very exciting adventure. We ended all of this around 11:00 and had free time for the rest of the day. Walked and looked at the shops and fed the pigeons in the square and watch the other groups of people. We purchased souvenirs from the different shops..and some of the people went up the elevator at the Campanile Tower. I imagine at one time there were close to a thousand people in the square. Was a grand time in the romantic city that was built in the water. Left at 6:00 p.m. to catch our water taxi back to Lido De Jesolo and our Hotel Miami, to have our dinner and retire for the night. Some of the groups walked down to the village and the beach for the evening. (Was a full moon). It was a great day.
Day 7 Venice - Lucerne Region. Transfer via Verona. Transfer by way of Romeo and Juliet's Verona, known for its couplets and Capulets! Here you can see the town's Roman Arena, which dates back to the first century A.D. – as well as bronze statue of Juliet, standing below the balcony said to be the one where Juliet called to Romeo.
Transfer to Switzerland - Encounter the majestic Alps as you journey to Switzerland.
Overnight in the Lucerne region. Recall the legends of folk hero William Tell (and his fortunate aim) as you overnight in the Vierwaldstattersee (Lake Lucerne) region.
March 17, 2000 - Friday, St. Patrick's Day - I put on green sweats, not realizing it was St. Patty's Day. We left Venice for Switzerland going by way of Verona and Milano. Stopping in Verona for two hours and visiting the historical places..tho, not all - we had an eight hour trip ahead of us for Lucerne. We left Venice at 8:15 a.m. and arrived 1 ½ hour later in Verona and saw the tower of Juliette and lots of Roman Ruins. We left Verona for Switzerland, knowing we were to be in the motorcoach, most of the day. Switzerland, I think, is the most beautiful country in the world. (Of all the countries I have seen). We passed right bye where my ancestors were from, just after coming out of the ten mile tunnel from Italy to Switzerland. I waved to them. It was raining and snowing, and the visibility was very poor.
We arrived at 8:00 a.m. and got settled in a prison (which had just been emptied of prisoners two years before) hotel which was right in the heart of Lucerne. The hotel was really unique with only the bare necessities available. Room 117 was my room. I couldn't believe it was a prison, we had bars on the windows and huge board doors, never did find out how many prisoners it held..but did find out..it had a block building and a courtyard in the middle. The bathroom was a portable bathroom and had been set in the cells. We were behind locked doors with digital keys to get in. We stayed at this hotel two nights. Was very comfortable and we rested a great night after our trip from Italy to Lucerne.
Day 8 Lucerne Region - Guided sightseeing of Lucerne. The Alps provide the backdrop to your guided tour of Lucerne, a town in which composer Richard Wagner wrote several of his major works. Stroll down narrow, winding streets and across the Kapellbrucke, a covered bridge whose history dates back to medieval days – the murals lining its walls are nearly identical to those painted in the 14th century. Be on the lookout for the colorful hand-painted facades along the cobbled streets of the Old Town. You'll also view the captivating Lowendenkmal (Lion Monument), a sandstone statue commemorating the Swiss Guards slain in the 1792 Paris storming of the Tuileries. According to Mark Twain, it is "the saddest and most compassionate piece of rock on earth"!
Optional excursion to Mt. Pilatus - For breathtaking Alpine vistas, ascend neighboring Mt. Pilatus by way of the world's steepest cog railway (seasonal) or cable car: on a clear day you can see for more than 200 miles from the top!
Free time in the Lucerne region. Alternatively, enjoy free time to stroll along the shores of Lake Lucerne, view the fairy-tale exteriors of local homes, or sample Switzerland's unsurpassable chocolate.
Optional Swiss Folklore Evening (seasonal). Our optional Swiss Folklore Evening takes place in Lucerne's world-famous Stadtkeller (seasonal). Enjoy a traditional meal featuring delicious fondue, and encounter real yodeling, flag swinging, and Alpenhorn playing!
March 18, 2000, Saturday We got up this day to ride the boat to the base of Mt. Pilatus and then the cable car or cog train up to the top of the mountain and have dinner at the restaurant. We all were so dissappointed because we were unable to travel to Mt. Pilatus because of the rain and snow at higher elevations. We had a walking tour of downtown Lucerne and across the walking bridge. Because of the rain, we had the whole day free to do what we wanted. A lot of us shopped and just had a leisurely day. I bought two coocoo clocks for my twin and I. The trip has gone so fast..I don't want to leave Switzerland..and wished so badly that I could have done some genealogical researching. (I have decided to exile to Switzerland) It is a beautiful and grand place and the people are so friendly and nice to us.
Day 9 Lucerne Region - Heidelberg. Transfer via the Rhine Falls and Black Forest. See what Goethe referred to as "the source of the ocean" as you witness the rush of the thundering Rhine Falls. Then travel by way of the legendary Black Forest (Schwarzwald), which was once the province of wolves, hermits and monks!
Arrival in Heidelberg - Arrive in Heidelberg, the epitome of Romantic Germany.
Tour Director-led sightseeing of Heidelberg. Become acquainted with German's oldest university city (the university dates back to 1386). See Heidelberg's beloved 700-year-old Schlob, standing guard over the Neckar Valley (where Homo Heidelbergensis roamed 500,000 year ago). Here you'll view the world's largest wine barrel! From the castle's rose-colored walls and historic battlements, enjoy a panoramic look at the neighboring river (which Mark Twain once floated down on a raft) and the town's medieval-looking streets – a view that inspired Goethe. On the Marktplatz witches were once burned at the stake.
March 19, 2000 - Sunday Left Lucerne at 8:00 a.m. for Heidelberg, traveling through the historical Black Forest. We were really sad we didn't get to see more of Switzerland because of the weather. Never got to really take many pictures..and took most of them from the coach. It is a cold cloudy and wet day. When coming out of Switzerland into Germany we followed the Rhine River..which run 820 miles long.
We went through Friesburg, where my ancestors are from..we didn't stop.....
We stopped at the world's biggest coocoo clock..and shopped for things from the Black Forest and ate lunch. The weather clearing up some. Also, stopped at Rhine Falls to take some pictures.
We arrived in Heidelberg to see the castle as the sun was setting, made for some grand photos.
We were also able to get a group shot of the 43 of us..that had been together for ten days..minus one..who didn't want her picture taken. (She was from Florida).
We arrived in a beautiful hotel (Room 74) for the night and dinner. Was a festival going on it town..and some of the group went down to it.
We packed bags for return trip to America.
Day 10 Home. Return home - Your Tour Director assists with the transfer to Frankfurt. Here you'll check in for your return flight home.
March 20, 2000 - Monday. We got up at 6:00 a.m. - breakfast at 7:00 a.m. and on the coach at 8:00 a.m..left for Frankfurt and got into a huge traffic jam on the autobaun. We were crawling at a snails space and worried we would make our deadline for flight out. We finally made it..and thinking all of us were anxious that we wouldn't make it. Boarded the plane at 11:00 and took off at 12:07..this time the plane went as the crow flies..almost..and arrived in the state at 12:30..after being in the air for 7 or 8 hours. They really kept you busy on the plane..and was a beautiful flight.
We arrived in New Jersey and boarded a flight for Houston, then just had enough time to get on the flight at Houston and go around a corner and catch a flight for Tulsa..We flew at 2500 feet - was a grand night view of the flight from Houston to Tulsa. We were all exhausted..after being up for 30 hours or so..Jet lag hit all of us badly.
When we got in Steven's motorhome, the battery had to be jumped..we got back in Wilburton around 2:00 a.m. or a bit after. Hit the bed and got up at 7:00 a.m...to unpack and do the laundry from the past ten days.
Hard to believe we spent the last ten days in Europe. Was a trip that words can't express. The whole educational trip was full, from dawn to way in the night. Was a fabulous and wonderful trip. Hope to go again one day.

Back to Bluebird page.