Genova, Italy (11/5/14)

Genova, Italy

November 5, 2014

This is one of the luxuries of no reservations while traveling. We were headed for Siena, Italy last night. We checked the weather and all was Ok! Then we woke up this morning and checked weather again. Rain for next three days! Cinque Terre... More rain. So we decided to go to Nice, Italy. Checked the weather and it is sunny and warmer. Just keep following the sun! (Did not make it to Nice because we missed our train.)

Lee had a wonderful breakfast at our hotel. I had my breakfast in my room while I packed. Hot tea and fruit. Love that Earl Grey.  Then back to the tracks. 

We got on our train and it was a short trip to Bern. We arrived and it was so cold and rainy outside and no place for cover while we await our next train. We still had a lot of Swiss money we did not spend, so Lee went in search of an umbrella to replace the one he lost or someone stole. We prefer to think someone stole it instead of losing anything else. He found an umbrella and he also got a hot dog and drink from a little mobile hot dog stand. Such a cute mobile kiosk, I would like to have one for my neighborhood at home. We have a lot of new home construction in our neighborhood and I could sell food to the workers. Would have to add salsa and jalapeños to my menu. 

 

We boarded the train to Genova, so glad to be out of the cold. While we were settling in, there was an announcement about a Starbucks train. Since we still had Swiss money we needed to spend, thought I could help with our dilemma and support Starbucks too! Yes? Poor Starbuck's!

So I headed to the Starbucks car. The prices were more outrageous than home, but people were lined up to pay those prices? I ordered my hot tea and then since I still had a lot of Swiss money, why not a blueberry muffin? This was the first train service for Starbucks in the world, but I am sure there will be others in no time. By the way, everything was Starbucks perfect.  

We reached Genova and had about 18 minutes between trains. We went down to find a bakery. We did, then headed for our track. It was not the usual track change and we were not sure if we were going the right direction and the clock was ticking. We were running at this point and no signs for "track 7" in sight. We stopped to make sure we were going the right way. We were still running with our back packs and hand bags. We reached the track just in time to see it pull away. Yikes!

We go to ticket office to see if we can fix our dilemma. Not an easy fix. Next train would put us there around 2:00am the next day. So we cancelled our hotel reservation and chose another location closer with less time on the train. It was costly, but it was the best choice. So now we are going to Genova, Italy. This was the first time we missed a train and hopefully the last. 

We got a hotel and spent the night, then left for Milan to see the famous Leonardo de Vinci painting, The Last Supper. 

Good night!

Chur, Switzerland (11/2-5/14)

Chur, Switzerland

Sunday, November 2nd-5th, 2014

We arrived in Switzerland. In less than 24 hours we have traveled from Budapest to Vienna then Switzerland. We checked into our hotel and we were off to train station. Getting tickets for our next adventure. We were taking a scenic train to Arosa. It was a spectacular ride with plenty of mountainous views. It is Fall and the trees still have their leaves. Lee and I agreed that the trees were not as pretty as Georgia or Missouri.

We arrive and there was just a little snow, but this time next month there will be plenty of snow and buzzing with people since Arosa is a small ski resort. We walked around the town and picked our restaurant by the garlic smells that were seeping from inside the restaurant to the nice cool air.  Hmmmm!  We ordered a ham and mushroom pizza. They delivered to our table a large vegetarian pizza and an extra large ham and mushroom calzone. Lee went to tell the waitress that she delivered the wrong food to our table, but she disagreed and said it was what we ordered? Oh, the language barrier. We thought the pointing to the menu also worked. Guess not! We also ordered a beer. Then Lee asked for water, but they brought mineral water which was more expensive than beer. Final cost for lunch... 63 francs? Oh well! Anyway, we enjoyed our lunch except for the expense. Guess tomorrow we will have pizza for breakfast. 

We got home early, but needed to wash clothes. It happens even when you are in Switzerland. Lee volunteered to do the laundry. He assigned me to checking train schedules and finding a hotel for the next day. I think he gave me the hard job? Believe it or not, I did good. The next day we got up early. We had booked another scenic train ride. This was one  was really amazing, The Bernina Express. It is the highest altitude railway and is 5000 feet above sea level. Hope you enjoy the pics, but they do not show the breathtaking view from our train. Everyone was oohhhhing and ahhhhing. So funny!m

Back on the train to our next destination. 

Interlaken, Switzerland

Hotel Banhof

Today was another day of train riding. We started at 9:00am this morning with our scenic train and we have changed trains eight times.  Most of the changes required immediate boarding the for next train. Once we had a 15 minute break.  Just enough time to grab lunch... Goldfish, dark chocolate for Lee, light chocolate with nuts for me, Peach Nestea and we had left over cold pizza from our lunch yesterday. Life is good.  One train we were on from Zurich to Bern was entirely full and we barely made the connection. Lee did not even have a real seat and thankfully it was a one hour ride.  Europeans really take advantage of the buses, trams and trains. 

We arrived at our hotel around 8:00pm, so we headed out to find dinner. Most of the town was closed except for a few restaurants. Luckily we found one that served brats and Lee was happy. Then back to hotel for some much needed sleep, will have to catch an early train tomorrow. 

Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland

Hotel Jungfrau

We picked this city so that we could take the Jungfrau Express to the top of the highest point in Europe. The brochure was unbelieveable.  Could not wait. But when we arrived it was cloudy and rainy. So the Express was closed for the day., not so much the rain, but the clouds created zero visibility at the top. Also, the wind gusts were about 80mph. So we went to store and picked up some lunch and wine. Did I also mention it was freezing in this town. When we got to our hotel, the view was amazing. We were surrounded by the alps. Beautiful, even though you could not see the tops because of the clouds. We stepped out on the patio and our neighbors were outside enjoying the view too. We started chatting and chatted outside in the cold for over an hour. So nice to have a conversation with fellow Americans. Dinner was served at 5:00pm, so we decided to continue chatting in the dining room downstairs and have some dinner. Earlier the outside menu listed  Chinese meals (owner was Chinese), but they serve a different culture everyday. So we settled for a Swiss menu. I had some wonderful spaghetti with tomatoes, zucchini and garlic. Great white wine. Lee had Swiss cuisine. Delicious. Enjoyed dining with Dave and Deb from Indiana. 

Nothing like a full stomach to make you sleep like a baby.  Phone rang during the night and it was Jason. He was at Dallas/Fort Worth airport waiting on his flight back home. So glad that we got to talk and catch up on the little ones.  Then back to sleep! Yep, you got ut... Up for an early train to... Italy. Yea!!!

Vienna, Austria (11/1/14)

Vienna, Austria

November 1, 2014

Arrived in Vienna. Placed backpacks in locker and headed to town to take in a few sites. It was a holiday and all of the shops were closed, but restaurants were open. Yea! Checked out the Museum District. Passed a Turkish restaurant and everything looked great. Had been trying to get Lee to try a gyro. The food reminded me of Alex... She is always making hummus and they had stuffed grape leaves and gnocchi. Yum! Suprise, Lee liked the gyro. 

It was getting cold, so we headed back to the station. We had about three hours to waste before our train arrived. Now to find a Starbuck's and WiFi. Time to catch up with family, email, Facebook, etc. then we will sleep on the train all the way to Chur, Switzerland. 

Can't wait to see the majestic mountains!

Budapest, Hungary (10/31-11/1/14)

Budapest, Hungary

October 31 - November 1, 2014

Today is Halloween. Stayed at the Ibis and when we arrived, our room was ready. Yea! Penthouse level. :-) Very nice. We hit the streets running. This is our daily routine. 

 

As we were walking we spotted this funny vehicle. It is powered by 8 people pedaling and they are drinking beer too. Saw these in Amsterdam also. A lot harder than it looks, but they were enjoying and quenching their thirst at the same time. Cool!

Took subway to downtown area. Several things to see. First was the Matthias Church, Our Lady of Buda located in the old Buda Castle District. Originally constructed in 1015, although today no archeological remains exist. Went through complete renovations in the late 14th century and then extensively reconstructed in the 1900's. By far, this is my favorite cathedral. The colors throughout the cathedral are amazing. I thought they were hand painted, but later they showed that the painters used stencils. No wonder they were so perfect. Still so warm and exquisite. We also toured the grounds and all of the castle area. Then we set at a cafe and had gluehwein while overlooking the Danube River. What a view. 

Then we wandered down to a restaurant we had seen earlier serving Hungarian food. Hot soup, salad and chicken breast and Lee's fav dessert ice cream with whip cream and wafer cookies. Yum!

Then headed downtown to the square. Heard some country music and we walked in that direction. Someone was playing a country CD and the people were line dancing in their Halloween costumes. Too funny. Strolled around and took a few picks of some carved pumpkins. Then it was getting cold, so we headed back to our hotel. Lee fell asleep and I watched more of Shindler's List. Fell asleep, but still not finished. 

Next morning we slept in (8:00am).  We were heading to Vienna at 2:00 for the day. Then to Chur, Switzerland. So we needed to go on line and find a hotel and do some research on what we wanted to see and do. 

Krakow, Poland (10/29/14)

Krakow, Poland

October 29, 2014

Took a night train to Krakow, Poland. Our bunk mates for the overnight trip were two young Japanese girls who had the middle bunks and two young men from Spain who had the top bunks. Not much chatter because everyone climbed in and went to sleep. The train arrived almost two hours late so we had time to talk and learn a little about their travels. Always interesting. Then we arrived at the new train station and were very surprised.  Attached to the train station was a very modern Galleria Mall which would rival any in the US.

A young Polish girl at the information office helped us get signed up for our trip to Auschwitz which we scheduled for 2 pm. We then found our room (The Fresh Apartments) only a short walk from the station. Wow-it was decorated very modern and with a kitchen.  We decompressed. Seemed huge after our tiny train accommodations. Showered and set out to get acquainted with the city.  We were so close to the square we did not need a train to get to the square. While we were out we grabbed some snacks for our long ride to Auschwitz. Our driver was picking us up at 1:15. 

There were 8 of us in the mini van. The ride took about one and one half hours. Once we arrived, we were required to stay with our tour group of about 25. We were given head phones, so we could hear our guide. The guide was ok, but he hardly took a breath for the next three hours. 

All of the buildings were brick and still standing. Was very sad to hear the stories and see how the people lived. We had just visited Ann Franks home in Amsterdam the week before. She and her sister and her parents were finally discovered in 1943 or 44 and then were sent directly to Auschwitz. Her family did not survive long after arriving. She was just 15. Her father was the only one of her family members to survive. He later found her diary when he returned to Amsterdam and had it published. 

The hardest part of Krakow was at the end of the trip. They show real pics of things that had been confiscated when they arrived at the camp... shoes, clothes, suitcases, hair, combs and brushes, things that belonged to the children, pictures of the Jews that entered the camp, and many other personal things. They left home with these items not knowing they would never need them because they would never return. 

By the time we arrived in Birkenau it was almost dark...it is 30 times bigger than Auschwitz. Think our tour guide forgot to factor in the end of daylight savings time. We only had lights from our phones which made the scene more sad and even scarier. After about 45 minutes, we were back on our way to Krakow.

We got home and were very hungry, and needed a pick me up after all of the sadness we witnessed at both Auschwitz and Birkenau. The square or center Of every town is always where the action is.  Krakow is no exception. All of the restaurants have outside dining and there are people eating outside even in the cold. They have heaters and blankets for the diners.  Too cold for us. We opted for a Russian/Polish restaurant with inside dining.  It was very warm and friendly. The table was set very elegantly with white tablecloths and gold trimmed china. It was also very reasonable. We had delicious soup, salad and then shared a plate of potato perogies. The wine and beer were also delicious. Then we went home and started watching Shindler's List until we fell asleep. 

Next morning, it was a real treat for us to have a kitchen to make our tea and  coffee while we were still in our PJ's. Lee also made him some breakfast. It is funny the things you miss about home. 

After checking out, we took our backpacks to the station and put them in lockers, then headed on the subway to visit Schindlers factory ( Steven Spielberg's Schindler's List). The museum was away from the city center and was a little difficult to find, but was well worth it.  Not too much about Oskar Schindler, the but exhibits combined artifacts, photos, documents, and multimedia. It was an amazing museum. As you were walking thru you could hear live audio with sounds of wartime artillery and bombs. Also voices giving commands as you viewed visually the way the Jews were treated. A very somber experience while creating a full-immersion experience. 

On the way back we went thru the old Jewish Quarters of Krakow, went thru an outdoor market and walked thru a very old Jewish cemetery. Had lunch at a small Russian restaurant which had been in the same family for four generations. They really have a knack for making soup in this area of Europe. We had cream of broccoli soup and a potato pancake with sour cream. Yum. 

Then we made our way back to the mall at the train station for a little shopping. Then caught the overnight train to Budapest at around 11pm. We had upgraded our sleeping berth to a four person instead of six. This allows you a place to sit up as well as sleep. We needed a good nights sleep after today! Good night. 

Prague, Chez Republic (10/26-29/14)

Prague, Checz Republic

October 26-29, 2014

Gotta love Prague. I have been waiting excitedly for this town so I could see the Prague Castle.  This is where my friend Eija got married. Prague is a big city and very metropolitan for Europe. It also has a beautiful "old town" section. This was my fav.  But, believe it or not. We were saving that for the next day.  

Prague is a beautiful city that is ideal for traveling by foot... Except for the cobblestones. Also, we had no trouble communicating, because they had very good English skills.  The town square was filled with street vendors and entertainers. There were some women dressed in Prague costumes displaying their cultural dances. The women danced and the men played the music. They were so cute and you could tell they were enjoying the crowds participation. 

We also waited to see the Astrological clock in the square. Everyone gathers around awaiting this event every hour. You can hear the ohhhhs and ahhhhhs throughout the crowd. 

Next we also want to see the Jewish Quarters also known as the Jewish Ghetto. The Jewish a Synagogue is the oldest existing one in Europe and was built in the 13th century. They also have a very old cemetery on the property. There is a wall that surrounds this area that was built to protect the Jews. Wanted to your, but too many Euros. There was a small peep hole and we did get to see some of the grounds and tombstones. 

Then we made our way over to the Charles Bridge. This is the bridge that connects Prague to the Prague Castle and Cathedral. It has survived many disasters such as floods and battles. It is said that King Charles laid the first stone. The bridge was filled with many people, artist, musicians and jewelry vendors. 

Then it was dark and we were starved. We found a great little restaurant serving Russian food. There were candles on the table and it smelled delicious. It turned out we made another smart choice. Then for dessert they served brandy. They put the brandy in this huge brandy glass. The brandy was added then they took the glass and rotated over a flame to warm the brandy. Then it was served. Once it was cool enough to drink then you took a small sip. It was too strong for me, but Lee loved it. 

Then headed off for a good nights sleep. 

The next day up early and back to town. It was another beautiful day. A little cold, but sunny. Today was the day we were going to tour the "Ole Town" and the Prague Castle. 

First back to the square and it is just as crowded as ever. Everyone standing around waiting for the clock to strike in love it. Yes, it is the little things. The streets are very narrow, but the shops are beautiful. Everything from lace to chocolate to creeps and waffles with Nutella. Lee and I indulged in some hazelnut creeps. Very good. There were also Christmas shops with beautiful decorations. Done! Now we cross the Charles Bridge and head to the castle. It is so beautiful from afar, so I can't wait to see close up.

We walked a long way and of course up hill until we reached the castle gates.  The tickets were expensive but they included everything on the castle grounds including the cathedral. Disappointed that some of the areas are closed due to technical problems?

The St. Vitus Cathedral was founded in then13th century. This is the largest ancient castle in the world. This is also where the Crown Jewels are housed and they are only displayed once to the public every eight years.  Also, Hitler spent the night here after the Chez president handed his nation over to the Germans. 

The castle is as beautiful up close as it was when I was viewing from afar. So magical. Can see why my friend wanted to get married here. The grounds also have the little houses where the artist and architect lived. Today they are decorated to period as it was when they lived there. Some of the houses are set up for shops for the visitors. 

When we were ready to leave there was a wedding in progress and the bride was beautiful dancing outside in the castle square. Her dress was so beautiful when she twirled. 

Back to town for some dinner. Found a great restaurant and had cream of cauliflower soup and some great bread. All warmed up and full, we head home for  a good night's sleep to get ready for our next adventure... Krakow. 

Bruges, Belgium (10/26)

Bruges, Belgium

October 26, 2014

Woke up early. Taking a day train to visit Bruges.  We wanted to stay overnight, but could not find an "affordable" hotel. So a day visit will do. 

Bruges is beautiful! You leave the train and walk right into the city. No bus needed. Bruges is famous for many things... Chocolate, frites, lace and of course beer. 

Our first order of business, visiting the famous "Beer Wall". They have over 300 kinds of beers.  So crowded, so we stood inline for quite a while. That is OK, because there are so many to choose from. The menus hang from the ceiling by elastic thread. So you choose your language. When you moved forward in line, another Enflish menu will be available. Lee chose the traditional Bruges ber and I chose the Cherri beer.  It was very good, but any beer is good with nuts.  It was a beautiful day, so we sipped our beer not he river and watched the tour boats pass by below.

Next we visited the chocolate shops.  Lee loves chocolate, but has not purchased one piece of chocolate.  He can not resist the pastries. Also, we wanted to try the frites.  Do not call these French fries! The guy at the shop is like the "soup nazi" on Sienfield.  So be careful and most of all be patient. Frites are potatoes that Re cried twice.Of course, twice as fattening too.  Then he serves them whit a big blog of mayo on top. I asked for a little mayo on the side and ketchup on the other.  He was not happy. Not the way he like to serve his frites!!! They were very good. We enjoyed while we walked around the town. Wanted to do a bike ride, but could not find a bike rental store that was open. 

Almost time to leave, so we had just enough time to do the boat tour.  The boats were olds old wooden boats.. So nostalgics! The guide gave us info about the old homes and buildings.  We even saw somes swans on the river.  

Yes, Marilyn was there and Elvis too!

Oh well, time to leave and head back to the train. Would definitely recommend Bruges as a place to visit.  But for us, back to Brussels.  We had a train that was leaving around 10:00pm for Prague.