Europe Trip

April 21 – May 22
2006

We survived our big trip to Europe! Thirty days blasting around twelve countries in a
bus. It was the “European Masterpiece” tour by Cosmos. Everything went fine, with no
problems what so ever. We stayed at three star hotels. We figured we could have taken
other tours with more expensive hotels, but we didn’t think we would spend that much
time in them. We were right! A couple of the hotels were pushing the three star rating,
while a number of others were actually four stars. Breakfasts were always included and
were quite adequate. We signed up for over $2,000 worth of optional events. It kept us
busy day and night.

We have never been on a cruise, so it was nice sleeping on a boat for two nights. On the
trip to Greece we were on the boat for 17 hours. On the return to Italy it was almost 24
hours.

People ask what country we liked best. We honestly can’t say. Each one was unique, with
different attractions. It would be great to return and spend a month in each one.

Friday 4/21

We left JFK 5 minutes early on a B777. We had a 150 mph tail wind, flew at 36,000 ft.
We got whole cans of soda and a bag of trail mix. Hot face cloth. Meatloaf, mashed
potatoes, peas and corn. Water, grapes, cheese & crackers, salad, roll & butter, cake,
another full can of soda. Coffee and tea. Lemon aid. Breakfast roll, butter and jelly, fruit.
Choice of 7 movies replayed 3 times. We could hear Ground Control, Tower & Departure
Control. Couldn’t land at Heathrow before 6 AM.

Saturday 4/22

The plane had to circle a few times because we were early and the airport had a 6AM
curfew. We went through customs and then got our luggage. We saw the Cosmos “Lady
in Red”. She led us to the bus.

We got to our hotel at 8AM. We had to wait until 10AM for a room. Then the hotel
screwed up and the room wasn’t clean.

We took the #27 bus to Baker St. Then the “Big Bus” around the city, then a boat cruise
on the Themes River. We had a late lunch at McDonalds, then back to the hotel on the
#27 bus.

Sunday 4/23

Back on the #27 bus to Baker St and the “Big Bus”. We rode around some more and got
off at Harrods. We had lunch there, ( spaghetti bolognaise). Then we took the subway
from Kingsbridge, to Russell Square. We walked to the British Museum. We saw the
Rosetta Stone and Greek exhibit. Then we walked back to our hotel. It was a bit rainy
today.

Monday 4/24

Rode the Cosmos bus to the port of Dover. We saw the white cliffs. Rode the ferry, (had
a great chicken lunch). We got off at Calais, France. We met the Cosmos Tour Director
and driver. We rode to Paris in the front seat. We got to our hotel about 8PM. There was
a lot of traffic. We had a bottle of wine in the hotel lounge. It cost 14 euros. We walked
around a little bit, but it was raining.

Tuesday 4/25

We took the Cosmos tour around the city. We had a great local guide. She led us all
around the Notre Dame Cathedral. Then the bus dropped us off in the center of the city.
We walked around the Concord and up the Champs Elysees. We stopped for a good
spaghetti bolognaise lunch. Then walked up to the Arc de Triomphe. We sat and watched
the crazy traffic around the circle. Through the tunnel and to the monument. Then we
took the subway to the Trocadero. We walked the bridge over the Seine River. Then we
took a one and a half hour boat trip on the river. Then we walked to the Eiffel Tower and
hung around for quite a while. Then we walked to the subway station and took the #6
train. We had to walk about a mile underground to find the right train. We took the train
to the hotel area, (mostly above ground). We had to ask directions and made it back to
our hotel. We bought a bottle of coke and a bottle of wine at little market down the street
from the hotel. The wine cost 3 euros. They opened the bottle of wine for us. The weather
was great the whole day!

Wednesday 4/26

Off on the bus again. There is light rain this morning. We travel south through Blois and
then parallel to the River Loire past the castles of Chaumont and Amboise. We saw the
Troglodyte houses built into the rocks. Then a lunch stop in Tours. We had spaghetti
bluenose at La Tratta. The waiter is going to open a bread and desert store in New York.
His girlfriend lives in Trenton, NJ. The place had a very small spiral staircase downstairs
to the uni-bathroom.

We took the Autoroute L’Aqitaine as far as Pointers. South again to Saintes, then through
the Champagne wine-growing area as far as Angouleme, then 60 miles to Bordeaux.

We stayed in a nice hotel in Bordeaux, in the center of the city. The trolley passed right in
front. Dinner was included. It was pork, potatoes and carrots. Nice cake for dessert. Two
half crafs of wine were 8 euros each, quite high for being house wine, in the heart of
“wine country”.

Thursday 4/27

On the road by 7:30 am. We travel eastward bypassing Toulouse to the old fort city of
Carcassonne,(at the foothills of the Pyrenees). We had more spaghetti bolognaise in a
restaurant in the center of the city. Then across the Spanish border, (no guards were
there), on through Catalonia, and once across the River Ter and on to Barcelona.
We took the optional buffet dinner at a place on the La Romblas, including wine and
soda. Then we saw professional flamenco dancers, singers and guitarists. We had a glass
of champagne during the show.

Friday 4/28

We took a tour around Barcelona. Drove around Monjuich to see the Olympic Stadium
and a panoramic view of the port and city. Then to the city center to Plaza Catalunya and
Paseo de Garcia to see Gaudi’s architectural masterpieces in the Houses Batilo and Mila
and the Sagrada Familia.

In the afternoon we took the optional trip to Montserrat. Monserrat means the “sawed
mountain”, in Catalan. It is in the center of Catalonia, about 25 miles northwest of
Barcelona. It sits way on top of a mountain. The famous Romanesque sculpture of “La
Morenta”, (the little dark one), presides over the XI century Benedictine Monastery.

Dinner at the hotel and a little walk around the neighborhood.

Saturday 4/29

Left Barcelona at 7:45. It’s a nice sunny day. We backtrack North to the French boarder
into the Herault region. We stopped at Avignon to see its world famous bridge. Seven
Popes resided there during the 13th century. We were very rushed, but managed to have
the best pizza we ever had in our lives! Then we headed westwards across the Rhone
towards the Mediterranean and our hotel at the Nice airport.

The optional trip to Monaco was fantastic! We rode along the water and up into the hills.
We had dinner in the La Malizia restaurant. Wine, tossed salad, pork, carrots and string
beans. Tiramisu for dessert. We walked around the Principality of Monaco and saw the
Cathedral and the Palace of Prince Rainier. We saw the houses of Princes Caroline and
her brother’s house next door, (Caroline’s is white and her brother’s is pink). Then we
went to the casino in Monte Carlo. Cathy lost 15 euros. We had a drink at the outside café
in front of the main casino. We got back to Nice close to midnight.

Sunday 4/30

Breakfast was messed up. Another group eat our food. They couldn’t cook more food fast
enough. We took a tour around the middle of the old town of Nice. Cathy and I walked
down to the beach. There is no sand, just rocks. Then we took the high costal road along
the Riviera and stopped at a perfume store in Eze, (didn’t buy anything). Then to the hilly
Tuscany region of Italy. We stopped at a truck stop for lunch. We had a coke-pizza-fries
combo. The pepperoni pizza was crappy.

We now went to Pisa to see the Leaning Tower and the Square of Miracles. Our tour
director rented a little train to take us for the parking area to the tower. It was a good idea.
Not a great area. We had to walk past about 100 “brothers” from Africa. Selling watches
and other junk.

We spent the night in a little town outside Florence. We had a nice chicken dinner at the
hotel.
Monday 5/1

May Day holiday. We took a group photo, (10 euros), overlooking Florence. We bought
stuff from a nice lady in the overlook. Then down to a stop at a leather store. We bought
Cathy a necklace. Then a one and a half hour walking tour all around Florence. We left
for Rome around 1pm. Headed through the Chianti country to our hotel in Rome.

We took the optional Night with Dinner tour. We saw the Piazza Barberini, Triton
Fountain, Via Veneto, Villa Borghese, the Spanish Steps and Trevi Fountain. Then to a
restaurant for dinner.

People are starting to get colds. Frank Ryan is first.

Tuesday 5/2

Up and out early, at 7am, in order to get to the Vatican early. The optional tour takes us
through the Vatican museum and then to the Sistine Chapel, then through St Peter’s
Square and to the Roman Forum and the Colosseum.

In the afternoon we took the optional trip to the Roman Hills. We drove through the
ancient villages in the Alban Hills. To the Pope’s summer residence of Castel Gandolfo
and Lake Albano. Then to Frascati where we had the famous local white wines with our
dinner. Two ladies sang opera songs with dinner. Great pizza!

Wednesday 5/3

We leave Rome at 7am, heading South, down past Mount Vesuvius. Now to Pompeii,
where time stopped in 79 A.D. We had a real good tour guide that sung songs in the
forum. A fantastic place, with villas, temples and stores.

Now we head for the Sorrento area and our hotel in the little town of Massa Lubrense.

Optional Sorrento Flavours at a restaurant in Sorrento. Then to a musical show at the

Tasso Theatre.

Thursday 5/4

We head out at 7:20am to catch the boat at Sorrento, to Capri. We took a fast boat to the
island, then a guided tour of three levels of the island. The first is the port of Marina
Grande. Then the next level, the town of Capri and finally the top town of Ana Capri.
After the tour, we had lunch and had the 10-euro special. Cathy had spaghetti. I had pizza
with cokes and ice cream. Then we took a boat ride around the entire island. Then our
boat back to Sorrento and bus to our hotel. Dinner in the hotel was very good. Spaghetti
and meatballs, beans, twice baked potatoes. Then we took a little walk around town and a
good nights sleep.

There a tons of lemon trees around here.

Friday 5/5
We didn’t have to leave until 10am. We stopped for two hours in Sorrento. Bought an 80
euro music box that plays the Capri song. Then went to a super market and bought wine,
soda and cookies. We are headed to Bari.

The boat left at 8pm. We started the party at 8:30 on the back deck.

The room was quite nice. A great nights sleep.

Saturday 5/6

Breakfast at 8:30am. We had to be out of the room at 11am. We left the boat in Patras
Greece, at 1pm.

We waited for our bus to be unloaded then headed to our hotel in Olympia. They had a
snack waiting for us at the hotel. Some meat, bread and salad stuff I don’t eat. A glass of
Ouzo, (liquorish tasting booze). We took the optional tour of the site of the original
Olympic games to honor the King of Deities. The games were held here between 776 BC
and 393 AD. It was a short walk from our hotel. Then a nice dinner at the hotel.

Sunday 5/7

We left Olympia and rode into the mountains of Arcadia by way of Tripolis and over the
Corinth Canal to Athens. We stopped at the canal for lunch, (we had some not great
pizza), and watched the draw bridge go DOWN! The coolest ever! Then to our hotel in
Athens.

We took the optional evening trip. First by bus to the center of Athens where we picked
up the “train” that took us for a 20 minute ride through the streets of the old part of
Athens and the “Plaka” district. Then back on the bus to a Taverna for a Greek feast with
unlimited local wine. On the way back to the hotel we view the illuminated Acropolis.

Monday 5/8

There are 1400 islands in Greece of which 169 are inhabited. We visited three of the
Saronic islands of Aegina, the biggeast one, Poros and Hydra. On Hydra there are no
cars, the only means of transportation is the donkey. We took another optional bus ride
around the island of Aegina. The trip also included a snack of grilled Octopus, fried
squid, a choriatiki salad along with a drink of Ouzo. Lunch and a Greek dancing show
was included on the boat, (M/V Georgios).

We got back to the hotel close to 8pm. We walked down to a market and bought more
wine, coke, chips and cookies.

Tuesday 5/9

We took a guided tour around Athens, walking up the hill to the Acropolis and the
Parthenon, then two hour’s free time walking around the Plaka. We had lunch at a little
court restaurant. We had the place almost to ourselves. Cathy had spaghetti bolognaise
again. I had a real crappy pizza.
We rode the bus to Petra to catch the boat back to Italy. The 8pm boat was cancelled, so
we had to rush and catch the 6pm boat. We boarded at 5pm, with the party starting at
6:00 and early to bed.

Wednesday 5/10

Got up at 7:45 and went to breakfast at 8:30. Then back to bed till 12 noon. Showered
and went to lunch, (spaghetti bolognaise). We docked in Anconia at 3:30pm. We had to
wait a very long time for our bus to come off the boat.

We then rode to San Marino, up-up-up to the top of Monte Titano. We had to walk the
last part because buses are not allowed. Our hotel is right in the middle of the town, way
up there. It is the most beautiful place we have been. We had dinner in the hotel roof
restaurant. Then we took a walk around town as dark approached.

Thursday 5/11

After breakfast we walked around town and did some shopping, (bought the pocket
books). We left for the Venice area around 11am. We ride along the Adriatic coastline
through the Po Delta to our hotel in Treviso. Stopping at Pomposa for lunch.

We took the optional trip to Venice at night. A motorboat ride along the Giudecca Canal.
Then a leisurely walk to St. Mark’s Square. Then walked about four blocks off St. Mark’s
to a restaurant for a four course dinner with live music. Saw St. Mark’s at night then a
boat ride back to get our bus to the hotel.

Friday 5/12

Took the included tour back to St’ Mark’s, with a visit inside St. Mark’s Basilica. Then to
watch Venetian glass blowers. Then we took the optional gondola trip for 50 minutes.

Now we took a private boat across the lagoon to the picturesque fishing island of Burano,
with it colorfully painted houses. Looked at the lace making and walked all around the
town. Then back to Venice and the boat back to the bus to our hotel. Dinner at the hotel.

Saturday 5/13

On the road at 7:45, headed for Vienna. We went by way of the Tarvisio Pass into
Austria. We stopped for lunch and spent two hours in Velden, on Lake Worth. Then
Northwards through the Styrian area. Then to our hotel in Vienna.

We went to the optional Kursalon Waltz Show. We listened to the orchestra and the
operetta singers performing a program of some of the most famous melodies of the
Strauss family including, the Blue Danuabe Waltz.

Sunday 5/14

We took the tour of Vienna, including the State Opera, Parliament and the Town Hall.
We stopped and walked in the Heros’ Square to view the Hofburg and then inside St’
Stephen’s Cathedral. We had lunch at McDonalds.
Then we took the optional guided tour of the palace of Schonbrunn, which was the
summer residence of the Austrian Emperors for nearly 150 years. It was built between
1695 and 1749 with over 100 rooms and beautiful gardens.

In the evening we took the optional Wine Village Country Dinner. It was way outside of
the city, in a small town. The meal was great, with a lot of Heurigen, (new wine). Which
has a lot more alcohol than regular wine, (I know). We met another group that was from
Koln, Germany. Even though we couldn’t understand each other, we all sang together
and had a great time!

Monday 5/15

Up and out at 7:45am. We head westwards, almost parallel with the Danube, to Mozart’s
Salzburg for a stop. We took the optional one and a half hour guided tour of Salzburg.
We started from the Nonntal Convent and finished at Mozart’s birthplace.

We had Chicken McNuggets for lunch, and then strolled down the Getreidegasse and
around the old town.

Back into the bus and through Bavarian Germany, then back into Austria and on to the
very heart of the Tyrol and its capital, Innsbrook.

We had dinner at the hotel and then took a short walk around. We bought two bottles of
coke for 5.60 euros.

Tuesday 5/16

We take an orientation tour that includes the famous Golden Roof. Then we visited a
glass store and walked around town for two hours. After that we drove through the
valleys and villages of the mountainous Tyrol to the Arlberg tunnel descending into
Switzerland.

We stopped for lunch and a walk around town in Vaduz, Liechtenstein’s capital. It was
raining a bit. Then on to Lake Lucerne, Switzerland. The rain completely stopped when
we got there.

We went to the optional Dinner and Swiss Folklore. We walked to the old town and had a
pork dinner. Then the Swiss stuff; yodeling, blowing the alphorn, accordion playing and
traditional dances. We also had cheese fondue.

Wednesday 5/17

First, the optional boat ride around Lake Lucerne. Then a tour around the town. Seeing
the city walls, wooden bridge, ornate patrician houses lining cobblestone streets and the
Lion Monument.

We walked around the city for about three hours. A ten-year-old girl tried to pick Cathy’s
pocket. She was on a little scooter. Cathy bought a pair of sandals for 150 euros. We went
back to the hotel and took a rest. Dinner at the hotel at 7pm. A lot of noise outside. It was
the big soccer game, (Barcelona won).
Thursday 5/18

We left Lake Lucerne and head North. We enter France for a bit, before going into
Germany. We pass through the Black Forrest area. Trier is the oldest city in Germany,
(just a point of interest). It’s raining a bit as we leave. It clears up in an hour though.

We leave the autobahn and go to the town of Oberwesel. We get on a boat and cruise the
Rhine River past the legendary Lorelei Rock. Lost of castles along the way. During
WWII, America and Germany made a pact not to bomb historic sites. The Germans
disguised some tunnel entrances to look like old castles so we wouldn’t bomb them.
Pretty sneaky. We got off the boat at Boppard. Back on the bus, (speed limit 130k), for
the trip to our hotel at the Koln-Bonn airport.

Dinner at our hotel, (Holiday Inn). No chance to go into town. It’s too far and dinner
wasn’t over until 8:30pm.

Friday 5/19

More rain as we leave the hotel heading for Amsterdam. We go through the industrial
Ruhr . Then into Holland and direct to a diamond cutting and polishing store in
Amsterdam. After the demo and sales pitch we are loose to wander around the area. We
get some hot dogs from a stand in front of a museum. It’s rainy and very windy.

Now we go on a guide tour around the city. Dam Square and a long walk through the Red
Light District. Up and down a number of alleys. Seeing the girls behind the glass doors.
Coffee houses all over the place where you go buy and smoke pot. Then we all took a
boat ride on one of the canals.

We go to the optional dinner at an authentic 16th century establishment, the Restaurant

Haesje Claes, which is part of Amsterdam history. We have a great piece of steak!

Back at the hotel we meet at the bar for a farewell drink. Saying goodbyes to everyone.
Most are going back to London to wrap up the tour. We are spending two extra days in
Amsterdam.

Saturday 5/20

We got up a bit late and went down and had breakfast. The best we have had the whole
trip! Then we took the hotel shuttle to the Schiphol airport, (means “boats in a hole”. It
seems that the entire airport property is on reclaimed land. When they emptied the water
out they found a number of boats). Then a train to Amsterdam Center station. Then we
took a tram to Ann Frank’s house.

We walked around the city for a couple of hours. We had some more spaghetti
bolognaise and a pizza for lunch. We caught another tram back to Center station. Train to
the airport. Shuttle to the hotel.

Sunday 5/21
Back to the city and walked around some more. It’s drizzling, so we bought two cheap
umbrellas. We stopped for lunch. Cathy had some chicken. I had a crappy hamburger,
(should have gone down the block to McDonalds).

Back to the hotel to pack for the trip home.

Monday 5/22

Up at 5:30am. Packed everything up and went to breakfast. We catch the shuttle to the
airport and get a plane to Frankfort, then another to JFK. We rented a car at Hertz and
drive back to “Good Old Fishkill”.