Saint Stephan's Church, Verona Italy - A surprise

View of the Church and monastery. 

Hidden back courtyard to the church.

        Where you stay is often more important than everything else on your trip. We have fond memories of  BNB's and small hotels where we met charming people. This photo is of St, Stephan's Church as seen from across Ponte Pietra (bridge). The monastery had been sold to a young couple to make into a BNB. The owner was a delight. Indeed, it is an old building, but it has a modern vibe. They are very helpful and we enjoyed knowing them. You don't get this in a hotel.

Lake Como Italy -- Bellagio

One of my favorite photos.

Those are not all louds at 2 o'clock.

At 9 o'clock those are houses hanging on.

 

Lazy Day on Lake Garda Italy

I had a camera load of photos from all around five countries

in Europe. It had been a great road trip.

A stop on Lake Garda was needed, especially for the driver.

No mountain or valley here. No famous building.

Just a swan.

 

The Tower of London

        This is  the White Tower which is part of the Tower of London complex. Rather that going on the London Eye, we suggest going to the Tower, seeing the jewels, listening to the Beefeaters, learning some history and walking the rampart with views of the Tower Bridge and river.

        This is at least a half-day adventure. Well worth it. Some hints: go at opening in the morning. It is cooler then. But, go all the way back and see the Crown Jewels without a crowd. Now work forward. Hear the speaker in the chapel telling of history. See where Mary met her maker and have lunch in the cafe. 

Gracie's Cousin

        Gracie is a 3 year old giraffe. This week she walked away from the ranch where she lived in Texas. The owner put up $5,000 for her safe return. She weighs 1,200 pounds and stands 10 feet tall. Not easy to hide. She was not hiding, just away from home.

         When I was in the savanna in Southern Africa, I saw large groups of giraffes.  This one, in the photo, saw me. As this guy was in a reserve he was accustomed to Americans in Range Rovers taking his picture. In groups called "Towers" these tall animals. are in herds, and as safe as Gracie. 

 

Looking at the Neighbors From The Rock of Cashel Ireland

        The Rock of Cashel is a major landmark and visitor stop for people driving through Central Ireland. It is a chapel, a cathedral, an abbey, vicars' house and a Tower House. You will pay for a guide in the cathedral but the rest is walking around. Of note: the auto park is at the base of the hill and it is somewhat of a hike.  Rather than give you  photo I have taken of the ruins, I thought I give you an idea of what you can see from the top of the rock. Indeed there is another church in ruins, but look at the green and the lush fields.

Scotland Surprize

Cafe on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh

I had ordered fish'n chips and was waiting for my order.

I did not realize I looked so American.

A young man in a wheelchair started a political dialogue.

He knew more about us than I did.

This is not uncommon in Europe.

 

Simple Pleasure

In a small town in Austria there exists a small walkway to the river.

I am sure there are other such walkways in other towns and other countries.

The special feeling, however, is that the traveler has discovered it

for the first time

 

In Prague: Macarons

When we took our granddaughter to Paris, she fell in love with macarons. The French style are different from those in the US.

In other trips to Paris we were tempted to bring some home to her.

They  likely would not make it.

So, we took this photo of a shop in Prague

It would have to do as a reminder our our trip together.

Better than bringing home snails.

 

A common problem with rental cars

This is a Mercedes B Class on Lake Como early in the dew of the morning..

I like to drive and go seeking surprises. This means renting a  car.

I have driven in 14 different countries three of which drive on the left. My wife, and navigator, takes credit for us being alive.

        We use Auto Europe to rent our cars. Auto Europe is a consolidator which means you may get a car from any manufacturer. The list of various vehicles I have driven is long. However, Auto Europe has always found a fairly new car which fits our needs that we have outlined as to where we want to go. This is to say, you would not likely want a Cadillac Coverable to drive the beach dunes. You need a Land Rover.

        The biggest hint I can give you is, besides the language difference, have the rental agent tell you what the switches mean. They always give the traffic laws of their country, but how do you turn on the windshield wipers? In the Alps I had to have some not-so-hell's angels help me open the gas filter.

            Also a car may be just different. The Mercedes above was a diesel and I understand that, but to conserve fuel the engine goes off when stopped. This should be explained to the driver before he is in stop-and-go in Innsbruck Austria. Don't tell me to read the manual. 

 

Thanks to the pilot

 I have a nephew who is a Captain with United Airlines.

We are all pretty proud of him.

I was particularly proud when we flew our last flight to New York JFK.

I looked down and wondered where the heck was the airport?

You must have more skill than I to find it.

(They did find it.)

 

Giverny, France

 

I was taking with someone who had just come back from France. He

had taken a long-boat down the Seine and we were comparing notes.

When we had both gotten to Giverny we were impressed with Monet's

garden as we had seen so many paintings and prints that Monet had done of it.

This photo is a detail - not of the footbridge - but just one patch of garden.

As mentioned

I mentioned a while back that when we were in Venice

it was high tide. This picture shows St. Mark's Square

and those "tables" are actually the risers people need

to walk on when the tide is in.

 

Experience is the best teacher

      

 We once tried to plan a trip by just listening to others. Others have different values.

Shopping airlines will surprise you in the difference in fare. We did not buy travel insurance for a trip depending on the insurance provided by our credit card and it took months and a call to the state Insurance Commissioner to settle. Without an itinerary you can miss things, but on the other hand you can find surprises. Your card may not include medical expense or evacuation. Plan ahead: you will need to get an all Paris Card, tickets to Park Guell and the Alhambra etc. As for not telling your credit card provider I got a phone call from a lady in Georgia while I was in Gibraltar. I told them I would be in Spain. Forgot that Gibraltar is not Spain. Call your cell-phone carrier and see if your SIM card works or if you need  another. It also helps if they tell you when to change cards. The ATM at the airport is always a better rate, plus you will need local cash for some services. Don't over pack, I did this just once. We have had to ask a neighbor to go in and find our passport and mail it to us so we could come home.  Do not buy traveler's checks. Hardly anyone accepts them. Remember an extra chip for your camera as you can fill on quickly. Yes, your phone is pretty good but Photoshop is tough. Something will go  wrong ...unplanned. It is part of the adventure.

 

The travel planning process

        So you heard from a friend or Rick Steves or by way of an ad that X is the place you will want to experience. (You don't go to just to see it,) 

1. Buy a copy of Lonely Planet - or another guide  - and read up on your                         destination. If you have access to National Geographic they help too.  

2. Check with airlines to see if they go there and how much.

3. Reserve Air when you set the date.

4. You need to look into Travel Insurance. (your credit card may include it but it         may not include medical expense or evacuation).

5. Set up an itinerary. You may want to visit something that requires a reservation.

6. How do you get to the airport? Reserve it.

7. Call your credit card and tell them where and when you are going. 

8. Call your cell-phone carrier and see if your SIM card works or if you need                  another. 

9. Do not buy traveler's checks. Either get to an ATM at the airport or just use                 your credit card. (At ATM you need a debit card.)

10. Make a packing list. Meds, copy of Passport, special clothing, etc.

11. Pack a week before. Take out unneeded things. Do it again.

 12.Give a copy of itinerary and a key to someone responsible at home. 

13. Make a list of things to do or not do when you are gone. Keep it.

14. Unless you are going to the middle of the jungles there are stores that sell                 dental floss. Unpack again.

15. Remember an extra chip for your camera ... and your camera.

 16. Sharpen your sense of humor.

                                               ...next post is about why...

 

SO... what do you bring home? What size are you?

This photo of a bookseller's window gives you an idea of the political awareness of people overseas. A book seems heavy to carry so I did not buy one. In fact, I bring home very little other than photos and memories. Two lighter exceptions for me were a shirt from Granada Spain and a shirt from Munich Germany. You see, I pack light and I ran out of clean clothes. Yes, we have used laundries in Ireland (Dingle), Verona, and Prague, but we have someone else do the work as we spent too much money to waste it on domestics. Yet, I was close to leaving and stopped to buy a cheap shirt (and in Munich a sweater as it was turning cold). And because I do not waste time, I believed the tags that said "Large". These folks must be smaller than I am. A little tight. But, now that I have lost weight right on.

 

Central Europe: Best places (in my opinion)

OK I haven't been to all the cities in Central Europe. I hear that Krakow is wonderful, but we missed it.) I would just like to recommend three. Prague is a city of old and new. It has much to communicate regarding the effects of World War II and Nazi occupation. I find it charming. The second on my list is Vienna where music meets a clean city. You must go to a concert there. The Third is Budapest. The photo above (not very good I know) is of the Chain Bridge. High on a hill Buda is great to see and look out from.  Great food. 
 

Soweto South Africa

        Soweto South Africa is a large urban township just outside of Johannesburg. It is concerned the center of the anti-apartheid activity.  It now is an important visit. Not only are some parts the poorest of the poorest it is also the home to the Mandalas, In addition it is where you will find the Pieterson Memorial a museum you will never forget. We also had lunch in a cafe near the Tutu home. Soweto is where black Africans took a stand against Apartheid.

 

The Livingstone Resort, Zambia

You go to Africa to get near the animals.

This guy can to our room to see if we had candy.

When we had none, he left for another balcony.

 

A four country European road trip in twelve days (only swung by Germany)

        We started in Rome and went to Florence and Venice for a ten day get acquainted tour. We then took the train to Verona (a little bit of Rome). After two days there we started our road trip. Our first stop was Bolzano to have lunch and visit the famous Iceman. Then it was east for four days in the Dolomites. (Amazing, I could have stayed.) Then, it was north to Innsbruck Austria. (Austria is wonderful.) from east to west with a brief swing into Germany (we spent five days later on in Bavaria.)

            All across Austria to Feldkirch, Austria. (Lovely center city -  great dinner.) Then across to Liechtenstein. (Got lost. Who would know there are two cities in Liechtenstein?) When it was south through Switzerland in the rain. We have been told the mountains are pretty but the fog did not let us see them.) We stayed at Lake Como and explored. Then off on the Autobahn to Lake Garda and Sirmione  (not to be missed). Then Verona over night and a flight to Paris. This may seem like a tough trip but these countries are smaller and we actually took our time and stopped often . Not everyone has that long ... we are retired.