Brussels - Notes from a pligrim

This is a fountain and water feature in the middle of the street in Brussels.

It was very close to our hotel and a good place to stop in a day of sightseeing.

Brussels is the home of the European Union and a busy city.

Often people don't think of it as a destination - I suggest you include it in a trip to France.

It is very close by train and it has waffles.

 

Monasteries In Europe

    This photo is of the old gate to a monastery near the Seine in France. We were encouraged to visit and to hear the monks sing Georgian chants. We have visited a number of monasteries like this. One especially stands out and it one atop the hill overlooking Florence Italy.  We attended it with a local who claimed to be a Catholic and said it was his first time in a church in a long while. During a mass before the service we sat together, He explained what was said in Italian and I explained the religious symbols. We have also been to others.

  

 

Arriving and Leaving Venice

Looking at the mainland from Venice.

There are several ways to get to Venice (and back again). One way is a water taxi.

Water taxis are fast cruisers often like a Chris Craft.

Cruise ships have hurt the island.

The way we chose was the train. These fast trains come all the way in to the northern part of Venice.

Coming from Florence the trains are fast and comfortable.

Ours topped out at 127 miles per hour.

When leaving Venice we took a slower train to see the sights from the island to Verona.

 

Driving in other countries other than USA

Mercedes Benz Model B in the rain

    The Mercedes above is one of the cars we have rented in Europe. We rented it in Verona, Italy for an extensive road trip. We ordinarily rent threw Auto Europe and they have been very good.

    I have driven in 10 countries in Europe and add to that Canada and Mexico.

    You see more and can stop on a whim in a car. 

    Some people shy away from driving in places like the Irish  Republic, England, and Scotland as they drive on the left. It only takes a few miles to get the hang of it. It is also helpful if you have a copilot to remind you which side of the road when you come out from a car park.

    On the motorways or Autobahn it is easy to just get in a slower lane and go. People in Europe are good drivers and do not continually change lanes. 

 

Looking out of window in tunnel: Rock of Gibraltar

That is the airfield of Gibraltar. You have to drive over it to get into the country.

The Rock of Gibraltar in honeycombed with tunnels and areas for gun emplacements.

It is a good visit. They speak Spainlish.

 

Prague: a great city.

We are smitten with Prague. It is welcoming and pretty. It is also a place of history. The capital of the Czech Republic it spans the Viltava River. Both sides united by the Charles Bridge. It is an easily walkable city, but they also have a great transit system. There is the central plaza in old town with its sculpture and clock. There is the palace overlooking the river. While we stayed within blocks of the old town we took the transit (a modern trolly) to the National Museum and the Jewish Cemetery. Spending four or five days in Prague is well worth it.  It is also a good spot from which to go by bus or train to the Danube, Munich, France and Italy. Germany and Austria are close. We flew into Frankfort and took a short-hop to Prague.

View from the palace.

 

The Alhambra, Granada Spain

The Alhambra is a wonderful place to visit.

Each building has its own character but are united with the same motif.

Moorish influence is everywhere.

It is atop a hill and you are well served by the shuttle.

Reservations or booking a tour ahead of time are advised.