A Taste of Europe
According to Contiki, "If holidays were compared to courses at a dinner party, the European Discovery would be the appetizer. 8 countries in 12 days gives you a taste of all the big cities as well as some of the hidden treasures, so you know where to come back to next time! From Amsterdam to Rome to Paris, you won't want to miss a thing. In fact, sleep will probably be the last thing on your mind!"
When deciding on a tour of Europe to take I was looking for several things. First, I wanted to be on a tour with people around my own age especially because I was traveling by myself. Second, I wanted to see as many different places in Europe as possible so I could get a taste for Europe. Last, I needed a trip that fit to my budget and would have all the details of the trip planned out such as meals, lodging, and transportation. After looking at several different tour options and tour companies, I finally settled on Contiki's European Discovery trip.
The European Discovery trip was indeed a brief taste of Europe. Generally we had an afternoon and a night in each of the places we visited with more time allotted to the big hotspots such as Paris and Rome. Most of the mornings and days were spent on a coach bus with roughly 50 or so new friends. Most of the coach time is spent catching up on the sleep we didn't get the night before or getting to know each other a little more. This trip is great if you want to see as much of Europe as you can with a small budget and in a short period of time. Its a great trip for couples to go on together or a group of friends to do and even great for solo travelers (trust me, you won't be the only one on the tour alone!). Below, I review each day of the trip so that you get a better sense of the tour and what I experienced which will hopefully help you if you are doing any kind of trip to Europe.
For Hotel Reviews, Optional Excursion Reviews, and Spending/Budget for the Trip please visit European Discovery 2.
When deciding on a tour of Europe to take I was looking for several things. First, I wanted to be on a tour with people around my own age especially because I was traveling by myself. Second, I wanted to see as many different places in Europe as possible so I could get a taste for Europe. Last, I needed a trip that fit to my budget and would have all the details of the trip planned out such as meals, lodging, and transportation. After looking at several different tour options and tour companies, I finally settled on Contiki's European Discovery trip.
The European Discovery trip was indeed a brief taste of Europe. Generally we had an afternoon and a night in each of the places we visited with more time allotted to the big hotspots such as Paris and Rome. Most of the mornings and days were spent on a coach bus with roughly 50 or so new friends. Most of the coach time is spent catching up on the sleep we didn't get the night before or getting to know each other a little more. This trip is great if you want to see as much of Europe as you can with a small budget and in a short period of time. Its a great trip for couples to go on together or a group of friends to do and even great for solo travelers (trust me, you won't be the only one on the tour alone!). Below, I review each day of the trip so that you get a better sense of the tour and what I experienced which will hopefully help you if you are doing any kind of trip to Europe.
For Hotel Reviews, Optional Excursion Reviews, and Spending/Budget for the Trip please visit European Discovery 2.
Day One -London-
The first day of my trip was spent in London and I literally hit the ground running as soon as I stepped off the plane in London. Its important to note that London itself is not actually included in the trip which means if you want to do London you are going to need to do it on your own. Contiki will, however, arrange your accommodations in London if you would like to explore London a few days before your trip or for a few days after your trip has ended. Because of my budget and the fact that London was at the bottom of the places I wanted to visit, I just made sure to book a flight that would get me to London with enough time to see and do what I wanted to. If there is a lot that you are wanting to see and do in London I would recommend being there a few extra days at least. It is also important to remember that everything is going to cost you more in London due to exchange rates with the GBP so be prepared for this.
Getting to London is fairly easy from any airport, but if you choose to travel in the winter like I did, or during high travel times, expect delays whether it be due to weather or long security lines. Also, be prepared to wait quite a while to make it through customs when you get off the plane. What's great about Heathrow (which is where I flew in) was that there was a tube station at the airport so after getting through customs and grabbing my suitcase, I headed straight to the Tube and went to the hotel.
In London, I stayed at the Royal National Hotel which is located near the center of London and is a decent hotel. I wouldn't say that it was a great hotel, but it did fine for one night and for my needs. The one good thing about the Royal National for people going on trips with Contiki is that the Contiki Basement is located right around the corner from the hotel so you can go down there to get internet access; meet up with fellow travelers; or weigh your suitcase to make sure you are within the weight limit that Contiki has set. This is also where the pre tour meeting will be held.
I got to London later than I had expected which threw me off and caused me to have to rush to make it to the hotel/Contiki basement in time to meet a fellow traveler, Tara, who was from NC and was also traveling by herself. I had managed to meet Tara online through the Contiki Forums before leaving and we had arranged to meet up in London and explore together. We had also pre planned what it was we were going to do and had booked tickets online so we wouldn't have to wait in a long line at each of the attractions we were going to go to. Pre planning for London is something I highly recommend if you are only going to be in London for a few hours/a day. Also, I recommend if you have that time crunch, to go ahead and book whatever tickets you can online before you leave.
Tara and I had decided to spend our day in London doing three things. First, we jumped in a taxi and headed down to the London Eye and the Thames to take a River Cruise that we had pre booked. The river cruise is something that I HIGHLY recommend. It is about a 45 minute cruise up and down the Thames that introduces you to the sights in London from Parliament, the London Bridge, the Tower of London, and other great places. You can either sit inside the boat or out on top and take great pictures of the area. There is also an individual who is guiding you during the River Cruise telling you where you are and giving you and insight into the history of London. In the winter, the cruise can be very very cold and windy, so if you are doing it then, be sure to wear extra layers, gloves, and a hat. This was a nice taste of London and a great way to start the trip off.
After the River Cruise we embarked on a joruney on the famous London Eye. Tara and I had decided to do something special for our London Eye flight by booking the Champagne flight where you get a glass of champagne during the flight. We decided to do this to start our trip off on the right foot and celebrate being in Europe. It was really nice to sip a glass of champagne while looking out over London. I'd also recommend the London Eye as it is a great experience and again, you get to see the city in a unique way.
After the River Cruise and the London Eye we went to the London Dungeons as this was something that Tara was interested in doing. Basically the London Dungeons is a "themed attraction" that focuses on different stories from the history of London. It is very theatrical and entertaining, but is highly over rated. Unless you like tacky themed attractions, I do not recommend the London Dungeons. It was interesting, but I would have much rather spent my time going to Westminster Abbey or the Tower of London. We ended up leaving the London Dungeons before our "tour" was over because we really weren't that interested anymore and because we had to get back to the hotel in time for our pre tour meeting.
For Contiki goers, the pre tour meeting is a time where you meet other travelers and your tour managers and you take care of routine things such as checking your insurance, passport, and filling out emergency contact information. This is really just an informational meeting, but its important that you go if you can because details of the next morning and your departure are given out. After the pre tour meeting a group of us went out to dinner to an Italian restaurant just down from the hotel. This was one of the BEST places we ate the entire trip and I wish I had remembered the name of the restaurant. After we ate we went to a little shop around the corner from the hotel and picked up some snacks for the bus and went back to the hotel to get some sleep before our big departure. Other people from our tour decided to go ahead and start the party by going to the bar attached to the hotel, but I recommend going to sleep and getting rest so you can start things out on the right foot the next morning.
Getting to London is fairly easy from any airport, but if you choose to travel in the winter like I did, or during high travel times, expect delays whether it be due to weather or long security lines. Also, be prepared to wait quite a while to make it through customs when you get off the plane. What's great about Heathrow (which is where I flew in) was that there was a tube station at the airport so after getting through customs and grabbing my suitcase, I headed straight to the Tube and went to the hotel.
In London, I stayed at the Royal National Hotel which is located near the center of London and is a decent hotel. I wouldn't say that it was a great hotel, but it did fine for one night and for my needs. The one good thing about the Royal National for people going on trips with Contiki is that the Contiki Basement is located right around the corner from the hotel so you can go down there to get internet access; meet up with fellow travelers; or weigh your suitcase to make sure you are within the weight limit that Contiki has set. This is also where the pre tour meeting will be held.
I got to London later than I had expected which threw me off and caused me to have to rush to make it to the hotel/Contiki basement in time to meet a fellow traveler, Tara, who was from NC and was also traveling by herself. I had managed to meet Tara online through the Contiki Forums before leaving and we had arranged to meet up in London and explore together. We had also pre planned what it was we were going to do and had booked tickets online so we wouldn't have to wait in a long line at each of the attractions we were going to go to. Pre planning for London is something I highly recommend if you are only going to be in London for a few hours/a day. Also, I recommend if you have that time crunch, to go ahead and book whatever tickets you can online before you leave.
Tara and I had decided to spend our day in London doing three things. First, we jumped in a taxi and headed down to the London Eye and the Thames to take a River Cruise that we had pre booked. The river cruise is something that I HIGHLY recommend. It is about a 45 minute cruise up and down the Thames that introduces you to the sights in London from Parliament, the London Bridge, the Tower of London, and other great places. You can either sit inside the boat or out on top and take great pictures of the area. There is also an individual who is guiding you during the River Cruise telling you where you are and giving you and insight into the history of London. In the winter, the cruise can be very very cold and windy, so if you are doing it then, be sure to wear extra layers, gloves, and a hat. This was a nice taste of London and a great way to start the trip off.
After the River Cruise we embarked on a joruney on the famous London Eye. Tara and I had decided to do something special for our London Eye flight by booking the Champagne flight where you get a glass of champagne during the flight. We decided to do this to start our trip off on the right foot and celebrate being in Europe. It was really nice to sip a glass of champagne while looking out over London. I'd also recommend the London Eye as it is a great experience and again, you get to see the city in a unique way.
After the River Cruise and the London Eye we went to the London Dungeons as this was something that Tara was interested in doing. Basically the London Dungeons is a "themed attraction" that focuses on different stories from the history of London. It is very theatrical and entertaining, but is highly over rated. Unless you like tacky themed attractions, I do not recommend the London Dungeons. It was interesting, but I would have much rather spent my time going to Westminster Abbey or the Tower of London. We ended up leaving the London Dungeons before our "tour" was over because we really weren't that interested anymore and because we had to get back to the hotel in time for our pre tour meeting.
For Contiki goers, the pre tour meeting is a time where you meet other travelers and your tour managers and you take care of routine things such as checking your insurance, passport, and filling out emergency contact information. This is really just an informational meeting, but its important that you go if you can because details of the next morning and your departure are given out. After the pre tour meeting a group of us went out to dinner to an Italian restaurant just down from the hotel. This was one of the BEST places we ate the entire trip and I wish I had remembered the name of the restaurant. After we ate we went to a little shop around the corner from the hotel and picked up some snacks for the bus and went back to the hotel to get some sleep before our big departure. Other people from our tour decided to go ahead and start the party by going to the bar attached to the hotel, but I recommend going to sleep and getting rest so you can start things out on the right foot the next morning.
Day Two -Amsterdam-
If you want to start your trip to Europe off on a fun and crazy note, then Amsterdam should be your first stop. We left London very, very early and got on the bus to head to Dover. This was a nice quick ride and gave us all a chance to start getting to know one another and to learn the simple rules of the bus. When we got to Dover we saw the beautiful White Cliffs and got on a Ferry to enjoy a nice, bumpy ride over to France. If you get motion sickness easily definitely take some medicine with you. I don't ever get motion sickness, but after walking around on the Ferry for a bit I was starting to feel a little sick. The great thing about the Ferry is that there is quite a lot for you to do to entertain yourself on the journey. Of course you can spend the time getting to know fellow travelers, or you can roam around the Ferry itself visiting its great Duty Free shops and if you need a drink, there's a liquor store on board.
After the ferry ride we continued on the bus to Amsterdam playing speed dating along the way in order to get up, move about, and meet more people on the bus. For food, we stopped at a rest area in Belguim where we got to try and order food in a foreign country for the first time. Luckily, one of the servers spoke English, so everyone flocked to his line to order. This is something I regret about my trip, I depended too much on finding people who could speak English. I wish I had known a least part of the languages before going to Europe rather than being the tourist that needs someone to explain things to them in English. We arrived in Amsterdam in time to check in, change quickly, and head up to dinner. In Amsterdam we stayed at the Ibis hotel out by Schipol airport. This was by far the nicest hotel that we stayed at the entire trip and I was throughly impressed with the room. It's important to note here that I made the decision to be in a triple room. I did this to save money, but in the end it was a great decision because generally we had a bigger room than everyone else. Dinner was a buffet which was okay. I wasn't impressed, but we could have had worse. There was a lot of choice, but our dinner was also rushed because we had places to go and things to see in Amsterdam.
To kick off our night in Amsterdam we headed into the city and went on a Canal Cruise. This is something that I highly recommend you do on your trip. Like the river cruise in London, it was a great way to get things started and see different highlights of the city. On this cruise we also had a tour guide pointing out certain sights and giving us a taste of the history of Amsterdam. The other bonus to this canal cruise was that complimentary wine and beer were served throughout the cruise and you could drink as much as you could in the time of the cruise. If you are doing the contiki tour, I highly recommend going on the canal cruise because its a great way to start celebrating with your tourmates and getting to know them in a social setting. Oh and be sure to go to the bathroom before you leave the canal cruise, because it will be a lonnnng time before you see another bathroom.
From the canal cruise our amazing Tour Manager led us into the heart of the city to explore the nightlife of Amsterdam. We headed straight to the Red Light District and wow, was that an experience. If you are in Amsterdam, you need to wander into the Red Light District at some point as it showcases a large part of the city's culture. Yes, you walk down the street and are surrounded by women trying to sell themselves and the auroma of the streets is pot, but you can see that this is a culture that is free and accepting and pushes the norms of society. It's also interesting to see the different parts of the district and how seperated each area is (in terms of the characteristics of the women in the windows) and if you happen to walk by a window with a curtain closed, then you know something is going on behind there. An important tip about being in the Red Light District is that no matter how much you want to, you CANNOT take any pictures.
If you want to experience the culture that Amsterdam is really famous for you will have the opportunity to that evening. On the Contiki tour there is the option to go to a live sex show when in Amsterdam and after going to that (or if you opt out of the sex show) you can visit one of the infamous coffee shops (which aren't famous for their coffee). Really its up to you what you want to experience, what you want to do, and how much you want to "live it up" during your time in Europe. Go in with an open mind and do what you want to do. You never know when you will be in Europe again.
We actually had additional time in Amsterdam in the morning before we left and headed to Germany. Again, we got up bright and early and headed into the city. Most of the group opted to head to the Anne Frank House first thing. If you are ever in Amsterdam visiting the Anne Frank House is a MUST. However, if you are not willing to be serious and really take all the emotion in, then for those visitors who are there for a reason, please don't go. It is hard to explain what you feel when you get to the House and you are inside it. I read the book when I was younger and understood the story, but actually being there and being forced to see and understand the reality of the situation will touch you in ways you may have never thought possible. It is a very touching place and somewhere that you should visit. There is an admission cost, but the cost is worthwhile for the experience you get.
There are many other options for things to do to spend your time in Amsterdam. If you enjoy drinking or are interested in learning more about the brewing process you can visit the newly reopened Heinekein Experience where you learn about beer and get to sample some as well. If you are an avid art fan then there a multiple museums that you can visit including the Van Gogh museum. You also have the opportunity to experience the culuture of Amsterdam again as you can wander back through the Red Light District or head to a coffee shop during the day. Its also just nice to walk around the city, look at the beautiful canals and do some shopping. If you are the type of person that is going to want to do a lot when in Amsterdam, I recommend doing some research before you go and planning out where you want to visit and what you would like to see so that you can cover as much as possible while you are there.
After the ferry ride we continued on the bus to Amsterdam playing speed dating along the way in order to get up, move about, and meet more people on the bus. For food, we stopped at a rest area in Belguim where we got to try and order food in a foreign country for the first time. Luckily, one of the servers spoke English, so everyone flocked to his line to order. This is something I regret about my trip, I depended too much on finding people who could speak English. I wish I had known a least part of the languages before going to Europe rather than being the tourist that needs someone to explain things to them in English. We arrived in Amsterdam in time to check in, change quickly, and head up to dinner. In Amsterdam we stayed at the Ibis hotel out by Schipol airport. This was by far the nicest hotel that we stayed at the entire trip and I was throughly impressed with the room. It's important to note here that I made the decision to be in a triple room. I did this to save money, but in the end it was a great decision because generally we had a bigger room than everyone else. Dinner was a buffet which was okay. I wasn't impressed, but we could have had worse. There was a lot of choice, but our dinner was also rushed because we had places to go and things to see in Amsterdam.
To kick off our night in Amsterdam we headed into the city and went on a Canal Cruise. This is something that I highly recommend you do on your trip. Like the river cruise in London, it was a great way to get things started and see different highlights of the city. On this cruise we also had a tour guide pointing out certain sights and giving us a taste of the history of Amsterdam. The other bonus to this canal cruise was that complimentary wine and beer were served throughout the cruise and you could drink as much as you could in the time of the cruise. If you are doing the contiki tour, I highly recommend going on the canal cruise because its a great way to start celebrating with your tourmates and getting to know them in a social setting. Oh and be sure to go to the bathroom before you leave the canal cruise, because it will be a lonnnng time before you see another bathroom.
From the canal cruise our amazing Tour Manager led us into the heart of the city to explore the nightlife of Amsterdam. We headed straight to the Red Light District and wow, was that an experience. If you are in Amsterdam, you need to wander into the Red Light District at some point as it showcases a large part of the city's culture. Yes, you walk down the street and are surrounded by women trying to sell themselves and the auroma of the streets is pot, but you can see that this is a culture that is free and accepting and pushes the norms of society. It's also interesting to see the different parts of the district and how seperated each area is (in terms of the characteristics of the women in the windows) and if you happen to walk by a window with a curtain closed, then you know something is going on behind there. An important tip about being in the Red Light District is that no matter how much you want to, you CANNOT take any pictures.
If you want to experience the culture that Amsterdam is really famous for you will have the opportunity to that evening. On the Contiki tour there is the option to go to a live sex show when in Amsterdam and after going to that (or if you opt out of the sex show) you can visit one of the infamous coffee shops (which aren't famous for their coffee). Really its up to you what you want to experience, what you want to do, and how much you want to "live it up" during your time in Europe. Go in with an open mind and do what you want to do. You never know when you will be in Europe again.
We actually had additional time in Amsterdam in the morning before we left and headed to Germany. Again, we got up bright and early and headed into the city. Most of the group opted to head to the Anne Frank House first thing. If you are ever in Amsterdam visiting the Anne Frank House is a MUST. However, if you are not willing to be serious and really take all the emotion in, then for those visitors who are there for a reason, please don't go. It is hard to explain what you feel when you get to the House and you are inside it. I read the book when I was younger and understood the story, but actually being there and being forced to see and understand the reality of the situation will touch you in ways you may have never thought possible. It is a very touching place and somewhere that you should visit. There is an admission cost, but the cost is worthwhile for the experience you get.
There are many other options for things to do to spend your time in Amsterdam. If you enjoy drinking or are interested in learning more about the brewing process you can visit the newly reopened Heinekein Experience where you learn about beer and get to sample some as well. If you are an avid art fan then there a multiple museums that you can visit including the Van Gogh museum. You also have the opportunity to experience the culuture of Amsterdam again as you can wander back through the Red Light District or head to a coffee shop during the day. Its also just nice to walk around the city, look at the beautiful canals and do some shopping. If you are the type of person that is going to want to do a lot when in Amsterdam, I recommend doing some research before you go and planning out where you want to visit and what you would like to see so that you can cover as much as possible while you are there.
Day Three -Rhine Valley and St. Goar-
After Amsterdam we headed down into Germany and began our drive towards the little, quiet town of St. Goar. We spent more time on the bus playing get to know you games while also trying to catch up on some of the sleep that we lost the night before from the craziness of Amsterdam. Even though you may be really tempted to sleep the entire way from Amsterdam to St. Goar try to stay up because the views are absolutely breathtaking and you do not want to miss them. Basically St. Goar is just a pit stop on the European Discovery Trip.
We arrived around dinner time again and checked into our hotel (which was a super cute little hotel) and headed down to dinner. We had a really great dinner that had three of four courses to it. After dinner several of us headed to our optional excursion for the evening which was a wine tasting. We were taken to a wine cellar around the corner from our hotel and got to sample six different wines from the region. I really enjoyed the wine tasting because I am indeed a lover of wine especially white wine and the region that we were in only created white wine. We also got to sample a very special wine called ice wine that can only be created when grapes have been below freezing for a specific amount of time. Being a wine lover I did indeed have to purchase several bottles to take home with me. After the wine tasting we headed back to our hotel where most people headed up to bed. Others got online as there was an internet cafe in the hotel (and thus began the facebook friendships) and a few of us stayed up and had a couple drinks. We were all in bed before midnight though and the bartender told us that we were the lamest Contiki group he has ever had come through the town.
Early the next morning we got up and before we headed to Munich we were able to shop at the little stores surrounding our hotel. First, we went to a beerstein center where we were surrounded by all kinds of beer steins and learned the history of beer steins in Germany and how they are made. It was really interesting to see all the different kinds of steins and if you want, you can treat yourself to one. Other shops that were available to visit were a cuckoo clock shop and a birkenstein shop.
Again, St. Goar is a very nice quiet town, but for our trip it was merely a rest area. Take my advice...get sleep when you are in St. Goar, its the last time you will really be able to sleep until Switzerland.
We arrived around dinner time again and checked into our hotel (which was a super cute little hotel) and headed down to dinner. We had a really great dinner that had three of four courses to it. After dinner several of us headed to our optional excursion for the evening which was a wine tasting. We were taken to a wine cellar around the corner from our hotel and got to sample six different wines from the region. I really enjoyed the wine tasting because I am indeed a lover of wine especially white wine and the region that we were in only created white wine. We also got to sample a very special wine called ice wine that can only be created when grapes have been below freezing for a specific amount of time. Being a wine lover I did indeed have to purchase several bottles to take home with me. After the wine tasting we headed back to our hotel where most people headed up to bed. Others got online as there was an internet cafe in the hotel (and thus began the facebook friendships) and a few of us stayed up and had a couple drinks. We were all in bed before midnight though and the bartender told us that we were the lamest Contiki group he has ever had come through the town.
Early the next morning we got up and before we headed to Munich we were able to shop at the little stores surrounding our hotel. First, we went to a beerstein center where we were surrounded by all kinds of beer steins and learned the history of beer steins in Germany and how they are made. It was really interesting to see all the different kinds of steins and if you want, you can treat yourself to one. Other shops that were available to visit were a cuckoo clock shop and a birkenstein shop.
Again, St. Goar is a very nice quiet town, but for our trip it was merely a rest area. Take my advice...get sleep when you are in St. Goar, its the last time you will really be able to sleep until Switzerland.
Day Four -Munich-
The next stop on the journey was to the capital city of Bavaria, Munich. The bus drive from St. Goar to Munich was incredibly long and we arrived in Munich around 3pm and headed into the city together around 4pm. Our first stop when we got to the city was to visit the infamous Marienplatz and the Glockenspiel which is a large cuckoo clock that chimes at 11am each day and reenacts two stories from the 16th century. Since we arrived in the city after the Glockenspiel had gone off, our tour manger got our group together (now imagine this with 51 people in the middle of this plaza in Munich) and had us reenact what the Glockenspiel does each time it went off. It was a very entertaining moment and several other tourists stopped to watch us an take our pictures.
There are many things that you can do to spend your time in Munich. Right off the plaza are quite a lot of streets full of wonderful shopping. If you want you can stop by a store and get yourself a ledenhosen to wear to impress and maybe pick up a local. If you are interested there are also many beautiful churches and catherdrals in Munich that you can visit including the Peterskirche which is located closest to the Marienplatz or you could visit the Frauenkirche. If you would rather you can also visit the Residenz palace complex which now serves as a museum which also contains the treasurery. If you want to get away from the city center or if you are a sports fanatic, you can stop by the impressive Munich Olympic site.
Due to the fact that we arrived in the city around dinner time, a group of us decided to head out to find somewhere that we could enjoy the local delicacies of Munich. After wandering around for quite a while, we finally settled on a beer hall. The atmosphere in a beer hall is amazing and when you are in Germany visiting at least one is a must. Our group sat on large benches around a table and each of us attempted to find something local that we could eat. Some of the most well known local delicacies in Munich include Weisswurst (white sausages), large pretzels, pork knuckle, and Apfelstrudel (Apple Streudel) for desert. You can get platters of different sausages with kraut or you can play it safe and just have a pretzel and desert.
After dinner our group decided to head over to the Hofbräuhaus which is one of the oldest breweries in Munich and one of the largest and most famous beer halls in Munich. The Hofbräuhaus, like the beer hll we ate dinner at, has the most amazing atmosphere that is almost hard to describe in words- this is a place you have to experience for yourself when visiting Munich. The beer hall is filled with long tables and benches where locals and tourists unite and bond over German beer, large pretzels, barwhences in lednhosen, and the music of the opmpah pah band. When we first arrived at the Hofbräuhaus the beer hall was packed for dinner and we couldn't find anywhere to sit. Disappointed, we decided to go find another beer hall to drink with the plan to return to the Hofbräuhaus in a few hours.
You would think that in Munich it would be easy to find a beer hall to drink at, but during the dinner rush, if you aren't eating, you won't be able to get a seat in a beer hall. Yet again disappointed, we headed to the one place in Munich where we could easily get drinks and easily find a table- the Hard Rock. Please do not go to the Hard Rock when you are in Munich. Yes they made good mixed drinks and yes they were not busy, but who goes all the way to Munich and just goes to the Hard Rock? You really won't get to experience the local culture there unless you end up like me and get hit on by an 80 year old German man who makes you dance with him and then proceeds to lick your arm. We stayed at the Hard Rock for a couple hours and were feeling quite good when we left and headed back to the Hofbräuhaus.
When we returned to the Hofbräuhaus we were able to quickly find the rest of our group and after a little bit of bartering with some very intoxicated Italian men, we were able to find a table to sit at right next to our group. We ordered quickly and started getting into the atmosphere of the beer hall. What amazes me about Germany is the size of the beer that you get. This is serious beer not wimpy beer from back home. Beer in Germany is served in litre steins and to my amazement, I was able to finish two. What is also great about the beer halls in Germany is that Jager is incredibly cheap. For $2 I was able to get a shot of Jager, so of course we decided to try a few of those as well. In the beer hall, after people get a few drinks in them, a lot of dancing, singing, and standing on tables starts to occur. For our group in particular, some of our tourmates were really getting into the singing, dancing, and cultural experience of the beer hall, and our group was removed by security before 11pm. According to our tour manager, he has never been kicked out of beer hall in Germany with a tour group especially that early in the night.
After being kicked out of the beer hall, several of us decided to continue the evening and experience even more of the German culture by experiencing the night life. We loaded into taxis and headed to a park to dance the night away. This may be the strangest and sketchiest place that I have ever been in my life. Basically the nightlife that we experienced were a bunch of dance clubs right next to one another in what seemed to be an abandoned warehouse park. Each warehouse was a different club that had dancing and drinks. We all had a ton of fun mingling with the locals and dancing with one another. It was a great way to end the night in Munich. I recommend experiencing the nightlife while in Munich, but there may be a better place than the warehouse park to go to.
There are many things that you can do to spend your time in Munich. Right off the plaza are quite a lot of streets full of wonderful shopping. If you want you can stop by a store and get yourself a ledenhosen to wear to impress and maybe pick up a local. If you are interested there are also many beautiful churches and catherdrals in Munich that you can visit including the Peterskirche which is located closest to the Marienplatz or you could visit the Frauenkirche. If you would rather you can also visit the Residenz palace complex which now serves as a museum which also contains the treasurery. If you want to get away from the city center or if you are a sports fanatic, you can stop by the impressive Munich Olympic site.
Due to the fact that we arrived in the city around dinner time, a group of us decided to head out to find somewhere that we could enjoy the local delicacies of Munich. After wandering around for quite a while, we finally settled on a beer hall. The atmosphere in a beer hall is amazing and when you are in Germany visiting at least one is a must. Our group sat on large benches around a table and each of us attempted to find something local that we could eat. Some of the most well known local delicacies in Munich include Weisswurst (white sausages), large pretzels, pork knuckle, and Apfelstrudel (Apple Streudel) for desert. You can get platters of different sausages with kraut or you can play it safe and just have a pretzel and desert.
After dinner our group decided to head over to the Hofbräuhaus which is one of the oldest breweries in Munich and one of the largest and most famous beer halls in Munich. The Hofbräuhaus, like the beer hll we ate dinner at, has the most amazing atmosphere that is almost hard to describe in words- this is a place you have to experience for yourself when visiting Munich. The beer hall is filled with long tables and benches where locals and tourists unite and bond over German beer, large pretzels, barwhences in lednhosen, and the music of the opmpah pah band. When we first arrived at the Hofbräuhaus the beer hall was packed for dinner and we couldn't find anywhere to sit. Disappointed, we decided to go find another beer hall to drink with the plan to return to the Hofbräuhaus in a few hours.
You would think that in Munich it would be easy to find a beer hall to drink at, but during the dinner rush, if you aren't eating, you won't be able to get a seat in a beer hall. Yet again disappointed, we headed to the one place in Munich where we could easily get drinks and easily find a table- the Hard Rock. Please do not go to the Hard Rock when you are in Munich. Yes they made good mixed drinks and yes they were not busy, but who goes all the way to Munich and just goes to the Hard Rock? You really won't get to experience the local culture there unless you end up like me and get hit on by an 80 year old German man who makes you dance with him and then proceeds to lick your arm. We stayed at the Hard Rock for a couple hours and were feeling quite good when we left and headed back to the Hofbräuhaus.
When we returned to the Hofbräuhaus we were able to quickly find the rest of our group and after a little bit of bartering with some very intoxicated Italian men, we were able to find a table to sit at right next to our group. We ordered quickly and started getting into the atmosphere of the beer hall. What amazes me about Germany is the size of the beer that you get. This is serious beer not wimpy beer from back home. Beer in Germany is served in litre steins and to my amazement, I was able to finish two. What is also great about the beer halls in Germany is that Jager is incredibly cheap. For $2 I was able to get a shot of Jager, so of course we decided to try a few of those as well. In the beer hall, after people get a few drinks in them, a lot of dancing, singing, and standing on tables starts to occur. For our group in particular, some of our tourmates were really getting into the singing, dancing, and cultural experience of the beer hall, and our group was removed by security before 11pm. According to our tour manager, he has never been kicked out of beer hall in Germany with a tour group especially that early in the night.
After being kicked out of the beer hall, several of us decided to continue the evening and experience even more of the German culture by experiencing the night life. We loaded into taxis and headed to a park to dance the night away. This may be the strangest and sketchiest place that I have ever been in my life. Basically the nightlife that we experienced were a bunch of dance clubs right next to one another in what seemed to be an abandoned warehouse park. Each warehouse was a different club that had dancing and drinks. We all had a ton of fun mingling with the locals and dancing with one another. It was a great way to end the night in Munich. I recommend experiencing the nightlife while in Munich, but there may be a better place than the warehouse park to go to.
Day Five -Dachau & Innsbruck-
The next morning we left Munich and were surprised by our tour manager when he informed us that before leaving Munich and heading to our next destination, we were going to stop at a very special place- Dachau Concentration Camp. Dachau is located 10 miles from Munich and was the first concentration camp established by the Nazi Party. Dachau was created to be a camp for political prisoners and served as the prototype for all other concentration camps that were established. In total, Dachau became the home for 200,000 prisoners. Of the 200,000 two-thirds were political prisoners and one third were Jews. This concentration camp was mainly used as a work camp, but over 35,000 people are thought to have died at Dachau from either disease, malnutrition, or in the crematorium.
Today, Dachau is open for the public to come and visit and is meant to be a place where people can learn, can remember, and can begin to understand in a small way the horrors of what occurred in concentration camps throughout Europe not that long ago. For most of us, we grew up learning the history of concentration camps and learn about the horror through our textbooks, but nothing can compare and nothing can really begin to make you understand until you have walked on the ground that hundreds of thousands of prisoners walked on and see the conditions they were forced to live in.
When visiting Dachau the camp is now split up into what I see as four different sections. When you first enter into the camp a museum has been produced in several of the buildings that explains the history of the rise of the Nazi party, the formation of Dachau and talks about the different prisoners that were held in the camp. This is a very informative museum, but if you are stretched for time when visiting you may want to skip the museum. The second part of the camp today are the barracks. You can walk into the barracks and see how they were when prisoners were at the camp. When you go to the barracks think about how many people had to share these living spaces and think about the sanitation in the barracks. Throughout the barracks are signs with facts and quotes about the camp and about the experience living in the camp. The third part of the camp today are the religious houses and churches that are located in the back of the camp. These are beautiful buildings in a horrid place. The last part of the camp is the area that will cause an emotional experience for anyone who visits- the crematorium. This is where prisoners were burned after death and where some people were killed. At the crematorium is a sign that reads "think about how we died here." You cannot escape the reality of the horrors that occurred in this place when you visit the crematorium. You are forced to think about the imprisonment and forced to think about the mass killing that occurred where you are standing.
Like the Anne Frank house, I believe Dachau is an important place to visit in you are in Munich, however, like the Anne Frank house, I would ask that you only go to this place if you can be serious and if you are willing to experience emotions that you have never felt before. You will be walking on ground where people died and out of respect for those who were killed at Dachau it is important that you be mature and serious when visiting. What was so difficult for me visiting Dachau was knowing that people were imprisoned there for years and were dying there and the world sat back and let it happen. It breaks my heart and I cannot fully explain what the impact of visiting Dachau was for me. It is a place where you are forced to remember and reflect, but it is also a place of hope because as people continue to visit and learn and hope arises that this will never, ever happen again.
After our visit to Dachau we all loaded back on the bus and began our journey through the mountains to Innsbruck, Austria. What I have failed to mention about my trip thus far is that I went on my trip just after Christmas and through the new year, so today was New Year's Eve. We were given a special treat by our tour manager and bus driver as instead of staying on the main highway to get to Innsbruck, we took some back roads that led us through some absolutely breathtaking scenery. We made several quick stops during our drive two of which were at absolutely stunning Austrian lakes- the Agensee and Tagensee. We also made another stop on our journey as we had finally found snow. Most of our tour were individuals from Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa and most of the people n the tour had never seen snow before let alone played in snow before, so we made another stop and played in the snow. It was great and incredibly entertaining watching people having snowball fights and watching their reactions as they experienced snow for the very first time. That will definitely be an experience that I will never forget.
We arrived in Innsbruck late in the afternoon and headed straight into the city. The main issue with our time in Innsbruck during the afternoon was that most everything was closed already because it was New Years. Most of the small tourists were still open, so we walked around to those and then managed to find a Swarovski that was still open where several of us decided to spend quite a lot of money. Innsbruck is an absolutely gorgeous little town as it is surrounded by snow capped mountains. I wish that we had more time in Innsbruck or had gotten there earlier when more things would have been open. Innsbruck is known as the winter sports capital and the Winter Olympics have been held in Innsbruck several times.
After visiting the town for a couple hours we headed up to our hotel which was a very nice hotel, but was located about a 15 to 20 minute walk to the town's center where all the festivities would be later that night. Many of us decided to take our time and get dolled up for the evening and after getting ready we headed down and had an absolutely delicious meal from the soup to the desert. Directly after eating, we all headed to the hotel bar to begin the celebration of the night and of course to sample some of what Austria is famous for by consuming many, many rounds of schnapps. When in Austria, make sure you try schnapps. I found a flavor I enjoyed and with the number of flavors that are offered, you will also find one that you enjoy.
Around 10pm all 51 of us headed into the town center to really celebrate New Years. You can imagine the commotion that we caused walking from the hotel bar to the town center. In the main plaza, a stage was set up with bands constantly playing (and singing in English which was great for us) and around the plaza local businesses had set up booths offering local food, drinks, and other random things for those of us celebrating to enjoy. At midnight on New Years it is traditional for the Blue Danube Waltz to be played so again, we were dancing and also running around kissing everyone on the tour celebrating the beginning of a new year. Right at midnight, Innsbruck has a spectacular fireworks display from the top of the mountain so we ran from the main plaza to the street where we could get a better view of the fireworks. It an incredible sight and a great way to bring in the New Year.
After the fireworks display we roamed around the town trying to find another bar to go hang out at, but most places were packed, so we changed our plan an headed to a free dance party that was going on. Basically a large gym like building had been rented out and people were dancing the night away in circles surrounding their coats. About ten or so of us were at the dance party and we had an amazing time. This may have been the most fun that I hate out with the group the entire tour. We were all just so happy and did not care what we looked dancing like crazy people. Around 2 in the morning we decided to finally call it a night and had one hell of a time walking back to the hotel. I can't imagine a better way that I could have spent my new year and I believe it really helped get the year off to a great start.
Today, Dachau is open for the public to come and visit and is meant to be a place where people can learn, can remember, and can begin to understand in a small way the horrors of what occurred in concentration camps throughout Europe not that long ago. For most of us, we grew up learning the history of concentration camps and learn about the horror through our textbooks, but nothing can compare and nothing can really begin to make you understand until you have walked on the ground that hundreds of thousands of prisoners walked on and see the conditions they were forced to live in.
When visiting Dachau the camp is now split up into what I see as four different sections. When you first enter into the camp a museum has been produced in several of the buildings that explains the history of the rise of the Nazi party, the formation of Dachau and talks about the different prisoners that were held in the camp. This is a very informative museum, but if you are stretched for time when visiting you may want to skip the museum. The second part of the camp today are the barracks. You can walk into the barracks and see how they were when prisoners were at the camp. When you go to the barracks think about how many people had to share these living spaces and think about the sanitation in the barracks. Throughout the barracks are signs with facts and quotes about the camp and about the experience living in the camp. The third part of the camp today are the religious houses and churches that are located in the back of the camp. These are beautiful buildings in a horrid place. The last part of the camp is the area that will cause an emotional experience for anyone who visits- the crematorium. This is where prisoners were burned after death and where some people were killed. At the crematorium is a sign that reads "think about how we died here." You cannot escape the reality of the horrors that occurred in this place when you visit the crematorium. You are forced to think about the imprisonment and forced to think about the mass killing that occurred where you are standing.
Like the Anne Frank house, I believe Dachau is an important place to visit in you are in Munich, however, like the Anne Frank house, I would ask that you only go to this place if you can be serious and if you are willing to experience emotions that you have never felt before. You will be walking on ground where people died and out of respect for those who were killed at Dachau it is important that you be mature and serious when visiting. What was so difficult for me visiting Dachau was knowing that people were imprisoned there for years and were dying there and the world sat back and let it happen. It breaks my heart and I cannot fully explain what the impact of visiting Dachau was for me. It is a place where you are forced to remember and reflect, but it is also a place of hope because as people continue to visit and learn and hope arises that this will never, ever happen again.
After our visit to Dachau we all loaded back on the bus and began our journey through the mountains to Innsbruck, Austria. What I have failed to mention about my trip thus far is that I went on my trip just after Christmas and through the new year, so today was New Year's Eve. We were given a special treat by our tour manager and bus driver as instead of staying on the main highway to get to Innsbruck, we took some back roads that led us through some absolutely breathtaking scenery. We made several quick stops during our drive two of which were at absolutely stunning Austrian lakes- the Agensee and Tagensee. We also made another stop on our journey as we had finally found snow. Most of our tour were individuals from Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa and most of the people n the tour had never seen snow before let alone played in snow before, so we made another stop and played in the snow. It was great and incredibly entertaining watching people having snowball fights and watching their reactions as they experienced snow for the very first time. That will definitely be an experience that I will never forget.
We arrived in Innsbruck late in the afternoon and headed straight into the city. The main issue with our time in Innsbruck during the afternoon was that most everything was closed already because it was New Years. Most of the small tourists were still open, so we walked around to those and then managed to find a Swarovski that was still open where several of us decided to spend quite a lot of money. Innsbruck is an absolutely gorgeous little town as it is surrounded by snow capped mountains. I wish that we had more time in Innsbruck or had gotten there earlier when more things would have been open. Innsbruck is known as the winter sports capital and the Winter Olympics have been held in Innsbruck several times.
After visiting the town for a couple hours we headed up to our hotel which was a very nice hotel, but was located about a 15 to 20 minute walk to the town's center where all the festivities would be later that night. Many of us decided to take our time and get dolled up for the evening and after getting ready we headed down and had an absolutely delicious meal from the soup to the desert. Directly after eating, we all headed to the hotel bar to begin the celebration of the night and of course to sample some of what Austria is famous for by consuming many, many rounds of schnapps. When in Austria, make sure you try schnapps. I found a flavor I enjoyed and with the number of flavors that are offered, you will also find one that you enjoy.
Around 10pm all 51 of us headed into the town center to really celebrate New Years. You can imagine the commotion that we caused walking from the hotel bar to the town center. In the main plaza, a stage was set up with bands constantly playing (and singing in English which was great for us) and around the plaza local businesses had set up booths offering local food, drinks, and other random things for those of us celebrating to enjoy. At midnight on New Years it is traditional for the Blue Danube Waltz to be played so again, we were dancing and also running around kissing everyone on the tour celebrating the beginning of a new year. Right at midnight, Innsbruck has a spectacular fireworks display from the top of the mountain so we ran from the main plaza to the street where we could get a better view of the fireworks. It an incredible sight and a great way to bring in the New Year.
After the fireworks display we roamed around the town trying to find another bar to go hang out at, but most places were packed, so we changed our plan an headed to a free dance party that was going on. Basically a large gym like building had been rented out and people were dancing the night away in circles surrounding their coats. About ten or so of us were at the dance party and we had an amazing time. This may have been the most fun that I hate out with the group the entire tour. We were all just so happy and did not care what we looked dancing like crazy people. Around 2 in the morning we decided to finally call it a night and had one hell of a time walking back to the hotel. I can't imagine a better way that I could have spent my new year and I believe it really helped get the year off to a great start.
Day Six -Venice-
We spent New Year's Day getting lost in Venice. Italy was what I was most looking forward on the trip because I had always dreamed of visiting Italy. An important thing to note, if you are traveling during the holiday period a lot of shops and attractions may be closed during the holidays, especially on specific holidays such as Christmas Day or New Year's Day. Luckily, Venice had a lot of things still open and while some of the higher end shops were closed and some attractions were closed, there was still so much to do and see and so many places to get lost.
You can't actually drive to Venice, instead you have to take a water taxi across from the mainland to Venice. This is a very choppy and bumpy ride, so again if you get motion sickness, have something available. The one downside to our day in Venice was that it was rainy and yucky, but hey, we were in Venice and that made us super happy so the weather really could not get us down. We started our day off by walking along the harbor and entering Piazza San Marco and seeing the incredible St. Mark's Basilica and its beautiful bell tower.
After exploring Piazza San Marco, we headed further into the city to go on a Gondola Ride. When you are in Venice, a gondola ride is something that you have to do. Venice is famous for its canals and its signing gondoliers, and there is not better way to explore the city than in a gondola. It is also incredibly romantic, so if you are on a honeymoon or on vacation with your significant other, its something great to experience together. We loaded into our gondolas in groups of six and my gondola decided we were going to spice things up and purchase a bottle of sparkling wine for our ride. This is another thing I highly recommend to make your gondola experience all it can be. For 6 euros you can purchase a bottle and enjoy it on your ride. I will be honest, gondola rides can be a little scary, especially when the weather isn't the greatest and the water is slightly choppy. Also, they are not the easiest little vessels to get in and out of, so be aware of that when entering and exiting the gondola. I was amazed at the skills that the gondoliers have to maneuver through the small canals without crashing into a building or tipping us over.
After our amazing gondola rides we headed with our tour manager over to a glass blowing demonstration. One of the many things that Venice is famous for is venetian glass. Most of us went to the demonstration because we were freezing and knew that there would be a fire in the room where we were watching the demonstration, so we would be warm for at least a little while. The glass demonstration did not take up a lot of our time and was actually a really neat thing to experience. We watched a skilled glass maker create a glass horse in front of us from scratch. We then were walked through the showroom and saw all the amazing creations that have been made in Venice out of glass. If you have a some extra time in Venice, I would also recommend going to a glass demonstration as it will very much so impress you.
We then headed out to explore the city on our own. Venice is an incredibly confusing city to walk around. Maps will do you no good, so please, do not even bother with them. It is also way more fun and exciting to get lost in Venice and it is amazing what you can discover in the city when you allow yourself to get lost. The good thing is, the city was kind enough to put up large yellow signs that will point you in the direction of main attractions and areas such as Piazza San Marco, so as along as you know how to get home from one of the large areas or arrange to meet your group in a large area, you will be fine if you get lost. A group of us decided to wander around the city and see what we could find. We of course went into a few touristy shops and then just walked around and took the city in. After doing that for a while, we made the decision to find somewhere to grab a slice of real Italian pizza and we found a small little restaurant where we ate delicious food. We then walked around some more and decided to go to a cafe and experience another thing that Italy is famous for, espresso. It was great to spend some time just sitting, talking, and getting to know the other people we were with and this is what we did while we sipped our espressos and hot chocolates.
After our exploring and getting lost in Venice, we met back up with the rest of our group and most everyone headed to the optional excursion for the evening which was a traditional Venetian meal. We were taken to the backroom of an authentic Italian restaurant where we were serenaded and entertained by an accordian player. We were served a several course meal that started with meats and antipastos and then were served platter after platter of different types of pasta. We were also provided with unlimited bottles of red, white, and sparkling wine to enhance our meal. This was a great way to sample some of the local delicacies and be emerged in the local culture. We all had a great time and yet again, there was dancing and singing. After dinner we headed back to the hotel where several of us spent the evening hanging out and getting to know one another more.
You can't actually drive to Venice, instead you have to take a water taxi across from the mainland to Venice. This is a very choppy and bumpy ride, so again if you get motion sickness, have something available. The one downside to our day in Venice was that it was rainy and yucky, but hey, we were in Venice and that made us super happy so the weather really could not get us down. We started our day off by walking along the harbor and entering Piazza San Marco and seeing the incredible St. Mark's Basilica and its beautiful bell tower.
After exploring Piazza San Marco, we headed further into the city to go on a Gondola Ride. When you are in Venice, a gondola ride is something that you have to do. Venice is famous for its canals and its signing gondoliers, and there is not better way to explore the city than in a gondola. It is also incredibly romantic, so if you are on a honeymoon or on vacation with your significant other, its something great to experience together. We loaded into our gondolas in groups of six and my gondola decided we were going to spice things up and purchase a bottle of sparkling wine for our ride. This is another thing I highly recommend to make your gondola experience all it can be. For 6 euros you can purchase a bottle and enjoy it on your ride. I will be honest, gondola rides can be a little scary, especially when the weather isn't the greatest and the water is slightly choppy. Also, they are not the easiest little vessels to get in and out of, so be aware of that when entering and exiting the gondola. I was amazed at the skills that the gondoliers have to maneuver through the small canals without crashing into a building or tipping us over.
After our amazing gondola rides we headed with our tour manager over to a glass blowing demonstration. One of the many things that Venice is famous for is venetian glass. Most of us went to the demonstration because we were freezing and knew that there would be a fire in the room where we were watching the demonstration, so we would be warm for at least a little while. The glass demonstration did not take up a lot of our time and was actually a really neat thing to experience. We watched a skilled glass maker create a glass horse in front of us from scratch. We then were walked through the showroom and saw all the amazing creations that have been made in Venice out of glass. If you have a some extra time in Venice, I would also recommend going to a glass demonstration as it will very much so impress you.
We then headed out to explore the city on our own. Venice is an incredibly confusing city to walk around. Maps will do you no good, so please, do not even bother with them. It is also way more fun and exciting to get lost in Venice and it is amazing what you can discover in the city when you allow yourself to get lost. The good thing is, the city was kind enough to put up large yellow signs that will point you in the direction of main attractions and areas such as Piazza San Marco, so as along as you know how to get home from one of the large areas or arrange to meet your group in a large area, you will be fine if you get lost. A group of us decided to wander around the city and see what we could find. We of course went into a few touristy shops and then just walked around and took the city in. After doing that for a while, we made the decision to find somewhere to grab a slice of real Italian pizza and we found a small little restaurant where we ate delicious food. We then walked around some more and decided to go to a cafe and experience another thing that Italy is famous for, espresso. It was great to spend some time just sitting, talking, and getting to know the other people we were with and this is what we did while we sipped our espressos and hot chocolates.
After our exploring and getting lost in Venice, we met back up with the rest of our group and most everyone headed to the optional excursion for the evening which was a traditional Venetian meal. We were taken to the backroom of an authentic Italian restaurant where we were serenaded and entertained by an accordian player. We were served a several course meal that started with meats and antipastos and then were served platter after platter of different types of pasta. We were also provided with unlimited bottles of red, white, and sparkling wine to enhance our meal. This was a great way to sample some of the local delicacies and be emerged in the local culture. We all had a great time and yet again, there was dancing and singing. After dinner we headed back to the hotel where several of us spent the evening hanging out and getting to know one another more.
Day Seven & Eight -Rome-
Personally, I think that Rome is the most incredible place that I have ever visited as it is the perfect blend of old and new. In itself, Rome is an infamous city and was the heart and soul of one of the largest empires in the world. Rome is also the birthplace of a lot of what is in the world today from politics to the arts. And Rome is a place where you walk around in absolute awe at the amazing ancient wonders that are around ever corner. Then there is the new in Rome with the amazing food and absolutely incredible shopping. And the fact that such an ancient city can still look beautiful as it continues to grow and develop amazes me. Rome is also a city where politics and religion collide with Vatican City being so close. Rome is incredible. Please, if you listen to nothing else in this blog, go to Rome at some point in your life.
We arrived in Rome in the late afternoon and the weather in Rome was just as lovey as the weather in Venice had been. We started off our visit in Rome doing a bus tour of the city so we could get our first glimpses at the amazing sites in the city. After our bus tour we headed into the city and our first stop was a plaza where a flea market had been set up. We had a chance to walk around and try our first, but certainly not our last, gelato. After this stop we continued walking through the city and stopped at the Pantheon. The Pantheon might be the most incredible building in Rome. The Pantheon was built in 125 A.D. and is the most well preserved building in Rome. It is hard to believe when you look at the structure and go inside of it, that this building has been standing there, intact, with hardly an wear or damage, for close to 2000 years. The beauty of the building inside is also breathtaking and the cieling is carefully crafted with a hole in the center which is referred to as the "eye of the gods." The Pantheon is one of the sites in Rome that you wouldn't find if you just walked around the major areas of the city, its tucked away and when you walk into the area where it is, it is incredible that you were just walking past a modern day mcdonalds and now you have run into one of the most magnificant buildings ever created.
After the Pantheon we continued our night walking tour of the city and headed toward the infamous Trevi Fountain. The Trevi Fountain is Rome's most famous fountain (Rome is full of hundreds of fountains) and has been featured in several films. Its also a huge toursit spot, so when you visit the Trevi Fountain expect hordes of tourists to be there taking pictures and throwing coins into the fountain. Make sure that you also embark on this "ritual" when you are at the Trevi Fountain by tossing coins into the fountain. If you throw one coin, you will return to Rome, two coins you will find new love, and a third coin is for marriage. Throw as many in as you like, but make sure to indulge in the ritual so you can say you left a part of you in Rome.
After visiting the Trevi Fontain we headed towards dinner. Tonight dinner was at another authentic Italian restaurant and was a buffet style feast. Again, like the night before in Venice, we began our meal with different appetizers, meats, and antipastos. We were then offered an array of different pastas and finally had a selection of delicious deserts. I was incredibly impressed with this meal and thought the food was much better than the night before in Venice. I was disappointed with the atmosphere, but it was a dinner included in the tour price, so I really could not complain about it. After dinner we went across the street from the restaurant to an absolutely gorgeous church. I chose not to stay in the church very long, however, because a service was going on and I felt as though it was very rude for 51 tourists to be wandering about and talking during a church service. After dinner we wandered through the city again seeing the sites at night and met the bus up by the Arc of Constantine we headed back to the hotel for a quiet night in so we could be rested and ready for our full day in Rome the next morning.
We started our day in Rome very early the next morning as we wanted to get to the Vatican before the lines got very long. First thing in the morning is the best time to go to the Vatican. Also, be prepare to spend a very very long time at the Vatican. The Vatican Museum is a very interesting place with artifacts and art from around the world. Unfortunately you really cannot beeline through the museum to the last part- the Sistine Chapel, so be prepared to be stuck in long lines of people getting through the museum. Oh, and there are a lot of signs that are misleading that make you think you are almost at the Sistine Chapel...ignore them..you still have a while to go. When you finally do get to the Sistine Chapel you will be hoarded into a room with lots of other tourists looking at potentially the most incredible creation of art. You are technically not allowed to take pictures of the Sistine Chapel, but many people on our tour managed to snap a shot or two. I wouldn't recommend doing it just in case you get caught, but if you decide to take a risk, please make sure your flash is off. Also, another word of advice, if you are expecting the infamous "Creation of Adam" to be huge, its not. So you are going to need to look closely in order to find it and you may be disappointed in how little it is. But, overall, it is still beautiful and amazing.
Another great place to visit when you are in the Vatican City is St Peter's Basilica. This is the largest church in Christendom and you can take all the picture you want inside and it is also absolutely beautiful. If you want to be tricky and get the St Peter's faster than other people, just follow a tour group out the tour exit of the Sistine Chapel. This way you don't have to get back in line to enter St. Peter's. One other really touching place to visit is the burial chambers of the Popes. Even though I'm not Catholic it was a very touching place to walk through and experience. While you are in the Vatican City you can also go to the post office and mail a postcard back home from the Vatican, oh and make sure you are on the lookout for Swiss Guards!
After spending half our day at the Vatican we headed towards the Colosseum to find some food and meet back up with the rest of the tour group. We ended up just grabbing some pizza at the restaurant in the subway station right next to the Colosseum and we were just sitting right next the Colosseum eating what Italians are known for. It was an experience that felt so normal, but how often can you say you were eating right next to the Colosseum? We met up with the rest of our tour group and started our guided tour of some of the major sights in Rome starting with the Roman Forum.
The Roman Forum is another must do when you are visiting Rome. The Forum was once the epicenter of the Roman Empire and it was here that the decisions of the empire were made. Today, most of the buildings lay in ruins, but they are still magnificent and you are walking on hallowed ground where people like Caesar and Mark Anthony once walked. Most of the ruins are those of different temples dedicated to the different Roman gods. It would be very difficult to know what the ruins you are looking at are unless you either have a tour guide or a book guide explaining the different ruins. I recommend either taking a tour or getting a guidebook while you visit so you can really grasp what it is you are looking at. Another great piece that lays in ruin at the Roman Forum is the very place that Julius Caesar was burned during his funeral. Like most major attractions, there is an entrance fee to the Roman Forum, but if you are also visiting the Colosseum you can generally purchase a pass that will let you into the Forum, Colosseum and up to Palatine Hill.
Palatine Hill is the central hill of the seven hills that Rom was built on and it is one of the oldest parts of Rome. Palatine Hill overlooks the Roman Forum on one side, and Circus Maximus on the other. Like the Forum, Palatine Hill boats ruins of ancient Rome's buildings mostly temples and palaces. The ruins at the top of Palatine Hill are very minimal, but the views from the top of the hill are absolutely spectacular, so if you have some extra time in Rome, take advantage of the fact that you can get entrance to Palatine Hill included in your Colosseum and Forum ticket package.
The next stop on our guided tour was the infamous Colosseum. When most people think of Rome the Colosseum and gladiators are probably some of the first things that come to mind and when in Rome, you can see both of these. Surrounding the outside of the Colosseum are locals dressed up as gladiators to entertain the tourists and have pictures taken with them. If you want to do this, then please feel free to have you picture taken with a Roman Gladiator, but be aware that these men will harass you to pay them after you have taken a picture with them, so be prepared to pay. Also outside the Colosseum will be a lot of people trying to sell an array of items to you from tripods, to Rome postcards, to knock off bags. If you are looking for these items,outside the Colosseum is the best place to find them.
The Colosseum is nearly 2,000 years old and is the largest amphitheater of the Roman Empire. It is most famously known for hosting games, especially those with gladiators. Today, a lot of the structure has been damaged by both nature and by man and the floor is no longer there. Part of the floor has been reconstructed, however, so that you can get a feel of what it must have once looked liked. The one great thing about the floor not being there anymore is that you now have the opportunity to see the intricate rooms and hallways where animals and men were once held before coming up to the main stage of the Colosseum to serve as entertainment for up to 50,000 people. The Colosseum is a site that you absolutely must go to when you are in Rome and it is worthwhile to go inside it as well so you can really see and understand the awe of the structure.
Unfortunately, the lines to get tickets for the Colosseum can be incredibly long, so if you are in Rome by yourself and not with a tour group that will arrange your tickets for you, there are several different shortcuts to getting your tickets and avoiding the long lines- especially during the summer time. First, you can purchase tickets at the Forum ticket office. You can purchase tickets for the Colosseum at the Forum, call ahead and order tickets, or buy tickets online prior to your visit. If you are doing a guided tour of the Colosseum there is a seperate entrance for tours, so that is another way to get into the Colosseum much quicker. The guided tours are great if you don't mind spending a lot of time in the Colosseum and if you are prepared to listen to a lot of history behind the Colosseum. For me personally (and I am a big history fan) I just wanted to explore the Colosseum rather than be bound to following and listening to a tour guide the entire time, but again, this is something that is a personal preference. One other word of advice about visiting the Colosseum, unless you really really need to go to the bathroom, I would avoid the bathrooms at the Colosseum at all costs. They are quite nasty and smell very very bad.
After the guided tour of the Colosseum ended a small group of us decided to head down to do some shopping while we were in Rome. Rome has some of the most incredible shopping in the world and the mst famous shopping street in Rome is the Via Condotti which you could literally spend a day going up and down. The Via Condotti boasts some smaller tourists shops at the beginning of the street and leads all the way down to top, high end fashion stores with small restaurants and cafes situated between the stores. During the holidays this is a great street to go down to get really good bargins and sales on clothes. This street will always be busy, so be prepared for crowds, especially in stores that are having sales and don't be surprised if you have to wait outside of a store for a while before getting in because of how crowded it is. If you love to shop, this is one place you need to go when you are in Rome and be sure to check out some of the side streets as well because they also boast some great smaller stores.
After shopping for a while, Vanessa and I decided to go ahead and grab dinner. We stopped at a very small restaurant right in the middle of Via Condotti and had the most amazing meal of the entire trip. I had a spinach and ricotto ravioli which was divine along with the restaurants speciality desert and bread. It was nice to sit and have a "classy" meal and a very Italian meal in Rome and was a great way to cap an amazing day. Aftr dinner we decided to head back to the train station in order to make it back on time to meet the rest of the group to get the bus back to the hotel. In heading to the train station, we literally ran into the Spanish Steps and were both so excited to find them. The Spanish Steps are beautiful, especially at night, so if you are over in the area, make sure to stop by and visit them. The rest of the night was spent in the hotel hanging out, drinking, and enjoying the largest doughnuts that I have ever seen or eaten.
Another thing that you may be interested in doing while you are in Rome is taking an Angels and Demons tour to hit the major sites included in the book. This has become very popular and is something that you can plan out on your own before getting to the city so you know where you are going and how to get there.
We arrived in Rome in the late afternoon and the weather in Rome was just as lovey as the weather in Venice had been. We started off our visit in Rome doing a bus tour of the city so we could get our first glimpses at the amazing sites in the city. After our bus tour we headed into the city and our first stop was a plaza where a flea market had been set up. We had a chance to walk around and try our first, but certainly not our last, gelato. After this stop we continued walking through the city and stopped at the Pantheon. The Pantheon might be the most incredible building in Rome. The Pantheon was built in 125 A.D. and is the most well preserved building in Rome. It is hard to believe when you look at the structure and go inside of it, that this building has been standing there, intact, with hardly an wear or damage, for close to 2000 years. The beauty of the building inside is also breathtaking and the cieling is carefully crafted with a hole in the center which is referred to as the "eye of the gods." The Pantheon is one of the sites in Rome that you wouldn't find if you just walked around the major areas of the city, its tucked away and when you walk into the area where it is, it is incredible that you were just walking past a modern day mcdonalds and now you have run into one of the most magnificant buildings ever created.
After the Pantheon we continued our night walking tour of the city and headed toward the infamous Trevi Fountain. The Trevi Fountain is Rome's most famous fountain (Rome is full of hundreds of fountains) and has been featured in several films. Its also a huge toursit spot, so when you visit the Trevi Fountain expect hordes of tourists to be there taking pictures and throwing coins into the fountain. Make sure that you also embark on this "ritual" when you are at the Trevi Fountain by tossing coins into the fountain. If you throw one coin, you will return to Rome, two coins you will find new love, and a third coin is for marriage. Throw as many in as you like, but make sure to indulge in the ritual so you can say you left a part of you in Rome.
After visiting the Trevi Fontain we headed towards dinner. Tonight dinner was at another authentic Italian restaurant and was a buffet style feast. Again, like the night before in Venice, we began our meal with different appetizers, meats, and antipastos. We were then offered an array of different pastas and finally had a selection of delicious deserts. I was incredibly impressed with this meal and thought the food was much better than the night before in Venice. I was disappointed with the atmosphere, but it was a dinner included in the tour price, so I really could not complain about it. After dinner we went across the street from the restaurant to an absolutely gorgeous church. I chose not to stay in the church very long, however, because a service was going on and I felt as though it was very rude for 51 tourists to be wandering about and talking during a church service. After dinner we wandered through the city again seeing the sites at night and met the bus up by the Arc of Constantine we headed back to the hotel for a quiet night in so we could be rested and ready for our full day in Rome the next morning.
We started our day in Rome very early the next morning as we wanted to get to the Vatican before the lines got very long. First thing in the morning is the best time to go to the Vatican. Also, be prepare to spend a very very long time at the Vatican. The Vatican Museum is a very interesting place with artifacts and art from around the world. Unfortunately you really cannot beeline through the museum to the last part- the Sistine Chapel, so be prepared to be stuck in long lines of people getting through the museum. Oh, and there are a lot of signs that are misleading that make you think you are almost at the Sistine Chapel...ignore them..you still have a while to go. When you finally do get to the Sistine Chapel you will be hoarded into a room with lots of other tourists looking at potentially the most incredible creation of art. You are technically not allowed to take pictures of the Sistine Chapel, but many people on our tour managed to snap a shot or two. I wouldn't recommend doing it just in case you get caught, but if you decide to take a risk, please make sure your flash is off. Also, another word of advice, if you are expecting the infamous "Creation of Adam" to be huge, its not. So you are going to need to look closely in order to find it and you may be disappointed in how little it is. But, overall, it is still beautiful and amazing.
Another great place to visit when you are in the Vatican City is St Peter's Basilica. This is the largest church in Christendom and you can take all the picture you want inside and it is also absolutely beautiful. If you want to be tricky and get the St Peter's faster than other people, just follow a tour group out the tour exit of the Sistine Chapel. This way you don't have to get back in line to enter St. Peter's. One other really touching place to visit is the burial chambers of the Popes. Even though I'm not Catholic it was a very touching place to walk through and experience. While you are in the Vatican City you can also go to the post office and mail a postcard back home from the Vatican, oh and make sure you are on the lookout for Swiss Guards!
After spending half our day at the Vatican we headed towards the Colosseum to find some food and meet back up with the rest of the tour group. We ended up just grabbing some pizza at the restaurant in the subway station right next to the Colosseum and we were just sitting right next the Colosseum eating what Italians are known for. It was an experience that felt so normal, but how often can you say you were eating right next to the Colosseum? We met up with the rest of our tour group and started our guided tour of some of the major sights in Rome starting with the Roman Forum.
The Roman Forum is another must do when you are visiting Rome. The Forum was once the epicenter of the Roman Empire and it was here that the decisions of the empire were made. Today, most of the buildings lay in ruins, but they are still magnificent and you are walking on hallowed ground where people like Caesar and Mark Anthony once walked. Most of the ruins are those of different temples dedicated to the different Roman gods. It would be very difficult to know what the ruins you are looking at are unless you either have a tour guide or a book guide explaining the different ruins. I recommend either taking a tour or getting a guidebook while you visit so you can really grasp what it is you are looking at. Another great piece that lays in ruin at the Roman Forum is the very place that Julius Caesar was burned during his funeral. Like most major attractions, there is an entrance fee to the Roman Forum, but if you are also visiting the Colosseum you can generally purchase a pass that will let you into the Forum, Colosseum and up to Palatine Hill.
Palatine Hill is the central hill of the seven hills that Rom was built on and it is one of the oldest parts of Rome. Palatine Hill overlooks the Roman Forum on one side, and Circus Maximus on the other. Like the Forum, Palatine Hill boats ruins of ancient Rome's buildings mostly temples and palaces. The ruins at the top of Palatine Hill are very minimal, but the views from the top of the hill are absolutely spectacular, so if you have some extra time in Rome, take advantage of the fact that you can get entrance to Palatine Hill included in your Colosseum and Forum ticket package.
The next stop on our guided tour was the infamous Colosseum. When most people think of Rome the Colosseum and gladiators are probably some of the first things that come to mind and when in Rome, you can see both of these. Surrounding the outside of the Colosseum are locals dressed up as gladiators to entertain the tourists and have pictures taken with them. If you want to do this, then please feel free to have you picture taken with a Roman Gladiator, but be aware that these men will harass you to pay them after you have taken a picture with them, so be prepared to pay. Also outside the Colosseum will be a lot of people trying to sell an array of items to you from tripods, to Rome postcards, to knock off bags. If you are looking for these items,outside the Colosseum is the best place to find them.
The Colosseum is nearly 2,000 years old and is the largest amphitheater of the Roman Empire. It is most famously known for hosting games, especially those with gladiators. Today, a lot of the structure has been damaged by both nature and by man and the floor is no longer there. Part of the floor has been reconstructed, however, so that you can get a feel of what it must have once looked liked. The one great thing about the floor not being there anymore is that you now have the opportunity to see the intricate rooms and hallways where animals and men were once held before coming up to the main stage of the Colosseum to serve as entertainment for up to 50,000 people. The Colosseum is a site that you absolutely must go to when you are in Rome and it is worthwhile to go inside it as well so you can really see and understand the awe of the structure.
Unfortunately, the lines to get tickets for the Colosseum can be incredibly long, so if you are in Rome by yourself and not with a tour group that will arrange your tickets for you, there are several different shortcuts to getting your tickets and avoiding the long lines- especially during the summer time. First, you can purchase tickets at the Forum ticket office. You can purchase tickets for the Colosseum at the Forum, call ahead and order tickets, or buy tickets online prior to your visit. If you are doing a guided tour of the Colosseum there is a seperate entrance for tours, so that is another way to get into the Colosseum much quicker. The guided tours are great if you don't mind spending a lot of time in the Colosseum and if you are prepared to listen to a lot of history behind the Colosseum. For me personally (and I am a big history fan) I just wanted to explore the Colosseum rather than be bound to following and listening to a tour guide the entire time, but again, this is something that is a personal preference. One other word of advice about visiting the Colosseum, unless you really really need to go to the bathroom, I would avoid the bathrooms at the Colosseum at all costs. They are quite nasty and smell very very bad.
After the guided tour of the Colosseum ended a small group of us decided to head down to do some shopping while we were in Rome. Rome has some of the most incredible shopping in the world and the mst famous shopping street in Rome is the Via Condotti which you could literally spend a day going up and down. The Via Condotti boasts some smaller tourists shops at the beginning of the street and leads all the way down to top, high end fashion stores with small restaurants and cafes situated between the stores. During the holidays this is a great street to go down to get really good bargins and sales on clothes. This street will always be busy, so be prepared for crowds, especially in stores that are having sales and don't be surprised if you have to wait outside of a store for a while before getting in because of how crowded it is. If you love to shop, this is one place you need to go when you are in Rome and be sure to check out some of the side streets as well because they also boast some great smaller stores.
After shopping for a while, Vanessa and I decided to go ahead and grab dinner. We stopped at a very small restaurant right in the middle of Via Condotti and had the most amazing meal of the entire trip. I had a spinach and ricotto ravioli which was divine along with the restaurants speciality desert and bread. It was nice to sit and have a "classy" meal and a very Italian meal in Rome and was a great way to cap an amazing day. Aftr dinner we decided to head back to the train station in order to make it back on time to meet the rest of the group to get the bus back to the hotel. In heading to the train station, we literally ran into the Spanish Steps and were both so excited to find them. The Spanish Steps are beautiful, especially at night, so if you are over in the area, make sure to stop by and visit them. The rest of the night was spent in the hotel hanging out, drinking, and enjoying the largest doughnuts that I have ever seen or eaten.
Another thing that you may be interested in doing while you are in Rome is taking an Angels and Demons tour to hit the major sites included in the book. This has become very popular and is something that you can plan out on your own before getting to the city so you know where you are going and how to get there.
Day Nine -Florence-
After Rome, our next stop (and our final stop in Italy) was the beautiful Renaissance city of Florence. Florence is the capital of the Tuscany region of Italy and is known as being the birthplace of the Renaissance. Florence is also famous for several other things including certain goods most notably leather and gold. It is also the home to one of the most infamous royal families in all of European history, the Medici Family and several well known pieces of art.
There is a much different feel in Florence than the other Italian cities that we visited. Whereas Florence does have some absolutely spectacular sites and many old palaces and churches, a lot of Florence seems new and walking around it feels more like a massive marketplace and shopping center than a city full of ancient treasures. When we first arrived in Florence we went to a beautiful church, Santa Maria. Just looking at the intricate designs on this church begins to give you a glimpse into what the rest of the city will be like. After visiting Santa Maria, we were taken a leather demonstration to see the process of making leather and also to receive tips on how to know if what we are buying genuine leather or not. This was a neat demonstration, but I would have rather spend more time in the city than listening to how leather is made and then of course being cattle horsed into the shop to be convinced to purchase leather goods.
After the demonstration we had a little bit of free time before meeting up for our included guided tour of the city. Several of us decided to take advantage of the great shopping in the city and headed on a hunt for leather boots . After quite a search, we luckily managed to find some. We also had even more gelato that was absolutely amazing. I highly recommend trying the gelato in Florence if you can. Following out free time, we met back up with the group to take our group photo and also to meet our tour guide who was going to take us around the city explaining the major sites and the history of the city.
The included tour was very worthwhile. Our tour guide did a great job of explaining the different sites we were seeing and really unfolding the story of Florence to us. It was a nice and relaxing way to see the city in a short period of time. Our tour ended at one of the iconic areas of Florence, Santa Croce which is the largest Franciscan church in Italy and is the resting place for several notable Italians. The church is created with intricate designs and beautiful colors and the fresco paintings on the Basilica ceiling are breathtaking. On a good weather day, you also have the option of climbing to the top of the Dome of Santa Croce to get stunning views of the city itself. Unfortunately when the weather i bad or wind is strong, the Dome will be closed. There is not cost to enter Santa Croce, but there is a small fee to climb the Dome and like most churches in Europe, you can feel free to leave a donation after visiting.
Right next to Santa Croce are two other great sites that if you have the time you should visit when in Florence. The first site is the Baptistry which was built in the 11th century and is one of the oldest buildings in the city. Inside you will find mosaic artwork and a marble pavement of the zodiac. Again, this is another great example of the type of architecture and art that Florence is famous for. The other site right by Santa Croce is the Campinile bell tower. If you are up to it, you can purchase a ticket and climb the 414 stairs to the top to see an incredible view of the city. It is quite a workout but definently worth it when you get to the top.
Other famous sites in Florence that you should be sure to visit when you are there include the Galleria delgi Uffizi which holds the largest collection of Renaissance art, tapestries, and sculputers by many of the art masters. Another site to visit is the Galleria dell'Academia which holds art and sculptures from the 13th-16th centuries. Most famously in this museum, is Michelangelo's David. If you do not have time or cannot get in to see David at the Academia, then you can head over to the Piazza della Signoria where you can catch a glimpse of a reproduction of David as well as see magnificent statues that are located throughout the Piazza.
One last area to visit during your time in Florence is the Ponte Vecchio which is a bridge built in 1345 that is the only remaining medival bridge in the city as the rest were destroyed during World War II. Today, the Ponte Vecchio is the home to many of the fine jewelers selling one of Florences pirzed goods through gold and silver, so if you are looking to pick something nice up for yourself or for a loved one, this is the place to visit.
After spending the day in the city, we headed back to our hotel to get ready for a fun evening out. Our evening started with a tradition Tuscan meal that included another buffet style meal with several courses, unlimited wine, and famous Italian entertainment with a piano player and an Opera singer. Again, there was amazing food, drinks, and dancing/singing. By this point in the tour, I had completely lost my voice, so it was a rather interesting evening for me. This is an optional excursion with the Contiki trip, that I highly recommend. After dinner we headed our for more dancing at the Space Electric Disco where we had more drinks, sang karoke, everyone got rather friendly, and of course we danced. For the most part, we had taken over the club, but it was a Sunday night. Several locals did show up so if you wanted to, you had the opportunity to mix with some of the locals. Again, this was just a great overall night where we got to let loose, have fun, and experience the nightlife of the city.
There is a much different feel in Florence than the other Italian cities that we visited. Whereas Florence does have some absolutely spectacular sites and many old palaces and churches, a lot of Florence seems new and walking around it feels more like a massive marketplace and shopping center than a city full of ancient treasures. When we first arrived in Florence we went to a beautiful church, Santa Maria. Just looking at the intricate designs on this church begins to give you a glimpse into what the rest of the city will be like. After visiting Santa Maria, we were taken a leather demonstration to see the process of making leather and also to receive tips on how to know if what we are buying genuine leather or not. This was a neat demonstration, but I would have rather spend more time in the city than listening to how leather is made and then of course being cattle horsed into the shop to be convinced to purchase leather goods.
After the demonstration we had a little bit of free time before meeting up for our included guided tour of the city. Several of us decided to take advantage of the great shopping in the city and headed on a hunt for leather boots . After quite a search, we luckily managed to find some. We also had even more gelato that was absolutely amazing. I highly recommend trying the gelato in Florence if you can. Following out free time, we met back up with the group to take our group photo and also to meet our tour guide who was going to take us around the city explaining the major sites and the history of the city.
The included tour was very worthwhile. Our tour guide did a great job of explaining the different sites we were seeing and really unfolding the story of Florence to us. It was a nice and relaxing way to see the city in a short period of time. Our tour ended at one of the iconic areas of Florence, Santa Croce which is the largest Franciscan church in Italy and is the resting place for several notable Italians. The church is created with intricate designs and beautiful colors and the fresco paintings on the Basilica ceiling are breathtaking. On a good weather day, you also have the option of climbing to the top of the Dome of Santa Croce to get stunning views of the city itself. Unfortunately when the weather i bad or wind is strong, the Dome will be closed. There is not cost to enter Santa Croce, but there is a small fee to climb the Dome and like most churches in Europe, you can feel free to leave a donation after visiting.
Right next to Santa Croce are two other great sites that if you have the time you should visit when in Florence. The first site is the Baptistry which was built in the 11th century and is one of the oldest buildings in the city. Inside you will find mosaic artwork and a marble pavement of the zodiac. Again, this is another great example of the type of architecture and art that Florence is famous for. The other site right by Santa Croce is the Campinile bell tower. If you are up to it, you can purchase a ticket and climb the 414 stairs to the top to see an incredible view of the city. It is quite a workout but definently worth it when you get to the top.
Other famous sites in Florence that you should be sure to visit when you are there include the Galleria delgi Uffizi which holds the largest collection of Renaissance art, tapestries, and sculputers by many of the art masters. Another site to visit is the Galleria dell'Academia which holds art and sculptures from the 13th-16th centuries. Most famously in this museum, is Michelangelo's David. If you do not have time or cannot get in to see David at the Academia, then you can head over to the Piazza della Signoria where you can catch a glimpse of a reproduction of David as well as see magnificent statues that are located throughout the Piazza.
One last area to visit during your time in Florence is the Ponte Vecchio which is a bridge built in 1345 that is the only remaining medival bridge in the city as the rest were destroyed during World War II. Today, the Ponte Vecchio is the home to many of the fine jewelers selling one of Florences pirzed goods through gold and silver, so if you are looking to pick something nice up for yourself or for a loved one, this is the place to visit.
After spending the day in the city, we headed back to our hotel to get ready for a fun evening out. Our evening started with a tradition Tuscan meal that included another buffet style meal with several courses, unlimited wine, and famous Italian entertainment with a piano player and an Opera singer. Again, there was amazing food, drinks, and dancing/singing. By this point in the tour, I had completely lost my voice, so it was a rather interesting evening for me. This is an optional excursion with the Contiki trip, that I highly recommend. After dinner we headed our for more dancing at the Space Electric Disco where we had more drinks, sang karoke, everyone got rather friendly, and of course we danced. For the most part, we had taken over the club, but it was a Sunday night. Several locals did show up so if you wanted to, you had the opportunity to mix with some of the locals. Again, this was just a great overall night where we got to let loose, have fun, and experience the nightlife of the city.
Day Ten -Lucerne-
The morning after Florence was a little rough for most of the people on the trip because of the amount of fun that they had. Luckily, we had quite a long journey to our next stop which was Lucerne Switzerland. Lucerne is located in Switzerland with the Alps surrounding it and tends to be a tourist stop. There are two very famous sites in Lucerne. The first is the Chapel Bridge which was originally built in 1333 but was burnt in 1993. The bridge has been recreated to look as it once did so that tourists can have the experience and also have a chance to see the paintings int he bridge that depict th history of the town. The other major site in Lucerne is The Lion Monument which is sculpture of a Lion that commenorates the Swiss Guards that were killed during the French Revolution in 1792. The sulpture is both a depiction of loyalty and also of betrayal and is a place where the Swiss remember the fallen, but also remember what their joining with another country did to their people who were killed when they did not need to be. It is a touching and moving monument that should be visited when you are in Lucerne.
There are several things tht Switzerland is most notably known for. First of course are Swiss watches, followed by Swiss Amry Knives, and Swiss Chocolate. After we visited the Lion Monument we headed into a store where these famous goods were explained to us and we had the opporunity to purchase items. Swiss watches are rather expensive, but again, if you are looking for something to treat yourself to or are looking for a gift for someone, a Swiss watch may be a good present. Also, be sure to have some Swiss chocolate whe you are visitng as it is absolutely divine.
After visiting the stores full of watches, knives, and chocolate, we had a little bit of free time in the town. A group of us walked around for a bit and then settled in a small cafe to sample some yummy Swiss hot chocolate. One thing we all noticed right away was that the hot chocolate was very very bitter, so we had to add quite a bit of sugar before it was to our liking. Again, this was a nice way to relax, experience the culture, and just watch the local people in their interactions.
Our hotel for the evening was a themed one as it was once a jailhouse and had now been converted into a hotel. We had an included dinner at the hotel and the dinner was rather good with a chicken curry like entree and then a really delicious and cute ice cream desert that was made in the design of the Swiss flag. After dinner, some people in the group went out for drinks and others went to bed early in order to be fully rested and ready for our last stop of the trip.
There are several things tht Switzerland is most notably known for. First of course are Swiss watches, followed by Swiss Amry Knives, and Swiss Chocolate. After we visited the Lion Monument we headed into a store where these famous goods were explained to us and we had the opporunity to purchase items. Swiss watches are rather expensive, but again, if you are looking for something to treat yourself to or are looking for a gift for someone, a Swiss watch may be a good present. Also, be sure to have some Swiss chocolate whe you are visitng as it is absolutely divine.
After visiting the stores full of watches, knives, and chocolate, we had a little bit of free time in the town. A group of us walked around for a bit and then settled in a small cafe to sample some yummy Swiss hot chocolate. One thing we all noticed right away was that the hot chocolate was very very bitter, so we had to add quite a bit of sugar before it was to our liking. Again, this was a nice way to relax, experience the culture, and just watch the local people in their interactions.
Our hotel for the evening was a themed one as it was once a jailhouse and had now been converted into a hotel. We had an included dinner at the hotel and the dinner was rather good with a chicken curry like entree and then a really delicious and cute ice cream desert that was made in the design of the Swiss flag. After dinner, some people in the group went out for drinks and others went to bed early in order to be fully rested and ready for our last stop of the trip.
Day Eleven & Twelve -Paris-
Much like Rome, Paris is a city that is able to blend both new and old. It is a city full of history and a city full of vibrant culture. When visiting Paris, make sure you have at least two full days devoted to the city and if you can, add a third day to be able to visit the beautiful Palace of Versailles located about an hour from the city and very accessible by train. There are so many different things that people think about right away when you mention Paris and because of this, there are so many things that you can do, see, and experience when in Paris.
We arrived in Paris in the late afternoon and began our time in the city with a driving tour much like what we had done in Rome. We drove past many of the main sites are were able to have some stops for photos. We also drove around the L'Arc de Triomphe in the Contiki bus which was a rather scary experience. After our drive around the city we headed to the hotel to check in and eat some dinner. After dinner we all headed out to the Eiffel Tour to see the city at night. Just so you are aware, right before we got to Paris there hd been a major ice storm so there was ice everywhere in the city and it was absolutely freezing. Unfortunately, because of the weather conditions many of the major sites were either closed or you could only go up so far. Thus was the case with the Eiffel Tower. What is magnificent about the Eiffel Tower at night is the light show. Recently the light show has been shut off early due to conserving energy, but if you get the chance to see it at night, it is absolutely spectacular.
Again, because of the weather, we were only able to go to the first level of the Eiffel Tower. This was incredibly disappointing. Also, a lot of the walkway was roped off as well because of ice on the Eiffel Tower so you couldn't get to the edge to take great pictures of the city. It is something that I am still glad I did, but I wish the weather had been better so that we could have gone higher and been able to take pictures of the city. After the Eiffel Tower we headed back to the hotel and most people stayed up a little while longer hanging out and having a few drinks at the hotel bar.
The next morning the tour group left the hotel around 8am to head into the city and visit a French Perfumery. I made the decision not to go with the group because there was so much that I wanted to do and see in Paris that I wanted to take the city on by myself. The train system in Paris is very easy to understand and I had planned my routes out the night before so I had no problem getting around. So, I slept in an extra hour and then headed out to explore the city. My first stop was to Sacre Couer and Montmatre. Yet again, the weather prevented me from seeing Sacre Couer inside as the gates were closed and you could not climb up to it. You could, however, climb to the top of Montmatre to get absolutely stunning views of the city and be harrased by gypsies and men trying to sell things to you. Often times, Sacre Couer is something that is overlooked on a visit to Paris, but I highly recommend going and seeing the beautiful church and experiencing the views of the city from the other side.
The next stop on my adventure in Paris was to head to L'Arc de Triomphe. To get to L'Arc de Triomphe you need to head underneath the road through tunnels that have been built. Do not attempt to cross the road, because more than likely, you will not make it across the twelve lanes of traffic. The L'Arc de Triomphe is the symbol of French victory and it was commissioned by Napolean in 1836. At the base of the monument is the tomb of the unknown solider. When visiting, you have the option to climb winding, narrow stairs to the stop for rooftop viewing-PLEASE DO THIS. I am incredibly out of shape and do not like winding stairs, but what I experienced at the top of the L'Arc de Triomphe was amazing and unforgettable. There is a small museum explaining some of France's history and the history of the monument itself and then you walk up to the roof and are overwhelmed by the incredible views of the city. The cost is very minimal (just over 6 euro) and again, is worth it. You may have to stop a few times as you climb all the stairs (which I had to) but it was an incredible experience.
My next stop was to head over to the Louvre. The Louvre was once a royal palace and today is the home of the world's richest collection of art. The Louvre is most famous for being the home to the Mona Lisa and thousands of visitors flood the museum each day to catch a glimpse of the painting. If you are wanting to fully visit the museum, you could spend an entire day there. Also, lines can become long to purchase tickets, so try to do so in advance. There are also other entrances beside the glass pyramid and these entrances are much faster than waiting to go through the glass pyramid. The cost to enter the museum is just under 10 euros and just like the Sistine Chapel, you are not permitted to take pictures of the Mona Lisa, but somehow, many people from our group ended up coming back with pictures. I decided not to go inside the Louvre. Mainly I just wanted to see the palace and see the pyramid. I wasn't interested in spending the money to go in just to see the Mona Lisa. I realize this may make me seem crazy, but I wanted to explore and do other things in the city.
When I was at the Louvre, I ran into my two roommates for the tour and headed with them to Notre Dame. This was the one thing I was looking forward to in Paris. Generally, you are able to pay a fee and climb the bell tower, but because of the weather this was closed. The building is absolutely spectacular and is everything that you can imagine. Walking inside you can feel the holiness of the place and will be amazed by the beauty of the church and its famous stained glass windows. Visiting Notre Dame is a must do for anyone going to Paris. After visiting Notre Dame we had lunch at a cafe down the street where I got to experience real French Crepes. This is another must do when in France.
After Notre Dame we spent a couple hours shopping as Paris is known for its amazing shopping. After that, we decided to head over the Musee D'Orsay which I was very excited about seeing. Musee D'Orsay was originally a train station and has been transformed into an art museum that holds mostly modern art from the impressionist and post impressionst period. Admission is 8 euro and if you like you can purchase an audio guide to help you get through the museum or you can tag along on a daily tour. This is quite an impressive museum and if you are an art lover, this is a great muesum to spend a few hours wandering around. Musee D'Orsay was our last stop of the day and we met the bus across the street to head back to the hotel to get ready and all dolled up for our last night in Paris and our final night of the tour.
On our last evening, we had the option of attending the world's most famous cabaret for dinner and a show- the Moulin Rouge. This is an incredibly expensive dinner and show, but for me, it was part of the French culture that I wanted to experience and I knew I would regret it if I didn't go see the show. Dinner was incredible as was the lovely bottles of wine and champagne that we got during dinner and during the show. The Moulin Rouge is a very intricate show with beautiful costumes and showcases quite a lot of French culture. If this is something you may be interested in, I recommend that you attend. Also, there are a lot of half naked women, so if that is going to offend you, don't go. It is also important to note that you can't take pictures in the Moulin Rouge and that you actually have to check your cameras in. This may scare you, but our cameras were fine. Several of us did go ahead and remove the memory cards from our cameras just in case something happened, that way we wouldn't lose our pictures from the trip. After the Moulin Rouge we headed to the Irish bar next door to celebrate our trip, have one last big night out, and start saying goodbye. Paris was incredible and the last night was the most fun that I had on the entire trip.
Other great things that you should consider doing while visiting Paris include going to the Hotel National des Invalides which is where Napolean's impressive tomb is; visiting Musee Rodin which is the home to some of the world's most incredible sculptours; and taking a day trip to Versailles which is one of the most lavish and incredible palaces in the world. There are also many other art museums that you can visit in Paris and quite a lot of shopping if you are interested in doing that.
We arrived in Paris in the late afternoon and began our time in the city with a driving tour much like what we had done in Rome. We drove past many of the main sites are were able to have some stops for photos. We also drove around the L'Arc de Triomphe in the Contiki bus which was a rather scary experience. After our drive around the city we headed to the hotel to check in and eat some dinner. After dinner we all headed out to the Eiffel Tour to see the city at night. Just so you are aware, right before we got to Paris there hd been a major ice storm so there was ice everywhere in the city and it was absolutely freezing. Unfortunately, because of the weather conditions many of the major sites were either closed or you could only go up so far. Thus was the case with the Eiffel Tower. What is magnificent about the Eiffel Tower at night is the light show. Recently the light show has been shut off early due to conserving energy, but if you get the chance to see it at night, it is absolutely spectacular.
Again, because of the weather, we were only able to go to the first level of the Eiffel Tower. This was incredibly disappointing. Also, a lot of the walkway was roped off as well because of ice on the Eiffel Tower so you couldn't get to the edge to take great pictures of the city. It is something that I am still glad I did, but I wish the weather had been better so that we could have gone higher and been able to take pictures of the city. After the Eiffel Tower we headed back to the hotel and most people stayed up a little while longer hanging out and having a few drinks at the hotel bar.
The next morning the tour group left the hotel around 8am to head into the city and visit a French Perfumery. I made the decision not to go with the group because there was so much that I wanted to do and see in Paris that I wanted to take the city on by myself. The train system in Paris is very easy to understand and I had planned my routes out the night before so I had no problem getting around. So, I slept in an extra hour and then headed out to explore the city. My first stop was to Sacre Couer and Montmatre. Yet again, the weather prevented me from seeing Sacre Couer inside as the gates were closed and you could not climb up to it. You could, however, climb to the top of Montmatre to get absolutely stunning views of the city and be harrased by gypsies and men trying to sell things to you. Often times, Sacre Couer is something that is overlooked on a visit to Paris, but I highly recommend going and seeing the beautiful church and experiencing the views of the city from the other side.
The next stop on my adventure in Paris was to head to L'Arc de Triomphe. To get to L'Arc de Triomphe you need to head underneath the road through tunnels that have been built. Do not attempt to cross the road, because more than likely, you will not make it across the twelve lanes of traffic. The L'Arc de Triomphe is the symbol of French victory and it was commissioned by Napolean in 1836. At the base of the monument is the tomb of the unknown solider. When visiting, you have the option to climb winding, narrow stairs to the stop for rooftop viewing-PLEASE DO THIS. I am incredibly out of shape and do not like winding stairs, but what I experienced at the top of the L'Arc de Triomphe was amazing and unforgettable. There is a small museum explaining some of France's history and the history of the monument itself and then you walk up to the roof and are overwhelmed by the incredible views of the city. The cost is very minimal (just over 6 euro) and again, is worth it. You may have to stop a few times as you climb all the stairs (which I had to) but it was an incredible experience.
My next stop was to head over to the Louvre. The Louvre was once a royal palace and today is the home of the world's richest collection of art. The Louvre is most famous for being the home to the Mona Lisa and thousands of visitors flood the museum each day to catch a glimpse of the painting. If you are wanting to fully visit the museum, you could spend an entire day there. Also, lines can become long to purchase tickets, so try to do so in advance. There are also other entrances beside the glass pyramid and these entrances are much faster than waiting to go through the glass pyramid. The cost to enter the museum is just under 10 euros and just like the Sistine Chapel, you are not permitted to take pictures of the Mona Lisa, but somehow, many people from our group ended up coming back with pictures. I decided not to go inside the Louvre. Mainly I just wanted to see the palace and see the pyramid. I wasn't interested in spending the money to go in just to see the Mona Lisa. I realize this may make me seem crazy, but I wanted to explore and do other things in the city.
When I was at the Louvre, I ran into my two roommates for the tour and headed with them to Notre Dame. This was the one thing I was looking forward to in Paris. Generally, you are able to pay a fee and climb the bell tower, but because of the weather this was closed. The building is absolutely spectacular and is everything that you can imagine. Walking inside you can feel the holiness of the place and will be amazed by the beauty of the church and its famous stained glass windows. Visiting Notre Dame is a must do for anyone going to Paris. After visiting Notre Dame we had lunch at a cafe down the street where I got to experience real French Crepes. This is another must do when in France.
After Notre Dame we spent a couple hours shopping as Paris is known for its amazing shopping. After that, we decided to head over the Musee D'Orsay which I was very excited about seeing. Musee D'Orsay was originally a train station and has been transformed into an art museum that holds mostly modern art from the impressionist and post impressionst period. Admission is 8 euro and if you like you can purchase an audio guide to help you get through the museum or you can tag along on a daily tour. This is quite an impressive museum and if you are an art lover, this is a great muesum to spend a few hours wandering around. Musee D'Orsay was our last stop of the day and we met the bus across the street to head back to the hotel to get ready and all dolled up for our last night in Paris and our final night of the tour.
On our last evening, we had the option of attending the world's most famous cabaret for dinner and a show- the Moulin Rouge. This is an incredibly expensive dinner and show, but for me, it was part of the French culture that I wanted to experience and I knew I would regret it if I didn't go see the show. Dinner was incredible as was the lovely bottles of wine and champagne that we got during dinner and during the show. The Moulin Rouge is a very intricate show with beautiful costumes and showcases quite a lot of French culture. If this is something you may be interested in, I recommend that you attend. Also, there are a lot of half naked women, so if that is going to offend you, don't go. It is also important to note that you can't take pictures in the Moulin Rouge and that you actually have to check your cameras in. This may scare you, but our cameras were fine. Several of us did go ahead and remove the memory cards from our cameras just in case something happened, that way we wouldn't lose our pictures from the trip. After the Moulin Rouge we headed to the Irish bar next door to celebrate our trip, have one last big night out, and start saying goodbye. Paris was incredible and the last night was the most fun that I had on the entire trip.
Other great things that you should consider doing while visiting Paris include going to the Hotel National des Invalides which is where Napolean's impressive tomb is; visiting Musee Rodin which is the home to some of the world's most incredible sculptours; and taking a day trip to Versailles which is one of the most lavish and incredible palaces in the world. There are also many other art museums that you can visit in Paris and quite a lot of shopping if you are interested in doing that.