http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/RobKat/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from RobKat en-us Mon, 28 Dec 2009 04:28:52 +0000 Mon, 28 Dec 2009 04:28:52 +0000 Hello http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Texas/Houston/blog-309148.html Versailles The Palace of the Sun King Louis XIV. What an amazing place We headed out first thing in the morning for Versailles knowing it would take most of the day to tour the Palace and the Gardens. Of course a couple of train rides were involved but we finally got there. It was overcast and a little misty which actually made the day more pleasant no unbearable heat. It is impossibl http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Ile-de-France/Versailles/blog-307519.html Today was our designated Champagne day so off we went on the train to Reims. Besides being one of the champagne capitals of the world Reims is also home to Cathedral de NotreDame. Twentysix monarchs were crowned in this cathedral and when you see it you know why. It is absolutely huge and one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture. The Cathedral was heavily damaged in WWI and was la http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Champagne-Ardenne/Reims/blog-307517.html Robert and Kathy actually decided to go for drinks after dinner or past 900 p.m.. We went to this club down the street from the hotel. Very discoy strobe lights and dancing waiters. Of course we ordered our favorite cosmopolitans. Well our drinks arrived complete with sparklers we kid you not just look at the pics. Attached to each sparkler was a huge hunk of pineapple which is http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Ile-de-France/Paris/blog-307515.html On Tuesday Robert and Kathy went back to the Consulate to get a new passport. All went well until Kathy was called back up to the window and was informed the machine was broken and since her departure was not imminent could she come back on Wed. Not wanting to piss off the Gov't we agreed. She also asked the name of Kathy's stepson which totally threw her for a loop until she finally r http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Ile-de-France/Paris/blog-306815.html Do you know the way to SaintTropezRobert and Kathy set out to go to Saint Tropez the land of yachts and beautiful rich people. The first day we realized that we had missed the ferry and decided to head back to Cannes where we had a wonderful time and spend time on the beach.The next day we set our alarm. At 830 a.m. we were at the train station and had purchased our tickets to Dijon and http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Provence-Alpes-C-te-d-Azur/Saint-Tropez/blog-306807.html Okay Kathy's biggest challenge and the one Robert most wanted her to take was to go to the top of the Eiffel Tower. As you all may know by now Kathy does not like heights especially from a steep angle and the Tower is nothing if not steep. Since we could not go into the Musee D'Orsay today because it was closed Robert and I hiked to the Tower a long way since one of the metro lines was c http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Ile-de-France/Paris/blog-305693.html On Saturday our first night in Paris Robert had arranged for us to go on a dinner cruise down the Seine River. We arrived at the main office and took a bus to the Marina de Bercy where we boarded the boat. We were fortunate enough to get a table directly overlooking the river. Of course champagne was mandated for this trip. The boat passed under 31 bridges that cross the Seine. We started http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Ile-de-France/Paris/blog-305691.html Today we started our day with a trip to the U.S. Embassy in order to get Kathy's replacement passport. As usual Robert knew how to work the Metro system and we got to the embassy post haste. Well the embassy is surrounded by security and we needed to go the consulate which is the building next to the embassy. Apparently no one knows where that is because we went around in circles. Finally http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Ile-de-France/Paris/blog-305690.html We have arrived Paris. The City of Lights.Robert and Kathy left Dijon on a fast train to Paris this morning. Upon our arrival Robert manuvered us on to the metro where we made our way to the Hotel Royal Saint Michel in the Latin Quarter right around the corner from Notre Dame. Unfortunately our luggage could not come with us on the elevator as there was barely room for Robert and Kathy. http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Ile-de-France/Paris/blog-304770.html Good morning allSorry we have not been in touch but we have been without consistent internet service and are without a camera. Today is Friday July 25 and we are presently in Dijon France a launching pad to Paris in the morning.Kathy had just had her second tour of the Dijon Police station. While getting passes on the tram in Nice to go to the train station two girls asked Kathy for assi http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Burgundy/Dijon/blog-304369.html Greetings to all from the beautiful south of France Nice to be exact. We left the Geissbach Hotel bright and early 700 a.m. on Friday. We took a perilous ride only to Kathy down the mountain to the train station. Once there we took a total of 3 trains over a period of 9 hours stopping in every city in Switzerland Italy and France before arriving in Nice at 430 p.m. For the first time http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Provence-Alpes-C-te-d-Azur/Nice/blog-302294.html Day 2 in GiessbachWell what an adventure we have had. Slept through the night with the windows open to here the sound of the waterfall. Woke up at 10 to a little rain. Packed our bags for our journey down one floor to the Giessbach suite. We then took a walk down the mountain and caught the steamer for Interlaken where our laundry awaited. Had lunch and a couple of biere on the trip. Upon http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Switzerland/South-West/Interlaken/blog-301050.html The Waterfall is AMAZING http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Switzerland/South-West/Interlaken/blog-300600.html WOWWell we have finally arrived at the highlight of our trip Giessbach. We got on a train to Zurich in Salzburg at 1255 am. Luckily the compartment was only a four sleeper and we had the bottom bunks so we crawled right in and attempted to get some shut eye. Our wake up call came at 630 approximately one and onehalf hours before we would arrive. We got off the train in Zu http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Switzerland/South-West/Interlaken/blog-300593.html The last time we talked Robert and I were getting on a train to Salzburg Mozart country. I have to say that as much as I have disliked the night trains I have loved the day trains. You get to see a huge amount of the countryside and they serve wine to boot. Once we arrived in Salzburg at about 8 at night. we tried to find the hotel but no one seemed to know where it was even though it is on http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Austria/Salzburg-State/Salzburg/blog-300136.html Last Day Night in VeniceRobert and I woke up to the wonderful view from our room of the Grand Canal. Went off to view the Doges Palace what a sight I still can't get over how much these men revered themselves. A thunderstorm came through while we were in the palace. Went back to our room for couple of hours and then decided to go have a cocktail before getting ready for dinner and a gond http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Veneto/Vicenza/blog-300126.html Day two in Venice. Doge's Palace.Today our first full day in Venice started with Kathy enjoying her coffee on the terrace overlooking the Grand Canal. This is the first cup she has had not in a train station in quite some time. Headed out to Pallazzo Ducale Doge's Palace. The Doges ruled Venice for hundreds of years and the palace also the seat of government is the most impressive seen http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Veneto/Venice/blog-299105.html First Day and Night in Venice.Up at 500 a.m. on the train awaiting our 830 a.m. arrival in Venice. A stunning view from the train. Caught a water taxi to the hotel. Of course our room was not yet ready so we stored out bags and went for a small breakfast and then walked around. The number of tourists here is staggering and of course it looks like more because the walkways are small. Foun http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Veneto/Venice/blog-299098.html Tour of Hofburg Palace and Night Train to VeniceToday we toured Hofburg Palace and the Imperial Apartments. Well the Austrians sure made a fuss over Elizabeth Sisi after she died. She did not seem to care much for Vienna court life husband or children while she was alive. Robert and I have diagnosed her as suffering from depression. Went to lunch and had some wine. Have discovered that http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Austria/Vienna-State/Vienna/blog-299097.html