David, thank you. I feel as if I have revisited my happy memories as I've been reading your journal and seeing your photos. Soon I'll check out your videos.
Do return to Italy and get to know some of the people. They're such fun!
Would love to talk with you some time about all your adventures,
Jean Robbins
Wasn't Florence incredible!!! I also took a picture of David, as did everyone else in the room and as they guard stood by and watched us.
By the way, I'm enjoying the refresher history course you've been providing along the way.
Jean
I've heard people who said they hated Venice but I was there just before Christmas so it wasn't crowded with tourists and I found it to be thoroughly enjoyable. Did you geet up to see horses in San Marco's? They are the original ones made for the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin.
Since it was Christmas season and we were in Italy I expected to see my lovely holiday decorations. They weren't there. One of my favorite photos is of a little tree in a wooden bucket with soft drink cans hanging from it.
Jean
My grandchildren, Rachel and Ben Cilley, were with me when I went to Neuschwanstein in 1994. Maybe you know them. Rachel was just 10 and Ben was 8 so it was fun to see the castle through their eyes.
I loved the comment you sensed your mother would have made. I remember making similar remarks to my children.
Christmas markets are fun because all the people there seem to know each other like the farmers' markets which have finally taken hold around here. I hope you brought back a Christmas tree ornament although backpacking may have limited available space.
Jean
I was fortunate to spend a week in Munich in 1994, 1995 and 1998 and thoroughly enjoyed each visit. I loved the atmosphere in the beer garden in the summertime. It was not the drunken brawl I had envisioned but a real family affair with children playing on the grass, families sharing a meal, chess being played on one of those large outdoor boards, etc.
I gather you knew enough to watch for pickpockets at the Glockenspeil. I hear they do a roaring business while the tourists are gazing at the scene above.
Dachau is unforgettable.
Jean
I didn't like Vienna as well as some of the smaller cities. It seemed to be screaming, "This is an expensive place!" but, I must admit, the palace. St. step hens and the opera house are worth seeing.
Jean
Yes, Rick Steves has never given me a bad lead. Wish I'd been able to visit Cesky Krumlov. Maybe I'll have to go back. It does look wonderful and, as Steves often recommends, off the tourist route.
David, I am so impressed at every entry in your journal and with your excellent photos. How wonderful that you can share them.
Jean
Ah yes, Prague. I believe the reason it's in better shape than most European cities is that Czechoslovakia realized they couldn't beat the Germans and gave in to demands. Consequently, many of the beautiful buildings we enjoy today were not destroyed. I first went there in 1997. There were a few tourists wandering around the city. Three years later I returned and was in a mob scene trying to get across the Charles Bridge.
Jean
I thought there was still some anger in Dresden. The war was essentially over when it was bombed; the feeling is that the destruction was in retaliation for the bombing of Coventry England.
J.
I even took photos of the recycle barrels in Germany. It seemed a perfect example of the German value of preciseness, each barrel having a specific color to denote its contents. I also noticed the German respect for rules. If there was a crosswalk two blocks away, that's where you went to cross the street even if there were no cars in sight.
We were also impressed with some innovations used in German homes, such as windows and doors which were hinged on the top and on the side to accommodate opening in either direction. We Americans don't know it all.
Jean
I have traveled often with my son-in-law as a companion. He always makes a point of learning some basic vocabulary of the country we'll be visiting. Unfortunately, he also manages to imitate the accent so well that the natives think he really knows the language and they reply in paragraphs.
Jean
Germany SOunds like a wonderful trip. What a great adventure you are having . Thanks for the post card love living your adventure through your words. Stay safe and have fun
Love Linda
Babies! I took a picture next to one of those babies when they were next to the modern art museum. They have stamped in faces... slightly terrifying! Hope you had a great time there! I loved it!
BERLIN! Dave!
I was there in February! I hope you are loving Germany as much as I did. If it weren't for the cold winters (worse than ME and NH I swear!) I'd live there in a heartbeat. Keep traveling and don't forget to go to SPAIN!
Safe journeys!
Wow so pretty! Marksburg Castle is definitely my favorite in your pictures so far. Could you please ship it over for me? Like the London Bridge or any of the numerous buildings that Henry Ford stole from across the US? We can do it all Carmen Sandiego style.
I love that all the buildings have character as opposed to our rather garish industrial style buildings that pop up in downtowns and along rivers. And your game is great BTW. I definitely played that in Italy but more often than not was outted fairly quickly by garrulous Italian men. Are you enjoying the food and beer?
Miss you,
Lex
P.S. I appreciate the videos...I feel taller now.
Vantage points Why did you have to get a better vantage point? Couldn't you just see it if you stood up????
Reine region. Amazing! You would think the schlosses get boring, but they just don't. Make sure you check out the castle from the Disney logo.
yay! loved this post and the pictures are beautiful. i can't imagine navigating the language barrier, it's the main reason i studied abroad in ireland :). can't wait to hear more!
I love it! It's so fun reading about your experiences there for the first time, having gone through the SAME EXACT things. Thinking about it now, I could have warned you how confusing the airport is with transportation - but of course everything is 20/20. Can't wait to read your next post and follow your travels!! Although I have to admit how insanely jealous I am that you're visiting with my fam :) and especially such a gorgeous time of year! Is it warmer/colder there? I always found it to feel colder, even if the temperatures were pretty much the same.
Good luck with navigating!!
anonymous
non-member comment
David, thank you. I feel as if I have revisited my happy memories as I've been reading your journal and seeing your photos. Soon I'll check out your videos. Do return to Italy and get to know some of the people. They're such fun! Would love to talk with you some time about all your adventures, Jean Robbins