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Published: March 22nd 2008
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I hope you enjoyed Part 1 and didn't get too bored.
In case you forget, the last blog finished with my day in Pompei.
Here's the last 10 days of the tour, from Rome back to London.
Day 10
Although it wasn't an overly long drive from Rome to Venice, it did take us most of the day. We had to kill a bit of time, as coaches weren't allowed into Venice until after 6pm. Our 'time filler' was a stop at the Ferrari Museum near Manolo. The museum wasn't of much interest to me so a group of us spent our time watching a few old Italian men play bocce at a nearby arena. From all reports, it was much more interesting than the museum.
When we finally arrived in Venice (we stayed on the mainland), it was a group dinner and a few drinks before getting a pretty early night.
Day 11
A water taxi ferried us to the Islands that make up Venice where we had the day to basically 'get lost' in the city. We started with a romantic gondola ride (for 6...not so romantic), followed by a glass blowing
demonstration and many hours just wandering. Our last Italian dinner just had to be pizza...again.
All in all, Venice was pretty cool.
Day 12
Our last morning in Italy as we headed across the border into Austria. Beautiful views of the Austrian and Italian alps en route to Vienna.
Tonight's group dinner was probably the best of the entire tour...soup, schnitzel and strudel...washed down with a stein. Definitely a great start to Austria!
Day 13
Our day in Vienna was spent visiting a few of the major tourist attractions, including the Royal Summer Palace, the Spanish Dancing School (for horses) and Town Hall (called Rathaus...rat house). It was one of the coldest days on tour. Starting at a lovely -1 in the morning and warming slightly to a high of 4 degrees. That called for a sample of some hot spice wine (not my favourite tipple) while watching some ice-skating outside Town Hall.
In the evening it was off to the opera. The show was a mixture of classical music, opera and dancing and featured some of the works of Strauss and Beethoven. I can't say that it's something I'd rush out to
see again, but was still worthwhile.
Day 14
Off early once again, but this time there was extra incentive to make it to the bus on time...schnapps tasting. Just a short drive from Vienna we stopped at a local schnapps distillery for a tour and taste test. A few people declined the samples (being that it was only 9:30am) but for the rest of us it was a great way to start the day. Loading the bus with everyone's purchases we headed north-east to Prague, the Bohemian capital of the Czech Republic.
Most of the day was spent on the bus catcing up on sleep or enjoying the passing scenery and then it was into town for dinner.The restaurant of choice for dinner was an interesting one (sleazy to say the least), but the cocktails that followed were a little better.
Day 15
We had the day sightseeing in Prague and our first point of interest was the Prague Castle. Perched atop the highest point in Prague, the view is worth every one of the few hundred steps you have to climb to get there. Usually there is an elaborate 'changing of the guards' every
hour...except the day we were there of course. The presidential election was being held (the same guy was reelected), so it was a very basic changing of the guards that day.
After the castle we headed down to probably the most well known sight in Prague, the Charles' Bridge. Artists adorn the bridge trying to sell their beautiful photos and prints and of course I couldn't resist picking up a few.
We then strolled the city for a while on our way to the Jewish Quarter. We visited a few Jewish museums and a cemetary before making our way back to the hotel for a pretty early night.
Day 16
The drive from Prague to Berlin was pretty uneventful, and luckily quite short. We arrived just after lunch and then picked up a local guide for a bus tour of the city. I hadn't read up much on Berlin, but was pleasantly surprised by what we got to see. The Berlin Wall, Brandenburg Gate and Checkpoint Charlie, just to name a few sights.
That night was by far the biggest for most people on tour. After dinner we met for a pub crawl. With E2.50
Jagerbombs at the first pub and E1.50 shots at the second one, it was understandable that everyone's memory is a little hazy from then on.
Day 17
What a struggle.
A group of us managed to drag ourselves out of bed and somehow get on the right train to Sachsenhausen, the site of a WWII concentration camp. We easily spent a few hours there and could've spent longer if it wasn't so damn cold. I must say, my knowledge of Germany's history has improved dramatically though.
An hours train ride later we were back in Berlin where we visited the Checkpoint Charlie Museum and admired the view from the top of the parliament building.
Not much doing that night...a nice meal of Chinese food and off to bed for some much needed sleep.
Day 18
An easy day wandering Berlin. A spot of shopping and a few beers at a microbrewery. A nice way to finish off in Germany.
Day 19
A nice flat drive today through the German and Dutch countryside. Lots of grassy fields and cows to be seen on the way to Amsterdam.
Our first night in
Amsterdam was interesting to say the least. After a visit to a couple of 'coffee shops' it was a walk through the red light district to a 'show'. Lucky me got a seat front row, centre. Not a seat I'd recomment.
Day 20
A bit more World War 2 history today with a visit to Anne Frank's house. Very interesting. We also wandered through the flower markets, although there were mainly bulbs as it was winter. Lastly, I spent a good few hours in the Van Gogh museum. It houses the largest collection of Van Gogh works in the world (over 200 paintings and countless more drawings/sketches). It's amazing that he completed over 500 paintings in an 8 year period.
Our final group dinner was tonight, followed by a 2 hour 'booze cruise' up the canals of Amsterdam. Our challenge was to drink the boat dry, but unfortunately we failed at that task. We had to take a few bottles back to the hotel with us to finish off.
Day 21
This was our final day on tour.
After leaving Amsterdam (a little more educated) we called in to a local cheese/clog farm to
see both being made. After a few samples (of the cheese) it was back on the bus making a beeline for Paris. Once in Paris we said goodbye to a few members of our group and the rest of us boarded the Eurostar back to London.
Arriving in London around 8pm we said our final goodbyes and officially ended Kumuka's European Winter 2008.
For me, it was straight on a bus to my friend Kate's house...ready to begin my life in London.
Epilogue
When I look back at everywhere I went during those 3 weeks, it seems crazy. So many places that I've wanted to visit for so long, I've finally done.
Luckily, there are still plenty more places on my list!
Hope you enjoyed the read.
Tamara
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Tracey
non-member comment
Wow!
Hey Tamara - Looks like you are having a wonderful time! Wish we could join you. Keep having fun. Trace