Day 10, Tuesday, Sept. 02, 2008 Fantastic day today; right now I'm sitting on my 12th floor balcony looking out at Lake Geneva - gorgeous, a little haze and a few clouds, but superb weather today. Bkfst at hotel in Lucerne not too good (my dinner last night was very nice), bt I didn't come here to eat. A slightly later start - on the bus at 8:30. Dropped some people in town, then most of us headed up for the Mount Pilatus visit - a short bus ride to edge of town, a four-person enclosed cable car (like a charilift) for 20-30 minutes, then a fairly short part squeezed into a large cable car (about 40 people) for about six minutes. The weather was amazing - a little hazy, but lots of sun, absolutely beautiful ... read more

Aug 27, Wednesday Up at 5:45 a.m., suitcase out at 6:20, bkfst at 6:30, on bus at 7 a.m.. Rest stop at border, 50 cents. Got to Cologne about 10:15 to go to Cathedral. Had a “big hour” (Marieke's term) to get a snack, use restroom, and visit Cathedral. Cathedral is very large, huge stained glass windows; bought two postcards (E1,80). Used RR at MacDonalds (.50) and got small cheeseburger and small soda (E1,00 each) (Sprite - had a little uncomfortable tummy on long ride - one pill from another tourite, and borrowed a wrist band from Cindy). Another lengthy time in bus to get to St.Goar for boat cruise on Rhine. One photo stop along the river at Remagen for bridge towers - of “end of war” fame, before getting to boat. Cruise was very ... read more

Today is Friday -- first chance to get on to Blog. Battery is low, so this may be short, but will get to more soon. Everything is going well -- today pretty strenuous, but saw Neuschwanstein, my prirmay destination, and also the splendiferous, tho "small" Linderhof castle, both built for/by King Ludwig. Am drinking a Konig Ludwig Dunkel (dark beer) that I got at the local grocery store (for a 6=pack less than twice what bars charge for one).... read more