Europe Archives - Page 2 of 2

German Train Travel

View from our hotel Rothenburg — The view from our hotel window. We were on the top floor.

We managed to sleep in until 8am today. We got up and found the breakfast location that was part of the hotel. It was off site. I am not enjoying the German breakfasts. Tim does though. I am not big fan of meat and cheese for breakfast. I am making do though; when in Rome. We did not know how to check out of the hotel, so we just left the key in the room. The place is very small. There might be 17 rooms in the whole place. It was cute though, and unique.

We got to the train station in plenty of time and boarded our train. Today we were to travel by train from Rothenburg ob der Tabuer to Steinach, then on to Wurzburg, to Fulda and finally to Leipzig. The train from Steinach to Wurzburg was late. (Which was the only train our whole trip that was late.) This moved the rest of our schedule back. Instead of getting into Leipzig at 14:46 we didn’t get here until 16:20.

Our hotel, the Best Western Leipzig, is just across the road from the train station. This hotel is very nice, and our room is quite large. We have a sitting area, sleeping area, a hallway and a bathroom. We checked in and then quickly went out to see the Bach Museum before it closed at 18:00. We got there just about 45 minutes before they closed. We went through it anyway. It was small but very enjoyable. The old instruments were very cool, as were the actual Bach manuscripts. It was too dark to really see the Thomaskirke, so we may go out in the morning before we head to Berlin. The city has a younger vibrate vibe, much like Dublin. There are streets closed off to traffic with lots of pedestrian usage.

German Trains — We found the German train system to be clean, efficient and easy to navigate.

The train to Berlin will be about an hour and ten minutes. It is a direct train as well, which will be nice after all the changing we did toady. Again, big thanks to Tracy for the schedules. It made me much more comfortable navigating around.

I wish I had thought to bring a pedometer. It would be interesting to see how much walking we have really been doing. Our feet sure tell us that we’ve walked a lot. Though today not so much, since we had five hours on the train.

All in all I am very glad we got the rail pass and took the rain system. It has been a learning experience for sure.
Next stop – Berlin!

The Burgs

Today we managed to get up early. After having our last breakfast at the Hotel Dolomit, we left for the train station. The information that Tracy provided was great. We got to the station and found our train. We didn’t have reservations, so we had to surrender our seats, but that was okay as there were others we could sit in. We didn’t see the need for reservations for such short rides. The hour flew by and we got to the station for our change of trains. The whole thing could not have been move smooth.

Albrecht Durers House — Since 1871 the Albrecht-Dürer-Haus has been a museum
dedicated to Dürer’s life and work.

The first train stopped in Nurnberg. We choose to put out luggage in a locker. The cost was 5 euro. We then walked around Nurnberg. It was a very nice city. Tim really enjoyed it. We were both glad that we decided to make the side trip. The city walls and the medieval building were a treat. We managed to work our way around to the Albrect Drurer house. After about two hours of walking around town we went back to retrieve our luggage and find the train.

Rothenburg ob der Tauber from tower — One of the views from the top of the tower.

We arrived at Rothenburg ob der Tauber about 1pm. We walked from the train station to the old city. Our hotel, Das Gastehaus am weissen Turm, is in the old town. They let us check in at 2pm, which was very nice. This guesthouse is 800 years old. We are on the third floor, with no lift. I managed to fall on our walk to the hotel. The cobblestone streets, the luggage, and being tired all combined to me losing my balance. The only damage was a tear in my pants. No big deal. After checking in and unloading our stuff we went out exploring. This is a very cool place. The building are so cool. You are definitely not in Grand Rapids.

We walked all around the city today. I climbed to the top of the tower. The 241 stair climb was rewarded by great views of the city. Tim passed on the climb. The platform was very small at the top. Only five people were allowed out there at a time. I took lots of photos of this spot, but they just didn’t do justice to the great view.

Medieval Torture Museum diorama — There were many dioramas and pages to read. The materials were all presented in English as well.

We toured the Medieval Crime and Justice Museum that I had learned about in the Lunch and Learn DVD series at Witte. It was very cool. There was lots to see related to the middle ages other than torture. The emphasis is on the justice system and how it evolved in Medieval times. It is well worth a visit. (5 euro per person to get in)

We found the shop that held the German Christmas museum. We chose not to go into the museum part, but we did some shopping in the store. We skipped lunch entirely today, so by dinner time we were quite hungry. We stopped at a hotel/restaurant that had a menu that looked good. We have done fairly well on our spending on meals. We are opting for bratwurst, sauerkraut and potatoes and beer of course. No being sure, we are including a cash tip to the server of about 10%. They seem happy with that. It is necessary to check to make sure that a service charge hasn’t been added to your bill though.

After dinner it was almost dark. I had hopped to take the Night Watchman Tour at 20:00, but as we were walking back we heard him out doing the tour in German. We did not know if he would go again in English and we are both very tired. We called it a night about 8:15 (20:15 local time) and have another full day of train travel and sights to see.
Off to Leipzig tomorrow to catch up with J.S. Bach.
Happy Guy Fawks Day.

Best Laid Plans

Dachau Ovens — In the twelve years of its existence over 200,000 persons from all over Europe were imprisoned here and in the numerous subsidiary camps. 4,500 were murdered.

Yesterday afternoon, after arriving in Munich at our hotel, we took the S2 up to Dachau and the local bus to the Concentration Camp Memorial. It was quite moving. We didn’t realize the size of the place. The weather was very nice and we walked quite a bit around the grounds and then through the museum portion. It was very depressing to read the supplied information stations and know what mankind is capable of doing to itself. We walked all the way back to the central station, skipping the bus. Taking the S2 train back into Munich we went to eat at a nearby restaurant. It was very good, filling, and affordable.

We had planned to take the train to Fussen today, Nov. 3, to go to the castles. We boarded and waited. It was past time for the train to leave, when a German voice came on with a long speech. There was no English translation provided. We asked a small girl what the message said. She told us the train had been cancelled.

We decided to make today our walking tour of Munich. We followed the routing outlined in Rick Steves book. We managed to see quite a lot today. The 11:00 am performance of the clock tower carillon was a big hit. Many tourist in the area taking photos and videos as well. The Frauenkirke and Ratskeller were on the schedule too. We walked quite a lot, but did not have the benefit of a tour manager to tell us what we were seeing, having to rely instead on our guide book.

A late lunch, early dinner was had at the Hofbrauhaus. It, too, was very good. The outdoor market was enjoyable as well. We purchased some souvenirs to take home to friends. Just walking through the market was a treat to all the senses. The smells were incredible.

We managed to fit in a visit to the art museum that features the Old Masters. Unfortunately the building is undergoing repairs. Large sections were closed of. We did see quite a few very nice painting. Reubens was prominently represented. We saw a Rembrandt and a partial Bos painting as well. It was 4 euros per person well spend. The other museum that featured Klimt, and the other artist of his time, was closed on Tuesdays. We would have liked to see that as well. If we get back from our day trip Wednesday we may try to go.

Back at the Hotel Dolomit now. The WiFi is not free. It is 3.90 per 24-hours. I thought that was reasonable so that I could post to the blog.

We are going to try to get up early and catch the 7:53 a.m. train to Fussen tomorrow. I hope it goes.

Gute Nacht until tomorrow.

Planes, trains and automobiles

Today is the day my husband and I leave for Germany. We need to drive to Chicago O’Hare and be there by 12:30 for our 15:35 flight on Air Berlin. The adventure begins.
We chose to park in the Economy Lot at O’Hare. This was a little hard to find due to construction in the area. The bus came quickly to pick us up and the transport from the main train terminal to the airport was quick and efficient.
Departure from Chicago O’Hare was on schedule. The AirBerlin flight was full. The leg room was tight, but we managed okay. The plane was very clean when we boarded. There was a pillow, blanket and comfort pack on each seat. It contained earplugs, an eye mask and a toothbrush with paste. The cabin crew were professional but not overly friendly. I was disappointed that there was not music streaming from the entertainment unit. This was one of the options I enjoyed on the flight to the Netherlands. I put on my headphones with classical music and it drowns out the engine noises.
The meal was not great. I choose the pasta. It was hot though, and filling. After the dinner was served the lights were dimmed and I managed to get a few hours of sleep, how much I am not completely sure.
Arrived on schedule in Berlin. No jetway to exit. We went down the stairs that were brought over. Transfer to the main terminal was by bus. Passport control was very efficient. If you had connecting flights they were helping you get in line so you didn’t miss your connection.
We had to walk a ways outside to get to Terminal A for our connecting flight to Munich. We were told in ORD that we did not need to check-in again. It was unclear to us where/how we were to get to the departure gate. I ask an agent at a different desk from our flight and she was very helpful. We went through security again and are now waiting for the departure to Munich. AirBerlin has free WiFi in there gate area. But we couldn’t get it to work prop[erly.
It is now 2:22 am by our body clocks, 8:22 am here in Berlin on November 2nd.

Auf Wiedersehen.

Traveling In Europe By Train

Have you ever decided to do something while traveling and then wondered if that was a good decision?

Recently, I planned a trip for my family to travel around Europe by train. We planned on visiting four countries during our vacation. After considering the pros and cons of renting a car or traveling by train, train travel stood out as the best choice for us. I have traveled by train in Europe without my family in the past and really enjoyed it, but that was years ago. What if traveling with a family was more difficult? What if I didn’t remember how to do it or screwed up and got on the wrong train or off at the wrong destination and lead my family astray? These questions swirled around in my mind.

Because we were going to several different destinations, I decided to purchase Eurail passes for each of us. Eurail offers quite a few options for passes, so you can pick the best-fitting one based on how many countries you will visit and how many days you want to travel. We purchased the Eurail Select Pass, which worked perfectly with our itinerary because it would allow us to travel throughout 4 bordering countries of our choice. Next, I looked at all of the train departure times and made reservations on the trains that required a reservation. I also downloaded the Eurail “Rail Planner” app on my phone. This app gave me access to rail schedules, made it easy to locate train stations, displayed city maps, and much more. We were well prepared before we left for Europe.

Salzburg Train Station — Waiting at the train platform in Salzburg, Austria

Once we arrived in Europe, we walked to the train station that was located right at the airport. By looking at the train arrival/departure monitors, we could see which track our train would come in on, as well as the exact time it was scheduled to depart. All we had to do was head to the platform and wait for the train. Once we loaded our luggage on the train, we were able to relax and enjoy the ride. After a long night of sitting cooped up on an airplane, it felt so nice to be on the train; we could get up and walk around as much as we wanted or enjoy the comfortable train seats. And the views out the windows were a great way to acclimate ourselves to our current location.

Train Travel in Europe — Enjoying the big windows and roomy seats on the train after a cramped overnight flight.

My family embraced riding on the train. Our teenagers were excited to discover that the “the train was just like the trains used in the Harry Potter movies.” They loved that there was a food car on most of the trains as well, and that we were served a meal on the long train rides. Traveling in Europe by train with my family was just as good as it had been when I traveled alone. The extensive rail network in Europe made it simple to transfer from one destination to the next, and getting on and off the train was much easier than I remembered. There was no reason for me to be worried at all and I will definitely plan to travel by train in Europe again.

If the ease, comfort, and convenience of train travel appeals to you, let us know and we can help you arrange rail tickets and passes for your next vacation. Witte Travel & Tours is the only agency in West Michigan that has a direct link to Rail Europe’s reservation system, so we can process rail passes quickly while avoiding costly shipping fees.

What has been your experience with traveling by train? Share your stories with us on Facebook, or let us know what you think in the comments!

Highlights of a Rhine River Cruise

In late October 2014, my colleague Teri and I departed from Grand Rapids, Michigan for a Rhine river cruise with Avalon Waterways, aboard the Artistry II.

Melissa with the Artistry II — Standing in front of the Artistry II

River cruising is a great way to travel Europe– especially if you’re not sure where to go in Europe or what you want to see! Our Cruise Director was Gusta from Amsterdam. She traveled with us for the entire trip. Every night before dinner, during the cocktail hour, she would give a “port talk” about the next day’s excursions, what time to meet, and what the importance of the next port city was.

Teri with the Artistry II — Teri’s turn to pose with the Artistry II

Dining on board is open seating for all meals. There was a full buffet for breakfast and lunch, and dinner was by menu. Hungry before the scheduled meal time? Not a problem! There is an early riser’s breakfast available, and a light lunch of soup, salad, and sandwiches. For something fun to do, Avalon offers the Pamorana Bistro of Chef’s specials Tapas style. There is an aft lounge with coffees, cappuccinos, teas, and sweet treats always available. These meals, and treats are included in your cruise price.

Life onboard is very casual and comfortable. There is a small workout room, and a hair salon. The ship does have one elevator. The public spaces are never crowded. The top deck is the place to be when cruising the river, with enough loungers for everyone to have a place to sit. The scenery is ever-changing and the cruise director will make announcements of the important sights along the way.

Had we cruised in the summer months, the top deck Jacuzzi would have been open to enjoy as well. There are no swimming pools aboard.

Entertainment (piano and singing by Jerry!) was provided each night after dinner, in the lounge. This offered a chance to visit with others, dance, and enjoy a cocktail. Occasionally, Avalon brought special entertainers onto the ship. Don’t miss these nights! The entertainment was excellent, and again, it was included in the cruise price.

We also took several tours during our stops along the Rhine:

Strasbourg, France – Alsace – wine tasting and winemaking country

wine tasting in france — Wine tasting in France

Speyer, Germany – Excursion to Heidelberg – Heidelberg Castle

Rudesheim, Germany – Best coffee! Be sure to visit Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Museum.

Teri and Melissa in Rudesheim — Teri and me, in Rudesheim

Rhine Gorge – Sailing all day. The scenery is so wonderful. Enjoy a baguette sandwich and wine on the top deck!

Gorgeous views from the Rhine River Gorge

Cologne, Germany – The Dom Cathedral is very Gothic, and so beautiful.

Amsterdam, Netherlands– This was the end of the trip, but not the end of cool things to see. We did some biking during day, and toured the Red Light District at night. (Sorry, no photography allowed in the district).

Is there a river cruise in your future? Join us for our 31st annual Netherlands Waterway Cruise this April, or check out our other cruise offerings.

Tell us about your river cruising adventures in the comments, or let us know on Facebook!