Here it is the end of August and we were headed to the airport with our house guest Alanna. She was continuing on her travel adventure and we were heading off to Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Italy, Germany and Austria for 12 days.
Our last selfie, before parting ways.
The first leg of our flight was from Glasgow to London City Airport to catch our connecting flight to Zurich. That didn't go as smoothly as expected, the pilot made 3 attempts to land but was uncomfortable with the weather conditions and we were diverted to London/Southend Airport, 40 miles away. Southend Airport was not a British Airlines hub, therefore they had no reps on site to help with making new arrangements. As a result we missed our connecting flight since we only were only scheduled with a short layover. Since the airport was not expecting our flight there was not enough ground transportation to take all of the passengers immediately to our next destination. We finally got a taxi and shared the 1 hour ride with another family heading back to London City Airport to get on the next flight to Zurich. We finally reached Zurich several hours later, where we then caught the train to Lucerne. It was a very long day and we were ready to get checked into our hotel and start to enjoy our vacation. We set out from the train station, with luggage in tow to find our hotel (about 3/4 mile walk). As luck would have it, we get there and find a note on the door saying that they were closed for renovations, and that our reservation had been moved to a different hotel. Really?? Of course this was going to happen today. Thankfully the manager came out to show us the way to the next hotel. (about another 1/2 mile walk.) We got checked in to our room about 9 pm and found that they had put us up in one of the best rooms in the hotel, that was a definitely a good way to get this bad day of travel turned around and end it on a better note. (The free drink coupons helped also.) So after a long day of traveling, 4 airports, 1 missed flight, 1 long taxi ride, 1 train trip and 2 hotels we were ready to relax and put a bad day of travel behind us.
View from our balcony of the Chocolate and cheese shops right outside of our door.
We started the day with a stroll along The Reuss, Lake Lucerne.
Vaduz Castle
Vaduz Castle is the palace and official residence of the Prince of Liechtenstein.
Interesting facts about Liechtenstein:
* It is only 61 sq miles making it the sixth-smallest independent nation in the world by land area.
* It is the fourth smallest country of Europe population-wise.
* It is one of the few countries in the world with more registered companies (73,700) than citizens. (37,340)
* It is a large producer of ceramics and is the largest producer of false teeth in the world.
After a brief stay in this quaint little country it was time to hop back on the bus then catch the train for the next part of our adventure.
For this part of our travels the train trip was the destination, with breathtaking views as we traveled the Bernina Pass through the Swiss Alps. It was one of the most amazing things that we have ever experienced. Even though the pictures are amazing, they still don't do the 4 1/2 hour train journey the justice that it truly deserves.
After an amazing journey we arrived in Tirano, Itlay, where we were stopping for the evening.
The Verona Arena is a Roman amphitheater built in the 1st century. It is still in use today as a concert venue and is internationally famous for the large-scale opera performances given there. It is one of the best preserved ancient structures of its kind.
We had dinner reservations at Ristorante 12 Apostoli, one of the oldest restaurants in Verona.
As the story goes, around 1750 twelve merchants met regularly in the old inn to seal their deals over a simple meal and a glass of Valpolicella. The people of Verona jokingly referred to them as the “12 Apostoli” (12 Apostles). The restaurant bearing their nickname was only opened in the early 1900s, by the Gioco family, who was concierge at the hotel Colomba d’Oro at the time. To this day the restaurant is still owned and run by the same family.
We enjoyed a 5 course tasting menu including a wine selection for each dish.
After dinner we inquired about the history and were given a private tour of the wine cellar and the recently uncovered Roman remains found below the restaurant.
During some routine maintenance work carried out at the end of the 1980's an important archaeological discovery was made. After three years of excavation, about 50 meters of the podium of a wall belonging to a sacred temple, a stretch of The Roman Road and the foundations of a medieval tower-house were discovered, all dating back to the 1st century A.D. Pebbles from the river Adige, the original mortars and some large marble boulders that once belonged to the third ring of the Roman amphitheater are now visible in the construction.
The Bayerische Staatskanzlei (The Bavarian State Chancellery)
We took a stroll through The Hofgarten and The Englischer Garten.
The Hofgarten (Court Garden)
The Englischer Garten (English Garden)
We enjoyed watching the surfers ride the waves in the stream in the garden.
We really enjoyed Munich and could've spent a few more days enjoying local culture, food and sights, but it was time to hop the train once again to our next and final destination of Salzburg, Austria.
Our hotel, The Hotel Bristol.
Mirabell Palace Gardens
The palace was built in 1606. It's geometrically-arranged gardens are mythology-themed statues dating from 1730 and four groups of sculpture (Aeneas, Hercules, Paris and Pluto), created by Italian sculptor Ottavio Mosto from 1690.
Several scenes from The Sound of Music were recorded here. Maria and the children sing 'Do-Re-Mi' while dancing around the horse fountain and using the steps as a musical scale.
Well our trip had come to an end and although it may seem like we were busy and always on the run, it really was one of the most relaxing vacations we have ever had. What started out as a travel nightmare turned into one amazing unforgettable vacation, that we will be talking about in the years to come. While we marked a few more places off of our bucket list, we also added a few more to our favorite places ever visited list.
That's it for our travel blogs for 2015, but not to worry we will be back next year to share more of our travel adventures with you.
Wishing all of our family and friends, near and far, a very Happy Christmas and a wonderful New Year.
Cheers,
John and CJ
Our last selfie, before parting ways.
The first leg of our flight was from Glasgow to London City Airport to catch our connecting flight to Zurich. That didn't go as smoothly as expected, the pilot made 3 attempts to land but was uncomfortable with the weather conditions and we were diverted to London/Southend Airport, 40 miles away. Southend Airport was not a British Airlines hub, therefore they had no reps on site to help with making new arrangements. As a result we missed our connecting flight since we only were only scheduled with a short layover. Since the airport was not expecting our flight there was not enough ground transportation to take all of the passengers immediately to our next destination. We finally got a taxi and shared the 1 hour ride with another family heading back to London City Airport to get on the next flight to Zurich. We finally reached Zurich several hours later, where we then caught the train to Lucerne. It was a very long day and we were ready to get checked into our hotel and start to enjoy our vacation. We set out from the train station, with luggage in tow to find our hotel (about 3/4 mile walk). As luck would have it, we get there and find a note on the door saying that they were closed for renovations, and that our reservation had been moved to a different hotel. Really?? Of course this was going to happen today. Thankfully the manager came out to show us the way to the next hotel. (about another 1/2 mile walk.) We got checked in to our room about 9 pm and found that they had put us up in one of the best rooms in the hotel, that was a definitely a good way to get this bad day of travel turned around and end it on a better note. (The free drink coupons helped also.) So after a long day of traveling, 4 airports, 1 missed flight, 1 long taxi ride, 1 train trip and 2 hotels we were ready to relax and put a bad day of travel behind us.
Hotel de la Paix, our room was the corner unit with the wrap-around balcony. (with the flags)
View from our balcony of the Chocolate and cheese shops right outside of our door.
We started the day with a stroll along The Reuss, Lake Lucerne.
The Kapellbrücke , (Chapel Bridge) is a covered wooden pedestrian bridge spanning diagonally across the Reuss River. The bridge itself was originally built in 1333 as part of Lucerne's fortifications. It linked the old town on the right bank of the Reuss to the new town on the left bank, securing the city from attack. The bridge initially had a length of over 660 ft, although due to numerous shortenings throughout the years and river bank replenishment, the bridge now totals only 560 ft. It is the oldest wooden covered bridge in Europe as well as the world's oldest surviving truss bridge. The bridge includes an octagonal 140 ft tall Wasserturm, (water tower) built about 30 years before the bridge. The tower is not a water tower in the usual sense, but the name comes from the fact that the tower is standing in the water. Throughout the centuries, the tower was variably used as a prison, torture chamber, and later a municipal archive. Today, the tower is closed to the public, although it houses a local artillery association as well as a tourist gift shop. The bridge is unique since it contains a number of interior paintings dating back to the 17th century, although many of them were destroyed along with 2/3 of the bridge in a 1993 fire. Unfortunately, most of the paintings were taken down for renovations while we were there.
We spent 2 nights in Lucerne dining at outside cafes, strolling along the waterfront, shopping the many shops in city center and enjoying all the local cuisine favorites, pretzels, cheese, beer and chocolates.
Lucerne is an amazing, peaceful place and we really enjoyed our time in the city. We decided that not only would we love to return to this beautiful place, but that we could most certainly live here. As much as we hated to leave Lucerne, we were also excited to continue on to our next destination.
Lucerne Train Station
After a train and bus ride we made it to our next stop in Vaduz, Liechtenstein, where we would be spending the night.
Vaduz Castle is the palace and official residence of the Prince of Liechtenstein.
Interesting facts about Liechtenstein:
* It is only 61 sq miles making it the sixth-smallest independent nation in the world by land area.
* It is the fourth smallest country of Europe population-wise.
* It is one of the few countries in the world with more registered companies (73,700) than citizens. (37,340)
* It is a large producer of ceramics and is the largest producer of false teeth in the world.
After a brief stay in this quaint little country it was time to hop back on the bus then catch the train for the next part of our adventure.
For this part of our travels the train trip was the destination, with breathtaking views as we traveled the Bernina Pass through the Swiss Alps. It was one of the most amazing things that we have ever experienced. Even though the pictures are amazing, they still don't do the 4 1/2 hour train journey the justice that it truly deserves.
We enjoyed an afternoon of walking around the town and an evening of fabulous food. With a recommendation from our hotel we found an 'off the beaten path' wine bar, Contadi Gasparotti. They produce and serve only their wine and food pairings to go with them. We enjoyed a 6 course food pairing for only €15, it was a great find and a very unique experience.
The next morning we got up and hit the train again, this time heading to Milan, Italy.
Castello Sforzesco (Sforza Castle)
The Sforza Castle was built in the 15th century by Francesco Sforza, Duke of Milan, on the remains of a 14th-century fortification. It was renovated and enlarged in the 16th and 17th centuries making it one of the largest citadels in Europe.
Duomo di Milano (Milan Cathedral)
Construction began in 1386 on the Gothic cathedral taking nearly six centuries to complete. It is the 5th-largest church in the world and the second largest in Italy.
We spent a full day in Milan sightseeing and shopping. It is a city full of beautiful architecture and designer fashions. If you are a serious shopper, this is the place for you. It was a bit overwhelming for us 'non-shoppers'.
We got up the next morning to hop the train to Verona, where we would be staying the next 2 nights.
We settled into our beautiful flat, then set out to explore the beautiful city.
The Verona Arena is a Roman amphitheater built in the 1st century. It is still in use today as a concert venue and is internationally famous for the large-scale opera performances given there. It is one of the best preserved ancient structures of its kind.
We spent the day exploring and enjoying dinner and drinks at the local outdoor cafes.
A trip to Italy is not complete until you try the local favorite cocktail, an Aperol Spritz.
Juliet’s House (Casa di Giulietta)
The balcony made famous from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.
The next day was our 14 year Wedding Anniversary, so we started the day with a tour of the Valpolicella wine region.
The Valpolicella region is about 10 miles outside of Verona. We stopped in a village called San Giorgio, where we had beautiful views of the countryside filled with winerys.
We took a tour of the San Giorgio di Valpolicella, a Romanesque church built in the 12th century.
Our next stop was a tour and tasting at the Le Bignele Winery.
As the story goes, around 1750 twelve merchants met regularly in the old inn to seal their deals over a simple meal and a glass of Valpolicella. The people of Verona jokingly referred to them as the “12 Apostoli” (12 Apostles). The restaurant bearing their nickname was only opened in the early 1900s, by the Gioco family, who was concierge at the hotel Colomba d’Oro at the time. To this day the restaurant is still owned and run by the same family.
We enjoyed a 5 course tasting menu including a wine selection for each dish.
After dinner we inquired about the history and were given a private tour of the wine cellar and the recently uncovered Roman remains found below the restaurant.
During some routine maintenance work carried out at the end of the 1980's an important archaeological discovery was made. After three years of excavation, about 50 meters of the podium of a wall belonging to a sacred temple, a stretch of The Roman Road and the foundations of a medieval tower-house were discovered, all dating back to the 1st century A.D. Pebbles from the river Adige, the original mortars and some large marble boulders that once belonged to the third ring of the Roman amphitheater are now visible in the construction.
The ambiance, meal and service was amazing and the private tour added an extra element to our already amazing experience.
Verona is a very romantic and beautiful city, and we couldn't imagine a better place to have spent our anniversary. (not sure how we are going to be able to top that one next year!)
The next day we got up and headed to the airport for a short flight to Munich, Germany.
We spent 2 days seeing the sights, visiting the market, enjoying great food and the local beers. The Viktualienmarkt, food market was right across the street from our hotel, we really enjoyed going over there to pick up pretzels, cheese and sausages for breakfasts and snacks.
We found some great seafood at the market and enjoyed a great dinner at a fondue restaurant.
Of course a visit to Munich isn't complete with a trip to the famous Hofbräuhaus.
Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall)
Town hall dating back to the 14th century.
Town hall dating back to the 14th century.
Neues Rathaus (New Town Hall)
The new town hall that replaced the old one in 1874.
We found another Juliet statue in Munich.
(You’re supposed to touch Juliet’s breast for a chance at undying love.)
We took a stroll through The Hofgarten and The Englischer Garten.
The Hofgarten (Court Garden)
We enjoyed watching the surfers ride the waves in the stream in the garden.
We really enjoyed Munich and could've spent a few more days enjoying local culture, food and sights, but it was time to hop the train once again to our next and final destination of Salzburg, Austria.
Our hotel, The Hotel Bristol.
Festung Hohensalzburg (Hohensalzburg Fortress)
The earliest buildings in the High Salzburg Fortress were began in 1077 to protect the interests of the ruling Prince-Archbishop. Succeeding Prince-Archbishops continued to build the fortification and facilities up through the 17th Century. The fortress sits atop Festungberg and overlooks Salzburg. It is accessed by the Festungbahn cable car which opened in 1892.
The palace was built in 1606. It's geometrically-arranged gardens are mythology-themed statues dating from 1730 and four groups of sculpture (Aeneas, Hercules, Paris and Pluto), created by Italian sculptor Ottavio Mosto from 1690.
Well our trip had come to an end and although it may seem like we were busy and always on the run, it really was one of the most relaxing vacations we have ever had. What started out as a travel nightmare turned into one amazing unforgettable vacation, that we will be talking about in the years to come. While we marked a few more places off of our bucket list, we also added a few more to our favorite places ever visited list.
That's it for our travel blogs for 2015, but not to worry we will be back next year to share more of our travel adventures with you.
Wishing all of our family and friends, near and far, a very Happy Christmas and a wonderful New Year.
Cheers,
John and CJ
