Pack Your Bags and Run Away with 50 Plus Travel

We spent three fantastic weeks in Europe: a once-in-a-lifetime dream tour visiting beautiful cities to admire architecture, learn history and culture, and devour local cuisine with great companions.

We were overwhelmed with the beauty of the cities we visited. The only real way to share it with you is to take you there too so you can see it for yourself and be in awe just as we were. So, what did we do and see?

Well, we met our friends Maria and Shel in Covent Garden
We drank lattes and all of a sudden
The Flower Girl, Eliza Doolittle, was there with roses
With wonderful scents right under our noses.

We visited palaces where Kings and Queens intrigued
We hopped on-and-off the Red Bus ’til fatigued
But by Trafalgar Square, we got our second wind, fit
To run to New Piccadilly Cafe for gin and it.

We cruised the Thames and watched the sun on Big Ben
We were levelled with the London Eye now, and then
Westminster, where power reigns, came into view
And at the Tower of London we said our adieu.














Next day we flew to Prague, a jewel city in the heart of Europe. As we arrived at the Old Town Square and stepped onto the cobblestone streets it felt like we'd travelled back in time hundreds of years. The narrow alleyways, gas-lit lanterns, churches, colours, building facades and their reddish-clay roofs blew us away.

Prague is so well preserved and has a medieval feel about it. It is a city where the past is entwined with the present, beauty with the bizarre and dreams with reality. We were impressed with the neo-gothic style of the Cathedral of St Vitus and the rose window illustrating the various days of the Creation of the world. We strolled along the Charles Bridge with its 30 statues, a beautiful open air gallery.

We witnessed the medieval mechanics of the Astronomical clock in the Old Town Square. The local guide told us a bizarre story of its maker. There were so many tourists waiting for the icons to toggle through their dumb ditties, watching for the parade of Apostles in the upper window, listening to Death chime his bell, and finally awaiting the cuckoo who signals that the show is over. An hour later we were back again!

We spent a day in the most famed spa city Karlovy Vary with its baroque and art-nouveau buildings and hot springs. The springs claim to cure many illnesses and there were people sipping the mineral-rich water from specially made drinking vessels.  

We roamed the medieval streets of Prague
From Charles Bridge we polished the bright, saint of good luck
We visited Karlovy Vary - the ancient spa town
Drank healing water and walked all around.














And then we boarded the Viking Sky, our hotel for eight wonderful days. The many cities we called in were one historical gem after another.

We visited Nuremberg. The city was founded in the 11th century but gained notoriety during the 20th century, first for Nazi party rallies and later as the location of the infamous Nuremberg trials. Today it’s so peaceful it’s difficult to imagine how it all happened.

After scenic cruising our ship arrived at Bamberg, one of Germany’s most breathtaking cities. On our guided tour we walked through the cobbled streets of this wonderfully preserved medieval town, founded in 902. If you ever come to Bamberg, sample the town’s famous locally-brewed smoky-tasting beer. It tastes great! Also if you have a weakness for baroque architecture you should not miss Bamberg for the world!

Our next port of call was Wurzburg. We visited the impressive baroque Bishop’s Residence and admired the rich stucco work and unique staircases with the world’s largest ceiling fresco.  

Next morning we docked at Heidelberg, an ancient city and home to the oldest university in Germany. Spared by allied bombings during WWII, Heidelberg has retained its baroque charm of narrow streets, picturesque houses and of course the world-famous Heidelberg Schloss (castle). The Castle, now largely in ruins, preserves numerous examples of medieval, Renaissance, and baroque German architecture. The cellar of Heidelberg Castle contains the famed Heidelberg Tun, a wine vat with a capacity of 220,017 litres. Unfortunately there was no time for wine tasting.  

We just loved St Stephen’s Church in Mainz with its blue stained glass windows by Mark Chagall. Blue light shines through the stained glass into the interior of the church and angels and other Biblical figures move ethereally in the light. We were transfixed by its beauty. Mainz is the city where the first print with hand-set type was cast in moulds, and the Gutenberg Museum houses an original Bible printed in the 1450s. It is a lovely bustling city, with old wooden buildings, antique shops, art, boutiques and many wine taverns and cafes.

And then we docked in the most beautiful town, Rudesheim. We took a cable car ride to the huge Niederwald Monument symbolising Germany’s unity. The monument sits 250m above the Rhine and we enjoyed the wonderful views stretching out below. Later we strolled the town’s pedestrian-only Drosselgasse, lined with welcoming restaurants and wine taverns. We forgot about excess luggage while shopping there!

We cruised along the Rhine and Moselle Rivers and saw famous German Corner with the statue of Emperor William I on horseback. As we travelled the scenic Moselle we enjoyed views of castles and vineyards clinging to the hillside. We arrived at Cochem, a beautiful quaint town at the heart of the Moselle River valley, and took a short drive to Reichburg Castle. Of all the German castles we’ve seen, this was the most impressive. Its cone-roofed tower stands above the walls like a jewel in a crown, perched on a steeply sloping hilltop high above the town of Cochem. We loved Cochem and its medieval town gate, churches and friendly marketplace (more shopping!).

Next morning we arrived at Bernkastel, a town justifiably called the ‘Pearl of the Moselle’. It has quiet charm and is a mecca for wine-lovers. At the heart of Bernkastel is the Marktplatz (market square), an almost unbelievably romantic composition of half-timbered, colour-washed houses with steep roofs and gables, perfectly preserved and a refreshing sight to 21st-century eyes tired of modern architecture. And at the centre stands the smallest and most beautiful timber house. High above it all, guarding town, river, woods and vineyards, is the Landshut, the ruins of a 13th-century castle.

Our last city was Trier, Germany’s oldest. The city was one of the seats of the old Roman Empire and the amazing architecture of the ruins is proof of that. The most dominant structure is the mixture of two churches: the Dom St. Peter and the Liebfrauenkirche both built upon ruins. The city is also home of the stunning Porta Nigra, the best preserved Roman city gate north of the Alps.

We’ve seen the darker site of Germany’s past
The venue of many rallies during the Third Reich
Then on we sailed to Bamberg and Wurzburg,
Rudesheim, Cochem, Heidelberg, and Rothenburg.

We walked through the cobbled streets of Tier
And drank smoky-tasted beer called Rauchbier
Saw many cathedrals, palaces and castles
In styles of baroque, gothic, and neo-classic.














Reluctantly, we left our floating hotel and were on our way to Luxemburg, driving through Germany’s scenic countryside to the American Cemetery. Here we paid homage to the many Americans who lost their lives during the Battle of the Bulge in WWII. We then enjoyed an afternoon in the city. We visited the town residence of the Grand Duke. We also enjoyed a free concert in the city square while drinking at a McCafé nearby.

We arrived in Paris late afternoon. We enjoyed a tour of the romantic “City of Light” while travelling along the famed Champs Elysees, viewing the landmark Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe. We passed many of Paris’s classic highlights like Les Invalides, Napoleon’s Tomb, Military Scholl, Paris Town Hall, Opera Garnier Palace, the Orsay Museum and the beautifully restored Grand Palace and Petit Palace. And then we were on our own for seven more days! We tirelessly explored Paris day after day: Notre Dame, the most stunning gothic cathedral in the world, the Louvre, Versailles, St Germain des Pres, the Latin Quarter, Vendome and Concorde Squares, Montmartre Quarter with the Sacre Coeur Basilica on top of the hill, and so much more.

And then there was Paris, beautiful Paris . . .
Come join us as we discover this city together
Book your place on our tour - either
Now or next year . . .  

Rejuvenated and young we
Felt more like Fifty Minus, so
Call Anna now, and start packing to
Be free of all trouble and worries
Go to ‘Live Journal’ and see all our stories. 

So keep visiting us for the latest news, and remember, you can also contact us on 04 528 3603 or email anna@50plustravel.co.nz.

Bon Voyage!  
www.50plustravel.co.nz












 

print