Playing Catch-up

Now that we are back in Searcy with an internet connection, I need to document the last two weeks. Since I am using this as a journal (minus candid statements), I need to put our chaotic two week free travel in the record. I have also promised to attach photos but that will need to come later.

My last travel entry came from Florence. As I said before, I so desperately needed several days of calm and quiet after our semester in London.

Wednesday, December 5 - Our last day in Florence was running errands. There were places we needed to take Ian, items to purchase at the markets, and visits to make. One of the most important involved seeing Anna and Renata. We discovered the night before that Renata had come to the Villa each of the days before to see us but was unable to come on Wednesday, so we got directions from Silvia (her niece) and headed to Scandicci on the bus. She was so surprised when we rang her bell. She had gifts for each of us and just hugged on Ian. We realize that she had kept up with us since our summer there in 1994. Ian now has an Italian "Nonna". We headed back to the Villa for last minute packing to get ready to head out. Personally, I would have stayed there.


Thursday & Friday, December 6 & 7 - I drove one of the cars with all our luggage down to the bus stop at 06:00 and returned the car to the Villa. It was so nice walking back down the hill in the sunrise. The train to Brig, Switzerland was exciting for Ian and pleasant for us. I had forgotten how efficient European rail service can be, especially after the chaos of flying and security checks. We arrived in Brig with plenty of time to search for a room. We ended up at the Hotel Du Pont right on the main street and an easy walk from the station. Some of the old buildings are gone from the street but it is still a wonderful little town. We ate and explored the town and headed to bed. Friday, we headed to Zurmatt and the Matterhorn. We wanted Ian to see everything but it snowed (and rained) all day so we thought he would have to remember the "postcard view". Fortunately, just as we were about to head back down the mountain, the mountain appeared through the clouds for about a minute. We were in a perfect place and I captured Ian in front of the Matterhorn in one photo.

Saturday & Sunday, December 8 & 9 - Saturday morning we headed back to the station to begin our trip to Trier, Germany. It is the oldest city in Germany and one of our favorite spots with the most preserved Roman ruins in Europe and its wonderful Christmas Market. We stumbled on it in 2003 and always try to go back whenever we are in Germany. Ian was in heaven because we had to ride four or five different trains (including one double-decker). Unfortunately, it was raining and we had a difficult time finding a hotel once we arrived. We finally located one but were soaked by the time we got to the Hotel Römerbrücke on the River Mosel. It was an easy walk to town center and the wonderful market (actually our favorite). Sunday we explored the ruins including the Porta Nigra, the largest remaining intact Roman gate in Europe.

Monday & Tuesday, December 10 & 11 - Monday we took a taxi to the station. The waitress at breakfast slipped Ian some chocolates and the lady at checkout gave us some wonderful Christmas chocolates. The trip to Munich was great and we had a reservation at the Meininger City Hostel . Unfortunately, it was some distance from the station and our luggage was heavy, but it was very nice and the price was perfect. They gave us a voucher for free meals across the street at the Augustiner Keller. It was exactly what I thought a traditional German beer garden would be like. We were seated with a couple of obnoxious drunken Germans but
the food was excellent. Tuesday, we explored the several Christmas Markets and had a wonderful day. Of course, our favorite site was the glockenspiel in action and the wonderful Christmas windows. The animated displays were as grand as ever and Ian was enchanted. I managed to ship off our German and Italian treasures (at a cost that rivals the national debt).

Wednesday & Thursday, December 12 & 13 - Wednesday morning we rode the trolley back to the station for our trip to Salzburg, Austria. It has snowed some while we were in Munich (always mixed with rain), but the countryside was covered in snow as we headed to Austria. Unfortunately, most of it disappeared before we detrained in Salzburg. We found the Hotel Alderhof without too much trouble and walked into a wonderful Austrian room with a stag horn chandelier and four-poster bed. It seemed we were in the Trapp family mansion. Salzburg was as grand as ever. Unfortunately, the rain had followed us and by the time we made it back to the hotel, we were soaked. We explored everything there was to explore on Thursday. We purchased eggs (of course) to be shipped back and went to the castle. Our hotel was an easy walk to all the markets and we enjoyed the walk (when we were not lost).

Friday-Monday, December 14, 15, 16 & 17 - We wanted to spend some time back in London before we headed back, so Friday morning we caught the bus to the airport for an early flight back. It had snowed during the night and Salzburg was covered in a layer of snow. The flight on Ryanair only cost .01 Euro each with additional taxes and airport charges (for a total of 56 Euro for all of us). Unfortunately, we had a tight connection and got off the bus one stop too early. With some rushing, we made the flight and arrived back in England. The Acorn flat this time (1b Bloomsbury Place) was as large and nice as our previous flat (103-11a Great Russell Street) was small and dreary. It was the perfect place to wind down, repack and get ready to head home. We crammed in many last minute details. We were able to see the First Emperior exhibit at the British Museum, attend Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (a traditional British Christmas pantomime), jump on, ride, and jump off an old double-decker bus, buy books at Hatchard's, and many other favorite things. There was a big party at the British Museum for us on our last night (but they forgot to give us our invitations).