We’re going to Europe!
February 24th, 2007 by jay
I’ve been away too long, although it is with good excuse. I’ve been busy spending my online time planning our recently booked 25 day trip to Europe! During a good portion of this trip we’ll be doing the Rick Steve’s Best of Europe in 14 Days tour with a small group of 22 others. We’ve read great things about this tour, it’s not your typical European tour- it’s small, it’s very active, you stay 2 nights at all destinations, and you get a lot of free time to do your own thing. Without doing the tour we’d have quite a big headache arranging travel and figuring out all the logistics on our own for 25 days as Europe newbies.
Here is the map of the tour we’re taking:
We’ll also be In addition we’ll be doing some of our own exploring before and after the tour. We’ll be hitting the following cities once it’s all said and done:
London, England
Paris, France
Beaune, France (Burgundy region)
Lauterbrunnen Valley, Switzerland (Swiss Alps)
Reutte, Austria
Venice, Italy
Florence, Italy (Tuscany)
Rome, Italy
Munich, Germany
Frankfurt, Germany (Rhine Area)
Obviously we can’t wait to take this journey it will be the first time in Europe for both me and the wife. We’ll be flying out May 18th so we’ve got less than 3 months to make our final preparations! Any suggestions are appreciated!
When you go to Florence I suggest going to see Duomo. I’m sure this will probably be on the tour, but go up into the actual dome. You can see “The Last Judgement” up close and it’s quite breathtaking. After that, keep heading up the stairs and you’ll be able to stand on top of the dome and see all of Florence. The trip up the stairs is long and cramped (people are coming down at the same time), but it’s an incredible view (as documented here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/spencewine/269569889/in/set-72157594340717039/). Another great view is sunset from Piazza Michelangelo. You have to hop on a bus to get there, but totally worth it. Also, head to the Galleria and Uffizi (probably on the tour). I’ll post some more suggestions for Rome and Munich when I’ve got some more time.
First of all - I’m so excited for you!!! Second of all - I’m SO excited for you!!!!!!! When you’re in England, try and get over to Stratford-on-Avon. It’s Shakespeare’s hometown. I may just be a dork, but I thought it really was amazing to be in his home, theater, etc. I got goosebumps thinking of his historical impact and thinking I was in the midst of where it all got started. Wow.
Also - when in London, as cheesy as it is to do some of the tourist stuff, seeing the changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace really is cool.
Have fun, be safe, and take TONS of pictures like I know the Jacobs will…..oh, and then don’t upload them onto your website for like, at least a year, like I know you will!!!! It kills me that you take forever to put your pics up!!! But - like I said, have fun
We’ll miss you guys.
- Scott and Becky Hornbuckle