Entries about trip

ZURICH - CITY OF CLOCKS

FAVOURITE PHOTO -

ZURICH WAS THE BEGINNING OF OUR BIG EUROPE TRIP.

6 WEEKS OF DISCOVERY! HOW DOES ONE PICK PLACES TO SEE?

HUBBY WANTED TO SEE GERMANY AND SPAIN. HUBBY LOVES
MOUNTAINS AND GARDENS.
I WANTED TO VISIT PARIS AND BRUGES BECAUSE I AM THE ULTIMATE
ROMANTIC AND I HAD A VT FRIEND IN AMSTERDAM.

WE BOTH LOVE 'OFF THE BEATEN PATH' PLACES WITH INTERESTING
SCENERY - MOROCCO AND A TRIP INTO THE SAHARA DESERT WAS
THROWN INTO THE MIX.
OUR TRIP WAS COMING TOGETHER.

THE PLAN THEN BECAME CLEAR -

FLY INTO ZURICH
DRIVE THROUGH GERMANY
CONTINUE ON THROUGH BELGIUM
DRIVE UP INTO AMSTERDAM
STAY IN A HOUSEBOAT IN AMSTERDAM
TRAIN TO PARIS
FLY TO MARRAKESH
RETURN TRIP TO THE SAHARA DESERT WITH A BERBER NOMAD
VISIT A PLACE ON THE COAST CALLED ESSAOUIRA
THEN TO CASABLANCA TO FLY TO MALAGA SPAIN
TORREMOLINOS, ALHAMBRA, RONDA, VALENCIA
TRAIN TO BARCELONA
FLY HOME TO PERTH

YES! A LOT TO PACK IN.... BUT WE ALSO STAYED A FEW DAYS IN SOME
PLACES SO THERE WAS SOME DOWN TIME TOO.
WHEN YOU HAVE TO DO LONG HAUL FLIGHTS FROM AUSTRALIA AND
PAY HUGE TRAVEL EXPENSES, THEN WE HAVE TO PACK IN AS MUCH
AS WE CAN WITHOUT MAKING THE HOLIDAY TOO BUSY...
SOMETIMES A DIFFICULT JUGGLE ACT

ZURICH, OUR FIRST DESTINATION WAS STUNNING!!

IT IS A VERY CLEAN CITY, NOT TOO BIG BUT COMPARED TO SOME OTHER
PLACES WE VISITED, WE FOUND ZURICH TO BE A LITTLE EXPENSIVE...
HOWEVER WITH VIEWS LIKE THIS .... WHO CARES ABOUT THE EXPENSE!!

WE BOTH LOVED ZURICH!

ON HOLIDAY THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING NEW & INTERESTING TO EXPERIENCE.
IN ZURICH IT WAS THE CLOCKS. WOW!.... CLOCK CITY!!
AND I COULDN'T GET ENOUGH OF THEM!
I ALSO ENJOYED LISTENING TO THE CHIMES. I HAVE A GRANDFATHER CLOCK
AT HOME.... MY PRIDE AND JOY THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT CLOCK CHIMES
THAT I REALLY LOVE. EVEN FROM OUR B&B ACCOMMODATION WE COULD
HEAR THEM. SO NICE!! I WILL UPLOAD A VIDEO HERE WHEN I WORK OUT HOW.

HUBBY BOUGHT AN AUTHENTIC SWISS WATCH HERE AND I LOVED THE WATCH
THAT I PURCHASED FOR MY DAUGHTER SO MUCH THAT I BOUGHT ONE FOR
MYSELF TOO.

RAPPERSWIL
www.zsg.ch/en/

THE HIGHLIGHT IN ZURICH WAS OUR TRIP TO RAPPERSWIL. I DISCOVERED THIS
PLACE ON PATRICK'S PAGES ON VT (Tripack). SADLY NO VT'ERS WERE AVAILABLE
AT THE TIME BUT WE HAD A FANTASTIC TRIP ON THE FERRY TO RAPPERSWIL
AND ENJOYED A WANDER AROUND THE QUAINT COBBLESTONE STREETS WITH
CUTE GIFT SHOPS AND FUNKY BARS AND RESTAURANTS

ALPENTRAUM B&B
www.alpentraum.ch

I WOULDN'T STAY ANYWHERE ELSE WHEN VISITING ZURICH. GREAT LOCATION
BETWEEN THE AIRPORT AND ZURICH, IT HAS A LOVELY QUIET GARDEN SETTING,
THE BED WAS SUPER COMFORTABLE, PUBLIC TRANSPORT IS CLOSE BY AND IT IS
INEXPENSIVE. THE HOSTS WERE ATTENTATIVE AND HELPFUL.

FUNNY AUSSIROSE STORY

HOW EXCITING! FIRST TIME IN EUROPE!! FINALLY!! WE WERE HERE AND THIS IS
MY FIRST SIGHTING OF THE FAMOUS SWISS ALPS!
HUBBY WAS IN HIS ELEMENT AS HE LOVES MOUNTAINS.
WOOHOO!! WE HAVE ARRIVED!! SWITZERLAND!! ..... EUROPE!!!!

I HAD NOT SLEPT FOR GOODNESS KNOWS HOW LONG!...... WE ARRIVED AT 8AM
AFTER TRAVELLING FOR 12 HOURS FROM SINGAPORE AND 5 HOURS BEFORE THAT
FROM PERTH. SINGAPORE AIRLINES ARE BY FAR MY FAVOURITE AIRLINE!!!

WE WERE RIGHT NOW RUNNING ON PURE ADRENALIN!

OK.... FIRST FUNNY SIGN AND HERE IS THE STORY -

WE ARRIVED IN ZURICH AND JUMPED INTO OUR HIRE CAR FULL OF EXCITEMENT.
HUBBY FORGET TO SET OUR NEW TOM TOM GPS.....
BIG MISTAKE!

SO.... HERE WE ARE EXITING ZURICH AIRPORT AND PAST THE FUNNY SIGN -
"AUSFARHT" - translation in Australian - "Wind from Downunder" - HAHA

HERE WE ARE ABOUT TO ENTER A SIX LANE HIGHWAY.... STILL LAUGHING OUR
HEADS OFF!!
HUBBY SAID...."WHERE ARE WE GOING?!!"
MY REPLY..... "OH SHIIIIT!! .... JUST KEEP DRIVING!!"

LUCKILY WE WERE HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION TOWARDS ZURICH CITY.
UPON ARRIVAL, WE FOUND A PARKING SPACE IN WHICH TO SET UP THE GPS.
THANK GOODNESS IT WORKED AND WE PROCEEDED TO DRIVE BACK THROUGH
THE CENTRE OF ZURICH CITY AND TO OUR BED AND BREAKFAST LOCATED IN
BETWEEN ZURICH AND THE AIRPORT

THIS TOM TOM GPS WAS TO BE OUR GUIDE FOR THE NEXT WEEK OR SO AND
ALSO IN SPAIN AND IT WORKED A TREAT! I AM SO GLAD THAT WE BOUGHT IT.

AFTER DROPPING OFF OUR LUGGAGE, WE WALKED DOWN TO CATCH THE TRAM
INTO TOWN. ON THE WAY THERE WAS A LOCAL PUB...... AHHHH, TIME TO STOP
AND CELEBRATE OUR ARRIVAL IN EUROPE!..... TASTE A LOCAL BEER AND SEND
A FEW TEXT MESSAGES TO THE FAMILY.

WE CAME BACK TO THE LOCAL A COUPLE OF TIMES AFTER A BIG DAY SIGHTSEEING.
LATER THE OWNER OF THE B&B SAID THAT THIS WAS THE DODGY PART OF TOWN.
OK... THAT WOULD EXPLAIN THE STRANGE LOOKS WE RECEIVED BY THE LOCALS...
BUT WHO CARES?!! WE WERE ON HOLIDAY, THE BEERS WERE CHEAP AND
REFRESHING..... AND WE WERE HAVING FUN!!

I WAS BLOWN AWAY WITH THE STUNNING SCENERY WHEN WE ARRIVED IN ZURICH!
THE RIVER AND BRIDGES WERE AWESOME! AND THE CLOCKS WERE JUST LOVELY
WE SAT AT THE HOTEL ZUM STORCHEN FOR A LITTLE WHILE, HAD A COUPLE OF BEERS
AND ENJOYED THE VIEW AND AMBIENCE. THERE WERE QUITE A FEW TOURISTS LIKE US
DOING THE SAME.

WALKING AROUND THIS AREA WITH LOVELY VIEWS OF THE BRIDGES AND RIVER
JUST ADDED TO OUR EXCITEMENT AT BEING HERE IN ZURICH EUROPE!

ZUM KROPF
http://www.zumkropf.ch

NEXT DAY WE WERE CHECKING OUT THE BACKSTREETS AND LOVELY ARCHITECTURE AND
WE SAW A CUTE STAIRCASE LEADING UP TO A NICE VERANDAH WHERE IT LOOKED LIKE
QUITE A FEW PEOPLE WERE ENJOYING LUNCH SO WE VENTURED UP.

I AM GLAD WE FOUND THIS RESTAURANT BECAUSE NOT ONLY DID WE HAVE LOVELY
SHADY SURROUNDINGS AND A NICE VIEW BUT THE FOOD WAS FANTASTIC!!
THE PRAWN COCKTAIL STARTER WAS FRESH AND COOL.
AND WE WASHED LUNCH DOWN WITH A LOCAL RED WINE WHICH I MUST SAY WAS REALLY
GOOD. IN FACT THE LOCAL ZURICH WINES BOTH RED AND WHITE WERE PRETTY GOOD.

ZURICH STREET SCENES

I ENJOY STREET SCENES WHEREVER WE GO.... SO HERE ARE SOME THAT I PARTICULARLY
LIKE INCLUDING THE TRAM TRANSPORTATION. WE GOT A ZURICH CARD. YOU CAN USE
THIS FOR ALL SORTS OF TRANSPORT AND ALSO ENTRY INTO MUSEUMS ETC.
CHECK OUT THIS SITE - www.zuerich.com/en/visit/your-city-travel-pass

LASTLY, AN OLD BUS AFTER HUBBY'S LAST NAME.....
ALSO AN OLD FAHT!! LOL.

TRUSTY TOM TOM GPS LOADED...... NEXT STOP UBERLINGEN.

FAVOURITE PHOTO -

Lake Titisee

WE HAD ARRIVED IN ZURICH ON OUR FIRST BIG OVERSEAS TRIP.

AFTER HAVING SPENT A FEW DAYS IN THIS BEAUTIFUL CITY OF CLOCKS,
WE WERE NOW PREPARED FOR OUR BIG DRIVE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF
THE ROAD THROUGH GERMANY, BELGIUM AND INTO AMSTERDAM.

TODAY'S DESTINATION - ETTLINGEN GERMANY. I FOUND ETTLINGEN
THROUGH VIRTUALTOURIST.COM. UNFORTUNATELY THAT SITE IS NO
MORE DUE TO IT'S GREEDY PARENT COMPANY TRIPADVISOR.

MORE ABOUT THE LOVELY ETTLINGEN LATER.

LAKE CONSTANCE

UGERLINGEN GERMANY

I HADN'T PLANNED ON DRIVING THROUGH UBERLINGEN WHICH IS
LOCATED AT THE NORTHERN END OF LAKE CONSTANCE.

WE HAD QUITE A LONG TRIP AS IT WAS DRIVING THROUGH THE
BLACK FORREST VIA LAKE TITISEE TO ETTLINGEN.

BUT OUR FRIEND BIRGIT (bijo69) FROM VIRTUALTOURIST HAD
FLOWN DOWN TO ZURICH FROM BERLIN TO JOIN US FOR THE
DRIVE AND SHE SUGGESTED THAT WE CHECK OUT UBERLINGEN.
SLIGHT DETOUR...... BUT I AM GLAD TO SAY THAT IT WAS WELL
WORTH IT.

UBERLINGEN IS RIGHT ON LAKE CONSTANCE WITH NICE VIEWS.
THE TOWN IS A PLEASURE TO WALK AROUND. I LIKED THE VINES
GROWING ON THE BUILDINGS.

WE HAD A LOVELY LUNCH AT THIS NICE RESTAURANT. UNFORTUNATELY I
DO NOT KNOW THE NAME. SO IF YOU RECOGNISE IT, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.
THIS WAS WHERE I TASTED MY FIRST GERMAN BEER. IT WAS A WHITE BEER
CALLED ZOLLER-HOF. I MUST SAY IT WAS ONE OF THE BETTER BEERS I HAVE
TASTED ON THIS TRIP!

WE ENJOYED SITTING OUTSIDE UNDER THE SHADE WITH LOTS OF SURROUNDING
GREENERY AND FLOWERS. PERFECT FOR DISCUSSING OUR TRIP SO FAR AND
PEOPLE WATCHING.

UNFORTUNATELY WE HAD TO DRAG OURSELVES AWAY. TIME TO HIT THE ROAD.
WE STILL HAD SOME MILEAGE TO COVER TO ARRIVE IN ETTLINGEN.

THE BLACK FORREST.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF WHEN YOU HEAR THAT THERE IS A PLACE CALLED
"THE BLACK FORREST" ? VISIONS OF MISTY BLACK WOODS WHERE IT IS
UNSAFE TO WALK?.... THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT HAHA

THE BLACK FORREST IS BASICALLY A THICK FORREST OF PINES ON A
MOUNTAIN RANGE. IT HAS LOTS OF WINDING ROADS AND WE JUST
HAPPENED TO ENTER JUST ON PEAK AFTERNOON TRAFFIC. .......
SHOULDN'T HAVE HAD THAT EXTRA ZOLLER-HOF......

LAKE TITISEE

I HAD PLANNED TO SPEND MORE TIME HERE BUT OUR PLANS HAD
CHANGED DURING OUR JOURNEY TO DETOUR VIA UBERLINGEN.
WE HAD AN AGENDA TO GET TO ETTLINGEN FOR A VIRTUALTOURIST
MEET WITH A FRIEND I HAD BEEN REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO
MEETING, KATHRIN (Kathrin_E) AND CHRISTINE (tini58de).

HUBBY WAS GOING TO BY-PASS LAKE TITISEE. NOOOO!!
NOT GOING TO HAPPEN!

I AM GLAD THAT WE DID DROP IN TO LAKE TITISEE. IT IS SO
PRETTY! I HAD PLANNED TO WANDER AROUND MORE OF THE TOWN,
HAVE LUNCH OVERLOOKING THE LAKE AND MAYBE BUY A COOKOO
CLOCK. BET HUBBY IS GLAD THAT I DIDN'T. ONE GRAND FATHER
CLOCK IS ENOUGH SAYS HUBBY LOL

HOW NICE WOULD THIS PLACE BE IN WINTER!!

QUICK WANDER OVER TO THE LADIES LOO WITH A VIEW.....
BEFORE VENTURING ON.

DRUNKS NOT ALLOWED! -

ETTLINGEN

WE FINALLY ARRIVED IN ETTLINGEN!

KATHRIN HAD ARRANGED FOR THE PAPARAZZI TO GREET US!
NO, IT JUST SO HAPPENED THAT THERE WAS A FESTIVAL GOING ON IN
TOWN WHEN WE ARRIVED. NOT ONLY THAT BUT WHEN WE WALKED
IN THE DOOR OF THE HOTEL.... THERE WAS KATHERINE AND CHRISTINE
WAITING FOR US! HOW NICE IS THAT!!

WHAT AN ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS TIME WE HAD! MEETING FRIENDS
THAT YOU HAVE NEVER MET BEFORE BUT KNOW SO WELL FROM
YEARS OF INTERACTION ON OUR FAVOURITE TRAVEL SITE IS SPECIAL!!

LOVE YOU KATHRIN! AND NICE TO MEET YOU TOO CHRISTINE.
RUSSEL WOMBAT AND AUSSIE BARNEY VT MASCOT ALSO JOINED IN ON THE FUN
A FUN NIGHT TO REMEMBER!!!

HOTEL ERBPRINZ
www.erbprinz.de/en/home

5 STAR LUXURY! BED WAS VERY COMFORTABLE. JUST WHAT HUBBY NEEDED AFTER A
LONG DAY DRIVING. LOCATION IS PERFECT AS WELL.

ALB RIVER THAT RUNS THROUGH ETTLINGEN.

THIS LITTLE OFF THE BEATEN PATH TOWN WAS A DELIGHT TO STAY IN.

NEXT DESTINATION - ROTHENBURG OB DER TAUBER.

FAVOURITE PHOTO -

BAD WIMPFEN

QUAINT TIMBER HOUSES & A BLUE TOWER.

WHEN RESEARCHING FOR THIS TRIP I DISCOVERED THIS DELIGHTFUL
OFF THE BEATEN PATH TOWN WHILST READING MY GOOD FRIEND
LORI'S (LoriPori) TIPS ON VIRTUALTOURIST.

THERE ARE A LOT OF 'BAD' TOWNS IN GERMANY THAT ARE NOT
REALLY BAD AT ALL 'BAD' MEANS SPA.

BAD WIMPFEN IS A SPA TOWN, OR A TOWN WITH A NATURAL SPRING.
IT IS A VERY OLD MEDIEVAL TOWN THAT WAS OCCUPIED BY THE
ROMANS. AS SUCH, IT HAS A TOWER, OLD FORTRESS AND CHAPEL
THAT WERE COMMON AT THAT PERIOD OF TIME.

THE BLUE TOWER THAT OVERLOOKS THE TOWN AND NECKAR VALLEY
BELOW WAS REALLY UNIQUE AND LOVELY. TUDOR HOUSES AND CUTE
COBBLED STONE STREETS HAD A WOW FACTOR TOO
THIS WAS OUR FIRST ENCOUNTER WITH TUDOR HOUSES. I JUST LOVED THEM!!

MORE STREET SCENES. JUST LOVED THIS QUAINT VILLAGE!

I WAS QUITE TAKEN BACK WITH THE LOVELY COLOURFUL AND
ORNATE DOORS HERE AS WELL.

BAD WIMPFEN HAD A WHOLE LOT OF WOWs FOR US!
AN AMAZING LITTLE VILLAGE!!

ROTHENBURG OB DER TAUBER

AHHH..... ROMANTIC ROTHENBURG

THIS LITTLE MEDIEVAL WALLED VILLAGE WAS AN ABSOLUTE PLEASURE
TO VISIT. THANKS AGAIN TO LORI WE STAYED FOR 1 DAY/2 NIGHTS.

ROTHENBURG OB DER TAUBER IS VERY TOURISTY BECAUSE OF THIS
VERY POPULAR PHOTOGRAPHIC STREET SCENE.

BUT AT NIGHT WHEN THE BUS LOADS OF TOURISTS HAVE GONE,
THE VILLAGE IS NICE AND QUIET.

WE STAYED RIGHT INSIDE THE WALLED CITY. IT WAS INTERESTING TO
NAVIGATE THROUGH THE TINY ARCH TOWERS THAT ARE THE ONLY
ENTRANCE/EXIT TO THE CITY.

HOTEL GASTHOF BREITELE
www.bensbauernhof.com/gasthauszumbreiterlerothenburgodt.html

ENJOYED OUR STAY. OWNED BY MIKE AND HIS WIFE FROM AUSTRALIA.
THEY MADE US FEEL AT HOME. PARKING IS RIGHT ACROSS THE ROAD.
AND THEY WERE RIGHT THERE WAITING FOR OUR ARRIVAL.
THE HOTEL IS LOCATED NEXT TO A SMALL ARCH CITY ENTRANCE AND
JUST DOWN THE ROAD FROM THE CENTRE SQUARE.
BREAKFAST BUFFET WAS NICE.

THEY ALSO HAD PRINTED LOO PAPER. THAT SCORED AN EXTRA TICK FROM ME

aussirose and owner Mike

WALLS OF ROTHENBURG

IT WAS INTERESTING WALKING AROUND THE WALLS, READING ABOUT
THE HISTORY AND CHECKING OUT SOME OF THE PLACARDS.
RESTORATION OF THE CITY IS AN ONGOING PROCESS, ALL FUNDED BY
DONATIONS. THOSE THAT DONATE, HAVE A PLACARD PLACED ON THE WALL.

OLD AND NEW

HOWIE DISCOVERED HIS OWN PLACARD. HAITI HUH?... MMM.

AND I SAW A KOALA IN THE STONE WORK.......?

TIME FOR A BEER

WALKING THE STREETS OF ROTHENBURG

I BOUGHT A SWEET LITTLE RED APPLE SWAROVSKI CRYSTAL NECKLACE
HERE AT UHRENHAUS JEWELRY AND WATCH STORE.
IT IS STILL ONE OF MY FAVOURITE PIECES. TIP - COST OF SWAROVSKI
IS VERY CHEAP IN GERMANY

DON'T FORGET TO LOOK UP. I LOVED THESE LOVELY ORNATE WROUGHT IRON
SIGNS THAT WERE EVERYWHERE. THIS WAS ANOTHER FIRST FOR US

RESTAURANT MICHELAGELO
www.michelangelo-rothenburg.de

RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO OUR ACCOMMODATION AND RECOMMENDED.
STAFF WERE PLEASANT AND THE SERVICE WAS EXCEPTIONAL.
A NICE EVENING TO END OUR STAY HERE IN ROTHENBURG

NEXT DESTINATION - MESPELBRUNN VIA KITZINGEN AND WURZBURG.

FAVOURITE PHOTO -

KITZINGEN

WHEN PLANNING OUR JOURNEY FROM ROTHENBURG TO MESPELBRUNN
I KNEW THAT IT WAS ONLY 2 1/2 HOURS SO.... WHAT TO SEE ALONG THE
WAY? I EQUIPPED MYSELF WITH GOOGLE MAPS AND IMAGES AND
CHECKED OUT ALL THE PLACES I COULD FIND ALONG THE WAY AND
CAME UP WITH THIS CUTE PLACE CALLED KITZINGEN.

WELL AS WE DROVE INTO TOWN, HOWIE AND BIRGIT THOUGHT IT LOOKED
LIKE A WASTE OF TIME..... BUT I WAS PERSISTANT. I KNEW THAT THIS PLACE
HAD SOME OF THE NICEST RIVER SCENERY I HAD SEEN WHILST PLANNING
THE TRIP.

SO WE FOUND A PARKING PLACE AND WENT FOR A WANDER.....
FINALLY COMING ACROSS THAT RIVER I HAD SEEN. WELL WE WERE ALL
NICELY SURPRISED THE FORESHORE WAS LINED WITH THESE LOVELY
FLOWERS. SAW A COUPLE OF BARGES AND SOME SWANS AND DUCKS.

OK, AUSSIROSE STORY TIME!..... OH COME ON! YOU KNOW YOU LOVE
MY STORIES ..... LOL )

TRUTH IS.... THINGS DID NOT GO AS SMOOTHLY AS I STATED AT THE
OUTSET.

WE SET THE TRUSTY TOM TOM GPS TO THE LOCAL COP STATION.
TURNS OUT THAT KITZINGEN POLICE STATION IS NOT IN THE HEART OF TOWN.
HAHA.

CONSEQUENTLY, THAT IS WHY HUBBY AND BIRGIT WERE WONDERING WHY I
HAD BROUGHT US HERE? STILL.... HUBBY AND I FOUND STUFF TO TAKE
PHOTOS OF ...... MEANWHILE, BIRGIT WAS STILL STRATCHING HER HEAD.
BIRGIT LIVES IN BERLIN SO THIS SCENERY IS 'EVERY DAY' STUFF FOR HER

NARROW COBBLESTONE STREETS AND CUTE ENTRY WAYS ARE
FASCINATING TO US. WE DON'T HAVE THAT IN AUSTRALIA.

OK..... MUST BE BEER O'CLOCK

WE FOUND A LITTLE MALL DEVOID OF TOURISTS. HOW QUAINT!
IT WAS NICE TO EAT WITH THE LOCALS.

PRIMED WITH A COLDIE WE RE-ASSESSED OUR SITUATION.

KITZINGEN IS A NICE LITTLE OFF THE BEATEN PATH VILLAGE INDEED!
WE WERE ALL IMPRESSED
A DETOUR THROUGH KITZINGEN WAS MOST CERTAINLY WORTH OUR TIME

WURZBURG

A GRAND PALACE ON TOP OF A HILL WITH STUNNING CITY VIEWS!

I HAD HEARD ABOUT THIS FROM READING MICHAEL'S (globetrott) PAGES ON
VIRTUALTOURIST. MICHAEL'S SUGGESTIONS TO VISIT IN GERMANY PROVED
TO BE VERY HELPFUL.

BIRGIT AND HOWIE WERE LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. I LOOKED AT ALL
THOSE STEPS LEADING UP..... AND IT WAS THE THOUGHT OF A COOL BEER
AT THE END OF THE ROAD THAT KEPT ME GOING LOL.

WELL THIS PALACE WAS IMPRESSIVE. IT WAS OUR FIRST ENCOUNTER WITH A
PALACE THERE WERE A LOT OF FIRST'S FOR US ON THIS TRIP

THE VIEW WAS MORE IMPRESSIVE.

AFTER A WANDER AROUND THE COURTYARDS AND A BIT OF A READ OF THE
PLACARDS WE HEADED TO THE NICE SHADY COURTYARD FOR A TASTY ALE.

MELPELBRUNN

STORY OF A CUTE CASTLE ON A POND.

WHEN PLANNING THE CAR TRIP THROUGH GERMANY, I HAD
ROTHENBURG OB DER TAUBER ON THE LIST AND THE NEXT THING
TO SEE WAS THE RHINE RIVER. SO ARMED WITH GOOGLE MAPS, IMAGES
AND VT PAGES, I WAS LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO STAY OVERNIGHT ALONG
THE WAY.

MESPELBRUNN CASTLE

I FOUND IT! MESPELBRUNN AND THIS CUTE CASTLE ON A POND IN THE
MIDDLE OF THE FOREST. THANKS AGAIN MICHAEL!

THIS WAS OUR FIRST CASTLE EXPERIENCE. ANOTHER FIRST FOR US

WE STAYED OVERNIGHT AT A HOTEL RECOMMENDED BY INGRID (Trekki).
THE PLACE THAT MICHAEL STAYED AT WAS NEAR THE CASTLE.... BUT A LITTLE
TOO EXPENSIVE FOR US.

Michael's Choice.

THE FOREST WAS LOVELY AND GREEN AND A PLEASURE TO WALK THROUGH.
THE FIRST SIGHTING OF THE CASTLE WAS EVERYTHING THAT I HAD IMAGINED!

NOT BEING A HISTORY BUFF, I FOUND MYSELF IMAGINING THE PURE
INGENIOUS IDEA OF BUILDING A CASTLE IN THE FOREST, HIDDEN FROM THE
ENEMY WITH THE ADDED ADVANTAGE OF A POND AND MOAT.
THE INHABITANTS WERE NO DOUBT A LOT SMARTER THAN SOME OF THE
OTHERS THAT BUILt THEIR CASTLES IN OPEN VIEW ON TOP OF A HILL

I WAS CAPTIVATED WITH THE LOVELY POND AND SHIMMERING REFLECTIONS
IN THE STILL WATER.

HOTEL ZUM ENGEL
www.mespelbrunn-hotel-engel.de

WE STAYED HERE AT THE HOTEL ZUM ENGEL ON THE SUGGESTION OF
LOCAL INGRID (Trekki) ON VT. THE OWNERS JUST LOVE AUSSIES

I AM GLAD THAT WE CHOSE THIS ONE. WE WERE CERTAINLY MADE TO
FEEL LIKE ROYALTY BY THE OWNERS AND OUR ROOM OVERLOOKED THE
FOREST WHICH WAS A PLEASANT VIEW AFTER OUR CAR TRIP.

I WOULD TOTALLY RECOMMEND TO STAY HERE. WE REALLY ENJOYED IT.
I WOULD DESCRIBE THIS HOTEL AS ELEGANT WITH PERSONALISED SERVICE.

aussirose and Hotel owner

]

NEXT STOP BRAUBACH ON THE RHINE RIVER VIA OESTRICH-WINKEL
AND THE AMAZING MOUSE CASTLE

FAVOURITE PHOTO.

TONGEREN

WE HADN'T PLANNED TO VISIT TONGEREN ON OUR ROAD TRIP THROUGH EUROPE.
WE WERE HEADED TO LIER FOR A SPECIAL VIRTUALTOURIST MEET AND WE HAD
ARRANGED TO PICK UP KSHEZZ (Kirsty) FROM HER HOME IN TONGEREN.

MY FIRST IMPRESSION OF TONGEREN WAS A SMALL TOWN THAT I IMMEDIATELY
FELT COMFORTABLE IN. THE PEOPLE HERE ARE WARM AND FRIENDLY AND THE
COUNTRYSIDE IS LOVELY.

FIRST TIME IN A NEW COUNTRY, YOU HAVE TO TRY A LOCAL BEER. THIS ONE
GRIMBERBEN WENT DOWN REAL WELL. A NICE INTRODUCTION TO BELGIUM
BEERS!

OK, NOW WE'VE HAD A NICE COLDIE.... LET'S START WITH AN AUSSIROSE STORY.
STOP GROANING!!!

WE WERE ON OUR WAY TO PICK UP KIRSTY FROM HER HOME IN TONGEREN
AND WE WERE DRIVING THROUGH SOME NICE COUNTRYSIDE AND INTO A
SMALL VILLAGE, THROUGH THE STREETS AND THEN HEADING OUT OF TOWN.

HEY... WAIT A MINUTE!!!!!!!
WE ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE HEADING OUT OF TOWN????!
WE CAME TO A SCREECHING HAULT!! .... DUST SURROUNDED THE CAR.

IS THERE SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE TOM TOM?... !! WE AGAIN PUNCHED
IN KIRSTY'S ADDRESS AND HEADED BACK INTO THE SMALL VILLAGE TO WHICH
WE HAD JUST COME FROM..... TONGEREN.

STORY TO BE CONTINUED...... LATER.

THE GREAT MEMORY A LOT OF US HAD WITH VIRTUALTOURIST (Closed in Feb 2017)
WAS OUR FABULOUS VT MEETS. I HOPE THAT TRADITION WILL CONTINUE ON TP.
SO HERE WE ARE AT KIRSTY'S PLACE IN TONGEREN EXCHANGING HUGS
IT'S LIKE MEETING UP WITH AN OLD FRIEND AND SHARING NEW EXPERIENCES.
AWESOME!!
IT WAS A REAL PLEASURE MEETING YOU KIRSTY! xx NEVER A DULL MOMENT!
YOU ARE A LIVELY FUN LOVING PERSON AND SO EASY TO GET ALONG WITH

WE ALL ENJOYED A WALK AROUND TOWN WITH THE BASILICA OF OUR LADY AND
LEARNING ABOUR THE STORY BEHIND THE AMAZING STATUE AMBIORIX IN THE
CENTRE SQUARE.

KIRSTY ALSO HAD SOME PRESENTS FOR US. MY FIRST TASTE OF BELGIUM
CHOCOLATES!! AND A KEY RING FOR HOWIE OF THE FAMOUS AMBIORIX.

LIER

OUR FIRST CANAL EXPERIENCE! WE HAD A LOT OF FIRSTS THIS TRIP
WE HAD ALREADY EXPERIENCED, CLOCKS, TUDOR HOUSES, COBBLESTONE STREETS,
CASTLES AND A GRAND PALACE. NOW THE CANALS!! HOW BEAUTIFUL!!

WHEN PLANNING OUR BIG TRIP THROUGH EUROPE I HAD GOOGLE MAPS UP
AND GOOGLE IMAGES AND OF COURST VT AS MY TRUSTY SOURCE OF INFO.
WE WERE DRIVING FROM BRAUBACH TO BRUGGE - TOO LONG TO DO IN 1 DAY.
I DISCOVERED LIER.

LIER HAS 3 BIG THINGS GOING FOR IT - AN INTERESTING CLOCK, SOME OLD
BUILDINGS IN A PLACE CALLED THE BEGUINAGE AND CANALS!!
LIER IS CALLED "LITTLE BRUGGES"

THE CLOCK WAS AMAZING!! I HAVE A THING FOR CLOCKS
MY PRIDE AND JOY AT HOME IS MY GRANDFATHER CLOCK.
THIS UNIQUE CLOCK IN LIER WAS A MASTERPIECE!!
CALLED THE ZIMMER TOWER, IT WAS ACTUALLY PART OF THE OLD TOWN WALLS
AND THEN MADE INTO A CLOCK IN 1930 BY A VERY INGENIOUS FELLA CALLED
LOUISE ZIMMER.

VT MASCOT AUSSIEBARNEY JUST LOVED LIER! BET YOU CAN GUESS WHY! LOL.
WHAT THE HECK HAVE SHEEP AND LIER GOT IN COMMON?.. I'LL EXPLAIN LATER....

FIRST THINGS FIRST. THIS WAS A SPECIAL VT MEET. IT WAS MY 51st BIRTHDAY.
I WAS GOING TO SPEND MY BIRTHDAY IN A LITTLE VILLAGE IN EUROPE THAT I
KNEW NOTHING ABOUT..... WELL EXCEPT FOR THE LOVELY CANALS AND CLOCK.

TURNS OUT THAT I COUD NOT HAVE PICKED A BETTER PLACE!! AND THAT WAS
BECAUSE OF SOME FANTASTIC VT MEMBERS!! WHO MADE THIS A DAY TO
REMEMBER AND THE WEALTH OF INFORMATION THEY HAD TO SHARE WITH ME!

THANKS TO KSHEZZ (Kirsty), IRISBE (Dannie) AND EDDYMARIO (Eddy).
YOU GUYS ROCK!!! xxx

Eddie, his lovely wife, good friend Birgit who was travelling with us,
aussirose, Kirsty and Dannie.

EXCHANGED HUGS ALL ROUND AND A COUPLE OF DRINKS AS US VT'ERS ARE
ACCUSTOMED TO.... AND WE WENT FOR A WANDER AROUND TOWN.

I HAD READ ALL ABOUT THE BEGUINAGE AND WAS EXCITED TO SEE IT.
A BEGUINAGE IS LIKE A CONVENT. IN THE OLD TIMES THERE WAS A SURPLUS
OF WOMEN AS A RESULT OF WAR WHICH TOOK THE LIVES OF MANY MEN.
THESE WOMEN FORMED COMMUNITIES WHERE THEY BECAME RELIGIOUS AND
TOOK ON THE LIVES OF NUNS. YOU COULD SAY THAT A BEGUINAGE IS
COMPARED TO A MONESTERY EXCEPT THE BEGUINES DID NOT MAKE VOWS
LIKE NUNS DO. THIS WAS TURNING OUT TO BE A MOST ENJOYABLE DAY!!

BEER O'CLOCK AND PARTY TIME!!

EDDY AND DANNIE CHOSE A FABULOUS RESTAURANT FOR OUR PARTY!!
WE HAD A LOVELY VIEW OVER NICE GREENERY AND THE FAMOUS SHEEP STATUES.
THANK YOU FOR ORGANISING GUYS!!! YOU ARE AMAZING FRIENDS! xx
WE HAD AN AWESOME PARTY!!!

STREETS OF LIER

EARLY NEXT MORNING WE TOOK A WANDER AROUND THE STREETS. IT'S A NICE
THING TO DO WHEN THE AIR IS COOL AND THERE'S NO ONE AROUND

OPPOSITE THE RESTAURANT WE HAD PARTIED THE NIGHT BEFORE WAS A LOVELY
PAINTING PORTRAYING THE LIFE OF THE WOMEN IN THE OLD BEGUINAGE.
I AM BY FAR A HISTORY JUNKIE.... BUT I WAS ACTUALLY QUITE LIKING WHAT
I WAS LEARNING. LIER HAS A VERY INTERESTING HISTORY....

OK.... NOW FOR A SHEEPISH STORY

DID YOU KNOW THAT THE INHABITANTS OF LIER ARE NICNAMED
"SHEEP'S HEADS"? THIS IS THE STORY BEHIND THE SHEEP STATUES THAT
YOU FIND AROUND TOWN.

WAY BACK IN THE OLDEN TIMES THEY WERE ASKED WHAT THEY WISHED FOR -
A CATTLE MARKET OR A UNI?

YEP..... YOU GUESSED IT ................. AND LEUVEN, A PLACE DOWN THE ROAD
GOT THE UNIVERSITY.

THIS STORY DIDN'T MATTER TO AUSSIBARNEY. HE WAS JUST HAPPY TO MEET
SOME OF HIS FELLOW MATES. HE PICKED THE BLACK SHEEP TO SIT ON FOR A
RIDE NO HIDDEN SECRET THERE...... LOL.

SO WHILST AUSSIEBARNEY WAS BEING LED ASTRAY BY THE BLACK SHEEP.....
I GOT A LITTLE DISTRACTED MYSELF.....

WHOAA??.... HELL YEH!!!
THE CHIPPENDALES WERE IN TOWN!!!..... HOW COULD I HAVE MISSED THEM??!!!
HEY DANNIE !!!!!! GEE!!!

DESPITE MISSING THE CHIPPENDALES OUR VISIT TO LIER WILL DEFINITELY BE
ANOTHER GREAT TRAVEL MEMORY!! MADE ALL THE BETTER BY FANTASTIC
FRIENDS!! THANKS GUYS!!

PURE HOTEL LIER

WE STAYED AT THE PURE BED AND BREAKFAST. THIS PLACE IS THE MOST
CLINICAL HOTEL I HAVE EVER STAYED IN. EVERYTHING WAS NEW AND 'WHITE'
WITH LOTS OF CHROME FITTINGS. THERE WAS NO ATMOSPHERE HERE.
IT WAS AS CLEAN AS A HOSPITAL WITHOUT THE SMELL
MIGHT HAVE HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH CATERING MAILY FOR THOSE
THAT COME OUT OF THE SLEEZY DISCO IN FRONT OF THE HOTEL LOL.
BREAKFAST WAS GOOD THOUGH. DON'T THINK I'D STAY HERE AGAIN.

GENT

WELL WHAT AN AMAZING SURPRISE!! WE WERE NOT SURE WHAT TO EXPECT.
I HAD DONE NO RESEARCH AT ALL ON GENT. WE MADE A QUICK STOP IN GENT ON
THE WAY TO BRUGGES PURELY TO MEET A VERY OLD FRIEND OF MINE ON VT ERWIN.

ERWIN (Joeplaboam) HAD KINDLY OFFERED TO SHOW US AROUND HIS HOMETOWN
AND WHO WOULDN'T ACCEPT AN INVITATION LIKE THAT FROM A FRIEND I HAD KNOWN
FOR 13 YEARS ON VT

WE MET ERWIN AT A CAR PARK JUST OFF THE HIGHWAY AT THE HOLIDAY IN EXPRESS.
THAT'S A STORY IN ITSELF..... IN A MINUTE ----

WELL AS I SAID, GENT WAS A TOTAL SURPRISE AND HAS HEAPS TO OFFER!
MY FRIEND ERWIN WAS A FANTASTIC HOST AND MADE OUR SHORT STOP IN
GENT A TOTAL PLEASURE AND FANTASTIC MEMORY

THE HIGHLIGHT FOR ME IN GENT WAS OUR FIRST EUROPE CANAL EXPERIENCE.
IT WAS ALSO MY BEST CANAL TOUR OF OUR WHOLE EUROPE TRIP!!!
THIS WAS NOT ONLY DUE TO ERWIN'S COMPANY BUT ALSO BECAUSE OUR TOUR
GUIDE WAS SO ENTERTAINING AND FUNNY.

GENT IS A POPULAR PACE FOR WEDDINGS. WE SAW 4 IN THE SHORT SPACE OF TIME
THAT WE WERE HERE. AND NO WONDER! THE BACKDROP WITH GORGEOUS OLD
BUILDINGS AND COBBLESTONE STREETS. WOW! WHO WOULDN'T WANT TO GET
MARRIED HERE!!

OUT AND ABOUT WANDERING AROUND GENT WITH IT'S AMAZING BUILDINGS, ARCHITECTURE,
GREAT CATHEDERAL AND EVEN A CASTLE!! - GRAVENSTEEN! STUNNING!!

AND THEN..... JUST WHEN WE THOUGHT IT COULDN'T GET ANY BETTER..... ERWIN TOOK US TO
THE AMAZING WERREGARENSTRAAT - GRAFFITI STREET!!!!

OK.... BACK TO THE FUNNY AUSSIROSE STORY....
DONT!!! *** aussirose making stop hand signal ***
KEEP YOUR THOUGHTS TO YOURSELF!!!

WAS OUR TRUSTY GPS PLAYING TRICKS ON US?....
TOM TOM HAD HELPED US NAVIGATE BUSTLING CITIES, WINDY ROADS,
SMALL COBBLEDSTONE STREETS WITHIN OLD FORTRESS WALLS AND
WIDE OPEN COUNTRYSIDE. WE COULD NOT HAVE DONE THIS TRIP WITHOUT IT.
..... WELL EXCEPT FOR A COUPLE OF HICKUPS.

WE HAD TRAVELLED THROUGH THE GORGEOUS BELGIUM COUNTRYSIDE THE
PREVIOUS DAY TO PICK UP KIRSTY FROM TONGEREN AND TAKE HER WITH US
TO LIER FOR MY BIRTHDAY BASH. TOM TOM TOOK US RIGHT PAST KIRSTY'S
HOUSE AND OUT OF TOWN. WE THOUGHT AT THE TIME THAT IT WAS STRANGE.
BUT DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING MORE BECAUSE WE WERE EXCITED TO SEE KIRSTY.

SO HERE WE ARE DRIVING FROM LIER TO BRUGGES VIA GENT TO SEE ERWIN.
WELL GUESS WHAT?.... WE TOOK THE EXIT OFF THE HIGHWAY TO GENT....
THEN DID A LOOP AND RE-ENTERED THE HIGHWAY TOWARDS BRUGGES.

HUH??? WTF??!!!..............

THEN IT CLICKED!!! TOM TOM DIDN'T KNOW THAT WE ACTUALLY WANTED TO
STOP IN GENT!! STUPID GPS!!! LOL

BY PUTTING IN 'VIA' - GPS WAS DOING JUST THAT..... TAKING US VIA.
HAHA.

BEER TIME!

ERWIN TOOK US TO THIS PUB CALLED DULLO GRIET BAR WHEN THEY SERVE
OVER 250 BEERS!! HOOLEYDOOLEY !!!! CHEERS!!

WESTMALLE WAS OUR FAVOURITE.

DE KONICK - A NICE FULL BODIED BEER WITH A GOOD WHEATY TASTE.

PECHERESSE, A BEER MADE OUT OF 30% PEACH JUICE. DIFFERENT... BUT STILL VERY TASTY.

AS YOU CAN SEE HERE.... I AM TOTALLY HAPPY AFTER A COUPLE OF HOURS
SPENT IN GENT WITH OUR WONDERFUL HOST ERWIN

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHOWING US AROUND MATE. GENT WAS AMAZING!
AND YOU ARE THE BEST!! xx
I WOULD LOVE TO COME BACK AND EXPLORE SOME MORE.

NEXT STOP THE STUNNING AND ROMATIC BRUGGES.

FAVOURITE PHOTO

HOW ROMANTIC!!

THIS IS STILL A FAVOURITE PHOTO! AND IT WAS TAKEN WITH MY POINT AND SHOOT
CAMERA AND I STITCHED TOGETHER IN PHOTOSHOP.

BRUGGES WAS ONE OF THE 1ST ON MY LIST OF PLACES TO SEE IN EUROPE.
I FELL IN LOVE WITH BRUGGES WHILST VISITING IAN'S (iandsmith) PAGES ON
VT. I SAW HIS NIGHT SHOTS AND IMMEDIATELY KNEW I WANTED TO VISIT!
THANKS MATE!

WE HAD ALREADY EXPERIENCED OUR FIRST EUROPE CANALS IN LIER AND GENT.
BUT THE CANALS HERE IN BRUGGES AT NIGHT WERE SOMETHING ELSE!!

AUSSIROSE MEETS BIG KWAK!
BIGGER THAN ANY CROC I HAVE COME ACROSS YET!

I WAS GOBSMACKED!!! HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A BEER SO BIG!!
NOW THIS IS WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!!

BUT HOW IS AUSSIROSE GOING TO POLISH THIS OFF WITHOUT SPILLING IT
ALL OVER HER FACE AND EMBARRASING HERSELF IN PUBLIC?....!

WELL I DELICATELY LIFTED THE YARD GLASS OUT OF IT'S HOLDER AND
SIPPED IT. THERE WAS NO WAY I WAS GOING TO SPILL THIS THING ALL OVER
MYSELF!!...... LOL.

I DID THIS TECHNIQUE A FEW TIMES.... PRETENDING I KNEW WHAT I WAS
DOING.... NO LIFTING THE LITTLE PINKIE.... I AM A PROFESSIONAL!!........

WELL THERE WERE SOME STRANGE LOOKS AT NEIGHBOURING TABLES
AND I THOUGHT..... WHAT'S THE PROBLEM?.... I'M DOING REAL GOOD HERE.
I HAVE NOT GOT A FACE FULL YET! THINK MY TECHNIQUE IS WORKING!!

WELL IT TURNS OUT THAT I WAS NOT DOING THIS IN STYLE AT ALL!
I WAS MAKING A TOTAL FOOL OF MYSELF AT EVERYONE'S EXPENSE LOL.

BUT THAT'S ALRIGHT BECAUSE AUSSIROSE IS USED TO BEING A DUMB
BLONDE QUEENSLANDER LOL.

THIS IS WHAT I SHOULD HAVE BEEN DOING.... LIFTING UP THE WHOLE
WOODEN FRAME AND YARD GLASS AT THE SAME TIME. THIS NICE WAITER
TOOK PITTY ON ME AND CAME OVER TO HELP LOL

WELL AFTER I MASTERED IT.... FOLLOWED BY A FEW LAUGHS ALL ROUND
INCLUDING ME, I POLISHED OFF MY BEER TO A ROUND OF APPLAUSE!!
AND JUST HAD TO GET A PHOTO OF MY KWAK BEER DRINKING TEACHER!!

WELL BY THIS TIME I NEEDED A DISTRACTION FROM MY FALIURE.....
AND I GOT IT!!!! LOL

WHAT SORT OF HEAD IS THAT HOWIE?!! ....... CHUCKLE..... SNIGGER SNIGGER
WHERE'S THE BEER?....!! NOW DRINK THAT!! LOL.

HUBBY PRIDES HIMSELF ON POURING A GOOD BEER. BUT I THINK THESE
BELGIUM BEERS HAVE CERTAINLY GIVEN BOTH OF US A GOOD CHALLENGE!

OK SAYS HUBBY..... ENOUGH OF THE SILLY STUFF, LET'S CHECK OUT THE MENU.
WELL THAT JUST CREATED MORE LAUGHTER ON MY SIDE!! HAWHAWW!
NOW WHO IS THE LOOSER!!! PFFT!! I LOST IT TOTALLY!!! HAHAAAA...

THE STAFF COULDN'T HAVE BEEN MORE HELPFUL AND WE HAD A NICE TIME
ENJOYING OUR SURROUNDINGS AND PEOPLE WATCHING.

BRUGGES IS SUCH A ROMANTIC PLACE. I LOVED THE CANALS AND NIGHT LIGHTS.

BRUGGES IS SO MUCH MORE!! IT HAD HORSE & BUGGIES TOO!
WHAT A LOVELY WAY TO SEE THE SIGHTS AND EQUALLY ROMANTIC!
WE DIDN'T DO THIS AS THE LINE UP WAS TOO LONG. WE DID HOWEVER
RIDE HORSE AND BUGGE ELSEWHERE ON OUR TRIP BUT THAT'S ANOTHER STORY.

WE TOOK A FEW MINUTES TO SIT AND ENJOY THE DUCKS AND SWANS ON THE
CANAL FRONT. THIS WAS A NICE QUIET PART OF THE CITY WITH LOTS OF
TREES AND SHADE.

OK.... FUNNY AUSSIROSE STORY.

AND YOU THOUGHT THAT MY BEER DRINKING TECHNIQUE WAS FUNNY!!

THIS IS THE MAIN SQUARE IN BRUGGES. HUBBY AND I STAYED IN A
BEAUTIFUL BED AND BREAKFAST ABOUT 20MIN CASUAL STROLL FROM
THIS CENTRE SQUARE. MORE ABOUT THE B&B IN A MINUTE....

ON OUR FIRST DAY WE DECIDED TO HIRE THE B&B BIKES TO TAKE THE
FAST TRIP INTO TOWN. NO PROBLEM! AUSSIROSE WAS AN ACCOMPLISHED
BIKE RIDER ..... YEARS AGO........

THESE DANISH BIKES HOWEVER WERE BIG! MINE WAS A BIT TOO BIG!!
OF COURSE I HAD NO PROBLEM MOUNTING IT!....
RIDING.... NO PROBLEM.... LOL.

BUT GETTING OFF..... WAS JUST A SLIGHT PROBLEM.... HAHA.

NOTHINNG LIKE A CRASH LANDING IN THE CENTRE SQUARE OF BRUGGES!
IN FRONT OF THE HORSE AND BUGGIES AND CROWDS LOL

OUT COMES THE VIOLINS.......
NO, JUST THOUGTH I'D THROW THAT IN FOR EFFECT ..... HEHEE.

SPEAKING OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.... THIS FELLA WAS IN THE NEXT STREET.
I REALLY ENJOYED HIS VIOLIN AND TRUMPET PLAYING.
HE WAS A REAL TALENTED GUY.

SO AFTER MY IMPRESSIVE TOUCHDOWN INTO THE CENTRE SQUARE ......
HUBBY AND I TOOK A WANDER AROUND THE STREETS, TAKING IN THE
LIVELY ATMOSPHERE AND TOURIST ATTRACTIONS. BRUGGES IS A VERY BUSY
TOURISTY PLACE.

BRUGGES CANALS

GOING ON A CANAL TOUR IN BRUGGE WAS ON MY 'MUST DO LIST!! :o)
WE HAD ALREADY EXPERIENCED A SURPRISE CANAL CRUISE IN GENT.
SO I HAD SOMETHING TO COMPARE THIS WITH. ALTHOUGH BOTH HAD
SIMILAR NICE SIGHTS.... GENT WINS! YOU'LL HAVE TO CHECK OUT MY
GENT BLOG TO FIND OUT WHY

VT MEET

LOVELY SARAH (crazypaws) WHO ORGANISED OUR MEET UP.
THANKS A MILLION SARAH FOR A FANTASTIC JOB!! WE ALL
ENJOYED OURSELVES IMMENSLEY! xx

ATTENDEES WERE BELL (titabell), DANNIE (irisbe), CAROLINE (B_Caro)
AND IAN-GRACE (kylian74).
OH AND AUSSIEBARNEY (WHO STOLE THE SHOW) AND THOSE
NAUGHTY VA'S (THE PLASTIC PEOPLE FROM AROUND THE WORLD
THAT WOULD HAVE LOVED TO HAVE ATTENDED IN PERSON...
NEXT BEST THING.... VIRTUAL ATTENDEE... OR VA AS WE
AFFECTIONALLY CALLED THEM,)

BELL - YOU HAD BEEN MY FRIEND FOR A LONG TIME ON VT AND
IT WAS A HIGHLIGHT TO FINALLY MEET YOU!! WHAT A WARM
RECEPTION YOU GAVE HOWIE AND I. AND YOUR EYES LIT UP
WHEN YOU SAW OUR VA'S HANSI, LORI, DORRISE AND REXY xx.

DANNIE - YOU CAME TO MY BIRTHDAY BASH IN LIER! WHAT AN
AMAZING TIME WE HAD!! AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALSO
COMING TO BRUGGES!! xx

CAROLINE - YOU HAD A WARM AND BUBBLY PERSONALITY!
WHO WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN DRAWN TO YOU! WE HAD A
FABULOUS TIME

IAN-GRACE - YOU CAME ALONG WITH YOUR HUBBY AND LITTLE
BABY GIRL WHO WAS SO CUTE!!..... YOU CAME FROM 3 HOURS
AWAY! I AM SO PRIVILEGED TO HAVE MET YOU AND YOUR LITTLE
FAMILY! DON'T STOP SMILING AND ENJOYING LIFE TO THE FULL!!
xx

AGAIN.... SARAH.... LOOKING FORWARD TO SHOWING YOU AROUND
PERTH WHEN YOU VISIT US SHORTLY IN JULY 2017!! HUGS xx

BRUGGES ACCOMMODATION - ELEVEN BED AND BREAKFAST

I WOULD RECOMMEND TO STAY HERE. OUR HOSTS WERE
ATTENTATIVE BUT ALSO GAVE US OUR SPACE. PARKING WAS
NOT TOO FAR AWAY. WE HAD THE USE OF THE BIKES TO RIDE INTO
TOWN.... ABOUT 7 MINUTES AWAY. GREAT LOCATION.
BREAKFAST WAS NICE!

BRUGGES EXCELLED EVERYTHING I HAD IMAGINED!

NEXT STOP - AMSTERDAM AND A STAY ON A HOUSEBOAT,
FUN AT THE HEINEKEN EXPERIENCE, WINDMILLS...
BOATS, BIKES AND BOOZE -
PLUS MEETING PJ, SWANET, DILA AND MARY.

FAVOURITE PHOTO.

NOT ONE OF THE BETTER PHOTOS I TOOK IN AMSTERDAM, HOWEVER
THIS PHOTO BRINGS BACK HAPPY MEMORIES OF OUR HOUSEBOAT.

YES, WE STAYED ON A HOUSEBOAT! IT WAS AWESOME!
HOUSEBOAT B042

aussirose and Houseboat owner Frank

WHEN PLANNING OUR HOLIDAY, AMSTERDAM WAS ONE OF THE FIRST
ON MY LIST. NOT BECAUSE OF THE BOATS, BIKES AND BOOZE... BUT
BECAUSE OF MY GOOD VIRTUALTOURIST FRIEND PJ (Pieter Jan) AND HIS
LOVELY WIFE SWANET. MEETING UP WITH PJ AND SWANET WAS THE
HIGHLIGHT OF AMSTERDAM

WE ALSO HAD THE PLEASURE OF MEETING ANOTHER AMSTERDAM
RESIDENT, DIANNA (Dila) WHO KINDLY SHOWED US AROUND ON A
NICE WALKING TOUR OF AMSTERDAM AND ALSO JOINED IN ON OUR
DAILY ACTIVITIES.

OUR TIME IN AMSTERDAM WAS ACCOMPANIED BY RAIN WHICH COULD HAVE
PUT A DAMPER ON THE WHOLE EXPERIENCE, BUT IT DIDN'T MATTER MUCH.
WE HAD A FUN TIME ANYWAY

OUR WHOLE EUROPE TRIP INCORPORATED SO MANY NEW AND DIFFERENT
EXPERIENCES, CULTURES AND SIGHTS.... IN FACT THERE WAS A WOW FACTOR
AROUND EVERY CORNER! AMSTERDAM WAS NO DIFFERENT.

MY HIGHLIGHT HERE WAS THE CANALS. YES, WE DID THE RED LIGHT DISTRICT,
WINDMILLS AND THE FUN HEINEKEN EXPERIENCE, BUT THE CANALS FOR ME
WAS THE HIGHLIGHT.

 HEINEKEN EXPERIENCE

HUBBY WORE HIS FBI T-SHORT ESPECIALLY FOR THE OCCASION -
FAMOUS BEER INSPECTOR

WE HAD BEEN TASING BEERS ALL THROUGH GERMANY AND BELGIUM.
NOW CAME THE TIME FOR THE FBI TO PUT HEINEKEN, AMSTERDAM TO
THE TEST!!!

SO FAR SO GOOD... THE FBI IS IMPRESSED.
PJ GIVES HIS NOD OF APPROVAL.....
THE FBI IS STILL WORKING ON IT.

NOW FOR THE FIRST TEST..........
THE FBI SMELLS THE INGREDIENTS.
YOU NEED TO HAVE GOOD BARLEY, HOPS AND YEAST.
NOT BAD...... SAYS THE FBI.

NOW FOR THE ALL IMPORTANT TASTE TEST.
CHECK OUT THE BUBBLES, CLARITY...... AND TASTE!
DOES IT PASS?....

FINAL INSPECTION COMPLETED! BEER PASSED THE TEST!!

MEANWHILE BIRGIT AND SWANET WERE DOING A BIT OF THEIR
OWN SMELLING AND TASTING

THE HEINEKEN EXPERIENCE MAY BE A BIT TACKY BUT THE FBI AND I
AGREE THAT IT IS WELL WORTH A VISIT.

YOU GET TO EXPERIENCE THE FEELING OF ACTUALLY BEING A BEER
BEING MADE AND BOTTLED BY MEANS OF A SIMULATED ACTIVITY.
THEY HAVE OTHER FUN STUFF TO DO INCLUDING KAREOKE

AND AT THE END THERE IS A BEER POURING COMPETITION.

WE WERE ALL GIVEN 2 BUTTONS FOR FREE BEERS. YOU COULD USE
THE 2 BUTTONS TO POUR YOUR OWN BEER.

THE FBI COULDN'T RESIST THE CHALLENGE
HUBBY STEPPED UP AND POURED HIS BEER LIKE A TRUE FBI PRO!
UNLIKE HIS FEEBLE ATTEMPT IN BRUGGES...... lol.

AND RECEIVED A HEINEKEN EXPERIENCE BEER PULLING CERTIFICATE!

THE CROWD CLAPPED AND CHEERED!!

AND HUBBY PROCEEDED TO SCAB A FEW MORE BUTTONS FROM THOSE
WHO CHEERFULLY GAVE THEM AWAY TO THE FAMOUS FBI....

ZAANSE SCHANS

A TRIP TO AMSTERDAM IS INCOMPLETE WITHOUT VISITING THE LOVELY
WINDMILLS. LOCATED IN THE VILLAGE OF ZAANSE SCHANS WHICH IS
JUST A SHORT TRAIN RIDE FROM CENTRAL STATION. THE LINK ABOVE
SHOWS HOW TO GET HERE.

WE HAD EXPERIENCED LOTS OF FIRST'S ON OUR EUROPE TRIP -
CHIMING CLOCKS, COBBLEDSTONE STREETS, CASTLES, A BIG
PALACE, CANALS, HORSE & BUGGY.... AND NOW FOR THE WINDMILLS.

I LOVED OUR DAY OUT HERE. THE LITTLE VILLAGE IS JUST GORGEOUS!!

I BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE 25 HISTORIC HOUSES IN WHICH AROUND 40
PEOPLE STILL LIVE WITH 2 WORKING WINDMILLS STILL SELLING THEIR
PRODUCTS TO NEARBY FACTORIES.

HERE IN ZAANSE SCHANS I HAD THE BEST APPLE PIE EVER!! YUUUM!!
DE HOOP OP D'SWARTE WALVIS RESTAURANT

A WANDER AROUND AMSTERDAM WITH AUSSIROSE

Begijnhof

Anne Frank Statue

Van Gogh Museum

Brouwerij 't IJ Brewery

XXXX Beer at Brouwerij 't IJ Amsterdam

We caught tram No. 5 and Dianna was Driving !!!

BIKES OF AMSTERDAM

BEWARE.... BIKE RIDERS HERE HAVE PRIORITY... WELL AT LEAST THAT
IS THE EXPERIENCE I HAD. DO NOT LINGER ON A BIKE PATH!!!

AMSTERDAM AT NIGHT

IT'S NO SECRET THAT I LOVE NIGHT LIGHTS AND NIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY!
I EVEN TOOK A LOVELY SHORT VIDEO OF THE NIGHT LIGHTS
REFLECTING ON THE CANAL NEAR OUR HOUSEBOAT WHICH I WILL
ATTEMPT TO UPLOAD HERE LATER.

AMSTERDAM AT NIGHT WAS STUNNING!! AS YOU CAN SEE BELOW

VT MEET PIX

oxymoron

AND MARY CAME ALL THE WAY FROM SCOTLAND TO OUR VT MEET!!
THAT IS AWESOME!! HAD A WONDERFUL TIME WITH YOU MARY! xx
IT IS SUCH A PITTY THAT YOU GOT SICK AND COULDN'T ATTEND ANY
OF OUR DAY TRIPS....

THANK YOU SO MUCH PJ AND SWANET FOR HOSTING US IN AMSTERDAM!!
YOU WILL ALWAYS BE GOOD FRIENDS!!! XXX

NEXT DESTINATION PARIS FOR THE BIG VT MEET!!
AND A SPECIAL SURPRISE FROM HUBBY... KEPT SECRET BY MY VT FRIENDS

AHH PARIS!! CITY OF LOVE!!

PARIS HAS BEEN MY DREAM DESTINATION SINCE VERY LITTLE.
AND FINALLY! HERE I AM!!!

FAVOURITE PHOTO.

PARIS IS KNOWN AS THE CITY OF LIGHTS, HOWEVER AFTER HAVING
EXPERIENCED PARIS FIRST HAND ALL I CAN SAY IS WOW! J'ADORE PARIS!
I'M IN LOVE WITH PARIS!!

LIGHTS.... YEH SURE! ..... THE TOWER LOOKS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING AT
NIGHT AND EVERYTHING ELSE FOR THAT MATTER WHEN YOU ARE IN
LOVE

OF COURSE IT ALSO HELPS WHEN ONE IS PRESENTED WITH A GORGEOUS
ETERNITY RING OF DIAMONDS AND RUBIES ;0

MORE ABOUT THAT LATER....

I NOW NOT ONLY ADORE PARIS BUT ALSO MY LOVELY HUBBY TO WHOM
I'VE BEEN MARRIED FOR 32 YEARS.

SO HERE I AM IN LOVE WITH PARIS AND IN LOVE WITH HUBBY

IT'S AMAZING WHAT ONE SEES WHEN ONE IS IN LOVE.

IS THIS A BORING SCENE TO YOU? WELL NOT TO ME.
LOVE THE COLOUR! LOVE THE FACT THAT THERE ARE JUST 2 BIKES.
ARE THE BIKES OUT OF PLACE? NO WAY! THEY LOOK LIKE THEY
BELONG THERE. THAT SPOT IS MADE JUST FOR THEM.
I THINK THAT THIS PICTURE CAPTURES THE ESSENCE OF PARIS!

OK ENOUGH OF THAT ROMANTIC DRIBBLE ....

PARIS ARCHITECTURE

ONE THING I FOUND WHEN VISITING EUROPE WAS THAT AROUND
EVERY CORNER THERE IS SOMETHING AMAZING TO SEE!
THE ARCHITETURE HERE IN PARIS IS PHONOMINAL!
FROM THE AWESOME EIFFEL TOWER TO THE GRAND NOTRE DAME
TO THE STUNNING LOUVRE.... TO THE SIMPLE DESIGN OF A ROW OF
ARCHES THAT IS ASTHETICALLY PLEASING TO THE EYE.

THE STATUES WERE SO LIFELIKE AND I WAS AMAZED AT THE
INTRICATE DETAIL. IN FACT AT VERSAILLES I FOUND THE MANY
LIFELIKE STATUES WERE MORE INTERESTING THAN THE GARDENS.
ART WORK WAS PRETTY GOOD TOO.

GARDENS OF VERSAILLES

HUBBY IS A HORTICULTURIST. HE STUDDIED GARDENS ON HIS
COURSE. SO IT WAS A NO BRAINER THAT HUBBY WANTED TO VISIT
THE MOST FAMOUS GARDENS IN PARIS - VERSAILLES.

ALTHOUGH I FOUND THE GARDENS NICE. I PREFERRED MONET
GARDENS.

I DID HOWEVER ENJOY THE WONDERFUL STATUES AND FOUNTAINS

MONET GARDENS

THIS WAS MY FAVOURITE! COTTAGE GARDENS WITH AN ARRAY OF
GORGEOUS COLOURFUL FLOWERS ARE SO NICE

I GUESS THAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HUBBY AND I.
HE LIKES MORE FORMAL GARDENS WHEREAS I LIKE THE MORE NATURAL
GARDENS WITH A MIXTURE OF THIS AND THAT

CLAUDE MONET MUST HAVE REALLY ENJOYED PAINTING IN THE
LOVELY SURROUNDINGS THAT HE CREATED HERE.

aussirose and borneogrrl

VA'swaalewiener and LoriPori

2 Barney VT mascots

PHOTO TOUR WITH PARIS SET ME FREE

HUBBY, STEVEMT AND I DID A WALKING PHOTO TOUR WITH SAB -
PARIS SET ME FREE.

EVEN THOUGH I DID NOT HAVE A DSLR CAMERA, I LEARN'T A LOT.
IF YOU ARE INTO PHOTOGRAPHY, I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS WHEN
VISITING PARIS. SAB WAS A GREAT TEACHER!

VT MEETS

BELOW ARE HAPPY MEMORIES OF OUR FANTASTIC VT MEET UPS HERE.
EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU WHO MET ME HERE KNOW THAT YOU
ARE ALL SPECIAL! WE HAD AN AMAZING TIME! LOVE YOU ALL!! xx

Hubby and Pfsmalo

Dear Birgit from Berlin who travelled with us

good friend Stevemt

Gillybob picnicking with a couple of big boys

STREETS OF PARIS

PAUL AND CATHY (Pfsmalo) KINDLY ARRANGED TO TAKE US ALL ON A
WALK AROUND PARIS. BELOW ARE SOME OF THE COOL THINGS THAT
WE SAW.

I Love VW Bugs!!

How did they park that? haha

Bike with 2 front wheels??

CUJAS PANTHEON HOTEL LATIN QUARTER

I COULDN'T HAVE PICKED A BETTER HOTEL! RIGHT IN THE LATIN QUARTER
AND CLOSE TO EVERYTHING.

I TOTALLY RECOMMEND THE CUJAS PANTHEON HOTEL!
WE BOOKED THROUGH BOOKING.COM. LOCATION IS GREAT, STAFF
ATTENTATIVE AND THE DEAL FOR THE PRICE WAS CERTAINLY WELL
WORTH EVERY PENNY.... ESPECIALLY BECAUSE PARIS CAN BE VERY
EXPENSIVE.

BREAKFAST INCLUDED DOWNSTAIRS WAS NICE.
OUR ROOM WAS BIGGER THAN SOME OF THOSE I HAVE SEEN.
WE COULD LOOK OUT THE WINDOW ON NICE ARCHITECTURE OF
SURROUNDING BUILDINGS.
THE PUB THAT WE HAD OUR VT MEET AND GREET WAS JUST A FEW
STEPS DOWN THE ROAD ON THE CORNER.
TRANSPORT WAS CLOSE BY.
AND THE BEST THING WAS THAT OUR ROOM HAD A BATH!!

EIFFEL TOWER

OK. CANNNOT DO A BLOG ABOUT OUR VISIT TO PARIS WITHOUT
A FEW PHOTOS OF THE FAMOUS TOWER.

ALTHOUGH HUBBY AND I LOVE OFF THE BEATEN PATH PLACES MORE
THAN VISITING TOURISTY ICONS..... YOU SIMPLY CANNOT VISIT PARIS
WITHOUT CHECKING OUT THE AMAZING EIFFEL TOWER!

OF COURSE WE DIDN'T BOTHER WITH LINING UP. WE WERE JUST HAPPY
TO VIEW IT FROM THE GROUND.

OUR FIRST VISIT WAS A PICNIC IN THE GARDENS WITH OUR VT FRIENDS.
THAT WAS LOVELY. I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO THE SAME IF YOU
PLAN TO VISIT. THERE IS NOTHING BETTER THAN HAVING A PICNIC WITH
WINE, CHEESE AND BREADS IN THE GROUNDS OF THE EIFFEL TOWER!!!

OUR SPECIAL MEET UP WHERE HUBBY PRESENTED ME WITH A GORGEOUS
ETERNITY RING OF DIAMONDS AND RUBIES

THE 3 DIAMONDS REPRESENT HUBBY, SON DYLAN AND SON JESSE.
THE 2 RUBIES REPRESENT DAUGHTER KELLI AND DAUGHTER JANINE.

AFTER 32 YEARS OF MARRIAGE, HUBBY IS STILL A ROMANTIC AT HEART
LOVE HIM!!

HUBBY ALONG WITH OUR GOOD FRIENDS STEVE AND BIRGIT KEPT A
SPECIAL SECRET FROM ME.

STEVE ARRANGED THE RESTAURANT WHERE WE HAD AN AMAZING DINNER.
BIRGIT ALONG WITH EVERYONE ELSE KNEW ABOUT IT AND KEPT THE
SECRET.

BIRGIT TRAVELLED WITH US ALL THE WAY FROM ZURICH, THROUGH
GERMANY, BELGIUM AND AMSTERDAM (check out my other blogs).
AND SHE KEPT THE SECRET.

WE HAD DINNER AT LA VARANGUE - PHILIPPE'S RESTAURANT
NOT FAR FROM THE EIFFEL TOWER. CHEF PHILIPPE WAS WONDERFUL!

NOT ONLY THAT, BUT MY VT FRIENDS THAT CAME WERE ALSO IN ON
THE SECRET..... ALL BUT ME! LOL.

WHEN HUBBY WAS MAKING HIS SPEACH ABOUT THE GREAT TIME THAT
WE HAD SO FAR IN PARIS WITH OUR SPECIAL FRIENDS, I WAS BUSY
FILMING. IT WASN'T UNTIL HUBBY TURNED TO ME AND PRESENTED
ME WITH THIS GORGEOUS ETERNITY RING.... THAT THE PENNY FELL!

OMG!! IN FRONT OF ALL OF OUR FRIENDS, HUBBY PRESENTED ME
WITH THE MOST STUNNING ETERNITY RING AND I WAS LOST FOR
WORDS. I CRIED!!

THANK YOU HOWARD! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!! AND MY FRIENDS
WERE HERE TO SEE THIS? TOTALLY THE BEST NIGHT EVER!!

Chef Philippe with vt shirt and flag

aussirose and Chef Philippe

AND WE ALL WALKED DOWN TO THE EIFFEL TOWER TO SEE IT LIT UP
AT NIGHT!

WHAT AN AMAZING END TO OUR PARIS ADVENTURE!!

NEXT STOP - MARRAKECH MOROCCO AND AN AMAZING DESERT TOUR