When your guide says...
Do you want to take the safe predictable path, or the scenic path ?...
...Take the scenic path every time. Sure you might get lost. You might be climbing up goat tracks, and suddenly find yourself surrounded by dense bush(forest). But the adventure and the laughs you will have along the way is worth it. As is the perplexed look on your guides face when you ask her if anything looks familiar?, and she answers "No, not really"...priceless.
Totally in control, she makes a couple of quick phone calls for directions, and to reschedule our tour time for Neuschwanstein Castle. Then we are back on the right path again. The view that greets us is amazing.
...Take the scenic path every time. Sure you might get lost. You might be climbing up goat tracks, and suddenly find yourself surrounded by dense bush(forest). But the adventure and the laughs you will have along the way is worth it. As is the perplexed look on your guides face when you ask her if anything looks familiar?, and she answers "No, not really"...priceless.
Totally in control, she makes a couple of quick phone calls for directions, and to reschedule our tour time for Neuschwanstein Castle. Then we are back on the right path again. The view that greets us is amazing.
She has some ideas on how to spend your free time...
...It was Sunday and we were in Rome. We were to meet up as as a group latter in the day, until then we were free to do as we wished. Sarah started offering up suggestions as to how we could spend our day. Quite a few us us wanted to attend a church services, as you can imagine the options were vast. Most went off to St Peters Basilica, but as we were visiting the Vatican City the next day, we wanted to do something different. Sarah suggested a small church near the Colosseum called St Clemente Basilica. It is run buy Irish priests, but the selling point is that after the service they open up the doors to stairs which lead underground to three levels of Roman ruins.
We arrived early and as we sat waiting for the service to begin, the preist came over and asked us to come forward to inner gated seating area with the local parishioners. We felt so privileged. The entire service was in Latin, but just we followed along with the English version running through our head. A very moving experience.
...It was Sunday and we were in Rome. We were to meet up as as a group latter in the day, until then we were free to do as we wished. Sarah started offering up suggestions as to how we could spend our day. Quite a few us us wanted to attend a church services, as you can imagine the options were vast. Most went off to St Peters Basilica, but as we were visiting the Vatican City the next day, we wanted to do something different. Sarah suggested a small church near the Colosseum called St Clemente Basilica. It is run buy Irish priests, but the selling point is that after the service they open up the doors to stairs which lead underground to three levels of Roman ruins.
We arrived early and as we sat waiting for the service to begin, the preist came over and asked us to come forward to inner gated seating area with the local parishioners. We felt so privileged. The entire service was in Latin, but just we followed along with the English version running through our head. A very moving experience.
After the church service we descended the stairs to experience the many layers of Rome. This was the perfect way to see how Rome is made up of many layers, as over the years the city has been rebuilt on top of itself many times over. To be able to step back through the centuries as you descend each flight of stairs is a very humbling experience.
We will be stopping at a McDonalds with the best view...
...McDonalds on the Brenner Pass Austria, needs to be seen to be believed. As we pulled up out the front, it just appeared to be any ordinary run of the mill McDonalds. But once you walk through the doors, you will be blown away by the vision that greets you. It has been purposely designed and built to capture the stunning view. The perfect example of when the architect gets it right.
...McDonalds on the Brenner Pass Austria, needs to be seen to be believed. As we pulled up out the front, it just appeared to be any ordinary run of the mill McDonalds. But once you walk through the doors, you will be blown away by the vision that greets you. It has been purposely designed and built to capture the stunning view. The perfect example of when the architect gets it right.
It's your free day to get lost in Venice, but I'm going to the beach if you want to tag along...
...Take her up on the offer! We had a lovely couple of hours at the beach. We even managed to navigate our way back to the hotel on our own, and then had time to wander the canals of Venice. When we posted photos of the beach, people back home questioned where we were. When we said Lido Beach Venice they were shocked. Some had been to Venice themselves, and yet had no idea there was even a beach there.
...Take her up on the offer! We had a lovely couple of hours at the beach. We even managed to navigate our way back to the hotel on our own, and then had time to wander the canals of Venice. When we posted photos of the beach, people back home questioned where we were. When we said Lido Beach Venice they were shocked. Some had been to Venice themselves, and yet had no idea there was even a beach there.
We had steeled ourselves that the beaches wouldn't be as good as back home. Yes, the sand was a dirty color (at least there was sand),and the waves were small, but we still managed to have a great time. We even managed to body surf.
I have the tickets...
...We were catching a vaporetto to San Marco in Venice. We were all on the floating dock with our luggage. The vaporetto arrives, gates open and the crowd surges forward. Struggling with our luggage we are swept along with the crowd. We find ourselves spread out along the aisles. Then we realize that we are not all there. Looking back at the dock, we see all our kids still on the dock. The vaporetto starts to pull away and the gates are closed.
All the adults have managed to get on board, but none of the kids have made it. There is Sarah our guide, she is back on the dock with the kids. Not to worry we must have Sawyer her assistant with us. No such luck, he is also back on the dock. It's just us, with no tickets.
...We were catching a vaporetto to San Marco in Venice. We were all on the floating dock with our luggage. The vaporetto arrives, gates open and the crowd surges forward. Struggling with our luggage we are swept along with the crowd. We find ourselves spread out along the aisles. Then we realize that we are not all there. Looking back at the dock, we see all our kids still on the dock. The vaporetto starts to pull away and the gates are closed.
All the adults have managed to get on board, but none of the kids have made it. There is Sarah our guide, she is back on the dock with the kids. Not to worry we must have Sawyer her assistant with us. No such luck, he is also back on the dock. It's just us, with no tickets.
The plan was that Sarah would hold all the tickets, and if any one asked we were to say "Alto Donna" which translates to Tall Woman. Sarah is blessed with her height, which was in turn a blessing for all of us. We could see her in any crowd. She stood head and shoulders above the crowd.
So here we were on the vaporetto with no tickets, not to worry. A quick phone to Sarah confirmed that San Marco was our stop, she had phoned ahead and explained our situation, crisis averted. This was then relayed down the aisle like a Chinese whisper. Goodness knows what Jim heard at the end of the boat, but it all worked out in the end.
So here we were on the vaporetto with no tickets, not to worry. A quick phone to Sarah confirmed that San Marco was our stop, she had phoned ahead and explained our situation, crisis averted. This was then relayed down the aisle like a Chinese whisper. Goodness knows what Jim heard at the end of the boat, but it all worked out in the end.
There are some magnificent waterfalls inside a mountain..
...Yet another great suggestion for our free afternoon in the Swiss Alps. We had just completed a hike along the ridge to Murren. One of Sarah's suggestions was to visit the Trummelbach Falls. A few of us together with Sawyer headed for the falls. The falls were amazing, the loud thundering roaring noise, together with the gurgling churning waters make for an impressive sight.
...Yet another great suggestion for our free afternoon in the Swiss Alps. We had just completed a hike along the ridge to Murren. One of Sarah's suggestions was to visit the Trummelbach Falls. A few of us together with Sawyer headed for the falls. The falls were amazing, the loud thundering roaring noise, together with the gurgling churning waters make for an impressive sight.
If the suns out, take the cable car up to the peak...
... When we arrived back at Wengen, the sun had come out. Our family together with another family thought lets go for it. it turned out to be one of the best decision we made, as this was the day our kids would see snow for the first time. The cable car ride to the top, far surpassed any of the cable rides we had been on earlier in the day. It felt like we were going vertical up the side of the mountain. Once we reached the top the kids took off running in search of snow. We only had about half an hour before the last cable car came down the mountain.
There is room for you on that train...
...There is! The train will arrive bursting at the seams. the platform will be crowed with people waiting to board...and somehow you will fit! Be polite, but firm.
If you don't make it off in time..Relax, don't panic. Remember what you tour guide told you. Get off at the next stop. Then just go up the stairs, cross the overpass to the other side of the tracks. Catch the next train back to the stop you were supposed to get off at. Your group will be waiting for you there.
Lets Dance...
We were on our way to Paris from Burgundy when the bus came to a complete stop. We had hit roadworks. Sarah decided the only way to pass the time was to dance. Abba's "Dancing Queen" started playing, and we were on our feet. At first all the kids just sat there stunned, but eventually we had them on their feet singing and dancing. After all who doesn't love "Dancing Queen" |
Sometimes the Bus Driver has an idea...
...Paul our bus driver suggested that on our way back to the motel from our afternoon luge, perhaps we could make a small detour. Having no idea what lay ahead, we all agreed. We arrived at the Church of Wies (Wieskirche in German). It Just appears in the middle of no where. Very unassuming from the outside. But oh boy, the inside was a different matter. |
The interior is a masterpiece of Rococo art. It is one of the most ornate churches I have ever seen. The plaster work, the carvings, the paintings, this church has the lot.
I have a rule....
The rule being that the kids ( with their parents consent) were allowed as much gelato as they liked, provided they the chose a different flavor each time. Just run with it, the kids will love your forever. you can extend the rule to apply to yourself. It's a win win situation all around. |