Assisi

Yesterday I got to thinking about our trip. Yes I did get tried of the same breakfast. Bread, sliced meat, cheese, fruit sometimes and usually a soft boiled egg or in Italy prepared dry eggs (Uak). But as we drove thru Germany every little borg had a church. Also on Sundays most business were closed. Only if we in the USA would adopt that.
The drivers are crazy in Italy and really dont stay between the lines. Stop lights are only a suggestion so watch out when you cross the street.
In Germany the drivers are horn happy if you dont do what you should be doing. And you better use your turn signals. Most drivers on the autobahn drove a reasonable speed but when you didnt have a speed limit some were going by at 200 km (124 miles per hour).
We saw some beautiful spots in Italy really loved Assisi and Lake Maggiore. In Venice we went to one of the other islands Burano a little fishing village with brightly colored homes.
In Germany the highlight was the salt mine tour near Salzburg. Some of the lakes were picturesque but lots of hikers boy do they love to hike even on the streets of some cities do you see people walking with walking poles.
Rick and I feel like we have seen enough of Italy and Germany. We had a opportunity and we took it and we enjoyed every minute.

Back Home

We arrive home on Wednesday night after a 11 1/2 hr flight from Frankfurt, Germany. We are having a hard time getting our body clocks back to pacific time Last night I slept for about 7 hrs. I did need to medicate myself!!
We now start the procces of getting our pictures and video together, that may take a couple of weeks. It was the trip of a lifetime and and enjoyed every minute. We will share our pictures with you later.

Melsungen, Germany

Today we stopped for the night in Melsungen a town with many half timbered houses most were built about 1550. Off to Franfort tomorrow and home on Wednesday.

Hamburg

We left hamburg today. We were there for 3 nights. one day we drove to the Baltic sea it is aways smooth no waves. We visit Lubeck and Liel. Lubeck was completely destroyed by the British during WW 2 but rebuilt in 1956.
The next day we road the train into town and took a harbor tour , Hamburg is one of the largest ports. There was a cruise ship in dry dock for repairs and a large private ship been built. It had built proof glass, missale launch. It's owned by a Russian billionaire, I wonder what he is going to use it for?

Additional info

The cathederal yesterday was saved during the ww2 even though it is right next to a major railway station. But it is still black from all the fires. They are trying to restore it.

Chathedral of Cologne

Today we went to Koln Dom Cologne Cathedral. Construction started in 1248 and finished after 632 years. It seats on the Rhine river at Koln. The treasury is down in the basement it displays many catholic relics, vestments and chalices. It has gothic spires wait till you see the pics. Tomorrow we head to Humburg for 3 nights.

Aachen Cathedral

We drove to Aachen yesterday about 133 kl. The cathedral is were the Pope came to crown the king of Europe. Until England broke away from the Church. It was started in 785 by Charlemagne. Between 936-1531 29 German kings were crowned here. Beautiful stained glass.

Mosel River

Today we visited Cochem and Bernkastel-Kurs
Cochem has a castle on a hill and lots vineyards. I found some cheap embroidered tablecloths and bought some Birkenstock's.
Bernkastel-Kurs is very old some of the buildings were built in the 1300-1700's Very narrow streets the building almost touch.
The Mosel has heavy boat traffic you see lots a barges many with coal heading for France. They are so large families live on them full time, along with there cars,playsets for there children.

Mosel River

Today we visited Cochem and Bernkastel-Kurs
Cochem has a castle on a hill and lots vineyards. I found some cheap embroidered tablecloths and bought some Birkenstock's.
Bernkastel-Kurs is very old some of the buildings were built in the 1300-1700's Very narrow streets the building almost touch.
The Mosel has heavy boat traffic you see lots a barges many with coal heading for France. They are so large families live on them full time, along with there cars,playsets for there children.

Berlinger Germany

We are here in Berlinger Germany near the Mosel river this river flow into the Rhine river. The hoch's have family here so it will be our base for the next 4 days we will be exploring some small villages. We left the borgenee lake 2days ago where it rained ,it was still beautiful and saw some of the alps as we left the next morning.

Germany

We are in Germany. We have been to the edge of the Alps, seen alpine lakes, clocks, castles, salt mines. We did a tour of a salt mine & did a slide down two levels. What fun!! Tomorrow we head to the Mosel river for about 5 days. Then on to Hamburg and home.

Siena and back to Rome

We stopped in Siena on the way back to Rome. Walled city sitting on a hill there is a shell shaped piaza where they race horses around. Then we returned back to Rome and flew out this morning on to Munich Germany

Tommorow Siena and back to rome

Pisa & Florence

Pisa the leaning tower wait till you see the picks.
Today we took a stroll into the old city, saw the beautiful Domo with the babtisry (i know i cant spell so bear with me) doors so wonderful. Santa Croce was fun to see who was buried there

Verona, Milan, and Lake Maggiore

Verone was a 3 hour stop where we went to Juliets balcony. and walked the streets
Milan busy fashion city. We saw the beautifuly gothic Duomo. So many spires.
Lake Maggiore. What can I say beauiful. we had a room rigut above the lake we took a boat to the isle of bella lovely gardens, boy the rich know how to live. The summer cottage!!

Venice

Venice is venice. So wonderful. The only problem was I had vertigo and had to stay behind. I slept for 3 hrs and felt better. So off on our adventure. we took the bus to the port, grabed a water taxi down the grand canel and tried to meet up with our group. Missed them by 5 mins. Took a water taxi to island of Burano all the homes are painted different bright colors ,to try and catch up with them. We did catch up with them and came back to the hotel.

Assisi and Ravenna

We stopped in Assisi for 1 night and I just loved it. wanted to stay longer. The Assisi Basilica of St. Francis had some beautiful fresco paintings so brilliant.
Ravenna had some lovely mosaics at the Church of St. Apollinaris.

isle of Capri and Sorrento

The isle of capri was very hot and crowded. We really did not enjoy it. But we did do a boat ride around the island and saw the blue waters it was fun.
Sorrento was beautiful our hotel sat above the medeterranian and was glorious. I went on a drive down the Amalfi coast to Positano. very picturesque.