My Journey Home - Booked!!!

My return trip seems to be, all of a sudden, organised. I have booked my flights and a tour through Europe which is great and I am really looking forward to it.

Ok so my flight details are as follows: Brisbane - Bangkok Friday 15th June leaves at 15.20pm and arrives at 21.30pm. Bangkok - Zurich Friday 15th June leaves 23.25pm arrives 16th June 06.10am. Zurich - Rome Saturday 16th June leaves 07.25am arrives 08.50am. I will then have a day or so in Rome before meeting my tour group on Sunday 17th June. Here is the tour itinerary from 17th June.

ITINERARY
DAYS 1-2: Rome
Our tour begins in the Eternal City, home of the Vatican, the Trevi Fountain and some of the
tastiest pizza you’ll ever try! However long you spend here it simply won't be enough so make
sure you throw a coin or two over your shoulder into the Trevi Fountain – as it means
you will return! Please make sure you arrive around midday to make sure you meet up with the rest of the group and settle into the campsite. Your tour Leader will leave a message for you at the campsite reception to let you know their estimated time of arrival and what the itinerary
for that day will be. You will then know exactly what the plan is for the day and you can then
organise your time so you don’t miss out on anything when the group arrives. Later that
evening your Tour Leader will give you a briefing about your tour, outline the plan of the
next few days, answer any questions you might have and collect your ‘Local Fund’
payment in full Euro cash.
On Day 2 we will have a walking tour and you will see the Spanish Steps, the sprawling
Roman Forum, the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon and Piazza Navona and start to get
an idea of the depth of history which seeps from every street. Take in some of the
Michelangelo and Raphael’s remarkable art; stop in and see the Pope, St Peters and the
brilliant Sistine Chapel at the Vatican City; lose yourself in the maze of backstreets; sit in grand open squares filled with entertainers and finish the day at a pavement cafe with a bottle of chilled Frascati or fruity Chianti. (Day 1 – B, Day 2 – B,L)
Rome Highlights: Colosseum • Piazza
Venezia • Roman Forum • Spanish Steps •
Trevi Fountain • Pantheon • Piazza Navona •
Victor Emmanuel Monument • St. Peter’s
Basilica • Sistine Chapel & Vatican Museum
• Shopping at top boutiques on the Via
Condotti.

DAYS 3-4: Venice
Next we come to magical Venice. Built on water and cris-crossed by canals, Venice is all
about gondolas, romance, charm and a life never far from the water. We have a walking orientation tour of the highlights including the Rialto Bridge, St. Mark’s Basilica, Doges
Palace and the Bridge of Sighs. We also include a glass blowing demonstration by Venetian craftspeople and then have plenty of free time to wander the backstreets of the real Venice, where baroque backstreet churches meet the waters edge and the tempting aroma of pizza and pasta will leave you constantly hungry. But if there’s one thing you must do before leaving, it’s grab a guy or girl, buy ice creams and serenade each other on a gondola! (2xB, 2xL, 2xD)
Venice Highlights: Be serenaded on a
gondola ride • Glass blowing demonstration •
Bridge of Sighs • Doges’ Palace • Rialto Bridge
• Feed the pigeons in St. Mark’s Square

DAYS 5-6: Lauterbrunnen
Crossing into Switzerland our next stop is the alpine valley of Lauterbrunnen. Regarded as one of the most spectacular alpine valleys in Europe, the delightful Lauterbrunnen village is surrounded by the unspoilt snow capped Swiss Alps and has endless options for hiking and biking. Perhaps visit Switzerland’s highest waterfall, the cascading 300 metre Staubbach or jump on one of the many funicular railways which trace the mountainside. One of the most
spectacular is the ride up to Jungfrau, the highest mountain in the area and the site of the highest train station in Europe. (Days 5&6 – B,L,D)
Lauterbrunnen Highlights: Visit Europe’s
highest station, JungfrauJoch • Ski in the
Swiss Alps • Visit the alpine village of
Murren • Shop for a Swatch or Swiss army
knife • Stock up on Swiss chocolate!

DAY 7: Tyrol
Heading into the Austrian Alps we stay at Kirchberg in the stunning Tyrol region. Famous for its skiing and snowboarding, this area is also great for those who want to party! There are plenty of outdoor activities available whatever the season such as skiing, hiking, cycling. After dark the aprèsski vibe kicks in and the real fun starts! (B,L,D)
Tyrol Highlights: White water rafting

DAY 8: Vienna
We have a day in the elegant capital, Vienna. Home of ‘The Sound of Music’ and schnapps, Vienna assaults the senses on all levels! Filled with baroque architecture, lavish palaces with finely landscaped gardens, towering cathedrals, endless museums, art galleries overflowing with
fine art and opera houses that come alive after dark, this is a city with much to experience - and some of the most delicious coffee and pastries you will ever taste! We have a driving tour taking in the Schonbrunn Palace, St Stephens Palace and the State Opera House before heading to the Schnapps Museum to sample a traditional shot of the hard stuff. (B,L,D)
Vienna Highlights: Schonbrunn Palace •
Hofburg Palace • Schnapps on our brewery
tour • St. Stephen’s Cathedral • Take a ride
at the Prada amusement park • Enjoy a
Viennese Opera, Waltz or Mozart concert.

DAYS 9-10: Prague
Crossing into the Czech Republic, we travel through Bohemia to reach Prague, the charming city of spires. Sometimes a place that has been so talked up can prove disappointing but Prague really does deliver – just imagine everything you've heard and then double it! This city is simply beautiful from every angle and you can’t help but fall in love with it. We have a walking tour from the lofty heights of Hradcany Castle and St Vitus Cathedral (where you can get magical
views over the city) to the bustling old town Square, enchanting Charles Bridge and Wenceslas Square. There is no shortage of things to do in your free time whether you just want to sit in a café watching Prague go by, take a cruise on the beautiful Vltava River or visit the Jewish cemetery and synagogues in Josefov. By night there are many great bars and restaurants and plenty of pounding night clubs if you fancy a big night out. (Day 9 – B,L, Day 10 – B,L,D)
Prague Highlights: Hradcany Castle • St.
Vitus Cathedral • Charles Bridge • Local
beers!

DAY 11: Heidelberg
We enter Germany and travel to the historic university town of Heidelburg where we camp by the Neckar River. We have a walking tour to point out the highlights including the Altstadt (old town), the Church of the Holy Ghost, the students prison in Augustinergasse and the dominating
Heildelburg Castle. The town has a bustling market with a traditional German feel, cobblestone streets and plenty of interesting little shops and cafés. (B,L,D)
Heidelberg Highlights: Hilltop castle with
giant beer vat • Make new friends at one of
many student bars.

DAYS 12-13: Amsterdam
Our final destination is the Netherlands and vibrant Amsterdam. Crammed with bicycles, museums, canals and cafés and infamous for its liberal attitude, Amsterdam has lots to offer. We have a walking tour taking in all the highlights including historic Dam Square, the National Monument and Anne Frank’s house. There are also many fantastic art museums to explore including Van Gogh and the Rijks Museum. Known the world over for clogs and cheese, it
wouldn’t be right to visit the Netherlands and not learn a bit more about their skills for making both so we include cheese tasting and a visit to a factory to see how clogs are made! (Days 12&13 – B,L,D)
Amsterdam Highlights: Anne Frank
Museum • Red light district • Cheese
tasting • Clog making demonstration • Hire
a bike and cycle like a local • Van Gogh
museum • Rijks Museum • Cold ones at the
Heineken Beer museum • Canal cruising •
Check out a sex show!

DAY 14: Calais – London
We depart Amsterdam after an early breakfast and drive through Belgium to Calais for our ferry back to England. Arriving in Dover we drive back to London (usually arriving early evening) where the tour ends – but the party doesn’t have to stop here and there’s bound to be an opportunity for one or two farewell drinks! (B)

And so that will be my travels, for now, over with and I should get home in the evening of 30th June 2007 to a good reception - I hope!! Maybe the parents will be too used to living alone then!!! No more hanky panky downstairs kids!!
Looking forward to seeing everyone!
Dawn
xxxx