Germany
My nephew and brother's son EJ recently started a new job that required a month's training in Germany. Another perfect excuse for a Brother's road trip. Our last one was at least 10 year's earlier when our cousin was married in Ireland. We took our Mom and sprinted across Ireland staying in B&B's along the way listening to Irish Pub Songs from a CD we bought from a gift shop at the Cliffs of Moher. We had a blast visiting the pubs sampling the Guinness, and listening to the traditional Irish pub music Craic.
So here we all are now a little older the kids grown and busy in our everyday lives. The window for the visit is tight and we all decide go last minute. The Germany road trip is on!
One of my passions is traveling especially since I've started relatively late in life. And another passion is Value traveling internationally. We have traveled to Italy three times in the past five years for less you can rent a beach house for the week at the Jersey shore. But I digress. Back to Germany. We find a great last minute flight out of JFK on Singapore Airlines to Frankfurt, Germany. And I must say Singapore Airlines is fantastic right up there with Emirates. Flights booked all set for our 10 day sojourn.
Since our younger brother is always on the road, he bailed and our son ATK joined us on the adventure. We were going to pickup EJ in Hidelsheim and then tour Berlin. We planned on touring Germany and Eastern Europe via the excellent Euro Rail system. But as luck would have it there was a German rail strike on the Monday we were arriving. One thing to know when traveling, something is always going to go come up, but it's OK just go with the flow it may just turn out for the best after all it's an adventure!
We invoke Plan B and rent a car which turned out to be a better alternative. Our plan was to visit Berlin with EJ and then as he headed back to work, the four of us would go on to tour the great cities and towns zipping across the region in our new VW Tiguan rental. Our plan was to visit Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Salzburg, Munich, Zurich, Strasbourgh, returning to Frankfurt for our flight home.
Berlin
An aggressive timeline is an understatement but that's how we roll! The fortuitous thing about driving is the excellent German and European roads. Germany has no speed limit for vast stretches of the highway and with trucks required to stay in the right lane getting around and driving is an absolute pleasure. I joked on the return home that our first 5 miles on the NY roads were worse than the 1000 miles we drove in Europe and it's not an exaggeration. We visited and stayed overnight in Berlin taking in the sights, enjoying the cuisine and excellent beer, brats, and pretzels. We visited the Brandenburg Gate, the old Berlin Wall which incredibly resides right in a neighborhood separating family and friends back in the East and West Germany days. We bid Auf Wiedersehen, until we meet again, to Germany and headed off for the 5 hour drive to Prague in the Czech Republic.
Prague
After a long drive arrived late into Prague. One of the most beautiful cities in the world. Simply stunning with the castles, churches, and buildings that have been preserved for centuries casting you back in time. St. Charles bridge was built by hand going back to the 1600's and is a beautiful walking bridge that connects Old town to New town. We encountered a Londoner walking his dog and he recommended some sites and The Three Fiddlers pub. We spent some wonderful time with the proprietor Edward enjoying both the Czech beer Pilsner Urquliner and a little Guinness. The food was delicious. We spent the day enjoying Prague stayed another night enjoying an excellent Italian dinner (yes Italian!) and then it was off to Vienna.
Vienna
I was looking forward to Vienna the place were Mozart spent so much of his time composing and playing his wondrous music. One of my favorite movies Amadeus details the life of Mozart and Salieri the Italian court composer in the mid 1700's. Home to King Josef, big brother to sister a great lover of the Arts and sponsor of Mozart. The number one site to visit is the Schonnbron which was the summer retreat of the King and it is spectacular on about 500 acres with sweeping views of Vienna.
I heard so much about the Viennese coffee houses and was looking forward to enjoying a relaxing visit. We did visit a cafe that both Mozart and Beethoven frequented and it was very charming. The waiters, which is a true profession in Austria, are dressed in tuxedos while they serve you beer, brats, and coffee.
We toured Vienna which was beautiful but more urban than I imagined filled with high end retail amongst the stunning old world buildings and architecture. After coming from magical Prague, Vienna felt like a little bit of a letdown but we did not give it the proper time it deserved only spending about 5 hours. We decided not to stay overnight but push on to Salzburg about a three hour drive.
Vienna is on the revisit list just so we can give her the justice that she deserves taking in the Mozart and Strauss concerts, lazing in the sublime coffee houses. Starbucks who?
Adieu and auf Wiedersehen Vienna! Until we meet again. Onward to Salzburg.
Salzburg
We arrived in cozy Salzburg after a three hour ride from Vienna around 9pm. We found a lovely welcoming hotel that is very close to town and is in the Walking only section where the hotels, shops, and restaurants are located. The locals and visitors mingle strolling the centuries old cobble stone streets. Very romantic and charming especially at night. We were greeted by Alex, the night manager, and he gave us a warm welcome after our long journey. He helped us get settled in as we tried to enjoy dinner before the restaurants close.
He explained that our visit coincided with the celebration of Mozart's birthday and Mozart week where the city celebrates Mozart with concerts, plays, discussions, and everything Mozart. Perfect timing! I asked about a concert before we left the next day and he directed me to the Mozart University orchestra performing in the same intimate theater that Mozart and Beethoven once played. They were scheduled to perform at 11am while all the other concerts were at 7pm. Again, perfect timing. Wunderbagh!
Since we had no other Mozart lovers, the guys were going to visit the grand Salzburg castle that overlooked the city and provides fantastic vistas of alpine villages down below. I would usually play the Dad card and have ATK enjoy some Mozart but his Uncles wanted to hike the castle. So did I but Mozart called.
After the concert we met at Mozart's childhood home and the boys did the tour. The Salzach river flows thru the city and has walking bridges and provides a wonderful spot to stroll along the banks on a sunny day with the locals. Goodbye beautiful Salzburg.
Off to Munich.
Munich
We arrived in Munich after a short 2 hour drive from beautiful, charming Salzburg. We drove right into downtown with it's busy bustling streets. After trying to find a hotel inside the town center, we skipped across the river and landed at a quaint hotel within an easy walking distance. Our first night found us at the famous German drinking hall the Hofbrau with it's picnic table family style setting. We ordered our schnitzels, Bavarian pretzels, and delicious German beer.
From Munich we ventured an hour south to visit the incredible Neuschwanstein castle in the foothills of the German Alps close to the Austrian border. The magnificent and huge castle offered heavenly views of the snow covered alps and the beautiful rolling hills were dotted with traditional wooden alpine mountain homes.
From the castle we headed to Switzerland.
Zurich
We completed our two hour drive and arrived around 8pm in Zurich. The city by the lake was bustling as we searched for restaurant in the shopping district. The restaurants were packed as we strolled the hills and took in the sights. Growing hungry and not finding a restaurant we were planning to settle for fast food but after spotting a rousing Irish Pub we decided to give it a try and we're pleasantly surprised by the excellent food and good company.
After checking into to our hotel we toured the city by the lake and strolled the main shopping district and enjoy a little relaxation in a comfy cafe. From Zurich we headed Southwest to the capitol city Bern.
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