04/10/2024
Our September European tour returns today from Amsterdam.
Tania Slabbert was the guide for the group (A girl of many talents), and what an amazing tribute she wrote:
"Paris Awakes and Switzerland Calls
(with Pisa, Lucca, Rome, Florence, Venice, Austria, Bavaria, the Rhine Valley and Amsterdam ahead)
We met at Charles de Gaulle, all new faces to greet,
The airport a maze, where paths twist and meet.
Tired and warm, but excitement alive,
We found exit 18, where our journey would thrive.
To the hotel we went, though the rooms were not set,
Some sought to wander, some freshen up yet.
Montmartre that evening, where stories unfold,
Up the stairs to Sacré-Cœur, standing bold.
A glimpse of the Tower through soft evening rain,
Montmartre’s cobbled streets whispered like a refrain.
Bohemian echoes drifted through the air,
Down to Moulin Rouge, with its cabaret flair.
Day two, on our feet, we walked Paris for miles,
From the Opera House grandeur to Lafayette’s aisles.
We climbed for the views, from galleries high,
The city beneath us, framed by the sky.
Through Tuileries’ gardens, where the past softly lay,
And outside the Louvre, where we paused on the way.
Along the Seine river, to Pont Neuf’s embrace,
With Notre-Dame’s beauty still holding its grace.
Lunch in the Latin Quarter, lively and sweet,
Then cruising the Seine, a Parisian heartbeat.
We posed by the Tower, sparkling and bright,
Returning once more to see her at night.
Metro line problems? Just part of the game,
We felt like locals, embracing the same.
Then off to Beaune, where the vineyards are lush,
Sipping champagne, with no need to rush.
Switzerland Arrives, Postcards of Snow
Switzerland arrived, with a postcard in view,
Every corner we turned, the mountains stood true.
Our first dinner together, beneath Alpine skies,
We slept in the hills, where the peaks touched the skies.
The next morning came, an adventure so bright,
A bus to Interlaken, our hearts filled with light.
We rode the train to Grindelwald’s side,
Then up, up, and up, on a gondola ride.
With the cogwheel’s hum, through the mountains we climbed,
Reaching the Top of Europe, where the world stood still in time.
At the Sphinx we stood, where the heights touch the air,
Then walked through the Ice Palace, a crystalline lair.
Snowball fights broke out, with laughter so loud,
At the play park with sleds, skis, and joy unbowed.
A mulled wine to warm us before heading back down,
On scenic trains that wound through Alpine towns.
Tired, yet filled with memories to keep,
An unforgettable journey we’ll hold in our sleep.
Italy Calls, from Pisa to Rome
The sun rose again, as the road called our names,
Susten Pass greeted us with views to inflame.
Breathless we stared, at mountains so tall,
Nature's canvas unrolled, leaving us in awe.
Then a quick stop in Pisa, for a photo competition’s fun,
The Leaning Tower shining bright in the sun.
Off to Lucca, where pizza and wine,
Filled our bellies, as the evening turned fine.
The next day brought Rome, a city so grand,
But traffic delayed us, not quite as we planned.
We conquered the sights, step by step, through it all—
From Piazza del Popolo to Trevi’s great fall.
A gelato break seemed the perfect idea,
Before we admired the white cake standing near.
The monument of Italy’s first king rose high,
A testament to history beneath Rome’s sky.
We strolled past the Forum, the Colosseum in sight,
As tired feet carried us into the night.
At the hotel we arrived, with hunger at peak,
But a welcome drink and good food brought relief to the week.
Florence Awaits, Then Venice Beckons
Florence awaits, with its leather and art,
A quick visit, but beauty set our hearts apart.
Statues stood tall, and shopping galore,
Before Mestre called, where we’d rest once more.
A slower morning as we rose from our beds,
With breakfast enjoyed, our plans were well-read.
The 7E bus took us over the sea,
Into Piazza Roma, where Venice called free.
With blue skies above, we walked over the bridges,
Crossing canals that crisscross like stitches.
The beauty of Venice, the city on water,
Reflected in streets where the old ways still matter.
A glass-blowing show, a Gondola ride,
The heat of the afternoon, no shade to hide.
Then the winds picked up, and the clouds rolled in,
Shall we stay or go? With laughter, we grinned.
Taking a chance, with umbrellas held high,
The heavens opened, as hail from the sky
Pelted us all, but together we stayed,
An adventure of rain through Venice we made.
We walked on water, in the floating city,
An unforgettable storm, wild but pretty.
Back to Mestre, where we dried from the rain,
Our memories of Venice forever remain.
Austria Awaits, Bavaria Beckons
The road stretched ahead, to Innsbruck we’d go,
Where the golden roof glistened, a sight to behold.
Swarovski crystals sparkled, a Sunday stroll,
In a city so tranquil, where time seemed to slow.
Austrian food, schnitzel or spinach balls,
A beer in hand, as the evening calls.
To the hotel we went, with hilltop views,
The River Inn flowing beneath skies so blue.
A good night’s rest was well in our sight,
For tomorrow comes Oktoberfest’s delight.
From Austrian Alps into Bavaria we rode,
Ready for pretzels and beer in festival mode.
Lederhosen, dirndls, laughter, and cheer,
Oktoberfest beckoned as we all drew near.
Beer tents were buzzing, the music alive,
Horses, rides, and hats brought joy to the vibe.
The steins overflowed, with shooters in tow,
Our spirits soared as the night did glow.
As the festivities wound down, and we made our way back,
The coach became home, with karaoke on track.
Together we sang, a family so tight,
Returning to the hotel, hearts light as the night.
A feast awaited, dinner warm and grand,
Before we found our beds, sleep at hand.
Rhine River Valley: Peace and Charm
The next morning came, with some feeling rough,
But on we went, for the journey’s not tough.
The Rhine River Valley, with vineyard-filled hills,
And the mighty Rhine river, flowing still.
A cuckoo shop beckoned, quaint and serene,
Before we cruised the Rhine, in peaceful routine.
The scenery unfolded, as we sailed along,
Our hearts filled with wonder, our souls filled with song.
Rüdesheim charmed us, with its night-lit glow,
The best meal we’d tasted, a feast to bestow.
With memories rich and bellies content,
To dreamland we drifted, where our thoughts gently went.
The Netherlands Beckons: A Journey’s End
To the Netherlands we go, our last stop in sight,
But traffic slowed us, delaying our lunch bite.
Cheese and clogs, what a show,
We tasted the best cheese, with faces aglow.
Volendam greeted us, a fishing village quaint,
But the weather turned cold, making us faint.
At Zaanse Schans, the windmills stood tall,
We snapped our pictures, memories for all.
Glad to reach the hotel, for warmth and for rest,
A hot shower awaited, a welcomed guest.
A free day in Amsterdam, where paths split wide,
Some cruised the canals, while others shopped with pride.
Museums were visited, steps counted high,
Twenty-six thousand walked under Amsterdam’s sky.
Our last day arrived, as we said our goodbyes,
Auf Wiedersehen, until next time flies.
A Farewell to Europe’s Embrace
It’s been an absolute blast, traveling this way,
We laughed, we explored, with joy on display.
Memories were made, pictures were snapped,
Souvenirs bought as we journeyed and mapped.
Safe flights back home, to sunny South Africa you’ll go,
May the memories linger, and the stories grow slow.
Take care, all the best, as the journey concludes,
Until we meet again, in Europe’s warm moods."
