Germany
Germany is a country we all know, whether it's from the football matches that have taken place over the years or the beer and uhmpar bands we have heard about.
Whatever your views on the country, it's a place that most people visit more than once.
Whatever your views on the country, it's a place that most people visit more than once.
Rhine Valley
My 1st trip to Germany was to the Rhine Valley, I stayed with the group in Kamp Bornhofen, I remember thinking, how hot it was, and how quiet the village seemed, until our party night began! Now with over 18 years experience of traveling to the Rhine Valley, the food is still good and wholesome, the people are still friendly, and I'm told the beer and wine has got even better. Of course whilst in the Rhine Valley, I still take the group's to visit Rudesheim, Boppard, the queen of the Rhine, St Goar, famous for its free hanging Cuckoo Clock, the largest in the world and the Lorely Rock. At different times of the year, the tour itinery does differ, from cruising the Rhine at night, enjoying a drink in the summer evening at a riverside bar, watching the boats sail gently past, to shopping in the Christmas markets.
OBERAMMERGAO
Every 10 years in the summer, this small town hosts the World Famous Passion Play. I've been lucky enough to escort groups in 1989 and 1999; my next visit will be in 2009. I've even taken tours to visit the town in other years; it's a lovely village, whether you are there for the passion play or to visit it in any of the other years.
CHIEMSEE LAKE
This is Bavaria's largest lake and a place where we take a boat to visit the unfinished copy of Versailles. King Ludwig 11, built Herrenchiemsee Castle, but died after spending only one week in it, after his death its construction was stopped.
BERCHESGARTEN
Hitler choose Berchesgarten as his holiday retreat, and many people still use it as a starting point for walks and tours in the local area.
When I escort tours here, we normally spend time exploring the town. The town's heart is the ScholÂplatz, with shops and cafes around the small fountain.During the year there are many festivals and nearly all have a marching band.
When I escort tours here, we normally spend time exploring the town. The town's heart is the ScholÂplatz, with shops and cafes around the small fountain.During the year there are many festivals and nearly all have a marching band.
EAGLES NEST
Kehlstein, or more commonly known to visitors as, the Eagles Nest, was Hitler's secret hideaway.
To visit it, we take a specially adapted bus from the bottom of the mountain and travel on an impressive small road that journeys up the mountainside and is only wide enough for one bus, during the journey a taped commentary is played, giving information on what you are seeing, how the road was built and how long it took to build. Once at the top, well as far as you can go by bus, we reach the terminus, from here we walk a little further uphill, as the air is a bit thinner, I take it easy, not only for some of the older members of the group, but also for myself. We reach the entrance which has large metal gates, and once through you can see that the tunnel has been carved out of the rock, it feels a bit like a cave, we then get to a second set of metal doors, again these doors are around 20 to 30 foot tall and very, very thick, once closed these would have been impregnable, especially as you have the two sets of them, then we finally arrive at the lift that takes you up and inside the house itself. When you exit the lift you can't help but imagine what it would have been like, its now a restaurant with a gift shop and very busy, but when Hitler was here it would have been just a few guests and staff.
When we go outside, the panoramic views are magnificent.
The Eagles¡.oh yes, they are flying above us.
To visit it, we take a specially adapted bus from the bottom of the mountain and travel on an impressive small road that journeys up the mountainside and is only wide enough for one bus, during the journey a taped commentary is played, giving information on what you are seeing, how the road was built and how long it took to build. Once at the top, well as far as you can go by bus, we reach the terminus, from here we walk a little further uphill, as the air is a bit thinner, I take it easy, not only for some of the older members of the group, but also for myself. We reach the entrance which has large metal gates, and once through you can see that the tunnel has been carved out of the rock, it feels a bit like a cave, we then get to a second set of metal doors, again these doors are around 20 to 30 foot tall and very, very thick, once closed these would have been impregnable, especially as you have the two sets of them, then we finally arrive at the lift that takes you up and inside the house itself. When you exit the lift you can't help but imagine what it would have been like, its now a restaurant with a gift shop and very busy, but when Hitler was here it would have been just a few guests and staff.
When we go outside, the panoramic views are magnificent.
The Eagles¡.oh yes, they are flying above us.
NEUSCHWANSTEIN
This is a lovely castle and was the inspiration for Disney's, Sleeping Beauty Castle. Louis 11 lived here for only 170 days.
NEUSCHWANSTEIN was designed by a theatre designer, this helps explain the unreal decor in gold and extravagant paintings.
The castle has also been used in films, the most famous being, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and the Tales of the Brothers Grimm.
Hartz Mountains
The Hartz Mountain area attracts many visitors, when I escort holiday makers here we visit some of the local villages as well as the famous Brocken. When we make our visit to the Brocken, it’s by way of an old-style steam locomotive; it takes us through some beautiful scenery as we make our way from Wernigerode, to the summit some 1,142m (3,747ft) high. The railway is known as the Harzquerbahn.
During the first night of May, Witches assemble on the summit to celebrate their Sabbath.
During the first night of May, Witches assemble on the summit to celebrate their Sabbath.
Goslar
Goslar is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, owing its wealth to the mining of Silver and Lead in the Rammelsberg. The old town lies around the Market Place (Marktplatz). Buildings worth viewing, are, the Town hall (Rathaus) built in the 15c, with decorations dating from 1510, with a beautiful carved ceiling.
In the Grimm fairy tale, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs brought to life by Walt Disney’s animated classic cartoon, the Dwarfs traditional costumes are actually that of medieval miners of this area.
In the Grimm fairy tale, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs brought to life by Walt Disney’s animated classic cartoon, the Dwarfs traditional costumes are actually that of medieval miners of this area.
The Black Forest
This is one of Germany’s most popular holiday regions with lots of lovely scenery. I’ve been escorting holidays here for quite a few years now, and just as you would expect, there are deep forests, fantastic waterfalls, rivers and pretty villages for the holiday makers to enjoy.
Each time I’ve been here, I’ve stayed at Lake Tittisee, it’s the largest lake in the area and a very popular place to visit or indeed stay.
One or two thing's that the groups remember after a visit to this area is the fantastic food that’s served the hospitality and of course that Black Forest Gateaux……Oh yes and the beautifully carved Cuckoo Clocks.
Each time I’ve been here, I’ve stayed at Lake Tittisee, it’s the largest lake in the area and a very popular place to visit or indeed stay.
One or two thing's that the groups remember after a visit to this area is the fantastic food that’s served the hospitality and of course that Black Forest Gateaux……Oh yes and the beautifully carved Cuckoo Clocks.
It really is "A PEOPLE THING"