Europe May-June 2008

On May 28th 2008 me and my family took a trip to Europe. It was a trip of a lifetime and it was my first time vacationing in foreign countries. Among the cities we visited included Berlin, Frankfurt, Feuchtwangen, Nuremberg, Vienna (Wein), Innsbruck, Munich, and Paris.

This trip was not nearly as perfect as last years trip to Florida. We encountered confusing trains, "kaput" (german for broken) lifts, language barriers, stairs, lack of Dr. Pepper, and (probably the worst) cobblestone. I can handle stairs as long a there's a rail, but that cobblestone is murder on the butt. It was quite an adventure though.

Berlin and Frankfurt

After one really long airplane ride across parts of Canada and the upper Atlantic, we reached the Frankfurt Airport. And after an interesting time with plane lifts (their airport is currently under construction) and another new experience with customs, we got some euros hopped a few trains and headed to Berlin.

Germans are really friendly people as we discovered. We also found out there English was better than my mom's and brother's german. Toward the end of the trip our ability to understand parts of German improved. Like example they call their bathrooms “WC” or water-closets and you usually have to pay to use public toilets unless you are handicapped






	Click to enlarge image in separate window

Feuchtwangen and Nuremberg

Now, I do have some german blood (I'm an 8th German) . My Great Grandmother Kline came from a hick farming village called Feuchtwangen. So while in Nuremberg, we rented a car and took a day trip across a lot of farming land to visit the town. We didn't find the house she lived in like my grandfather did but we did find the town.

Click to enlarge image in separate window

Vienna (Wein)

The original purpose of this trip was to visit my mother's friend. While we were there we visited several Museums including the Heeresgeschichtliches Museum, Tutankhamen Exhibition, Technisches Museum Wien, Museum of Fine Art, and the Austrian Treasury. We had a few unique experiences as well. We had Wiener Schnitzel in an authentic Viennese Restaurant. My mom and I went to a Jazz concert called, “Let’s Go Bowling”. Finally we were invited to her friends place a couple of times for dinner. There were few problems except for the cobblestone and the trams with stairs.












			Click to enlarge image in separate window

Innsbruck

Even though we had only a four hour layover between trains, we decided to take the best of it and go to downtown in search of a famous crystal store. Turns our the store also produced my favorite type of beads. It was Swarovski and it wasn't too far away from the train station. But guess what else was going on. A famous soccer tournament known as Euro 2008 was starting that day in Innsbruck's Olympic Stadium (built for the 2006 Winter Games). So it was a bit crowded and noisy with people singing loud German Songs.

Click to enlarge image in separate window

Munich

"Ich bin ein Berliner" a famous quote from Kennedy that became a family joke when mom went looking for a street name for the hotel Marriott. Do not trust Google earth to get it right all the time because streets change. fortunately our U-bahn was very close and was accessible despite advertisements to the contrary.













	Click to enlarge image in separate window

Paris, France

As much as I looked forward to going there let me give a more refreshing view of Paris. I FUCKING HATED PARIS!!! No handicapped accessibility on the metros (which there so proud of) and very little to the surface trains. And don't get me started on the painful cobblestone on the way to the Versai chateau. I kind of got the feeling that those who love it are the ones who have private drivers.

Fortunately we did find that the bus systems were about 50 % accessible and we were able to use the buses (most of the time) and we were able to get to the second story platform of the Eiffel tower.

First Day Walking







			Click to enlarge image in separate window

Back to Paris | Back to Top

Nortré Dame


		Click to enlarge image in separate window

Back to Paris | Back to Top

Eiffel Tower

Tickets here were for a reduced price because I am handicapped. We weren't able to go up to the third floor (which is the top), but the second floor was nice. People looked like ants and we got a pretty good view



	Click to enlarge image in separate window

Back to Paris | Back to Top

Chateau de Versailles

I have two words for those in wheelchairs thinking about going here: lethal cobblestone. And for those with a camera, please be kind to the fragile paintings and turn your flash off. If you don't know how to turn it off then cover it up with black tape. One flash and I'll confiscate your camera and label you a "RETARD". (Same thing everywhere else indoors)




	Click to enlarge image in separate window

Back to Paris | Back to Top

Louvre Museum

Here's a little information for you: ALL MUSEUMS ARE CLOSED ON TUESDAYS. Why? Well maybe they need to clean, adjust some exhibits, have a few photographers come in. Or maybe their so full of bullshit that they can't fit it all in on Sunday.

They do allow photography. However, for the sake of the paintings I ask you turn your flash off.