[EUROBOUT CONTINENTAL CAROUSEL - 1984] DAY 11

Travel Notes
August 21, 1984 - Day 21
ITALY

Venice - Rome

Yet another long day of driving on the Autostrada/L'Autostrada del Sole - the Highway of the Sun.  It is a mystery how Bart gets by on the first three hours of driving on nothing but coffee mixed with six teaspoons of sugar. To be sure, he makes up for it at the stops : but to start the day on nothing but coffee?

I have become quite comfortable in the two seats behind Bart. People seem to have forgotten about the seat rotation rule, and anyway Earl said it was all right. No one seems to want the seat over the tire at the moment, so it looks like it's my "base camp" from now on.  Besides, I've been bouncing in that seat since Innsbruck!

Earle tells us that we are set up for an illuminations tour of the Eternal City and warned that the hotel we are getting is not known for its haute cuisine. Ma and I have lots of provisions from the London Safeway, so we should be all right.

Rome - Hotel Ergife Palace

Rome : the Eternal City of seven hills.  We have discovered our hotel on the Via Aurelia, four minutes away from the city center.

Just before our illuminations tour, some people mistook our bus for their bus, and when they tried to confirm it with Bart, he would say, "Yes, this is the bus..." and then under his breath "...just not yours."  To us, he did point out that it was true as far as it went, that ours was a bus for an illuminations tour, it just wasn't *their* tour!

Once on our way, the Roman Forum was the first stop.  Rome at night is a whole different city from Rome at daytime, quiet and serene.  the darkness and soft lighting makes a perfect background for musing on the glory that was once imperial Rome.

At the Trevi Fountain one has to throw in the obligatory three coins for luck, love, and a return to Rome.  Fortunately the coins didn't have to be Italian, so all the leftover loose change is gone now! I threw coins twice, just to be sure I'd get back...and someone's lucky coins wound up in a woman's cleavage. A very endowed woman's cleavage, at that!

Then onwards to the Piazza Navona, location of (allegedly) "the best ice cream in the world" and the Fountain of Four Rivers by Bernini.  Upon sampling the goods, I had to admit that Earl is right : Piazza Navona gelato is *good*!!

Much as I love ice cream, I love Bernini and his works with an equal passion: the Fountain of Four Rivers totally awesome in reality, all the major rivers represented.

Moving on, we took a look at  Piazza del Populo and the Victor Emmanuel monument.  Piazza San Pietro embodies the true definition of awesome, especially at night.  It boggles the mind to stand in that empty plaza and look around at the sheer space of it all -- and contrast when it is full to the gills with people.  Our final stop was at the  Temple of the Vestal Virgins and the Colosseum (more properly the Flavian Ampitheatre).  With a little imagination one could hear the chants of the crowd and roars of wild animals.

[EUROBOUT CONTINENTAL CAROUSEL - 1984] DAY 10

Travel Notes
August 20, 1984 - Day 20
ITALY

Tarvisio - Monastier,Venice, Park Hotel Villa Fiorita - Venice Proper

I went down early for a walk around the hotel before breakfast, in an effort to burn some excess energy.  Left Ma in the room before going to join the group on the excursion to Venice and Burano, which began with a 30-minute drive past several vineyards and a duck farm (“Anyone fancy duck for dinner tonight?“).

Then we arrived at the quay for the motor-launch trip to St. Mark's Square (Piazza San Marco).  :s soon as it was possible, Basil, Shirley, Evelyn, the Taiwan girls and I spent the entire trip topside for the better view and fresher air. I have learned from bitter experience that it's no good to keep me below decks while sailing. So being determined to enjoy this adventure to the lees, topside I went!

Venice - Piazza San Marco

The launch landed just a few steps down from St. Mark's Cathedral, where we crossed the Square to get to the trattoria where the glass factory is located. I chatted with the city guide, who seemed surprised with my knowledge of things Venetian.  He'd been to Manila and enjoyed the stay.

All of us walked *very* carefully through the display rooms of the glass factory! So many magnificent pieces - especially the chandeliers. You feel almost afraid to breathe on some of the other pieces because of their delicacy, and their glass jewelry looks almost as pretty as the real thing.

Earl managed to get us out of the factory and into the Square for shopping before the launch left for Burano.  Our rendezvous point was at the base of the campanile - I tagged along with Basil and Rita like a dutiful granddaughter and we had fun browsing among the stalls.

Burano Island

“Grandfather“ Basil gave me a navigation lesson for most of the trip from St. Mark's, and it was a treat to discover that his first job was as a harbor customs officer.  Thus I learned about signal flags and ship's lights and windward and leeward and have now taken to calling Basil “Grandfather Admiral - sir!“  Thankfully he is much amused.

The first thing one notices about Burano is that its campanile also tilts, like that of Pisa!

At lunch, I was seasted with Rita to my right at the head of the table, then going anti-clockwise : Evelyn, Eddie, Basil, Joe and Maria.  The menu looked, and was later proven to be delicious - breadsticks for openers, with vino bianco, followed by filet of sole with lemon, sardines, scampi, calamari - and more vino bianco! Needless to say, the taste for white wine I developed in Vienna was now carried forward with utter enjoyment!

As the meal progressed there was  lots of laughter, especially when Basil spotted a gentleman at the bar with a grey ensemble of deerstalker cap and Inverness cape - the joke being that Basil was also wearing his own deerstalker (Hunting Stuart plaid) at the time!

The other chap had a look of utter shock...“priceless“ does not begin to describe it.  You could practically hear him thinking, “EGAD!! Another one!“

The men were left to linger at the table while the ladies went shopping.  I was fascinated by the faucets in the ladies' room: just put your hands under them and then the water comes out, all on its own. Cool!

Burano is famous for lacework, and all the ladies were charmed by the samples of work on display. Carmen, as the most avid shopper, came away with a very pretty table set, and everyone was praising Earl to the skies for the venue and the quality of the lunch.

Venice Proper - Gondola Ride, Grand Canal

Sylvia gave Bart and Earl a real scare by losing herself in St. Mark's : she stopped to take a picture of the campanile and got separated from the group.  Bart found her, but then lost her again in the crowd.  Eventually she was re-discovered coming out of one of the tiny bargain stores tucked away in a corner of the Square.  Earl was visibly breathing easier on the way to the gondola ride.

The gondola ride went over well.  The gondolier serenading us did “Santa Lucia“, “O Sole Mio“, and a few more well-known hits.  It was interesting to get a view of Venice from sea level, but nevertheless good to get back on dry land.

Back at the Square, had time for last-minute shopping and afternoon tea, where I was introduced to gelato, and enjoyed it with Basil, Rita and Angie.

Tarvisio - Monastier,Venice, Park Hotel Villa Fiorita

Dinner tonight was very, very good - no doubt because we were working within the timetable of the kitchen this time.  Evelyn, Shirley, Jun and Carmen, Gene, Frank and Bertha, and I all went on a leisurely walk to digest dinner.  Little did we know that we were setting ourselves up for one of the funniest episodes on tour, bar none.

Upon our return, we relaxed for a few moments in the lounge, and then Jun, Carmen, Gene and his wife went to take the elevator.  Frank and Bertha had already gone up; when Shirley, Evelyn and I got to the elevator, Maria was sitting in a chair, waiting.  She said that Joe, the Nocons, the Galangs and the Jacksons were using the baggage elevator and it wouldn't take them up.

While Evelyn and Shirley went off to one side to talk, I waited with Maria to see what would happen next.  The elevator doors opened to disclose the startled faces of the group Maria had earlier enumerated!

I pressed the indicated button at their request.  The doors of the elevator doors closed...stayed closed...and opened again on the ground floor!  This close/open sequence was repeated about four times and by the fourth occurrence I was helplessly caught in a fit of giggles.

The passengers all spilled out, expressions clearly stating that the lift had been taken over by gremlins - which was the precise moment Bart and Earl chose to come through the lobby.

They took one look at me giving way to my giggles despite valiant efforts to maintain control and *their* faces said they thought I hugh on something. Earl asked if I'd had too much wine, and between gasps I told him the saga.

Bart tried it, and I said, “Hope we *don't* see you back right away,“ which drew a startled look from Earl.  Naturally, after all the shenanigans, Bart went straight up and back with no problems at all, and commented : “It's like a woman -- play her too much and she gives you trouble!“

[EUROBOUT CONTINENTAL CAROUSEL - 1984] DAY 9

Travel Notes
August 19, 1984 - Day 19
AUSTRIA - ITALY

Vienna, Austria - Hotel Academia

It was with great cheer that we bid goodbye to the chain-mail beds. The magic of the previous night was still operative, with Sylvia and I tra-la-la-ing Strauss on the way to the bus.

Vienna, Austria - Tarvisio, Italy

Since Lucerne we have been traveling through mountain country and there is so much to see while on the road!  Looking up, one notes the reinforced steel, sometimes wooden, structures used to keep rocks and stones off the highway.  There are  highway signs that tell you to beware of : deer, stray falling rocks, pheasant and even cows!

There were no problems at the border, and the dollar exchange very good from the American point of view.  At 1500 lira to a US dollar, we're all millionaires now, or at least we feel like we are!  However, one million lire is not exactly a lot when a can of Coke costs 3000 lire...still, even with such prices, Italy appears to  have a thriving economy.  We also saw the first signs of littering since we left London.

Tarvisio - Monastier/Venice, Park Hotel Villa Fiorita

Augh. such a very long drive today!  And that was even before discovering that Bart had the wrong directions to the hotel - or maybe it was the wrong hotel for the directions, who knew? Between them it's a matter of pride for Earl and Bart to get us to the hotel while the sun is still up, but they had no such luck today.

Long story short, we arrived at  quarter past eight in the evening. We'd stopped to ask directions, and I'm not sure Carmen helped any by going up to the bus door and trying out her broken Italian.

We found the hotel by going to a bus station, letting Earl off to take a cab, and then following the cab to the hotel.  Which was the good news.  But at 25,000 lire for a cab?  Mamma mia!

However, the hotel is not without its consolations : the bedroom is lovely, with a balcony that opens out to the garden and villa below. 

There was “vera cuccina italiana“ for dinner : pasta, veal, ham, and still more pasta! Really yummy stuff.  Some tour members went silly, asking for spaghetti when there was a perfectly good white sauce on top of the pasta - argh!  

[EUROBOUT CONTINENTAL CAROUSEL - 1984] DAY 8

Travel Notes
August 18, 1984 - Day 18
AUSTRIA

Vienna, Austria

A bit of a rude awakening.  Over  breakfast we compared impressions re the rooms' size (small and narrow) and the beds. (HARD!!) 

At the risk of having my words given a malicious slant by the biddies in the group, I wondered aloud if ours was a twin bed, how big were the single beds assigned to Earl and Bart? Because the idea of room being any smaller than those of the twin-sharing people have boggles the mind.

I have resolved to stop listing conversion rates and expenses.  There are far too many of them to track!

Vienna, Austria - City Tour

I nodded almost constantly throughout guide's commentary, and stared like a provincial at all the sights. Seriously, I could hardly tell where to put my eyes, it seemed like we passed a point of interest every hundred yards or so.

The guide seemed to be quite appreciative of all the audience reactions she got from me, and says I'm very well-read.  Serves me right for reading the Time-Life books thoroughly before leaving home!

Vienna Woods, Austria

From the city to the countryside, specifically the Weinerwald or Vienna Woods. We changed guides, and entered into wine country.

We were taken to the world's largest underground lake, the Seegrotte. It was formed by underground spring and river flooding out a gypsum mine.

Begad, but it was COLD in the tunnels.  Very atmospheric, the perfect background to learn that Hitler used the place to develop the Messerschmidt engines for the Luftwaffe during WWII.  Buried under  the earth, it's really quite the perfect place for secret research!

Once back in the light of day, stopped by the ancestral house of the Liechtenstein family.  Yes, *that * Liechtenstein family.  They own a  thin and narrow castle, but very impressive for all that. As we were touring the castle perimeter, we were asked to note that the toilet open out over the kitchen vegetable garden -- instant fertilizer!

Onward to the oldest Cistercian monastery in Austria, if not the world.  It is as perfect a place for prayer as could be desired --  lovely, classic architecture, peaceful and serene.

In a place of honor in an alcove beside the prayer walk was a  beautiful statue of the Virgin that looks as if posed naturally on first glance. She's carrying the Christ Child in her arms.

As the youngest and theoretically the most flexible member of the group, I was clled upon to recreate the pose, as per directions from our  guide.  Turns out, the psoe is not natural at all! One's knees must bend, the torso is slightly turned, and the neck is inclined forward. Hard to describe accurately, but I assure you that it hurts to hold it for more than several seconds!

The reason for this difficult pose? To illustrate the mystery of the Virgin Birth : the impossible becoming possible. For myself, I pity the model, whoever she was! It must have been excruciating to pose!

Vienna, Austria - Hungarian Dinner

I managed to generate some comment when I came down dressed to the nines for the optional night out.  A pretty dress, heeled shoes, and make-up, even.  Dinner  was Hungarian goulash with pasta and white wine, and I am getting to like white wine with a vengeance!  I was seated with the rest of the ladies at one table and the guide, Earl and Bart at the other; all good-looking men, mind and therefore a treat to observe. 

There were, naturally, Hungarian musicians with the dinner . “The best in Vienna!“ as per the tour guide.  Their repertoire consisted of slow pieces and requests, a goodly selection.  Bart suggested that Sylvia and I request “the Chicken Dance“, of all things, which suggestion was overturned vehemently!  

By coincidence, Frank and Bertha, taking the evening at leisure, walked into the same restaurant we were in!

It was certainly  the wine talking when I asked Earl to lend me his arm up the stairs and across the road to the bus, but on the other hand, I did have heeled shoes : not a good time to have an accident!

Vienna, Austria -- the Kursalon

Much to my surprise and delight, the city guide led me out to open the dancing!  Amazing, me with two left feet and never having waltzed before.  The guide was charming and put me at ease quickly enough, and then had another dance with Jun Galang.  I was urged to ask Earl on to the floor, but he begged off  with claims the he couldn't dance.  Bart retorted that *he* was saving energy for the bus!

Vienna, Austria the Prater Wheel

The Prater is the largest ferris wheel I've ever seen. It was made famous in the movie “The Third Man“, and is a HUGE contraption, slow and sedate, and allowing a marvelous view of Vienna from the top.

Among the married couples and those with more experience of life, there was a very lively discussion on the possibilities open for a couple stuck at the top.  This is easily understood when one realizes that the carriages are like train coaches, with benches to either side.  Apparently there used to be curtains in the carriages, per guide, but these were removed as potential fire hazards -- no doubt they also made things very conducive for romance as well!

Once again, the guide used me as a prop for the demonstration on how to kiss a lady's hand.  There are, apparently, varying degrees, depending on the level of intimacy a man hopes to establish.

Once we were back at the hotel, I thanked the guide with a kiss on the cheek for a memorable evening - my first waltzing partner, and in Vienna, too!

[EUROBOUT CONTINENTAL CAROUSEL - 1984] DAY 7

Travel Notes
August 17, 1984 - Day 17
AUSTRIA - GERMANY - AUSTRIA

Innsbruck - Austro/German border - Salzburg

Today, Bart worked a “scam“ on the border guards.  The situation was that most of us had single-entry visas for Austria.  However, the optimal bus route from Innsbruck to Salzburg had to cross Germany.  Basically, we had to exit Austria - enter Germany - exit Germany - and re-enter Austria.  On single-entry visas.

Getting out of Austria and into Germany was the easy part. Getting out of Germany and into Austria had us holding our breaths for several moments, and looking out the windows on the side of the bus opposite the border crossing!  Only Bart went down, and behind the cover of his tinted glasses, declared - with what I presume was a poker face - that all the bus passengers were Dutch (!!!!!)

As it happened, we didn't need to have our passports inspected, the border guards nodded and waved us through.  Loud were the sighs of relief when Bart returned to the bus, but as we were pulling out, Bart reminded Earl to warn us to keep our eyes front and center and not to look back.

The moment were were out of earshot, Earl explained the whole thing.  It was interesting to see Carmen have a blonde moment and be bit slow to catch on...when she did, I had to smother a snort. Pity she rubs me up the wrong way.

It was no surprise that “Chicken Dance“ (official group theme song) was played over the speakers as our victory hymn, and humor was the order of the day for the rest of our time on the road!

Salzburg, Austria

This ties with Liechtenstein as the shortest visit ever - only thirty minutes!  The problem was that there was no place to park the bus, so  Earl took us on a brisk walk down the main square and into little alleys with everyone sticking close to each other.

We did get to see the castle from a (fairly great) distance.  Mr. Silveira (Joe) provided the trivia information that “The Sound of Music“ wasn't wholly filmed in Salzburg, contrary to the press releases.

Vienna, Austria - Hotel Academia

What with the “forced march“ through Salzburg, we pulled into Salzburg early in the evening.  I was singing to myself when I looked through the rear window and screeched off key in the middle of a song.  Framed perfectly in the window was my first sight of Schonbrunn Palace - which fact was duly announced in a breathless squawk.

Earl glanced up from studying street map to smile, “Now we all know where we are, eh?“ Oh, YES.

While the hotel itself was easily found, actually disembarking from the bus was not.   The detours because of street diggings were as familiar as driving through Manila on a bad day, and delayed our arrival by a quarter hour!

[EUROBOUT CONTINENTAL CAROUSEL - 1984] DAY 6

Travel Notes
August 16, 1984 - Day 16
SWITZERLAND - LIECHTENSTEIN - AUSTRIA

Lucerne, Switzerland - Vaduz, Liechtenstein

The “Chicken Dance“ was played, and danced to, at regular intervals en route.  To while away the long drive, there was also an impromptu talent show organized by Carmen, who refused to set a good example and join in herself.  By some bit of good luck, I managed to win USD5 for singing “Is Love A Game“.  Earl scored 10 points out of 10 for me, ditto for Lois.  Bart said 15 points for me if the song was dedicated to him, 5 if not...I  retorted that the song was dedicated to both him *and* Earl and scored 10 points as well.

Though I do believe I never saw that money - it was diverted, I think, to some common fund or whatever.  Hmp.

Vaduz, Liechtenstein

Liechtenstein is, arguably, the most “drive-through” of all the countries in Europe.  It is one of two principalities in Europe, the other being Monaco.  Vaduz, capital of Liechtenstein, looks like any small Bavarian town, which is not surprising, since the  Liechtenstein family purchased the land from Austria after complicated arrangements with the government.

We had a quickie of a “city orientation” here; basically “Here's the main street, and the important buildings are all on it...” type of thing.  Importantly, it was the last stop for shopping using Swiss francs.  We must change to Austrian money after the border, less than half an hour away.

St. Christoph Am Arlberg - Austria

From Leichtenstein, the road climbed steadily upward towards our lunch stop at St. Christoph Am Arlberg.  Arl=name of mountain; Berg=mountain.  Put the two together, along with the name of St. Christopher, patron of travelers, and you have a most hopeful place name.

It was COLD!! when we were allowed to get off the bus.  Alas, in the general rush for the door (first to get to the washroom wins, yay!) I left my overcoat in the bus!!  Thus had to shiver my way through the lunch line.  Smart girl!

Bart recommended goulash soup, which was so very good, I went back for refill.  Actually, goulash the only item on the menu as far as soup was concerned - a house specialty, perhaps.  Took a stroll outside after lunch, and it was pointed out that St. Christoph has a hospice for the terminally ill, with a very pretty view.  I totally agree that one can't get better than the Austrian Alps to look at when one is feeling low.  The clear mountain air goes straight to one's toes when you breathe, and is said to have cured many with lung problems.

Innsbruck, Austria - Tourotel

From the heights of the Alps, to the flat contours of Innsbruck, where it showered on us as we arrived at the city limits.  The local police had us going in circles to find the rear entrance of the hotel because front entrance was a one-way/no parking zone!  So it was decided to drop us off at the first legal stop, and Bart would take care of the baggage while Earl walked us to see the “Golden Roof“ of the Emperor Maximilian, straight down and to the left from the front entrance.

Dinner was a hilarious affair.  We had only one very sweet, very handsome waiter to serve all our tables.  Main course was...hold your breath...chicken again! (Like we were expecting something else?  Chicken is the culinary leitmotif of this tour.)  Diana (of infamous Cologne fame) sent the waiter off to the kitchen for dessert spoons when the strudel arrived.  While he went off to do her bidding, she hid the dessert in the bread basket, under the cloth, while waiter was gone.

When waiter came back with the spoons, Diana claimed he took so long, she had eaten the strudel (which was pretty good, if I may say so). The look on his face! A perfect Kodak moment, absolutely priceless.  Diana did reveal the strudel sitting innocently in the bread basket, and the waiter gave her an exasperated/flirtatious kind of look. I think she ought to have slipped a nice tip under the bread basket to make it up to the poor boy.

While getting ready for bed, the sound of happy music floated up to our room, and I looked out the window to see a marching band passing beneath us on the way to a concert in the plaza.  Nice way to end the day!

[EUROBOUT CONTINENTAL CAROUSEL - 1984] DAY 5

Travel Notes
August 15, 1984 - Feast of the Assumption - Day 15
SWITZERLAND

Lucerne

Since the morning was at leisure, Ma and I strolled along Lake Lucerne and managed to find a church, and so heard early morning Mass for Assumption Day.  Surprisingly, it was easy to follow along, even if the words were all in German!  

After the Mass, we had a brisk walk following yesterday's route.  We crossed the modern bridge and visited the Luzernerhof hotel where Ma and Dad stayed in 1979.  Then we went to Hofstetter and picked up more souvenirs (of course).  Then we walked by the lake down to Bucherer : got a necklace, gold and silver plated links, and then met Earl and Bart at the door of Bucherer, waiting for those who wanted to hitch a ride back to the hotel - a fortuitous piece of timing on our part.

Let it be noted that Earl has the skill of a Navy minesweeper getting everyone out of the store; the man can *whistle*! I think he should use it more often in calling the folks, since some of the older women are a stubborn lot about timing while set loose in a store.

Mt. Stanserhorn

Once it was determined that everyone was out of Bucherer, we collected the rest of the group from the hotel and were whisked to the foot of Mt. Stanserhorn.  We arrived at top of the mountain via funicular railway and cable car, just in time for lunch - and lunch was delicious! Mountain air sharpens the appetite, definitely. It must be the brisk, cold air current up the sides of the mountain.  There was a Boy Scout troop from England performing an open-air concert on the terrace. I later learned that they were part of an exchange program, and off to Germany tomorrow.

Ma and I climbed trail up to the peak, or rather, I climbed the trail up to the peak.  Ma stopped at the halfway point, which was the hang-glider takeoff point.  I moved on to the peak, and the view from 6300 feet is something to see, especially on day when the sky was crystal clear and not a speck of cloud anywhere.  Apparently the hang-gliders were inspired, waving and hallo-ing to everyone down below.

Returning with Ma back down to the main level, I went to coffee shop to scout souvenirs, ending up with a little brooch made up of mountain climber gear - pickaxe, rope, and boots, and a sprig of edelweiss over all.  While waiting for cable car, “Grandfather“ Basil gave me a lesson on the Horse Guards and the Foot Guards, explaining the nuances of uniform button coding as a means of identifying each brigade.

Lucerne

Tonight was our first optional dinner of the tour.  We learned the “chicken dance“ on the bus en route to dinner venue, where Joe was roped into blowing the Alpenhorn and did very well.  There was lasagna in very generous servings, and I drank my first glass of white wine tonight.  Even to my inexperienced taste buds, it was very good and went well with all the rich food on the table.  At 2230H the company was asked to step out onto the terrace to catch fireworks display marking opening of the Lucerne International Music Festival.  Fantastic stuff, the clear night making it seem as if you could touch the huge blooms and blossoms against the night sky.

We were a very merry group that boarded the bus when it was time to return to the hotel.   Bart played “chicken dance“ song in the bus again, and Grandfather Basil did the dance in the aisle!  Grandmother Rita made some reproachful noises, but all in good fun.

It's a lucky thing we have a late departure tomorrow!

[EUROBOUT CONTINENTAL CAROUSEL - 1984] DAY 4

Travel Notes
August 14, 1984 - Day 14
GERMANY - SWITZERLAND

Mannheim - Triberg, Germany

We arrived at Triberg for lunch and shopping, right in the middle of the Black Forest.  With all the local restaurants crowded, Ma and I headed for nearest grocery store and loaded up on fresh fruit, ice cream and cookies.  All of this made for a fine meal eaten al fresco, with the scent of the pines heavy on the occasional breeze.

Scored an interesting victory at the souvenir shop, where Ma got a certified Black Forest clock, I got a teddy bear for DM12.  Teddy was supposed to cost DM12.25 with the “Tour Director” discount, but I only had DM12.22 to hand.  I guess it must have been something in my face when I offered to put back the bear, because all of a sudden the saleslady took off the .22!  This produced smiles all around, and I have come up with Teddy's full name : Earl Edward Martin von Schaffhausen-Schwennigen!

This grand list of names for such a tiny creature comes about in this manner:
== “Earl“ - after the tour manager : without discount, Teddy's list price was DM13++
== “Edward“ - full Christian name of “Teddy“
== “Martin“ - for Martin Nievera
== “Schaffhausen“ - the first town after Triberg
== “Schwennigen“ - a place that we've seen on every Banhof sign from the start of the Black Forest boundary, but that we've not seen so far

So.  I have a mascot!

Lucerne, Switzerland - Hotel Alpina

We had a photo stop at the Rhine Falls, located near Schaffhausen.  Spectacular views, and there was actually a stairs for people who wanted to get up close and personal with the rushing waters.  Unfortunately, there was no time for any of us to try it out, so after taking pictures and having our oohs and aahs lost in the roar of the water, we set off for Lucerne, with a brief nod to Zurich along the way.

We arrived in Lucerne after banking hours, and since Feast of the Assumption is a bank holiday (fancy that, it's just an ordinary day in Manila), we changed money at the Banhof station.  Then Earl took us on a walking tour of Lucerne (or Luzern, as the locals spell it).  I managed to have quite a nice chat with Earl as we crossed the famous covered bridge, the Kappellbrucke, over Lake Lucerne; he moved us down various side streets and we then ended at the Bucherer store, which would be staying open till midnight.  Many women were mightily pleased at this information - you could see people calculating budgets in their heads.

Ma and I headed straight for the top floor and Ma got herself a watch; I was too busy enjoying the sight of the merchandise to think about getting anything for myself.  Eventually, Ma, Truding and Josefina wanted to leave before the rest of the group, so Bart deputised me as assistant guide back to the hotel.  Not that it was going to be a complicated matter.  The directions were easy enough to follow, all straight lines for the most part - straight down the bridge, down two corners, turn left, straight down the street, and there you go.

This hotel has *small* elevator : maximum of four people!!  Probably one of the smallest on tour to date.  One thing about traveling in Europe, you never know what the hotels will offer from one destination to the next!

[EUROBOUT CONTINENTAL CAROUSEL - 1984] DAY 3

Travel Notes
August 13, 1984 - Day 13
HOLLAND - GERMANY

Amsterdam, Holland - Euromotel E.9

An early wake-up call found many of the group members gathered in the lounge to watch the closing ceremonies of the Olympics, which was an impressive sight.  Some of the group had gone in to breakfast early, and tried to smuggle out some makeshift sandwiches, however these “smugglers“ were caught and had to eat what they had wrapped as penance.  Ma and I managed to get away with the same tactic, having arrived after this mass movement to convert the buffet into take-away: two slices of ham into a croissant, the whole bundled into my overcoat pocket (not without pangs of guilt, mind you).

Earl mentioned at the foyer and on the bus that we weren't to think that today's breakfast was the real Continental service, and that we'd actually been spoilt by the hotel by the variety of foods available at the buffet.

Amsterdam, Holland - Cologne, Germany

There was a great deal of good-natured banter all the way to Cologne about who came in late from the red-light district last night; everyone knows everyone else's name now.  When Earl brought up the subject of the optional Rhine cruise, he met with universal agreement from the group.

At the border stop, we were let out to change money and use the washrooms.  Since the comfort room for the ladies was crowded, the OIC (an ex-prison matron, for sure) sent some of the women into the *men's* room!  As is the custom in Europe, we had to pay a nominal fee for the use of the washrooms.  I guess this is for the upkeep and augments the salary of the “Madame”.  Back in Brussels, though, we women used the tactic of one coin, taking turns keeping the door open upon exiting from the stall, while the “Madame” was occupied elsewhere.

We pulled into Cologne with strict instructions about getting back to the bus within two hours, so that we could catch the 1330H Rhine River cruise.  That meant very little time to check out the cathedral and have lunch.  The cathedral, we were told, was very nearly the only structure left standing after the carpet-bombings of World War II.  The Allied pilots were under strict orders to spare the church and its beautiful twin spires - such an obvious landmark!

Ma and I literally nipped into the Cathedral and kept to the main aisle.  One quick look at the vaulted ceiling and the stained glass windows; then out to the closest place to get a fast meal - the local McDonald's!  I practiced my basic German with modest success, and we made an al fresco meal of it, watching all the people go by. Then, after bolting down our meal and a quick trip to the washrooms, we got ourselves back on the bus.

Unfortunately, this is where it was discovered that two of our Taiwanese girls were missing.  When Diana and Francy didn't show up after more than 15 minutes, everyone on the bus started worrying about where they could have gone.  We were not to know until later that Diana decided she wanted a panoramic view of Cologne, so she climbed up the cathedral spire (!!) to get it, dragging unwilling Francy along with her for company.  On their way down, Diana got totally disoriented and couldn't find her way back to the bus!

Earl, bless him, was *extremely* calm about the whole situation.  There was no lack of volunteer effort to help him find the lost ones; Frank, Basil, Joe and Keith offered their services to help search the square, rightly reasoning that there would be better progress with more of them involved in the search.  Earl went off with Basil while Bart took the rest of us, round the block in the bus.  After completing one full circuit, Earl arrived with Diana and Francy, who was weeping in embarrassment as the bus heaved a collective sigh of relief and clucked in disapproval, There were cooing sounds of consolation for Francy, profuse with apologies from underneath her overcoat; while Diana could hardly say a word and thus got hardly any sympathy at all on the way down to the Rhine.

Rhine River Cruise - St. Goar - Koblenz

Naturally, we missed the first boat. We did manage to get on the 1500H boat, thanks to providence and some persuasiveness from Earl's end.  After all the excitement, it was a lovely afternoon on the river.  My favorite spot, strangely enough, was not the Lorelei Rock.  It was the little church that actually had a working pub attached to it - one presumes that after the good dominee gave thundering sermons, the men would then sink into contemplation over their steins of lager beer.

Earl spent most of the cruise solacing himself with a bottle of delicious Rhine wine belowdecks.  Naturally, as tour director, it was supposed to be his quiet time; but everyone took turns helping him unwind, and it wasn't long before his soft chuckles filled the room as folks commended him on his calm way of handling things.

We disembarked at St. Goar, re-boarded the bus to follow the Rhine banks past Koblenz, which is German for “confluence“.  It's the point where the Rhine and Moselle Rivers meet, and just a little distance from Mannheim, where we would be spending the night.

Mannheim, Germany - Novotel

Earl had us on the lookout for the hotel, and no sooner had the words left his mouth when Bart turned into the driveway.  Basil, Joe and I took a little time to thank Bart for playing “Hooked on Classics“ on the drive down to Mannheim - one of my personal favorites in music.  This was the point where Bart managed to mellow out enough to mingle and crack a few jokes before we were called in to dinner.

Dinner : chicken, again!  But served hot and with generous sidings, so not a disappointment after a long day.

For the record, this hotel serves *humungous* dessert cups!  At least a quarter-kilo of ice-cream in each cup - no, *bowl* is more like it - and that doesn't even include the syrup and barquillos.  Shirley, Evelyn, Ma and I watched the waitress go by with TWO, and burst into giggles as our eyes met; we had seen the generously-built German man who had ordered one, and marvelled at his capacity.  Serious thought was given to buying one and sharing, but the suspected calorie count was formidable, so we discarded that notion.