Itinerary

Here’s our itinerary.  We’ll be using the extensive rail system to get from city to city.  I love trains!

• England (London) – May 29 to June 4 
• France (Paris) – June 4 to June 7 
• Germany – June 7 to June 14
•                 Cologne: 7^th-8th
•                 Heidelberg: 9^th-10th
•                 Munich:  11th-13^th 
• Austria – June 14 to June 17
•                 Salzburg – 14^th-15th
•                 Vienna – 16^th-17^th 
• Italy – June18 to June 24 (to Zurich)
•                 Venice – 18th
•                 Rome – 19^th-21st
•                 Monterosso – 22^nd-24^th 
• Switzerland – June 25 to July 8 (overnight train to Barcelona)
•                 Zurich (Kusnacht): 25^th-9^th (July)     
• Spain – July 9 to July 18
•                 Barcelona – July 9^th-15th
•                 Madrid – 16^th-18^th 
• Spain to Paris – July 19 (morning flight on easyjet) 
• Paris to London– July 19 (afternon train)
• London – July 19^th – 20^th  (Linda and Randall’s birthday!) 
• Leave London England for home – July 21  

May 28, 2011

They say that a journey begins with the first step. I’ve also heard that the first step is always the hardest. After sitting in a plane on the tarmac in the sweltering heat for 30 minutes, the pilot informed us that we would need to deplane (I thought that’s what Tattoo said to Mr. Rourke—Deplane! Deplane!). So we sat in the Abilene airport knowing that we will not make our connection in Dallas to London. In about 20 minutes we were informed that the next plane to London was booked. Eventually we made it to Dallas, was put up in a hotel and given meal vouchers from American Airlines after they booked us on a 5:45 AM flight to London. Instead of arriving in London at 10:45AM we’ll arrive at 10:45 PM–a loss of a day.

May 29, 2011

Arrived in London but no luggage and too late to catch the subway to the hotel. Spent an hour trying to figure out our options. Ended up on a double-decker bus for one hour only to be dropped off in the heart of London with no way to get to the hotel. Finally, found a cab. Arrived at hotel at 3:00 AM!

Slept in our clothes for about 6 hrs. Had a good breakfast at the hotel, The airlines found our bags—still in Dallas. Hopefully will get them sometime today.

May 30, 2011

Had a great day in London! Went to Westminster Abbey and a couple of smaller cathedrals. Had a mini picnic of cereal and oranges confiscated from the hotel breakfast. Supper was at Wagamama—a Thai style noodle house that was very good.

May 31, 2011

Another fun day—some rain. Visited Buckingham Palace and saw the changing of the guard.

Still no luggage but airlines assured us we’d have them today.