Lynne kovacs 12/14/22 Lynne kovacs 12/14/22

Days 8-10 Nuremberg, Rothenburg, Munich

Good Evening from Munich!

Due to some connection trouble we will be including three days in this post. Our first destination was Nuremberg, which is home to one of Germany’s oldest and most famous Christkindlesmarkts.

On the way to their destination, the tour stopped in Rothenburg, a medieval village that is also known as The Fairy Tale City. This is Lynne’s second time visiting the village, and it’s just as charming and beautiful as she remembers. Rothenburg features a wall defending the original village that dates back to the 1100’s. You can visit “The Hell”, a restaurant and drinking hall in the oldest residence in Rothenburg that is believed to be constructed around the year 900. Lynne and Leona viewed the city from the top of the town square’s clock tower, a tall climb through very narrow passageways. They had plenty of time in Rothenburg so they wandered the cobblestone streets and enjoyed the beautiful window dressings and shop displays.

Once they arrived in Nuremberg, the group was able to explore the Christkindlesmarkt on their own before settling into their hotel. Nuremberg is a fascinating city with much medieval history and is worth an independent visit. The tour had a long way to Munich, so the time spent here was relatively limited.

The first evening in Munich included an excursion to a beer hall for traditional German food and drinking songs. While the focus of the menu is beer, there are other beverage options available. The cheerful atmosphere was a lovely introduction to Munich, and offered some much needed balance to the next days events, visiting the Dachau concentration camp memorial.

It’s important to note that while Germans acknowledge the history of Nazi rule, most people are uncomfortable discussing it in a casual setting. Visiting a memorial or museum is a more appropriate way to learn about Germany’s role in the World Wars. These memorials are understandably very heavy and aren’t for everyone. Many tours include the opportunity to visit a memorial or museum, but there is no obligation to attend. This portion took most of the full day in Munich.

Tomorrow the tour continue to Stuttgart through the Bavarian Alps, with stopping at Neuschwanstein Castle.

Lynne kovacs 12/12/22 Lynne kovacs 12/12/22

Day 7: Leipzig via Dresden

Hello from Leipzig!

Lynne and Leona’s wallets are noticeably lighter after visiting Dresden’s Christmas market on the way to Leipzig. The ladies picked up candle holders, Christmas tree decorations, treats and beautiful linens. As far as cities to visit, Dresden is the type of place that Lynne would return to for future Germany tours (more about that in a later post). The market is surrounded by churches and beautiful buildings.

Like many German cities, Dresden’s historic buildings were damaged during WWII. Many were rebuilt with a blend of modern materials and design, creating interesting architecture that the group explored today. Some buildings were newly constructed out of rubble while some buildings were reconstructed to look as similar to the original as possible.

Dresden’s historical area, the lighter parts of the buildings were repaired after the war.

Leipzig has a rich history, but unfortunately Lynne and Leona didn’t have much time to explore this evening. After a quick stop the Christmas market, they decided to catch up on some rest before the tour moves on the Nuernberg tomorrow.

Lynne kovacs 12/8/22 Lynne kovacs 12/8/22

Days 5&6: Berlin via Lubeck

Guten Abend aus Berlin (Good evening from Berlin),

Day 5 was mostly a travel day, so we will be combining both nights in Berlin in one post.

The tour made its way from Hamburg to Berlin, which is about 5 hours away. A leisurely stop was made in Lubeck to allow for a chance to explore.

Lubeck is a UNESCO world heritage site thanks to its impressive 1600’s architecture and is also where marzipan originates from. Once the tour had an opportunity to wander the town square, browse the Christmas market and shop for marzipan, the tour continued on to Berlin.

**Pro Tip** while there are some exceptions, most Christmas markets and food kiosks accept cash only. Credit cards are accepted at most restaurants and permanent store fronts.

After arriving in Berlin and checking into the hotel, Lynne and Leona joined others from the tour to enjoy dinner and the lively atmosphere at Zeeko’s restaurant. Leona enjoyed Hungarian goulash and Lynne had a mixed place with sausage, chicken, pork and potatoes. The hotel was near several amenities so Lynne and Leona purchased some wine for later at less than 5 euro per bottle. The lobby bar was offering wine cheaper than bottled water (not uncommon in Germany) so they stayed up late and enjoyed the company of their fellow travellers.

At a bright and early 7:00 am, it was time to begin exploring Berlin. They spent most of the day learning about the Nazi Regime, the allies presence in Berlin and the Berlin Wall. Lynne was able to physically touch the small section of wall that remains and see checkpoint Charlie, which was an item on her ‘bucket list’. The group was guided by a man who was born in 1942 and shared his own personal experiences living under the Nazi regime.

Tomorrow, the tour moves on to Leipzig.

Lynne kovacs 12/8/22 Lynne kovacs 12/8/22

Day 4: Hamburg via Hamelin

Hello from Hamburg!

Today the tour stopped at the historic city of Hamelin, the home of the legend of the Pied Piper. The Christmas market is located in beautiful old town, surrounded by buildings from the mid 1600’s. The market is not as large a many of the others but features beautiful decorations, many themed around the Pied Piper.

One of many Pied Piper themed decorations

** Pro tip** The tour bus took a break at a rest stop and it was noted that bottled water is very expensive (close to 4 euro for a standard size bottle at this particular stop). It’s important to note that Germany’s tap water is very clean and safe, and many hotels and rest stops offer a place to refill a personal bottle. It’s also very common for public restrooms to have a fee of 1 euro.

After a short visit and glass of wine, the tour moved on to Hamburg, which is the second largest city in Germany and offers something for everyone. For the history buffs, Hamburg was heavily damaged in WWII, and the city has kept a partially destroyed church at the centre of the city as a memorial to its history. Art fans might want to check out St. Michael’s Church, which was constructed in the 1600’s and is a work of art itself.

St. Michael’s Church decorated for Christmas

For those excited to lighten their wallets, Hamburg’s Christmas market is one of the best in the country, and Lynne’s favourite so far. Roasted nuts, carollers and Gluhwein together with beautiful light displays reminds market goers that Germany truly does Christmas like no other place.

While beautiful, the lights are less extravagant this year due to Germany’s energy crisis

After a busy day, the group settled in at the NH Altona Hotel which was similar to the previous ones- clean and comfortable.

Tomorrow the tour continues to Berlin and will be staying there for two nights.

Lynne kovacs 12/5/22 Lynne kovacs 12/5/22

Day 3: Rudesheimer to Cologne on the Rhine

It is the first official day of the tour! Today’s itinerary includes a riverboat cruise down the Rhine from Rudesheimer to Cologne, with opportunities to explore both. After an included breakfast, the bus left the hotel promptly at 8. After a short ride through wine country, the bus arrived bright and early in the charming village of Rudesheimer. Lynne and Leona were able to explore for about an hour before departing on their cruise, avoiding crowds and enjoying the village’s architecture and Christmas decorations.

Once aboard the cruise, Lynne and Leona indulged in local wine and enjoyed the view of more beautiful riverside villages.

If they were to stand on the deck of the boat, Lynne and Leona would likely smell the city of Cologne before they could see it thanks to the Lindtt chocolate factory along the river. The smell of chocolate wafts through the market, tempting even those who turn their noses up at chocolate. The factory features a chocolate museum and a massive store featuring Lindtt treats not found anywhere else, as well as a cafe. They had a few hours to explore, but the factory was quite busy with weekend crowds so Lynne and Leona decided to use the trolly system to explore the markets and the stunning gothic style Cologne Cathedral. For a mere 3 Euro, this landmark is a must see.

The Cologne Cathedral is truly a sight to behold. A world heritage site, construction began in 1248 and was periodically stopped until it final completion in 1880. Sections of the final floor have been excavated to reveal the original stone foundation, which became buried over the centuries. The Cathedral contains priceless art pieces and artifacts, most notably the Shrine of the Three Kings, traditionally believed to contain the remains of the Three Wise Men from the story of Jesus’ birth. It is worth noting that there are more in depth tours available and guests can climb the tower if the are willing the brave the tiny staircase!

The Cologne Christmas market is very popular with locals and tourists alike, and because Lynne and Leona arrived on a weekend the market was extremely busy. They opted to save their shopping for a less busy market visit, and instead focused their visiting hours on the Cathedral.

Later, the group checked in to the Leonardo Koeln Airport where they enjoyed dinner which was included by the tour before settling down for the night. The room is once again considered moderate, is comfortable and it’s spotlessly clean (which is standard for German hotels).

**Pro Tip** Most rooms do not include an alarm clock, wake up calls or USB charging for mobile devices. It’s good practice to have a converter with a surge protector for your devices and the voltage is higher in German outlets.

Tomorrow morning the tour moves on to Hamburg.

Lynne kovacs 12/4/22 Lynne kovacs 12/4/22

Day 2: Frankfurt

Guten Tag!

After sleeping in this morning, Lynne and Leona made their way back to Frankfurt’s old town to enjoy more of the market. The public transit system in Frankfurt is well laid out and with the help of maps they found their way quickly. Frankfurt is an industrious city, with most notable tourist attractions being the Old Town and Christmas Market. For lunch, Lynne enjoyed standard local fare- bratwurst and Pommes Frites for about 10 euro.

Mayonnaise is the standard topping for pommes frites- many shops offer a selection of toppings.

Today’s weather was about 5 degrees and somewhat damp. The markets are all outdoors with fires/heat lamps for warming up and cathedral visits and gasthauses offer warmth as well. Even though Germany’s weather is mild compared to the brutal cold of Alberta, its important to dress in layers.

One thing Lynne remembers from her last visit to the German Christmas markets was that all of the markets carried similar things, but some items are specific to a city’s market. Some items can wait to be purchased closer to the end of the tour, but if something speaks to you it’s a good idea to pick it up.

At 8:00 pm, Lynne and Leona attended a meet and greet with the other people attending the tour. The bus has seating for 50 people but there will be about 25 people on the bus, leaving plenty of space to stretch out.

Tomorrow’s wake up is 6:00am, the bus departs for Rudesheimer and the Rhein at 8:00am.

Lynne kovacs 12/2/22 Lynne kovacs 12/2/22

Day 1: Alberta to Frankfurt, Germany

After several cancellations, Lynne is finally embarking on her first Travel Like a Pro adventure! Follow along as we share her trip day-by-day. Since getting there is half the fun, we will start with her travel day.

Lynne travels in style, so she opted to fly to Germany on Air Canada’s Premium Economy Class. Lynne and her friend and client, Leona, enjoyed priority check-in and boarding, 2 free checked bags, and an upgraded meal selection. The service was very different from what Lynne would have expected before covid protocols were implemented. The flight attendants didn’t check in as often and there were fewer food and beverage offerings than Lynne expected. The roomier seating and ability to charge devices made the 8 hour journey from Calgary to Frankfurt far more comfortable.

This particular route left a long layover in Calgary, but Lynne and Leona kept themselves busy at the Aspire Lounge before the main leg of their journey. For $39 they enjoyed comfy seating and choice of food and beverage near the departure gate.

At the end of a long day of travel it can be nice to avoid finding a cab, shuttle or public transit, so once they landed in Frankfurt, Lynne and Leona had pre-booked a private transfer from the airport to their hotel but they missed it due to their luggage being delayed. The airport’s virtual assistant was very helpful and before long they arrived at Hotel Frankfurt Messe. The hotel was clean and bright, with small but comfortable, efficient rooms. Lynne and her companion shared a room featuring two twin beds, warm duvets, a desk space, tv, and of course ensuite washroom. This hotel would be considered in the moderate category- welcoming, spotlessly clean, simply appointed and in a prime location at a reasonable cost. Hotel Frankfurt Messe offers a comfortable place to rest up while spending most of your day exploring Frankfurt. The hotel has a restaurant and lobby bar, and is close to a grocery store, pharmacy and public transit.

**Pro tip** Grocery stores are a great place to stock up on basics more affordably than the airport or popular tourist stops. You can find chocolate and everyday goods that make excellent souvenir gifts or purchase basics for breakfast or lunch on the go, reducing your food costs and time spent in restaurants.

After freshening up, Lynne and Leona decided to see old town where they took in the beautiful Christmas decorations and traditional market, just a short tram ride and walk away. They found themselves in a charming pub that dates back to the mid 1890’s (which is not uncommon in Germany’s historical areas). They dined on hunter’s style veal and wine, coming to about 20 euro each. At the market, Leona enjoyed Gluhwein (traditional German mulled wine) while Lynne sipped Bailey’s and hot chocolate. For a small deposit, market visitors can refill a porcelain mug for a couple euro and the mug can be kept as an affordable souvenir.

Lynne used a bit of restraint while shopping at this Christmas market, knowing there were more opportunities to come! She purchased some candle holders and window decorations to get warmed up.

After a long day, the ladies capped off the night with a glass of wine at the lobby bar before resting up for tomorrow’s adventures.

Lynne kovacs 12/1/22 Lynne kovacs 12/1/22

Travel Like a Pro: Germany 2022

Travel Like a Pro: Cosmos Highlights of Germany

Lynne is excited to finally embark on her first Travel Like a Pro adventure! Follow along with Lynne as she enjoys the Highlights of Germany tour with Cosmos.