Welcome

Welcome, family and friends. Join Toby and me on our European adventure. We start on July 31th. See you then and enjoy.

We will start in Lisbon, Portugal, on July 31 and end in Greece around October 31st.

Tentitive Travel Plan

Italy: Florence & Milan & Pisa Sept. 6 2025 # 9

A tyciple travel day. We left Bern Switzerland on the 5th at 12:30. Bern to Zurich by train changes trains Zurich to Milan, 4 hr. bus ride from Milan to Florence. Bus station was out side of Florence so we jumped on a city tram

and rode that as far as we could, grabbed a taxie. We got to the hotel at 1am.

The sling strap

You can see detail in his work. David is holding the rock in the leather sling that he used to kill Goliath.

The visit to the Galleria Dell'Accademia Di Firenze and view the statue of David by Michelangelo will be the pinnacle of my visit to Florence.

The crowning of the Virgin

Today I visited Museo Nazional Del Bargello. The video above is the court yard with the well in the middle. It was a private home at one time.

It was a mixture of religious artifacts, statues and a large display of porcelain. Had to take a video.

Cathedral Santa Maria Del Fiore

Spent most of the day walking around exploring Florence. Eating lunch at a great outdoors cafe and stopped at 2 more cafes for a sip of tea and rest.

Today we ventured out of Florence to go to Pisa, and we all know what is there.

The Pisa Cathedral or the Primatial Metropolitan Cathedral of the Assumption on Mary

This building was for baptism only. Nobody was allowed in the church until you were baptism.

When I first though I would be cutting the trip short I was some what disappointed, but now I am not at all.

Learned a lot about this type of traveling, so the next time will be easier. 60% of what I packed never got used, Dummping this heavy carry on for a smaller one and no back pack.

Heading out at 6am in the morning, and should be home by 5:30 pm. Can't wait to sleep in my own bed.

The trip was more than I had anticipated and I am satisfied with what we have accomplished, 9 countries, 10 hotels, traveled by train, plane, bus, subway, city trams and by foot. Schelued everything on the fly twithout a hitch. Will be back someday to finish the rest of the trip.

Yes that's a real body, he cured people with water

Switzerland: Bern Sept. 3, 2025 #8

The first 3 pics were in old town Berm, where we spent some time.

This building is the Switzerland Parliament

These guys were selling muffins for a school project to go to camp. They corralled me. One

spoke english, they were fun to talk to and asked me a lot of questions. I gave them 20 franc's

I bought these 2 wooden boxes of chocolates for 2 special persons. I hope they enjoy. $300 ouch.

Our stay in Berm is going to be very short. Just a stop over on our way to Florence Italy.

Germany: Berlin Aug 29, 2025 #7

We arrived in Berlin late afternoon, enought time to check out the neighborhood. Right around the cornor from our hotel was Check Point Charlie. Hotel is in a great spot with shops and resturants. We will be in Berlin 5 days.

This boy was drawing flags with chalk and people would put coins on their flags. Those are my coins on our flag.

This is the Brandenburg-Gate where President Regan told Gorbachev to tear down this wall.

This is the Holocaust Memorial. We sat for a while and reflected on the significance of this memorial.

This memorial was dedicated to people from the gay community.

The Berlin Wall

You can read about history and look at a documentary, but the real connection comes when you are standing in it, touching it.

No way would I go up in that.

This is part of the wall.

Look and you can see the cable holding it.

Check Point Charlie

This stone line goes through Berlin, the same spot the Berlin Wall was

Today we rode 18 miles to Oranieburg to visit the Sachsenhausen Conceration/ Labor Camp. Took many photos but did not feel comfortable posting some of them.It was a time of quiet sadness, with deep respect for the people who suffered here.

A memorial on site for the many people who suffered and died here.

This trench was used to execute people, the wooden walls were to prevent the bullets from ricocheting. The wood had to be replaced often.

The grey area in the rt. photo was called the death zone, one step in it and you were shot.

We are waiting on a train to Bern Switzerland. It will be a short stay in Bern.

Heading towards Italy and than I thing I am calling it quits, My cold is not getting any better.

It's disappointing but we will have 9 countries under our belts and there is another time.

England: London & Warwick AUG 24, 2025 #6

We arrived in London this after noon. 4.5 hr. train ride from Amsterdan. We are at the Seven Dials Hotel, in the middle of the seven dial area. A perfect spot. hundreds of resturants and shops. We are eating dinner in front of our hotel.

I woke up this morning with a cold. o well.

Out for a walk this morning aand ran into an old friend. I have read a lot about this man.

This guy dose not need any introduction. The top of the tower is absolutely stunning

Westminster Abbey.

Today we ventured out of London to Warwick 1.5 hr. by train to visit the Earl of Warwick's Castle.

Here I am standing in the center of the court yard.

The Great Room

I took many more pictures, too many to post. The picture lower right is the library.

CORRECTION: I had said this was Churchill's War Room. I was wrong and don't know what building it is.

You can't go to London without a visit to Buckingham Palace.

We had walk through a very large park to get to the palace and the walk way was dedicated to Princess Diana.

Nothing like having a statue in your front yard.

Today I ventured off by myself, a 2.5 mile round trip to the Churchill War Room/Bunker.

I don't normally take pics. of my meals but this marinated salmon was tops.

It is under the HM Treasury Building.

The entrance to the bunker.

Churchill sat in front of the brown box

His sleeping quarters

The bunker kitchen

There was a museum about his life, I spent 2 hr. between the bunker and museum.

It was so interesting, I really enjoyed the time spent there.

The bunker was massive with many rooms for the around 200 people who worked there.

This 10,11,& 12 Downing Street

Heading out in the morning. 2.5 hr. flight to Berlin. Good bye England.

Netherlands: Amsterdam, Aug. 21 2025 #5

We arrived in Amsterdam, late so we just ate there and crashed. I had a great dish of home made pasta. it was so good. Tobey had a burger.

Down town Amsterdam

Not on your life would I do that

Taken from the train.

Could not visit Amsterdam without a peek at the red light district.

A 2 hr. ride around the town. Quite relaxing.

We walked through this 200 ft. tunnel, and the entire tunnel was a small tile mosaic depicting the maritime history of Amsterdam. Simply beautiful.

Did not spend a lot of time here. Heading for the UK in the morning. Long train ride, going under the English Channel Tunnel

Belgium: Brussels Aug, 18, 2025 #4

We arrived in Belgium late afternoon so we just checked out the neighborhood and ate at KFC.

We visited a chocolate factory and museum, which covered the entire history of chocolate with videos and a demonstration how to make them and than we got to eat them.

The side streets are beautiful

Clowning around

On our way back, we visited St. Miichael's Cathedral, another beautiful structure.

We visited a planetarium today. This continues to change to show the different areas of the world and the greenhouse effects.

This is an atom

Could not pass up watching

A Starbucks coffee shop

Everywhere we went there were great parks to sit and enjoy and rest.

We are now waiting on a train heading to Netherlands.

I am not staying as long as I had planned in some countries, so it will cut a couple weeks off the trip.

France: Paris Aug 12th 2025 #3

We are in Paris now (3 days) Photos slow transferring from phone to lab top. Having a great time.

SECOND LEVEL.

View from the second level. Video is from 2nd. level of the Seine River.

This was a 1.5 mile walk from our hostel. we averaged 12k steps today.

The eleveator ride to the 2nd. level. Top level was sold out. We wanted to go to the top.

View from the second level.

The Louvre Museum.

Arc De Triomphe Du Carrousel.

Fontaines de PolBury, located in the Palais Royal.

Enjoy the cool breeze off the Seine River

I will never rent a room without an elevator. 3rd floor 51 steps.

THE Sainte Chapel. Lines too long to go in, over an hour.

In stead we went to Notre Dame Cathedral.

In side Notre Dame. The stained glass is incredible.

Thesr watering stations were everywhere. Toby filling up. they have water mist to cool of.

Just a great building

Today is our last day in Paris. Slep in, did laundry. Just hanging out. Early morning train to Brussels Belgium.

We rode the subway to days as our destinations were to far to walk. Great subway system.

Our hostel was in a great location. The Melt Resturant and a great breakfast cafe on the same block. Our waitress for breakfast was a sweetheart and our waiter for dinner was a great guy. Marget and Ansel. laundromat and subway also close by

SPAIN: MADRID AND BARCELONA AUG. 5, 2025 #2

We boarded the train in Lisbon for Madrid with 2 train changes, one in Entroncamento and Badajoz. A 40 min delay in Badajoz caused

us to miss the train to Madrid. Had to get a hotel in Badajoz and catch a 6:30am train in the morning to Madrid.

Things did not go as planned today, but we were told to expect this often.

Traveling in style. We had the entire coach to our selves.

The video to the right is a large square near our hostel with tons of shops and restaurants in Madrid.

This is what hostel living is. No amenities, traving on a budget.

I always thought aqueducts were straight, but this one wound it's way down the mountain.

A view of Segovia

Cooling off with some ice crean 100 deg.

This is La Rambla Boulevard a famous and busy shopping area in Barcelona.

The only reason I stopped in Madrid was to travel to Segovis to see the aqueducts, and I was in total awe.

The entire structure is free standing.

We have been averaging around 12k steps a day but broke over 20k today plus I bought a 2 day subway pass and we rode under ground a bit.

Today was the highlight of our visit in Barcelona, A visit to the Pablo Picasso

Museum, thousands of his work and videos of him workingng.

This morning we left for Barcelona. A 8+ hr train ride to Paris. Aug. 12th

The side streets are just beautiful.

The room is a bit small. cheat traveling.

We stopped at a supermarket. Dinner at the hostel

This moring we left Barcelona for Paris. 7 hr. ride.

Portugal: Lisbon July 31,2025 #1

A statue in the square near our hotel.

An optical illusion. The surface is flat

The Quinta da Regaleira Palace. Ounce a private residence in Sintra, a 40 min train ride from Lisbon center.

If you look real hard you can see Tobey in a top lookout.

There he is.

Tobey

Keeping an eye on things. Photo to the right is just one of the hundreds of steps we climbed over a 10 acre sight.

This is the Initiation Well, 90 feet deep with 140 steps. Entrence and exit is through volcanic tunnels.

Entrance to the Initiation Well

This is another volcanic well looking down into it.

Exit from Initiation Well

This is the same well looking up, This is all connected by volcanic tunnels.

To day we spent touring Lisbon in a tuk-tuk.

The Monument of the Discoveries. We also visited the Belem Tower but it was under construction and covered.

Our tuk tuk driver took us to his favorite pastry shop for custard tarts and they were delicious.

We spent the day exploring Castelo de Sao Jorge.

You can see Castelo de Sao Jorge at the top of the pic.

Time for a well deserved break.

Our tuk tuk driver of 3 days (Valentim) took us to a great place to eat.

Tomorrow is our last lay in Portugal, so we will lay low as our budget for Portugal is gone Tuesday we head for Spain.

Valentim and I had the Portugues grilled Sardines.

Tobey had grilled chicken with french fries

Saying goodbye to our friend Valentim.

Memories from Past Adventures

Touring Yellowstone and Grand Titon National Park 2022

Bozemen, Arizona To Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Grand Canyon 2019

10 day Rafting on the Colorado River exploring the Grand Canyon

Launch in Lees Fariy in Arizona to Lake Mead in Arizona, 280 miles of White Water Rafting

ALASKA 2018

Caden (my great-grandson) and I spent 10 days touring Alaska. 5 days on land and 5 days on a small boat, island-hopping. Anchorage, Valdez, Fairbanks, Denali National Park, Kantishna, Talkeetna, Kenai Peninsula, Juneau, Glacier Bay, Petersburg, Kale, and Sitka.