An European getaway

It was a blessing that Eyjafjallajökull had ceased to erupt 2 days before I was due to fly and resumed erupting just 2 days after I returned. I wasn't caught in any flight cancelations nor delays. The weather had been great throughout the entire tour. Even the tour guide thanked God for making this tour a smooth sailing one - covering all programmes and meeting each timeline.

My maiden voyage to the European countries had covered the western side of it - Germany, Switzerland, France, Holland, Belgium and the United Kingdoms. I had wanted to go for Kontiki or some other youth travels but the situation had not allowed me much choices, so I went with the tour group. It wasn't really satisfying as I  have little patience for the elders. They just had different interests and different purposes. I was more into cultures and sculptures and architectures. They were more into shoppings and food and more shoppings.

It was a rather rush one - only stopping for around 15 to 45 minutes on each location. There wasn't enough time for photos and souveniers all together. More like a Touch 'N Go concept. You 'touched' one location and hurried on to the next one. But we did covered all the major hotspots. Those must-see places. All in all, it was kinda worthwhile.

Germany - Black Forest

It is a llittle town right outside of the Black Forest. It's the home of the cuckoo clocks. Only originally found in this place - all hand made.  By the way, Black Forest doesn't mean that the trees are black in colour. The pine trees grew so high and so near to each other that you can't see the sun light if you venture too deep into the forest. Hence, that is where the forest got its name.

Switzerland - Rhine Falls, Lucerne, Mount Titlis

  Rhine Falls. 

Uncomparable to Niagra Falls. Clear waters. Very clear.

All around Lucerne town.  

 

The icy Mount Titlis

Mountain Titlis view from land.  

The mountain. Glacier cave. Cheese fondue.

Switzerland has few of the best cities in the world - Zurich, Geneva, Bern. Fresh air. Clean waters. Crime free neighbourhoods. Friendly people. I will certainly choose to retire there.

France - Beaune and Paris

Wine tasting in Beaune. It's not a vineyard. It's a chapel turned wine cellar. 

The one and only Eiffel Tower. 

Notre Dame Cathedral. 

Supposingly the third largest one in the world. 

Lafayette Departmental Store.

One of the finest in Paris.

 

French escargot.  

Superbly yummy.

The French are very stuck up. We have been warned and so have you. If you do not speak French, do not dream that they will look at you. 

Remember to pay a visit to Lido on Champs-Elysees while you're in Paris. It housed the world's most famous cabaret show. Girls trained under a Miss Bluebell, with 2010 its 100 years anniversary. We were not allowed photos during the show, so I got these pictures of the internet. They are the exact same thing. Live dances, music and champagne. Definitely worth it.

Holland - Amsterdam

It's spring! Boy, am I glad I visited this season. The tulips were in full bloom. They looked too real to be fake. It's a huge garden in Keukenhof. Real huge. And my quest for the black tulips have been in vain.

 

Windmills. Dutch clogs. Dutch houses.

Belgium - Brussels

All taken from the Grand Place.  

A UNESCO World Heritage Site. Very impressive.

The Mannekin Pis. Belgium chocolates. Human sculptures.

United Kingdom - London

Buckingham Palace.

No, it's not the London Bridge. It's the Tower Bridge, to be exact.

 

Saint Paul's Cathedral. 

Second largest in world behind Saint Peter's in the Vatican.

Big Ben. 

Westminster Abbey.

Charming. 

Angus Steakhouse. 

They have the "Best Steaks in London".

All around London city.

British Museum. 

That's me with Aphrodite, the Greek Goddess of Beauty.

Next stop - Italy or Scotland. I am waiting. 

I am already missing Switzerland.