21 Adventerous Days in Europe on a
Rick Steves Tour
Europe Bound!
On almost every bus ride Reid would give us a lesson on history, culture, and modern times. It provided so much context and understanding. It also really allowed us to avoid the "ugly american" sterotype and helped us to really connect.
Walking through the keukenhof gardens and witnessing the soft beauty. Arriving at our 700 year old hotel and walking through Bacharach. It is beautiful and peaceful.
Germany
Lisse, Netherlands to Bacharach, Germany
May 7, 2013
Tour Day 3
Wow Moment
Food
Travel Tip
Sometimes the Rick Steves' Tour itinerary will change. This is something that threw me off a little at first because beforehand I got so excited for everything. Embrace the fact that things can change and look forward to some experiences that you weren't expecting. I found out that those experiences are sometimes the best.
One last stop in the Netherlands...
Today started off with a special visit to Keukenhof Gardens. It. Was. Beautiful. There were tons of tulips - not just tulips but a variety of flowers in manicured gardens - and not just gardens . . . acres and acres of beauty! It was stunning, soft, and deliberate. I loved it. I just kept walking around in awe.
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To Germany We Go!
After we were done at the gardens we loaded on the bus to head to Bacharach, Germany. It was nice to have a few hours to relax and take in the landscape of Holland and Germany. We saw vineyards climb to the tops of hills, quintessential towns, and stately castles.
Just in case you’re wondering…(because I definitely did)
When I was trying to decide whether to go on a Rick Steves' tour or which one I should go on I took into consideration the amount of time we would be on the bus. I was worried that I would spend time traveling to destinations rather than enjoying them. Once I was on the tour I actually came to really enjoy bus time. It gave me time to catch up on sleep, write in my journal, and best of all it allowed me to see the landscapes of the countries we visited.
Until we meet again Netherlands!
We arrived in Bacharach, Germany at about 6:30pm. The whole group spent about 30 minutes exploring our 700 year-old hotel and hosting “open houses” so everyone could see each other’s unique rooms. Each room either had a river view or a castle view.
After we settled in our rooms Mike and I went and explored Bacharach. Bacharach is a small, charming town that is easy to navigate. On one side you have the castle and the other side the river.
In the evening we enjoyed a delicious dinner prepared by the hotel owner. The group was settling into our temporary home; as the drinks abounded so did the conversation.
Bubble burst- gross food does exist in Europe and let’s just say we discovered it in the Keukenhof Gardens. But we redeemed foods’ reputation with a delicious waffle with whip cream.
For dinner we had a hearty meal at the hotel. We enjoyed asparagus soup, pork, potatoes, veggies and maple walnut ice cream. I'm drooling.
