Germany 88
Heart of Europe Tour
American Express Vacations

July 8 and 9 and 16 - 18, 1988

Under the leadership of Tour Manager, Mr. Derek Brown, a Brit, our group of 35 Americans got together in Frankfurt for the beginning of this exciting adventure.   There we checked out the medieval square Romerberg and did some serious window shopping before heading for Lucerne, Switzerland the next day.

The drive south was breathtaking in its beauty.  Our route parallels the Rhine river as we penetrate the Black Forest and enter the old university town of Freiburg.  We cross the Swiss border at the thundering Rhine Falls and then into Lucerne, Switzerland (Click on Switzerland in the left frame for highlights).  After two nights there we drive to Liechtenstein (Also at left) and then Munich, Germany.

Munich, the capital of Bavaria, is one fun loving city.  Below is the famous Marien Plaza with the tower clock that every 15 minutes puts on an animated spectacle.  The clock draws never ending crowds.  

Below is Nymphenburg Palace through which we strolled back in time.

After leaving Munich, our tour took us into Austria (Click at left under Adventures) and Hungary (under Adventures) then back into Germany along the Romantic Road to Rothenburg.  It is often described as a page out of the Middle Ages with its narrow cobble-stone streets within medieval walls.  You get a good perspective from the picture below. 

Leaving Rothenburg, we travel to beautiful Heidelberg.  Talk about an interesting castle.  It's up above the river in the picture below.  Our lunch at a small cafe in town was typical German with beer and sausages and good German bread.

After arriving in Darmstadt, our group boarded a boat for a cruise on the Rhine's most scenic stretch.  Everywhere you looked there was a castle perched on one of the hill tops that bordered the river.  Dotty and I enjoying coffee and taking it all in from an interior section of our boat.

We all said farewell over a robust German dinner that last night in Darmstadt.   We had traveled a total of 2,500 miles during the previous two weeks but the time flew.  Friendships made during the tour added to a truly rewarding and most enjoyable trip.