Europe 2009 Itinerary

July 1: Flight to London

July 2-5: London/ Stonehenge/ Bath
Saint Christopher's at the Orient Espresso: http://www.hostelworld.com/availability.php/StChristophersOrientEspresso-London-504 59 Borough High Street, England
7BR United Kingdom
-Trafalger Square
-Dean's Yard
-Covent Garden
-The Royal Albert Hall
-Regents Park
-Victoria and Albert Museum
-St. Paul's Cathedral
-Tower of London
-Hampton Court Palace
-Piccadilly Circus
-Westminster Abbey
-Big Ben
-Buckingham Palace
-Leicester Square
-Green Park
-Hyde Park Corner
-Knights Bridge
-Royal Albert Hall
-The Globe Theater
-Opera/Ballet at the Royal Opera House? http://info.royaloperahouse.org/Home/Index.cfm
-Stonehenge and Bath Trip: http://www.discountlondon.com/products/Salisbury_Stonehenge_&_Bath.htm ($75) wed or fridayBath

July 6-8: Cardiff
Cardiff Castle
St. Davids Cathedral
Llandaff Cathedral
Bute Park
City Hall
Castell Coch
Roath Park

July 9: Stratford Upon-Avon
Charlecote Park
Harvard House
The Royal Shakespeare Theatre
Holy Trinity Church
Ann Hathaway's Cottage
The Falstaffs Experience
The American Fountain
Bancroft Gardens
Shakespeare's Birthplace
Compton Verney

July 10-12: Yorkshire Dales

Skirbeck Farm Bed and Breakfast, Near Long Preston

-Skipton Castle

-Hikes

-Long Preston

-Gargrave

July 13-15: Edinburgh

Castle Rock Hostel, http://www.castlerockedinburgh.com/ 15 Johnston Terrace, Edinburgh, EH1 2PW, Scotland
-St. Giles Cathedral
-Thistle Chapel
-Isle of Skye
-Loch Ness, Urquhart Castle
-Facade of Holyrood
-George Square
-Edinburgh Castle
-Craigmiller Castle
-Scottish Haunts of Mary
Walking tours (4)

July 16-18: Dublin
Kinlay House, http://www.kinlaydublin.ie/home.php
2-12 Lord Edward St, Temple Bar, Dublin 2
-St. Stephen's Green
-St. Ann's Church
-National Gallery
-Christ Church Cathedral Cathedral
-Dublin Castle
-St. Patrick's Cathedral
-The Liffey



July 19-22: Galway
Galway City Hostel, http://www.galwaycityhostel.com/home.html
Frenchville Lane, Eyre Square, Galway

July 23-25: Amsterdam/ Utrecht/ Haarlem
HI-Stayokay Amsterdam Stadsdoelen, http://www.hostelz.com/hostel/17286-HI---Stayokay-Amsterdam-Stadsdoelen-Hostel Kloveniersburgwal 97, Amsterdam
-Anne Frank Huis
-Koninklijk Paleis
-Begijnhof

Day trip to Haarlem
-Tiles in Haarlem Station
-West Gate of Amsterdamse Poort
-River Spaarne
-Slot Assumburg in Heemskerk
-Cruquius Steam Pump
-The Muiderslot

Day trip to Utrecht
-De Haar Castle in Haarzuilens
-Paleis Soestdijk
-Amersfoot
-Rhenen
-Fort Rijnauwen, Bunnik
-Country Estates Along the Vecht
-Koppelpoort
-Wijk Bij Duurstede

July 26-29: Bruges/ Brussels
Passage Hotel and Hostel Bruges, http://www.passagebruges.com/
Dweersstraaat 26, BE-8000 Brugge, Belgium
-The Burg
-Stadhuis
-Museum voor Schone Kunsten
-The Memling Museum
-Day trip to Gent
-Day trips to Brussels
-The Grand Place
-Musee Horta
-La Cornet
-Maison des Boulangers
-Hotel de Ville
-Musee du Costumes
-The River Sene
-Musee de l’Hotel Charlier

July 30-August 1: Luxembourg
HI Hostel Luxembourg, http://www.hihostels.com/dba/country-LU.en.htm 2 Rue du Fort OlisyL-2261 Luxembourg
-Palais Grand Ducal
-Cathedrale Notre
-Dame -Musee National d'Art et d'Historie
-Musee de l'Histoire de la Ville de Luxembourg

August 2-4: Berlin (Csilla)
SVEN
-Bode Museum
-Pergamonmuseum
-Gemaldegalerie
-Reichstag
-Schloss Charlottenburg

-Berliner Dom

-Sanssouci Palace


August 2-4: Bacharach (Gemma)
Bacharach Jugendherberge Burg Stahleck Jugendgästehaus, http://www.jugendherberge.de/en/hostels/search/portrait/jh.jsp?IDJH=390
55422 Bacharach


August 5-9: Prague
Apple Hostel, http://www.applehostel.cz/
Králodvorská 16Prague 1, Old Town110 00, Czech Republic

Old Town:
-Church of Our Lady Before Tyn (Old Town Square)
-Klementinium
-Municipal House
-Old Town Bridge Tower
-Old Town Hall Tower and Astronomical Clock
-Old Town Square
-Charles Bridge
-Powder Gate
-Rudolfinium Concert Hall (See show for about $28?)
-St. Nicholas Church at the Old Town Square
-Jan Hus Monument
-Kinsky Palace
-St. James Church
-Bedrich Smetana Museum
Josefov:
-Jewish Museum
-Jewish Quarter

New Town:
-Dancing House
-Jindrisska Tower
-Mucha Museum http://www.mucha.cz/index.phtml?S=home&Lang=EN
-National Museum (Wenceslas Square)
-Wenceslas Square
-National Theater (fairly expensive)
-Prague State Opera (fairly expensive-as low as $31)
-Church of St. Stephen
-Dvorak Museum

Hradcany:
-Prague Castle (with St. George's Basilica and St. Vitus Cathedral)
-Golden Lane
-Loreta

Mala Strana:
-Mala Strana
-Mala Strana Bridge Tower
-Malostranske Namesti (aka Lesser Town Square)
-Petrin Hill and Observation Tower
-Strahov Monestary
-Wallenstein Palace
-Church of St. Thomas
Other:
-Bertramka Mozart Museum
-Prague City Museum
-Vysehrad Castle and Park



August 10-12: Cesky Krumlov
Hostel Krumlov House, http://www.krumlovhouse.com/
68 Rooseveltova, Cesky Krumlov 38101, Czech Republic

August 13-16: Vienna

August 17-20: Budapest
Banki Travellers Hostel (HI), http://www.hihostels.com/dba/hostels-Budapest----Banki-Travellers-Hostel-025027.en.htm?hiavail=Y Podmaniczky u. 8, 1067 Budapest VI., Hungary
-Hungarian Parliament
-St. Stephen's Basilica
-Vaci Utca
-Gallert Hotel+Baths
-Hungarian National Gallery
-Matyas Curch
-State Opera House
-Hungarian National Museum
-Statue Park

-Buda Hills

-Budapest Fair Center

-Budapest zoo and botanical gardens

-Castle district

-Matthias Church (Mátyás templom)

-Fishermen's Bastion

-Royal Palace

-Contemporary Art - Ludwig Museum Budapest, Budapest

-National Széchenyi Library

-Chain Bridge

-Church of St. Anne

-Clark Adam Square

-Ethnographical Museum

-Gresham Palace

-Heroes Square

-Margaret Island

-Matthias Church

-Matthias Fountain

-Museum of Fine Art

-Dohány Synagogue

-Néprajzi Múzeum (Museum of Ethnography)

-János Hill Chairlift

-Holy Trinity Square

-National Jewish Museum and Archives

-Margaret Island

-Semmelweis Museum

-St. Stephen's Basilica

August 21: Melk

-Melk Abbey

August 22-24: Salzburg
Youth and Family Guesthouse, http://www.jfgh.at/salzburg-e.php
A-5020 Salzburg, Josef-Preis-Allee 18
-Schloss Maribell
-Tanzmeisterhaus
-Dom
-Kapitelplatz
-Hohensalzplatz
-Residenz
-Getreidegasse (No. 9)
-Festspeilhauser
-Statue of Mozart
-Stift Nonnberg

August 25-27: Munich/ Fussen
4 You Munchen Youth Hostel, http://www.the4you.de/?id=45
Hirtenstraße 18, 80335 München
-Baroque Asamkirche
-Neo-Gothic Rathaus
-Burgersaal
-Stadtmuseum
-Residenz
-Day trip to Fussen: Schloss Neuschwanstein

-Pfaffenwinkel
-Augsburg


August 28-29: Verona
B&B Arena Domus, http://www.arenadomus.com/eng/
Via Caserma Ospital Vecchio, 6 - 37122 Verona
-Roman Arena
-Loggia del Consigolio
-Casa di Giulietta
-Santa Maria Matricolare
-Renaissance Giardino Giusti

August 30-September 1: Venice
Albergo San Samuele, http://www.hotelsansamuele.com/
Salizzada San Samuele, San Marco 3358 - 30124 Venice - Italy
-Palozzo Sagredo
-Santa Maria della Salute
-Rialto Bridge
-Ca'Rezzonico
-Nave or San Nicole dei Merdicoli
-Baroque church of Santa Maria della Salute
-Palazzo Ducale
-Basilica di San Marco
-Torre dell'Orologio
-Bridge of Sighs
-Burano Street
-Murano's Basilica del Santa Maria e Donata
-Santa Fosca


September 2-5: Florence/ Pisa
Central Beds, http://www.hostelbookers.com/hostels/italy/florence/4166/
Via 27 aprile,4, Florence, Italia, 50129, Italy
-Day trip to Pisa
-Galleria dell'Accademia
-Michelangelo's David
-Library designed by Michelangelo
-Brunelleschi's Dome
-Ghiberti's winning panel
-Salone dei Cinqueceato
-Verrochio's Putto fountain
-Piazza della Signoria
-Ponta Santa Trinita
-Cappella dei Principi
-The Tomb of the Duke of Namours
-Santa Maria Novella
-Palazzo di Biance Cappello
-Santo Spirito
-Palazzo Pitti
-The Boboli Gardens



September 6-7: Napolii/Pompeii

-Galleria Umberto

-Piazza Della Borsa

-Mount Vesuvius/Pompeii

-Piazza Del Gesu

-Castel Nuovo

-Maschio Angioino

-Piazza del Plebiscito

-Teatro di San Carlo

-Palazzo Reale

September 8-11: Rome
Alessandro Downtown Hostel, http://www.hostelbookers.com/booking/index.cfm?hostel=3511&nights=5&fuseaction=hosteldetails Via Carlo Cattaneo 23, Rome, 00185, Italy
-St. Peters Basilica
-Piazza Navena
-The Vatican and Trastevere
-Panteon
-Santa Maria Maggiore
-The Ancient Center
-Colosseum
-San Giovanni in Laterano
-Cerveten
-Palazzo Sanaterio
-Via Biberatica
-Forum of Augustus
-Palatine
-Roman Forum
-House of the Vestal Virgins
-Tiber Island
-Santa Maria Sopra Minerva
-La Maddalena
-The Spanish Steps
-The Trevi
-Sistine Chapel


September 11(overnight train)-13 : Turin/Damanhur
-Duomo

-Palazzo Madama

-Palazzo Carignamo
-Piazza San Carlo

-Parco del Valentino
-Palazzo Reale

-Mole Antonelliano

-Temples of Damanhur

-Basilica di Superga

-Cathedral de San Giovanni Battista

-Palazzina di Caccia di Stupinigi

September 14-20: Paris
-Day Trip to Versailles

-Day tour Mont Saint Michel

-Day tour Loir Valley Castles
-Moulin Rouge
-St-Michel Boulevard St-Michel
-Notre Dame
-Colonne de Juillet
-Statue of Beaumarchais
-Musée Carnavalet
-Musée Picasso
-Avenue des Champs-Elysees
-Eiffel Tower
-La Madeleine
-Musee D’Orsay
-Musee de l'Orangerie
-Opera National de Paris Garnier
-Palais Royal
-Petit Palais

(Paris), Tour to Dinan, Mont St. Michel, and St. Malo ($133) http://www.linkparis.com/mont-st-michel.htm Must be a Monday, Wed, or Thurs between July and August Paris, Day Tour of Loire Valley Castles ($155) http://www.linkparis.com/loire-valley-day-tour-2.htm Chambord ... Cheverney ... Chenonceau ... Amboise (Paris), Day trip to Versailles -The Petit Trianon -Palace of Versailles -Marie-Antoinette's pastoral pondside Hameau

September 21-22:Bordeaux

-Place de la Comédie

- Grand Théâtre

-Esplanade des Quinconce

-Place de la Bourse

-Cathédrale St-André

September 23:Carcassonne
Hostel Carcassonne (HI), http://www.hihostels.com/dba/hostel020010.en.htm
Rue Raimond-Roger de Trencavel, Cité Médiévale, 11000 Carcassonne, France
-Carcassonne Castle

September 24-27: Barcelona
Catalina Hostel, http://www.catalinahostel.com/catalinahostel/web/hostel.html
Paseo de Gracia nº116, 2n Floor, Barcelona, Spain
-Museu d'Historia
-Casa de la Ciutat
-Barcelona Cathedral
-Palau de la Musica Catalana
-Santa Maria del Mar
-Parc de la Ciutadella
-Illa de la Discordia
-Casa Terrades
-Sagrada Familia
-Pablo Espanyol
-Museu Nacional d'Art de Cataluna

September 28-October 1: Madrid/ Toledo
Los Amigos Hostel Sol, http://www.losamigoshostel.com/b/english/index.htm
Arenal 26, 4th floor left door, 28013, Madrid
-The Plaza Mayor
-El Escorial
-The Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza
- Monument to Cervantes
-Plaza de la Villa
-The Parque del Retino
-Cathedral de la Almundera
-Royal Palace
-Covento de la Encarnacion
-Plaza de Cibeles
-Salon de Reinos
-Puerta de Alcala
-Monument of Alfonso XII
-Egyptian temple of Debod
-Museo Cerralbo
-Museo Sorella
-Plaza de Torros de las Ventas
-Library
-El Escorial
-Royal Pantheon

-Palacio de Cristal

-La Casa de las Siete Chimeneas

-Basilica de la Macarena

-Casa De Pilatos

-Hospital de la Santa Caridad

-Museo Provincial de Bellas Artes de Sevilla

-Archivo de Indias

Day trip to Toledo
-Ridge above Consuegra
-Belmonte
-Chinchilla de Monte Aragon
-Alcaraz's main square
-Sierra de Alceraz
-Palacio del Marques
-Calatravala Nueva
-Valle de Alcudia


October 2-4: Granada
Oasis Backpackers' Hostel Granada, http://www.oasisgranada.com/en/default.html
Placeta Correo Viejo 3, 18010 Granada, Spain
-Alhambra
-Granada Cathedral
-Capilla real
-Blacio de la Madraza
-Real Chuncilleria
-Carrera del Darro
-El Banuelo
-Sala de los Abencerrajas
-Placio del Portal
-Salon de Embajadores
-Patio de Arrayanos
-Patio del Mexuar
-Patio de los Leones
-Patio de la Acequia


October 5-7: Seville

-Plaza de Toros de la Maetarza

-Real Alcazar

-Patio de los Naraios

-Capillo Meyor

-La Giralda

-Casa de Pilatos

-Hospital de los Venerables

-Museo de Artes y Cosumbres

October 8-9: Cordova
Hospederia Duque San Martin, http://www.hospederiaduquesanmartin.com/
Calle Barroso nº 3., CP. 14003 Córdoba, Spain
-Alcazar de los Reyes Cristians
-Mezquita
-Arches and Pillars
-Mihrab
-Capilla de Villaviciosa

October 10-13: Lisbon
Smile Hostal, http://www.hostellisbon.com/hosteldetails.php/HostelNumber.21697
Travesa do Almada Nº 12 3DRT, Lisbon, Portugal
-Palacio Foz
-Praça dos Restauradores
-Rossio
-The Casa de Alentejo
-Praça da Figueira
-Jardim Botanico
-Praça do Comércio
-Barrio Alto + Chiado
-Sao Roque
-Igreja do Carmo
-Taveres
-Teatro Nacional de Sao
-Carlos
-Cafe Brasileira
-Museu Da Marioneta
-Palacio de Sao Bento
-Museu Nacional de Arte
-Antiga

October 14: Fly to London

October 18: Fly Home


LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY:
German (Germany, Austria)-Csilla
French (France, Belgium, Luxembourg)-Csilla
Dutch (Netherlands)-Csilla
Hungarian (Hungary)-Csilla
Czech (Czech Republic)-Gemma
Portuguese (Portugal)-Gemma
Spanish (Spain)-Gemma
Italian (Italy)-Gemma

*****

Gemma and Csilla's Top 20 Places to See (In Random Order-Gemma's)

Gemma:

1. Ireland Pubs
2. Kylemore Abbey
3. Stonehenge
4. Loire Valley Castles
5. Mont St. Michel
6. The Eiffel Tower
7. Versailles
8. Bruges Everything
9. Bacharach Everything
10. Prague City
11. Neuschwanstein Castle
12. Venice Canals
13. Leaning tower of Pisa and Duomo
14. Temples of Damanhur
15. Carcassonne Medieval City
16. Toledo Windmills
17. The Vatican
18. Cordova Arches
19. Big Ben
20 Roman Colosseum

Csilla:

1 Eiffle tower
2 Pompeii
3 Tower of Pisa
4 Damanhur
5 Big Ben
6 Loire Valley Castles
7 Stonehenge
8 Prague
9 Notre-Dame
10 Tanzmeisterhaus
11 Schloss Neuschwanstein
12 The Vatican
13 Roman Colosseum
14 Toledo windmills
15 Cordova Arches
16 Granada Alhambra
17 The Petit Trianon
18 Palace of Versilles
19 Marie-Antoinette's Pastoral pondside Hameau

***

Times to go:

Ireland: Think layers when you dress to travel because of rain and chilly mist. Best time to visit is in spring and fall. First Mondays in June and August (Summer Bank Holidays), last Monday in October (Autumn Bank Holiday). The Battle of the Boyne is celebrated on Orangeman's Day (July 12).
...
England: July and August are when most Britons take their holidays. Gets chilly at night. Spring and summer bank holidays (the last Mon in May and Aug, respectively).
...
France: The best time to visit Paris is in the spring (Apr-June) or fall (Sept-Nov), July and August they are closed. Holiday: Bastille Day (July 14)
...
Luxembourg: "In-season" in Luxembourg, as in the rest of the Benelux countries, means from about mid-April to mid-October. The peak of the tourist season is in July and August, when the weather is at its finest.Luxembourg National Holiday and the Grand Duke's official birthday (June 23), Assumption (Aug 15).
...
Belgium: Pack a fold-up umbrella at any time of year. "In season" in Belgium means from mid-April to mid-October. The peak of the tourist season is July and August, when the weather is at its finest. July 21 (Independence Day); August 15 (Assumption).
...
Netherlands: "In season" in Holland means from mid-April to mid-October. The peak of the tourist season is July and August, when the weather is at its finest.
...
Germany: The most popular tourist months are May to October. October 3 (Day of German Unity).
...
Czech Republic: Between early May and late September. Prague Autumn Festival: Sep - Oct 2008 (annual), Verdi FestivalAug - Sep 2008 (annual), Summer Shakespeare Festival Jun - Sep 2008 (annual)
...
Austria: Vienna experiences its high season from April to October, with July, August, and the main festivals being the most crowded times. Ascension Day, Whitmonday, Corpus Christi Day, August 15, October 26 (Nationalfeiertag).
...
Hungary: Summer temperatures often exceed 80° to 85°F (27°C-29°C), and sweltering hot, humid days are typical in July and August. Holidays are: Whit Monday, August 20 (St. Stephen's Day), October 23 (Republic Day), November 1 (All Saints' Day). Shops, museums, and banks are closed on all holidays.
...
Italy: From April to June and late September to October are the best months for traveling in Italy -- temperatures are usually mild and the crowds aren't quite so intense. Starting in mid-June, the summer rush really picks up, and from July to mid-September the country teems with visitors. August is the worst month: Not only does it get uncomfortably hot, muggy, and crowded, but the entire country goes on vacation at least from August 15 to the end of the month -- and many Italians take off the entire month.
...
Spain: Spring and fall are ideal times to visit nearly all of Spain, with the possible exception of the Atlantic coast, which experiences heavy rains in October and November. May and October are the best months, in terms of both weather and crowds.Holidays are: July 25 (Feast of St. James), August 15 (Feast of the Assumption), October 12 (Spain's National Day), November 1 (All Saints' Day).
...
Portugal: Spring and autumn are the best seasons to visit. Holidays are: Feast of the Assumption (Aug 15); Proclamation of the Republic (Oct 5); All Saints' Day (Nov 1).