Our Travel Plans

With 3 days to go before we leave, my days are full of planning and researching... whilst Ruby awaits in her car park. The only thing is, is that there is so much still to read up on!

Today, I thought to share with you where we would like to go. The rough idea of the route we would like to take. As we are in a campervan - please remember we have the aim of visiting only key city points of interest, but in essence would like to truly enjoy the Western European countryside.

So this is what it looks like at this moment in time...

Leave on Saturday, the 29 May 2010, to Calais by Eurostar.

Arrive France and possibly stop outside Lille for the night. If I remember correctly, this was where the du Toit name came from before leaving to South Africa. The original inhabitants here were the Gauls, then later the Vikings invaded. This must be the reason for Nick always having dreams of being a Viking warrior!

Then through Belgium. To be honest, we're happy just to get through Belgium to get to the Netherlands. So we'll take a scenic route outside the cities. We have visited Brugge in the past and thought it was beautiful, not sure if anywhere else in Belgium could top it! But keen for a beer stop or two!

In the Netherlands we will visit Amsterdam and see the Red Light District, perhaps walk through Anne Franks past and see Van Gogh's Museum. Visit the city Delft which is close to The Hague. Food we will possibly eat are falafels ( apparently best outside the East), loads of edam, gouda and dutch breads. Artists that we might see who have originated from here are Rembrandt Van Rijn, Johannes Vermeer (Delft), Rietveld, Van Gogh and Piet Mondrian.

Then we move into Germany - where we will stay with Norbert and Elisabeth (my long lost German Uncle and his Frau) for 2 nights in Salzbergen. I'm sure it will be packed with site seeing and we can't wait to spend some time with them! Quite nice not to have to think about this time. Whatever we do - we'll be having fun!

We will carry on through Germany - at this stage doing a trip on the Danube, visiting the Black Forest, hopefully seeing the Neushwanstein Castle, experience a bit of "The Romantic Road" on the way. Drink wine in the Mozelle area and potentially enjoy a scenic cycle routes. Hopefully see the Berlin wall and the famous Brandenburg Gate. Potentially visiting Weimar where the Bauhaus movement came about - in C20. Also, where Walter Gropius and Kandinsky lived. The Koln Cathedral and Trier, the oldest city in Germany and if so, hope to pop into Luxembourg close by.

Switzerland offers the highest waterfalls in Europe on the Rhine near Schaffhausen. An hour away is St Gallen which is a medieval centre (C7) and then potentially through Liechtenstein to the Alps to see some mountains as high as 4,500m. Maybe even see Lake Geneva... then, off to Austria.

In Austria we plan to follow the picturesque Danube river which flows from Germany to Vienna. Possibly into Hungary to see Lake Balaton and the Sumeg Castle, outside Budapest. Back into Austria from Hungary via Salzburg to Innsbruck down to Italy.

We will be focussing mainly on Italy - perhaps staying a month or so. Venice, in a gondola, St Marks Basilica and visit Torcello Island. Florence for the Uffizi, Bargello, views from Piazzale Michelangelo and of course, loads of gelato! Bologna - houses the oldest university in the western world and the Two Towers and eat a real spaghetti bolognaise! Perugia to see the Renaissance art and architecture. The Amalfi Coast to bewilder ourselves in beauty, Pompeii to see the unbelievable, to walk through ancient Rome, Garda Lake, Portafino, Tuscany, finally see the Last Supper and to reach the end of the boot, only to go all the way back to the top! Or maybe via ferry to Sardinia and Corsica.

Then to the south of France to do Monaco, Cannes and Marseilles! Talk about summer loving!

Hopefully arrive in time for Running of the Bulls (I will not be running) in Pamplona. Through the countryside of Central Spain to Madrid. Across the country to Portugal.

We'll explore the full coast by ambling along and really just taking a break. This should be the most chilled out part of our holiday. Really looking forward to some serious beachbum life!

Then back into France... for more breathtaking scenery cheese, wines and breads. Coastal regions all the way to Calais and anywhere else we chose to wander!

We have been very fortunate with family and friends recommending places and sites, but would also like to open it up to you all for suggestions of your favourite places in the countries mentioned! Let us know if anything comes to mind!