Just a Few of Many
On
one’s first visit across the pond it is inevitable that one will be
in for some unexpected surprises. That by no means implies that such
surprises are bad, just different and unexpected, often simply from
lack of experience. The following are some of my experiences.
As
I wandered out onto Amsterdam's main street
I couldn’t believe all the
bicycles. There were thousands of them and they really were more
dangerous than any other vehicle because the bikers were quite random
about which traffic rules they obeyed.
Amsterdam is full of electric
trolley cars, some public buses, and canal taxis in addition to all
the bicycles. Of
course Holland is flat and walking Amsterdam is very easy.
A canal cruise gives you a very
different perspective of the city. There are 400 bridges in Amsterdam
and they are numbered in
sequence; the
higher the number, the newer
the bridge. The bridges
are very different in style.
In
Germany the subway
is called the Ubahn.
What a pleasant surprise to find the stations spotless
with
no trash, no drunks, and no
graffiti!
Frankfort
is famous for its apple wine. We gave it a try, but I found it rather
bitter and quite dry. Although I did not drink much of the glass a
friend and I shared I sure had a terrific headache the next morning!
The
gondolas of Venice are strictly for the tourists and it is obvious.
Water taxis get one around in Venice, and water boats transport all
goods and supplies. There are no cars nor bikes.
St.
Mark’s Square (San Marco)
is big and a must see. There is
much to see; be sure to see the old and unique clock and bell.
Trevi
Fountain in Rome is behind the Trevi Palace and where Roman
Holiday was
filmed and the song Three
Coins
In A Fountain
sung. If you want to make a wish, toss a coin over your shoulder
into the fountain. It is certainly worth a visit and there is an
excellent restaurant on the square.
There
is so much to see in Rome but here’s a bit of trivia: palaces of
Dukes have candle holders on the outside of the building at the top
of the first floor. Rome has 1040 churches and numerous Roman ruins.
St Peter’s with its 27 altars is absolutely a must see!
The
Vatican, the smallest country in the world, is just one square mile.
The church has the largest and richest art collection in the world.
On the Right Bank of the Tiber River, the Vatican has two miles of
railroad track and just under 1000 residents. Remember to buy one of
their special stamps or pick up a Vatican coin.
The
Sistine Chapel was started in 1475, the same year Michelangelo was
born. Michelangelo started painting the chapel at age 72 and
continued until his death at 89.I
so wanted to lie down on the floor to really absorb that gorgeous
ceiling---unfortunately it was not allowed.
Do
climb the 135 steps of the Spanish Steps, a Rome landmark. Plan on
some time to really take in this lovely area and build in some people
watching time as you rest on the steps.
The
main road around many European cities sit on top of where the ancient
city walls once stood.
In
Florence, Italy make
it a must to visit the Accademia
to see Michelangelo’s David.
Michelangelo was 26 years old when he started David
and it took him two years to complete. He never made a pre-sculpture
as he could ‘feel’ his statue in the marble, and he always did
all his own work. In his day it was common for an artist to create a
work and then anonymous craftsmen would do the actual carving.
The
Duomo (St. Mary’s of the Flowers) church was started in
1296, taking 148 years to complete. It is the third largest church in
the world, and should be on your list to visit.
The
Baptistery, famous for its bronze doors done in the 1400s by Andrea
Pisano and Ghiberti is also a must-see. Plus there is much more to
see and visit.
No
matter how many times one visits Europe, if one gets out and about
he’ll find pleasant surprises.
It
is good to remember that one cannot do it all in one trip, no matter
where you go, if the area is of any size or has much history.
Personally I’d rather do it more in depth than to run around a city
on a bus and say I’ve seen it all----but to each his own & for
some the latter may be important.
