Day 1: Thursday, September 20, 2007: Overnight Flight
Depart Nashville (BNA) on American Airlines (AA), Flight #853 at 9:30 am. Arrive in Dallas/Ft. Worth (DFW) at 11:25 am. We'll have time to grab a quick lunch/snack in the airport terminal. Depart DFW on AA #70 at 2:45 pm. We'll fly across the Atlantic on a Boeing 777 (known as the Triple 7) capable of cruising at altitudes up to 43,100 feet.
Day 2: Friday, September 21, 2007: Arrive Frankfurt, Germany
Arrive Frankfurt, Germany (FRA) on Friday, September 21st at 7:20 am. After obtaining our luggage and clearing customs, we'll proceed to pickup our rental cars. A scenic ride from Frankfurt through the German countryside (Total Est. Distance: 120.50 miles) brings us to , where we'll spend two nights in a historic medieval castle. Our afternoon is at leisure to relax, conquer jet-lag and explore this quaint location. This evening, dinner is on your own.
Day 3: Saturday, September 22, 2007:
For those making their only trip to Germany in this lifetime, this little city should be on the itinerary and is, in fact, included in most chartered tours of Germany. The medieval walled city of Rothenburg od Tauber sits atop a sharp, steep bend in the Tauber River and features fantastic Gothic and Baroque architecture. We'll drive from Colmberg Castle to Rothenburg (Total Est. Distance: 11.25 miles) and spend our first full day touring the city, its cathedrals, museums and of course, shopping at the largest Christmas store in the world, .
Day 4: Sunday, September 23, 2007: Driving the Romantic Road
The Romantic Road consists of 360km (~ 224 miles) of country road that runs the length of the Bavaria, from Wurzburg, in the North, to Füssen, in the South, almost to the German-Austrian borderline. The Romantic Road has almost 1,000 years of history. A trade route during the Middle Ages, it still retains much of its medieval character. We'll drive this route on our way to the Bavarian alps. Our hotel for Day 4 & 5 is located on the Foggensee.
Day 5: Monday, September 24, 2007: Füssen & Schwangau
Today fairy tales come to life with a stop at Bavaria?s most famous castle, Neuschwanstein. We'll have an opportunity to visit Wies Church, proclaimed a World Heritage Site, before proceeding to Oberammergau. Upon arrival, enjoy a brief orientation tour of this quaint, picturesque village which owes its fame to the internationally-known Passion Play, performed only once every ten years.
Day 6: Tuesday, September 25, 2007: Driving from Germany into Switzerland
We spend today driving from Germany into Switzerland stopping in little on the way (Total Est. Distance:234.31 miles). We'll spend tonight and the next two nights at the in the beautiful lakeside town of Brienz. Here, we'll have an opportunity to visit the famous woodcarving museum in Brienz and learn the history of this local trade. From this central location in the Bernese Oberland, we'll spend the next three days touring Switzerland scenic options. Day 7: Wednesday, September 26, 2007: Berne - Interlaken - Grindelwald
Today, we have the option of exploring charming lakeside towns and Alpine villages including our ancestral homeland villages which should be within an easy driving distance. Later this afternoon, we'll have a chance to visit the world-famous ski resort of Grindelwald. This charming Alpine village is beautifully situated at the base of the Swiss Alps. Excursions to pick from include touring the featuring 100 original century-old buildings from all over Switzerland, "historical" gardens and fields, demonstrations of typical crafts, many special events and 250 native farmyard animals creating a vivid impression of rural life in bygone days. Ballenberg is in fact absolutely unique. Day 8: Thursday, September 27, 2007: Bern - Chateau de Chillon - Montreux - Train Ride
This day we have the option to travel the shores of Lake Geneva to the legendary, medieval Chateau de Chillon. We'll enjoy breathtaking Alpine views with a ride on the GoldenPass Panoramic Train from Montreux to Gstaad. This legendary train ride, one of Switzerland's many scenic rides, connects Lake Geneva and Central Switzerland. Departing from Montreux, the train then makes an exhilarating ascent through vineyards and country estates, leaving behind the shimmering lake. Instead of palm trees, fir trees seem to cover the area. We'll have a chance to experience Switzerland in all its breathtaking magnificence from the comfort of our seats onboard the train. The journey will take us over the Brünig Pass, past weathered timber chalets with their flow-bedecked windows, to the world-famous holiday resort of Gstaad. Day 9: Friday, September 28, 2007: Lucerne
Today our options include traveling to Lucerne, the ?Swiss Paradise on the Lake.? Enjoy a leisurely-paced Alstadt (Old Town) walking tour, exploring the hidden treasures of the city. In addition to its natural charm and tranquility, Lucerne has more than 800 years of history. Explore such medieval treasures as the covered Chapel Bridge, the famous Water Tower, the Renaissance-style Town Hall, the baroque Jesuit Church, and the Lion Monument, carved from natural rock to commemorate the heroic Swiss Guard. Our final night in Switzerland will be spent at the located near the Zurich airport.
Day 10: Saturday, September 29, 2007: Zurich Airport
After turning in our rental cars and checking in, we'll depart Zurich (ZUR) on American Airlines (AA), Flight #37 at 10:45 am to arrive in Dallas/Ft. Worth (DFW) at 3:05 pm. We'll need to clear US customs and recheck our bags before departing Dallas/Ft. Worth(DFW) on AA #2518 at 5:30 pm. We arrive back in Nashville (BNA) at 7:20 pm.
Our trip ends with many lasting memories of castles, museums, mountain peaks, food and fun.
Summary:
Number of Flights: Four (two outbound on Thursday, September 20th, two inbound on Saturday, September 29th
Number of Nights in Hotels: Eight (September 21st - September 28th)
Number of Hotels: Four (, , ,
For more information, contact Cindi Allen at 972/743-4747 or via e-mail at thoniallen@tx.rr.com
Copyright 2007, Swiss Society of Nashville. All Rights Reserved.