Europe on $100 for a Hamburger and Drink?
Our recent trip to Europe, May 2008, began with a cruise on the beautiful Crystal Symnphony from Athens to Lisbon. We had been to Athens a couple of times before but the history it offers always makes me think of Biblical days when Paul preached. The city is a combination of post 2004 Summer Olympics with their modern buildings of shops and restaurants and their well-run mass transit system to ancient ruins of the Acropolis sitting high above the city and other areas where ancient buildings dot the landscape.
Our luxury hotel, The Grand Bretagne, is well located right at Syntogma Square and an easy walk to all the sights, with a beautiful rooftop pool and fabulous spa. The staff is friendly and the food is great.
The itineraries offered by Crystal Cruise Line provide the traveler with many opportunities for wonderful shore excursions as we set sail for Lisbon by way of Taormina Sicily, Dubrovnik Croatia, Spain and finally Lisbon.
Taormina sits high above the sea offering great views from just about everywhere. The town is only about 800meters long with narrow alleys and streets winding their way up and down the hill. The Greek Theater lies in ruins, a reminder of the former Greek occupation. This town has also been ruled by the Romans and Arabs so the architecture reflects influences from different peoples.
Dubrovnik is a beautiful seaside town with narrow pedestrian streets that are lined with shops and restaurants, old churches and fortress walls protecting them against their enemies. This is beautiful country with rolling hillsides that reach the coast and many surrounding islands which are great for sailing.
Spain is a wonderful country with beautiful monasteries and churches, fantastic food that’s easy on the American palate and temperate yearlong weather.
After we left the cruise we flew to Nice, renting a car and drove to Eze, France, a medieval town perched on the hillside above the Mediterranean with close proximity to Monaco. There are two luxury hotels in Eze and because everything has to be carted in, it’s expensive. We decided to have lunch with our son, Ryan, and our daughter-in-law, Julie who had met us from Venice. We make ourselves comfortable at one of the balcony tables overlooking the sea and looked at the menu. The hamburger sounded good but as we took a closer look we realized it came with a 45EUR price tag which at that time was about $70USD. We decided we would splurge; I mean it’s about the view, right? Monaco is expensive too but its fun to walk around and dream of sailing away in a luxury yacht or winning big at the roulette table at the Casino.
After 3 nights in Eze we drove to Interlaken, Switzerland, a small Swiss town nestled between two lakes with views of Jungfrau which looms over 12,000ft above sea level. The town offers good shopping and great restaurants but keep in mind the weather can be cool even in June. The overcast and cool day didn’t stop us as we bundled up for the cogwheel ride straight up one of the smaller mountains behind our hotel for lunch. On a clear day you can see across the valley to the Jungfrau but not today. If you have the time and the right shoes you could hike all the way up but we opted for the cogwheel, both directions. Our hotel, the Victoria Jungfrau Hotel, is a mixture of different architecture, almost like two hotels combined into one, split down the lobby. It offers great food, especially the buffet breakfast and a wonderful spa which includes a large pool and outdoor Jacuzzi. My recommendation would be to explore the nearby caves, saving another day to ride the train up the Jungfrau, visiting one of the towns which dot the mountainside for lunch. It was great fun and our food was fantastic even amidst the snow and freezing temperatures outside.
At the end of our trip we stayed at the Park Hotel in Vitznau, right on the edge of Lake Lucerne. Only open for summer this hotel is magical with its high ceilings, antique furniture and creaky wood floors. You will love the relaxing feel and terrific food this Swiss Hotel offers and a quick ferry ride takes you right to Lucerne’s old town where eating and shopping is a must as you wander the narrow streets. Take a ride on the Rigi Kulm, a cogwheel train within walking distance from the Park, and journey up the steep mountain offering great views of the distant mountain ranges and lakes situated far below. The Park Hotel’s service is impeccable and you’ll love the spa; maybe even treat yourself to a chocolate massage.
