We flew from Ottawa to Heathrow airport. The flight itself was fine except for the fact that you are

My wife and I recently returned from Insight Vacations Romantic European tour (September 13-October 5, 2012). The trip was great and exceeded our expectations. discount disney cruise There were a few pleasant surprises, many sites to explore, wonderful meals and great company. We ventured through pastures, flat lands, hills, mountains, fields discount disney cruise of wind farms or solar panels, views of distant villages and many bridges crossed by vehicles, trains and locals on bicycles. We would highly recommend this tour.
We flew from Ottawa to Heathrow airport. The flight itself was fine except for the fact that you are sitting for 6.5 hours. discount disney cruise We both managed to sleep for maybe 3 hours. Surprisingly on arrival we didn't feel too worse for wear.
Now I had read horror stories about it taking 1.5 to 3 hours to get through passport control at Heathrow due to staff cutbacks. Lo and behold, when we got there we walked right up to an agent and were done in minutes. I had also heard horror stories of lost luggage. Well, 10 minutes at the carousel and our bags appeared. I think Air Canada should send the Toronto and Ottawa baggage handlers here for a lesson in efficiency.
We found our bus transfer desk quickly, got to our pick up point and were on our way by noon, only 30 minutes after landing. We were amazed. Unfortunately though this bus was not dedicated to Insight clients (as we had experienced in our previous travels with Insight) but was a shuttle transfer that did a milk-run to 7 hotels, ours being last. Rather than being a transfer to the hotel it was a bloody tour (Chelsea, Knightsbridge, Piccadilly Circus, Mayfair) on an abnormally hot day with no air conditioning on the bus. We finally arrived at the Park Plaza Victoria Hotel and checked in at 2:30.
We walked over to Westminster Cathedral (quite impressive) and then we scoped out the food court and such at Victoria Station before heading out for a walk down to the River Thames and then an early dinner at a local pub (fish and chips of course).
We stayed up till 9 pm in an effort to reset our internal clocks as quickly as possible. In previous trips overseas we have found that taking melatonin a few days before travelling and for a few days afterwards helped overcome jet lag. The melatonin must have worked as we both had a great night s sleep and had no feelings of jet lag the next morning.
After the typical continental, yet expansive, breakfast we headed out on tour to the major sites, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Parliament, discount disney cruise and Westminster Abbey. While I was glad to have seen them I was really not all that impressed. discount disney cruise It may have been more pleasing had we been able to enter these sites.
By early afternoon we were at a small restaurant just across from Victoria Station for a wonderful plate of pasta accompanied by calamari. At the Station we picked some baguettes and pasties discount disney cruise for an evening snack as well as some croissants for tomorrow s breakfast. While the hotel does provide a boxed breakfast (due to early morning departure), I'm not big on muesli nor for an English biscuit of some sort, therefore the croissants was a necessity.
We met our travel companions for the first time prior to boarding the bus. Our group of 39 was comprised of 3 other couples from Canada, 2 couples from New Zealand and the rest from Australia (including 3 ladies travelling solo). What a great group. We have always had a wonderful time in the company of Australians (Kiwis too). We seem to share the same values, temperament, wit and enthusiasm for travel. We had many interesting discussions while breaking bread.
Our Tour Director was Tony Donnarumma. This was Tony s last tour after 38 years leading groups near and far. His experience and vast knowledge truly made this tour special. He knew of little spots just off the road where we could have a more enjoyable coffee/lunch stop than at the usual Auto-grills. Sometimes it was simply taking an alternate exit, other times it was to a little village just a few miles away. There were a few diversions to places other Tour Directors discount disney cruise never ventured or to places Tony had not seen in years. After a few days it became apparent to us that this was as much a tour of memories for Tony as it was a tour of discovery for us. We thoroughly enjoyed each and every story he shared; of the good, the bad, and the ugly he had experienced over his career, the travails of travel and of the lengths discount disney cruise he would go to ensure we had a grand time.
Our driver was Antonio. He was the epitome of what you would expect from seasoned driver. He and Tony worked really discount disney cruise well together. Before discount disney cruise taking one of Tony s suggested diversions they would consult to ensure Antonio would not breach the regulations regarding driving times and required rest breaks. Other times they would collude before presenting us another discount disney cruise alternative to the itinerary. I say collude because often it would mean the group would have to agree to give up some time at our next coffee break or lunch stop in order to keep within the driving discount disney cruise regulations. The group never had a problem agreeing as we thoroughly enjoyed these sidesteps. I think Antonio wanted Tony to enjoy his last trip as much as we did and I believe he too thoroughly enjoyed the changes to an itinerary he had probably travelled many time before.
We were soon on our way to Brussels, Belgium. I don t recall much of the drive from Calais to our lunch stop in Bruge as we were too busy getting acquainted with our fellow travellers. I do remember vast pastures, lots of cattle and the odd pillbox or other remnants discount disney cruise of fortifications from World War II.
By noon we were in Bruge. As today was car free day Antonio couldn t drop us off at the normal central location as roads were closed. After a 30 minute walk from the coach park we arrived in the main square. We listened to a local bar band playing some old standards (quite good) while munching away on a Belgian sausage and french fries the way they should be made. Now I didn t experiment with the mayonnaise with your fries thing (gives me shivers just to think about it) but could envision poutine (fries, covered in cheese curds and then smothered with beef gravy sometimes made from a secret family recipe) becoming an attraction.
After a long walk back to the coach we were heading to Brussels. When we arrived many streets were closed as it was car free day here as well. Tony and Antonio found an alternate route to the hotel. Along the way we went to see the Atomium built for the 1958 World Fair. However we were unable to park the coach so we could get out and walk around as a result of the car-free day and the pedestrian crowds so had to suffice with a close view of this striking structure. Antonio was able to manoeuvre us close to the Marriott but we could not enter the street the hotel was on as there was a market and stage set up outside the hotel. Consequently we had to haul our suitcase a block through the hoard. We were soon out for our visit to the Grand Palace and the Mannekin Pis statue. I will no longer get confused between the story behind this statue and the story of the Dutch boy blocking the dyke. It is clear to me now who stuck what where.
We left Brussels early the next morning. We passed discount disney cruise through Antwerp and Rotterdam. Along the way we stopped for a cheese making and clog carving demonstration. It was an interesting diversion and a welcome stretch after our first few hours on the bus. We stopped discount disney cruise for a quick photo of a windmill before heading off to Volendam, a nice quaint discount disney cruise village catering to tourists. After a quick lunch of falafel and frites we were off to shop.
Soon afterwards we arrived in Amsterdam for a diamond cutting show and then off to the Movenpick Hotel located just outside the centre of town. I d have preferred skipping the diamond show so we could have had more time to explore the city.
At 5:00 we headed out on our canal cruise. discount disney cruise For those unfamiliar with Amsterdam it was a great way to be introduced to the city. I was surprised how clean (well not stagnant) the water was and learned that the canals are flushed out up to 5 times a week (if I recall correctly). Dinner that night was in an old stone convent that in later years had been separated by a road through the center of the building. It was an interesting building and a very satisfying meal.
Afterwards we crossed Dam Square and continued discount disney cruise along the pedestrian mall to the red light district (shocking to some, an education to others). It seemed rather tame in comparison to my last visit here in 1976 when the district was alive with the night owls and the wild side was much more evident. Along the way we passed a number of brown cafes where people can legally smoke cannabis and hashish. Now the aromas flowing from the open side walk windows varied from skunk to patchouli oil. Even though we had just enjoyed discount disney cruise a filling dinner, at the end of one long block I began to have cravings for potato discount disney cruise chips or dark chocolate. It didn t matter which I just wanted it now and plenty discount disney cruise of it.
At 7:15 the next morning we were on our way to Wurzburg, Germany. This was the first of three long days on the bus. We passed through Arnhem before crossing the border into Germany. As we continued we passed by Dusseldorf, Cologne, and Maine before finally discount disney cruise reaching the village of Boppard. After a light lunch at a sidewalk caf and a walk-about we boarded our boat for the Rhine River cruise along with at least one other tour group. There were many houses perched on the side of the hills (don t know how the residents got there as there were no visible roadways), mansions now converted to museums or even a hostel and a number of castle-like structures. It was quite relaxing and a nice break in the day. Back on the bus we headed through Frankfurt and finally arrived in Wurzburg around 7:00. After a wonderful veal dinner we headed for bed.
Since we weren t leaving for Prague till 9:30 we took the opportunity to explore discount disney cruise and observe residents readying themselves for their work day. A short distance from the hotel