LFMSS Europe Tour 2017

WEDNESDAY, March 8 - Depart Vancouver

WEATHER 9:00 AM Optional Coach to YVR
1:25 PM LH 493 To Frankfurt

1 The Grand Tour

LFMSS Europe Tour 2017

Thursday, March 9 - Bacharach

WEATHER 8:15 AM Arrival in Frankfurt
9:30 AM Coach transfer to central Frankfurt
10:30 AM Walking tour of Frankfurt
2:00 PM Transfer to Bacharach
3:30 PM Check into castle hostel
4:30 PM Walking tour of Bacharach
6:30 PM Dinner at hostel
Jugendherberge Burg Stahleck
Familien- und Jugendgstehaus
55422 Bacharach
Telefon 0 67 43 / 12 66
Telefax 0 67 43 / 26 84

Frankfurt and Bacharach

Our first day in Europe will be an interesting juxtapostion of new and old. Well be starting
with a walking tour in Frankfurt, a very modern commercial centre with a small old town
square and a unique cathedral. Then we will depart for a scenic drive beside the Rhine
River to our destination for tonight - the little town of Bacharach. Like a proper medieval
lord or lady, youll be sleeping safely in the towns castle tonight!

2 The Grand Tour

LFMSS Europe Tour 2017

Friday, March 10 - rothenburg ob der tauber

WEATHER 9:30 AM Transfer to Rothenburg
1:00 PM Check into hotel in Rothenburg
1:30 PM Walking tour of Rothenburg
2:30 PM Kriminal Museum
3:30 PM Scavenger Hunt
6:30 PM Dinner in Hotel
8:00 PM Night Watchman Tour
Akzent Hotel
Schrannenplatz 6
91541 Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Phone: 0 98 61 - 95 50-0

Rothenburg ob der tauber

There are actually quite a few Rothenburgs in Germany - but only one that is on the
Tauber (river). Here you will compete in a scavenger hunt for the greatest German delicacy
of all schneeballe. Mmmm.... Actually, Ill reward the winning team with... something.
Scavenger hunt on the next page. Those who attempt to bribe me for answers can expect
harsh punishment at the Kriminal Museum.

Bolzano

3 The Grand Tour

LFMSS Europe Tour 2017

SAturday, March 11 - Munich

WEATHER 8:30 AM Transfer to Nuremberg
10:00 AM Nazi Documentation Centre Tour
12:00 PM Transfer to Dachau
2:30 PM Tour of Dachau Concentration Camp
5:00 PM Transfer to Munich
6:00 PM Check in to hotel
6:30 PM Walking Tour of Munich
7:30 PM Dinner at Hofbrauhaus
Easy Palace Stay Smart
Mozartstr. 4 - 80336 Mnchen
Fon: +49 (0)89 55 87 97 0
Fax: +49 (0)89 55 87 97 97

Dachau
The first of the vile concentration
camps set up by the Nazis,
Dachau opened in 1933,
soon after Hitler took power. It
served as a work camp where
prisoners were routinely worked
to death, and was the training
ground for the SS men who
would go on to start and run
scores of other camps until they
were liberated in the closing
years of WW II.

Munich
The capital city of Bavaria was a flattened, smoking ruin just 70 years ago. The residents chose
to rebuild the city as it was, instead of trying to modernize it, and the result is one of the most
pedestrian friendly beautiful cities in Europe.

4 The Grand Tour

LFMSS Europe Tour 2017

SuNDAY, MARCH 12 - salzburg/villach

WEATHER 8:00 AM Transfer to Hallein
10:45 AM Tour of Salt Mines
12:45 PM Packed lunch picnic
1:30 PM Transfer to Salzburg
2:00 PM Walking tour of Salzburg
4:30 PM Transfer to Villach
7:00 PM Checkin and dinner at YHA
Internationales Jugend- und Familiengstehaus VILLACH
St. Martinerstrasse 13a
9500 Villach
Tel.: +43 (0)4242 / 56368
Fax.: +43 (0)4242 / 56368/20

Salzburg
The Rome of the North gained its wealth from the eponymous salt mines in the surrounding
mountains. We will visit some of the grand buildings in the city proper, as well as ascending
to the impenetrable fortress that sits on a cliff top overlooking Salzburg.

5 The Grand Tour

LFMSS Europe Tour 2017

monday, march 13 - Bled

WEATHER 9:30 AM Transfer to Bled
11:00 AM Pletnas to Island
12:30 PM Packed lunch picnic
1:00 PM Bled Castle
3:00 PM Check in to hotel
3:30 PM Photo walk around lake Bled
6:30 PM Dinner at Hotel

Hotel Park
Cankarjeva cesta 15,
4260 Bled, Slovenia
+386 4 579 18 00

bled
Bled was the favourite vacation spot of many a Yugoslavian back when Titos League of
Communists ruled much of the Balkan Peninsula. Since the war of independence in 1991,
Slovenia has developed closer ties to the Western European community, eventually joining
the EU in 2007. With our friendly local expert Robert as our guide, we will delve into the
medieval and more recent history of this gem of the Julian Alps today.

6 The Grand Tour

LFMSS Europe Tour 2017

tuesday, march 14 - venice

WEATHER 8:30 AM Transfer to Caves
10:30 AM Tour of Caves
12:30 PM Lunch at Caves
1:30 PM Transfer to Aquileia
3:00 PM Basilica of Aquileia
4:30 PM Transfer to Venice
6:30 PM Walk into Venice
7:15 PM Check into Hotel
8:00 PM Dinner at La Corte
Foresteria Valdese di Venezia
Castello 5170
Calle Lunga Santa Maria Formosa,
Venice 30123, Italy
tel. 041-5286797
fax 041-2416238
venice
La Serenissima, the most Serene Republic, Venice. An independent nation for a thousand
years, Venice retains its medieval and Renaissance charm with a layer of elegant decay.

7 The Grand Tour

LFMSS Europe Tour 2017

wednesday, march 15 - Venice

WEATHER 9:00 AM Walk to Doges Palace
9:30 AM Tour of Doges Palace
11:30 AM Tour of St. Marks Basilica
12:00 PM Walking Tour of Venice
1:00 PM Lunch / Gondola Rides
3:00 PM Tour of the Correr Museum
5:00 PM Return to Hotel
7:00 PM Dinner at La Corte
Foresteria Valdese di Venezia
Castello 5170
Calle Lunga Santa Maria Formosa,
Venice 30123, Italy
tel. 041-5286797
fax 041-2416238
venice
I love Venice. Its a clich, but its true - Venice is another world. Its the only place I tell tour
groups to get lost. With all the Per Marco and Per Rialto signs, youll always eventually
find your way back somewhere, unless you take a wrong turn and end up in a canal. Enjoy
a romantic gondola ride (not too romantic) with your group, some gelato, and some Venetian
cuisine.

8 The Grand Tour

LFMSS Europe Tour 2017

thursday, march 16 - Venice

WEATHER 9:00 AM Distribution of Vaperetto Passes
10:00 AM Visits to outer islands all day

Foresteria Valdese di Venezia

Castello 5170
Calle Lunga Santa Maria Formosa,
Venice 30123, Italy
tel. 041-5286797
fax 041-2416238

The Lagoon
With an all day water bus pass in hand, your group will be spending the day island hopping.
From the cemeteries of San Michelle, to the glass blowers of Murano, to the pastel village of
Burano, to the oldest church in Venice on Torcello - this will be a day to remember!

9 The Grand Tour

LFMSS Europe Tour 2017

friday, March 17 - Florence

WEATHER 9:00 AM Walk out of Venice
10:00 AM Transfer to Florence
1:00 PM Lunch at the Autogrill
3:00 PM Check into Hotel Panorama
4:00 PM Duomo Film and Cupola
7:30 PM Dinner at restaurant

Hotel Panorama Firenze

Via Cavour, 60
50129 Firenze
T: 39 055 2382043
F: 39 055 264404

florence
The birthplace of the Renaissance, and therefore the modern world, Florence was the one
time capital of a financial empire controlled by the original Italian family, the Medicis.

10 The Grand Tour

LFMSS Europe Tour 2017

saturday, March 18 - florence

WEATHER 9:00 AM Walk to Accademia
9:15 AM Tour of Accademia Museum
11:00 AM Walking Tour of Florence
12:30 PM Santa Maria Novella
1:30 PM Lunch and Mercato time in groups

Hotel Panorama Firenze

Via Cavour, 60
50129 Firenze
T: 39 055 2382043
F: 39 055 264404

florence
Enjoy a walking tour of the Renaissance today, with a featured visit to the Accademia to
see Michelangelos masterpiece - the David. In the afternoon, try out your bartering skills
at the leather market!

11 The Grand Tour

LFMSS Europe Tour 2017

sunday, march 19 - levanto

WEATHER 9:00 AM Transfer to Pisa
11:30 AM Leaning Tower of Pisa
2:30 PM Transfer to Levanto
4:30 PM Check in to Hostel
5:00 PM Optional hike
8:00 PM Dinner at Moresco (I hope youre hungry!)

Ospitalia del Mare

Via S. Nicol
19015 Levanto (SP)
tel. (+39) 0187 802562
Fax: 39-187-803696

pISA
Climb the tower before it falls! Hopefully.

12 The Grand Tour

LFMSS Europe Tour 2017

MONDAY, March 20 - levanto

WEATHER 9:30 AM Hike the Cinque Terre
8:00 PM Dinner at Moresco (well deserved today)

Ospitalia del Mare

Via S. Nicol
19015 Levanto (SP)
tel. (+39) 0187 802562
Fax: 39-187-803696

CINQUE TERRE
Rain or shine, the paths linking these five (cinque) lands (terre) along the Mediterranean coast
offer a different perspective on hiking. Italian biology students often visit this region to study
the unique plant life. And for us, passing through olive groves and lemon orchards, we know
were not in BC anymore. The Cinque Terre is in Liguria, the birthplace of pesto. Mmmm...
pesto. The five towns that make up the stopping points along the route are all ancient
Roman fishing villages, and many of the residents can trace their ancestry in the region back
centuries. Devastating floods in October 2011 brought life in Vernazza and Monterosso to a
standstill - months of hard work digging out and rebuilding have made them accessible to
visitors again.

13 The Grand Tour

LFMSS Europe Tour 2017

Tuesday, March 21 - rome

WEATHER 9:00 AM Transfer to Orvieto
12:00 PM Lunch at Autogrill
2:00 PM Tour of Orvieto
4:00 PM Transfer to Rome
6:00 PM Check into Hotel Oceania
8:00 PM Dinner .

Hotel Oceania
Via Cicerone n.55/c
00193 ROMA
Tel: +39 06/3576

Orvieto
A city before the time of Christ and the Roman Empire, Orvieto has lasted through the
centuries, well protected from barbaric forces by its grandiose hilltop location. Well find a
way in though.

14 The Grand Tour

LFMSS Europe Tour 2017

Wednesday, march 22 - rome

WEATHER 9:00 AM Transfer to Ostia Antica
10:00 AM Tour of Ostia Antica
12:00 PM Lunch
1:00 PM Transfer to Catacombs of Priscilla
3:00 PM Tour of Catacombs
5:00 PM Transfer to Hotel
8:00 PM Dinner

Hotel Oceania
Via Cicerone n.55/c
00193 ROMA
Tel: +39 06/3576

Rome
Today is our last day with our charming bus driver Bart... but before he leaves, hes
going to take us out to Romes ancient port city - Ostia Antica - a Pompeii-like
experience without the 7 hour drive. After we explore this ancient city (and eat some
gelato probably) we will head back into Rome proper to go deeper underground into
the Catacombs of Priscilla. These solemn ancient tunnels were the burial grounds
for some of the first Christians... ever.

15 The Grand Tour

LFMSS Europe Tour 2017

thursday, march 23 - rome

WEATHER 9:00 AM Walk to the Vatican
10:00 AM Tour of the Vatican Museums/Sistine Chapel
12:00 PM Tour of St. Peters Basilica
1:00 PM Lunch/shopping time in groups

Hotel Oceania
Via Cicerone n.55/c
00193 ROMA
Tel: +39 06/3576

ROME - Baroque
The Vatican is an ancient holy site that predates Christianity. After Peter, Christs #1
apostle and the first pope of the Catholic Church, was arrested for proselytizing, he
was executed and buried on this hill. Within a few centuries, Christianity went from
being an illegal religion to the state religion of the huge Roman Empire. Rome has
been the centre of the faith for centuries - and with the signing of the Lateran Treaty
in 1929, the residence, offices, and home church of the Pope became the worlds
smallest independent nation - the Vatican.

16 The Grand Tour

LFMSS Europe Tour 2017

Friday, March 24 - rome

WEATHER 9:00 AM Walk to Trevi Fountain
10:00 AM Trevi/Pantheon
1:00 PM Lunch
3:30 PM Coloseum, Forum, Palatine Hill
6:00 PM Final Italian Feast

Hotel Oceania
Via Cicerone n.55/c
00193 ROMA
Tel: +39 06/3576

Rome - Ancient
When people call your city eternal, you know its old.

17 The Grand Tour

LFMSS Europe Tour 2017

saturday, march 25 - fly home

WEATHER 4:00 AM Transfer to airport

7:00 AM LH 243 Rome to Frankfurt
9:00 AM Arrive in Frankfurt
10:20 AM LH 492 to Vancouver
12:35 PM Arrive in Vancouver

Your Bedroom, Your House

Langley, BC, Canada

journal: saturday, march 25

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18 The Grand Tour