Trip Report: Tuscany to Bavaria with the flimsiest Disney related excuse ever

[areweindisneyyet]

We love Rome. Kept wanting to drive down. We also love Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast. We have done Pompeii from down there and also as a day trip by train from Rome Can you tell I love Italy. I live Disney and there equally for totally different reasons. They are both my happy places. Thankfully my family feels the same way b

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

We love Rome. Kept wanting to drive down. We also love Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast. We have done Pompeii from down there and also as a day trip by train from Rome Can you tell I love Italy. I live Disney and there equally for totally different reasons. They are both my happy places. Thankfully my family feels the same way b

I would love to visit the Amalfi Coast. I kind of think Italy deserves it's own holiday but we will have to include it with Spain, Greece and Turkey.

Pompeii really fascinates me, I really want to visit there too. Ahhh so many places to see.

 

[Minniemum]

AWIDY loving your TR. When we went to Italy we did Venice, Florence and Rome by train which as you said is an easy way to travel. Your photos reminded me of my biggest regret... Not visiting Cinque Terra. Definitely hope to get back there one day.

 

[Andona]

I was wondering how significantly the siesta affects your daily plans? I've read about places being shut down from 1pm till 5pm? Is that common in the major tourist areas?

TIA

Andona

 

[areweindisneyyet]

So time to ditch the wheels, and hit the rail for the remainder of the trip. We returned the car to Pisa Airport which is so easy as it is located right off the autostrada. We took the local train into Pisa Central costing 1.50EUR each for the 5 minute trip which we could have walked faster.

We took a train from Pisa to Milan which backtracked through Cinque Terre. Some amazing coastal views and back through Marble territory. This part of the trip was about 4 hours. We had a twenty minute change to our next train to Lugano. We had to wait for about 10 minutes to get a departure platform and then off we went for the final hour leg. We had to change trains at the border. Into Lugano, and we took out some Swiss Francs and grabbed a taxi to our hotel. It was almost dark. Went to our room and had the most amazing view over the lake with snow on the mountains behind. Pity about the crane. There were lots of cranes in Lugano.

Decided to spend a night in, enjoy water pressure in the shower and English speaking TV (CNN, BBC World, Bloomberg and MSNBC), I watch the good stuff. Went downstairs for a pre dinner scotch in the bar, before heading to the hotels Italian restaurant.

Lugano is the Ticano area of Switzerland where there is still a strong Italian influence with it still being the main language. There was starting to be a bit of German but mainly Italian especially in greetings and cuisine.

DH had a risotto, and I had spag bolognese. It is what my body needed. He had some kind of peppermint mousse for dessert. A lovely relaxing evening.

Up and at it the following morning. We took a walk around the lake towards the main pedestrian and shopping area. Enjoyed walking past shop after shop of watches. Some were truly amazing even made from wood. Found a Coop department store, food downstairs which we wandered around. Lots of fun. Stopped for coffee, and then headed back along the lake. Found a monument to George Washington which we found strange. This morning is one of my top three of the trip. Just lovely.

Back to the hotel and packed up before getting a taxi back to the train station for our afternoon train ride on to Lucerne.

2nd Class compartment, bags can go overhead, at start of carriage and occasionally between two rows of seats.

What I love about train travel in Europe is watching the changing landscape outside the window.

We saw deer, snow, so many waterfalls, little villages, cows, sheep. Just beautiful, again the colours of autumn where just surreal. The odd green tree stuck amongst the brown, orange, yellow and red looked fake.

We arrived in Lucerne at the train station above and our hotel was a 50metre walk away. After checking in we headed out to explore our environment. We walked over the Chapel Bridge, found Starbucks x 2 (we love these for takeaway we go local when sitting 99% of the time as not much coffee making in rooms in Europe), and a sports bar playing NFL so we ate here with a hamburger and fries for dinner.

 

[areweindisneyyet]

AWIDY loving your TR. When we went to Italy we did Venice, Florence and Rome by train which as you said is an easy way to travel. Your photos reminded me of my biggest regret... Not visiting Cinque Terra. Definitely hope to get back there one day.

Our first trip we went in February so decided to go south rather than north which we were so glad we did, and last time it just got too hard with kids, so many bags and what we had to fit in. Ideally I would have loved a few days but with the walking tracks closed at the moment two full days would be plenty for now.

I was wondering how significantly the siesta affects your daily plans? I've read about places being shut down from 1pm till 5pm? Is that common in the major tourist areas?

TIA

Andona

In the big cities it does not come into play. Whilst some little places may close there is a lot still open, and you tend to eat then also. In the smaller towns it stops shops from being open but does not usually effect attractions. We were also traveling in off season, in high season things remain open more often. It did impact somewhat on this trip due to the shorter days (sunset at 4.45pm) and when we had an hour drive to do, we would prefer to be off the road at dark. So Feb and Nov it had more impact than on our April trip were we had more hours of sunlight.

It is really lovely to watch families come together and eat as they finish school.

 

[areweindisneyyet]

Lucerne

After breakfast at the hotel we headed out into the chilly, foggy streets. First stop the Lion of Lucerne and the gardens surrounding it. We were expecting lots of crowds but we had the place to ourselves. Out before the tour groups. It is a good thing to do.

We stopped for a coffee and our standard gingerbread latte and caramel macchiato. Yum

Gingerbread Latte

Caramel Macchiato

Walked through the old town and did some shopping. Had lunch at an English Pub. Chicken burgers, needed some white meat. Walked back over the Chapel Bridge. Very cold so kept shopping before heading back to the hotel. Lucerne was just lovely. In better weather we would have headed up into the hills or out onto the lake but visibility was very low. The painted buildings and little fountains around every corner. Love it.

 

[areweindisneyyet]

A final train trip to Munich via Zurich. Again a 20 minute swapover. Easily done. The last hour of the journey was in darkness. Traveled past alpine lakes and villages through Austria before arriving in Munich. We love the Sofitel in Munich and it is right next door to the train station. It has the most amazing pool and I could not wait to get in. So downstairs we headed for a swim, spa and cocktail. Room service: I had spatzle (a German Noodle) and DH a steak sandwich. I love the Sofitel beds and loved every moment of curling up in bed looking out over the Munich skyline from our floor to ceiling windows.

The next morning after a beautiful buffet breakfast we headed out to the streets heading towards Marienplatz.

We walked passed Christmas Markets being set up, Medieval villages and Food Markets. We were a week to early for the full festivities. First stop the Hofbrauhaus for the first litre of the day.

Two litres each later and a belly full of pretzel we head back out to wander through the Englischer Gardens. We then grabbed a cab and headed to the cinema to watch the final Twilight film in English at this very retro German theatre. There were expats and Germans alike watching this screening. Very fun. We walked from here to our final Beer Garden for the day the Augustiner. We just love it and it was one of the key parts of the trip. Due to the time of year instead of sitting outside under the canopy of trees in the beer garden we sat inside in the beer hall. The atmosphere very authentic, food amazing. DH had roast pork and I had a Baked Potato dish. More litres of beer were consumed, much laughter. Our waiter tried to teach DH German which made me and people at our adjoining tables laugh.

We walked back to the hotel through the train station. A truly wonderful day. Perfect.

Up on our final morning, we had a swim, a late buffet breakfast before taking the train to the Munich Airport. The tickets were 10EUR each. We were nearly five hours early for our flight but I had a plan. On the small chance I would get a way with it we went to BA to see if we could check in our bags yet. They have just opened sure.

That means find the Munich Airport Christmas Markets

In a communal courtyard between the two terminals we found the Christmas Markets. Mulled wine, baked potatoes, beer, crepes along with German crafts, Christmas Decorations and other market wares. DH started with an empty backpack and by the time I had finished shopping there and in the terminal it was full. I also got some Christmas decorations from homeware stores inside, a beer stein for him, gifts for the girls and a some more Christmas stuff for me. I love Munich Airport.

Headed through immigration for our short 2 hour flight to Heathrow. Transferred from Terminal 5 to 3. Visited the Harrods shop (there was a tiny little room left to get a present for mum who had looked after the business and the girls while I was away), Starbucks, and off to find our flight. We flew the A380 all the way through to Sydney in exit row seats with Qantas. Great service, Great Flights. Cleared customs in Sydney before transferring to the domestic terminal in Sydney for our flight home.

It was a wonderful trip, work wise it went really well. It was also great spending time with DH, I am really glad I decided to stick with him for as long as it lasts. I look forward to many more adventures just the two of us in the future, but the next one will be another big family extravaganza (but first the pool and the shed, no more spending the shed money on holidays).

Thanks for reading along.

 

[5ofus]

Thank you so much for sharing . It sounds like such a wonderful trip and now I'm dying to get back to Italy and Germany.

Oh and I have a photo that is almost identical to one of your Lucerne pics!

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

AWIDY - loved the last leg of the trip update. Wow, I want to go to a German Beer hall. That's a few trips down the list but it will happen.

Some of the beautiful buildings you captured, sigh, so gorgeous.

With the trains, a large suitcase obviously wouldn't fit overhead. What size suitcase do you think would fit up there?

Was second class okay or would it be worth paying the extra for first?

And is it easy to change trains in only a 20 minute time slot? Easy to find where to go for your next train?

Train travel makes me nervous but I know I need to embrace it.

 

[areweindisneyyet]

AWIDY - loved the last leg of the trip update. Wow, I want to go to a German Beer hall. That's a few trips down the list but it will happen.

Some of the beautiful buildings you captured, sigh, so gorgeous.

With the trains, a large suitcase obviously wouldn't fit overhead. What size suitcase do you think would fit up there?

Was second class okay or would it be worth paying the extra for first?

And is it easy to change trains in only a 20 minute time slot? Easy to find where to go for your next train?

Train travel makes me nervous but I know I need to embrace it.

Smaller is better. Will take a picture of bags we used. Last trip we took big soft cases which fit between seats or under DD2 legs to make a bed for her.

2nd class is fine, we use for trips under 3 hours if a big price difference otherwise we are 1st class. Little more room and sometimes wifi.

Swapping trains is easy especially at the big city stations. Huge departure boards like at the airport. But if you are going from Rome to Florence it's direct, same then to Venice, an hour in a train station can be long with bags. The trains are pretty reliable. Don't let anyone help with bags. They are often scammers who then come on board to collect their handling fee.

With the kids, DH would get on last and pass me up the bags. The kids would take each of theirs. Getting off we three would get off and DH would pass down bags. One bag each to look after. DH would walk in font, girls follow with me bringing up the rear.

It is a really lovely way to travel. Once you've done it once you will be fine.

 

[areweindisneyyet]

Thank you so much for sharing . It sounds like such a wonderful trip and now I'm dying to get back to Italy and Germany.

Oh and I have a photo that is almost identical to one of your Lucerne pics!

My parents visited Lucerne a few years ago and we gave them a digital camera. Dad filled the memory card and didn't know how to delete so no pictures of the lion until they bought a new card. Had to take the picture for them. It is a beautiful little piece of the world.

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

Smaller is better. Will take a picture of bags we used. Last trip we took big soft cases which fit between seats or under DD2 legs to make a bed for her.

2nd class is fine, we use for trips under 3 hours if a big price difference otherwise we are 1st class. Little more room and sometimes wifi.

Swapping trains is easy especially at the big city stations. Huge departure boards like at the airport. But if you are going from Rome to Florence it's direct, same then to Venice, an hour in a train station can be long with bags. The trains are pretty reliable. Don't let anyone help with bags. They are often scammers who then come on board to collect their handling fee.

With the kids, DH would get on last and pass me up the bags. The kids would take each of theirs. Getting off we three would get off and DH would pass down bags. One bag each to look after. DH would walk in font, girls follow with me bringing up the rear.

It is a really lovely way to travel. Once you've done it once you will be fine.

AWIDY - that is great advice. Those little things like getting bags on and off with children in tow are the things that keep me up at night. I'm very anxious about this stuff and my husband is nuts about the children's safety so I really appreciate you sharing what you do. It sounds sensible and exactly the sort of way we would handle it.

I know the trains are going to be great once I find my confidence with them. We would like just hit Rome, Florence and Venice and perhaps do some day trips out from those bases so I assume our trains would be direct.

Why am I talking about Italy you ask, well the planner in me can't stop her mind from jumping to the next trip and the next trip, even though I have two big ones coming up . Don't tell my husband .

My parents visited Lucerne a few years ago and we gave them a digital camera. Dad filled the memory card and didn't know how to delete so no pictures of the lion until they bought a new card. Had to take the picture for them. It is a beautiful little piece of the world.

The older generation and technology, too funny

 

[Andona]

Thanks for posting the rest of the TR, such great photos!

I loved the old town part of Lucerne too, we were there on a Sunday and the church bells rang out across the water. Just magic!

And it was so nice to see your pics of Munich, I really, really enjoyed Germany, particularly Bavaria. We thought their bakeries were wonderful, nicer than anything we've eaten in France even.

Hope you don't mind another question about Italy? From your report I wasn't sure if you spent a night on the Cinque Terre on this trip or if it was a day trip for you? We will only have limited time so I was hoping we might be able to see at least pArt of it as a day trip from Florence? Do you think that's feasible?

Thanks!
Andona

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[areweindisneyyet]

Thanks for posting the rest of the TR, such great photos!

I loved the old town part of Lucerne too, we were there on a Sunday and the church bells rang out across the water. Just magic!

And it was so nice to see your pics of Munich, I really, really enjoyed Germany, particularly Bavaria. We thought their bakeries were wonderful, nicer than anything we've eaten in France even.

Hope you don't mind another question about Italy? From your report I wasn't sure if you spent a night on the Cinque Terre on this trip or if it was a day trip for you? We will only have limited time so I was hoping we might be able to see at least pArt of it as a day trip from Florence? Do you think that's feasible?

Thanks!
Andona

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

Ask away,

We did it as a day trip from near San Gimignano so just over 2 hour drive. From Florence by train you could do it as a daytrip. Wont see all five towns but we squeezed in 3 without feeling too rushed. We got to Levanto the northern entrance at 9.30am and we left at 4pm. Trains go through every 40 minutes or so and there is only about 5 minutes train ride between towns. In the summer months there are ferries between the towns as well. You could make your own way to and from Florence for sure in a day trip. There are bus tours that do day trips from Florence as well. Hope that helps.

 

[Marlea98]

I'm so envious. I love your photos, especially of the scenery from the train.

One day, it will be me...

 

[Andona]

Ask away,

We did it as a day trip from near San Gimignano so just over 2 hour drive. From Florence by train you could do it as a daytrip. Wont see all five towns but we squeezed in 3 without feeling too rushed. We got to Levanto the northern entrance at 9.30am and we left at 4pm. Trains go through every 40 minutes or so and there is only about 5 minutes train ride between towns. In the summer months there are ferries between the towns as well. You could make your own way to and from Florence for sure in a day trip. There are bus tours that do day trips from Florence as well. Hope that helps.

Thank you! That's what I was hoping you'd say
Andona

 

[PrincessInOz]

Thanks for sharing this trip with us. Looks like you had a great trip, with great food, and great company.

 

[Aussie Wendy]

Love your pics and TR and glad you were able to enjoy despite your knee issues. I had a friend who was in the Cinque Terre in October and mentioned the flood damage to the trail. Her 80+ mum actually walked between 2 of the villages (they stayed at Riomagiorre) -so I have hope for us even if it takes us a while to get back to Italy while I am busy tripping elsewhere. (DH keeps saying "you don't have to go on holiday EVERY year" but how else will I fit it ALL in-oh and he has a HUGE shed-that came first.)

Miss Shuttergirl we also have travelled by train from Venice to Florence to Rome by train-easy peasy...and I would like to add another destination into everyone's mix. In 2005 we stayed in a farmhouse (half board) in Slovenia near Lake Bled..that is one of our most memorable trips for the warmth and hospitality of the people and the stunning scenery. There was very little English spoken though but we got by and we hired a car (necessary) to explore. It was on the cusp of being discovered-their first MacDonalds was about to open in the small capital of Ljubljana. Very very pretty-the Skojan caves are straight out of Tolkein, Lakes Bohinj and Bled are stunning, the capital is gorgeous with a castle and river and dragon topped bridge and local markets..I could rave on and on. It's on a return list to see more to the east closer to the border with Croatia-one day.

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

Love your pics and TR and glad you were able to enjoy despite your knee issues. I had a friend who was in the Cinque Terre in October and mentioned the flood damage to the trail. Her 80+ mum actually walked between 2 of the villages (they stayed at Riomagiorre) -so I have hope for us even if it takes us a while to get back to Italy while I am busy tripping elsewhere. (DH keeps saying "you don't have to go on holiday EVERY year" but how else will I fit it ALL in-oh and he has a HUGE shed-that came first.)

Miss Shuttergirl we also have travelled by train from Venice to Florence to Rome by train-easy peasy...and I would like to add another destination into everyone's mix. In 2005 we stayed in a farmhouse (half board) in Slovenia near Lake Bled..that is one of our most memorable trips for the warmth and hospitality of the people and the stunning scenery. There was very little English spoken though but we got by and we hired a car (necessary) to explore. It was on the cusp of being discovered-their first MacDonalds was about to open in the small capital of Ljubljana. Very very pretty-the Skojan caves are straight out of Tolkein, Lakes Bohinj and Bled are stunning, the capital is gorgeous with a castle and river and dragon topped bridge and local markets..I could rave on and on. It's on a return list to see more to the east closer to the border with Croatia-one day.

It's funny that you should mention Slovenia. I have recently had a client, literally in the last month, who was born and raised in Slovenia and only moved to Oz 3 years ago. She raved about the scenery and countryside too. It got added to my ever expanding list straight away and now you have bumped it up ahead of other places with your own rave review. Thank you.