Uncle Jack left Chicago, IL, Tuesday May 14, 2024. And, arrived back in Chicago, Friday, June 14, 2024. Below are my list of stops through Turkey, Eastern Germany, Romantic Road, Salzburg Austria, Bratislava, Slovakia, and Budapest, Hungary.
Several years ago I was planning on visiting a good friend, Hermann near Salzburg, Austria and sing Sound of Music songs while we visited Sound of Music movie sights. Instead, I chose to have back surgery!
While planning this 2024 adventure to Salzburg, AT, and visit Hermann, I added several more stops including; Halle (Saale), Colditz, Nuerenburg, Dresden in Germany and The Romantic Road route. So, in 2024. I started in Halle (Saale) Germany (Flying into nearby Lepzig, DE, international airport [The cheapest flight into Lepzig was on Turkish Airline with a layover in Istanbul.]) and then I drove south to Munich, Germany and took a train to Salzburg and Vienna, Austria. Of coarse when visiting Vienna I took a cruise on the blue Danube River.
I ended up visiting 40 cities in 6 countries on this adventure in a month.
When I visit Walt Disney Worlds’s EPCOT theme park I always stop by the German Pavilion’s large scale garden model railway layout named The Romantic Road. (FYI: Deutschland’s Romantische Straße = Romantic Road = charming, attractive, nice, eye-catching.) This layout represents Bavaria’s medieval heartland. (I was told that many locals in these Bavarian Alps still dress in dirndls and lederhosen, and yodel when they’re happy!)
Istanbul, Turkey.↑
Halle (Saale), Germany.↑
Castles, Palaces, City Walls, Moates & Gates.↑
Colditz, Germany.↑
Dresden, Germany.↑
Bohemian & Saxon Switzerland.↑
Hřensko, Czech Republic.↑
Janov, Czech Republic.↑
Food & Beverages.↑
Nüernberg, Germany.↑
Romantic Road, Germany.↑
Schwangau, Bavaria, Germany.↑
Müchen, Bavaria, Deutschenland.↑
Berchtesgaden, Germany.↑
Salzburg, Austria.↑
Bratislava, Slovakia.↑
Budapest, Hungary.↑
I’m calling driving in Germany, an “adventure!” This is because I drove through a country who’s first language is not English! Also, requiring me to learn German road signs. I originally had problems with my Google GPS, until I reached the Romatic Road. Plus, many hotels in my price range and locations did not have AC or an elevator/lift!
In Bavaria I walked through medieval towns and villages, fairy-tale castles, over rivers, by lakes, mountains, forests, near alpine farms and therapeutic pools, monasteries, wineries and of coarse, breweries. I should have budgeted a day in just Bavaria.
Many businesses in Germany and Austria are not open on Sundays. So I decided to take a train from Munich, DE to Salzburg, AT on a Sunday. I worked backwards for my planned stops from June 2, for this adventure, which determined the day to fly into Lepzig, DE and forward for which day to fly back to Chicago from Vienna, AT.
I chose my adventure in May and the beginning of June before the most tourists arrive. This seemed to work. But, one tour was canceled because of lack of participation. • Another tour was joined with part of another I had already taken. • I was asked on a third tour to reschedule!
My first overnight stop was Halle (Saale), Germany, because I wanted to walk through the Market Plazas my great, great, grandparents walked during the 1860’s.
Above are my list of stops on this adventure. Click to view more photos.
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