Rothenburg on Romantic Road

July 27~28, 2012

We flew to Frankfurt after staying one night in Seoul.

We stayed overnight in Frankfurt. The next day, we took a bus tour of Romantic Road at Frankfurt Central Station. "Romantic Road" refers to the road between Wurzburg and Fussen.

Its distance is about 500km. I had been thinking that the name "Romantic Road" literally came from beautiful romantic scenery. However, it was not correct. The road was used by Romans to go back to Rome in the old days, so the road was named Romantic Road. 

We stayed in Rothenburg. The city was charming. Houses and buildings were attractive. The city itself was a picture book. 

We participated the Night Watchman Tour. He told the history of Rothenburg with humor. 

His story was impressive. Rothenburg was protected from being destroyed during the World War II by an American captain; he couldn't give order to destroy the city since he had heard in his childhood from his mother how beautiful Rothenburg was. Thanks to his bravery, we now enjoy the pretty town. 

Prinzhotel Rothenburg

We stayed this hotel. The flowers decorated by windows were very pretty!

                                    
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with a round-the-world ticket

July, 2012

We bought a round-the-world ticket this time; it is valid for one year. The rule of this ticket is that you have to go always to the same direction. In case you start from Japan to  somewhere and return to Japan, the ticket will be done for one time.  So we decided to start using this ticket from Korea and we can come back to Japan and make another trip to Oceania in winter again before returning to Korea within one year. This time we went to Germany from Seoul then to Switzerland and the U.S.A. Our trip was for three weeks and we returned to Japan. Going to Switzerland was my dream, so we enjoyed Switzerland for 10 days. 

A= Japan  B= Korea  C= Germany  D= Switzerland  E= the U.S.A.

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Venice

June 24, 2012

It took about two hours from Florence to Venice Santa Lucia station by an express train. The name of the station made me remember the famous Italian song "Santa Lucia" in Naples.

Venice is a very unique and impressive city. It was built in the lagoon, on small islands separated by 150 canals; there are about 400 bridges.

There are no cars in Venice; we have to use water buses or water taxis. The transportation is very unique; it makes the scenery unique. Water bus stations are floating on the water.

Santa Lucia station was crowded, however, I was very moved to see the beautiful scene in front of our hotel when we arrived the hotel by a water bus. Our hotel was on Giudecca Island; it took about 20 minutes to get there from Santa Lucia Station. 

I had been excited to ride in a gondola in Venice for a long time. The price was expensive, €80 for 35 minutes. However, my husband and I decided to experience riding in a gondola to have a nice memory of Venice. 

I enjoyed the gondola very much! I found the gondolas' shape is not symmetrical. This is for gondoliers to stand on the stern with the oar so as not to overbalance. Our gondolier said that he bought his gondola for  €35,000. He also said that every gondolier has his own gondola. They need to get a license to be a gondolier, and there are many people on the waiting list to be approved. So our gondolier was very proud of himself. 

The next day, we  went to Murano Island famous for Venetian Glass. 

We stepped into a shop where workmen were painting cups as in the following picture. I bought a pair of glass at the shop as a souvenir for my parents and aunt.