About town...

Venice is a very walkable city. It's a city to get lost in. Take a map, a bottle of water (or your favorite cup of gelatto) and walk. Immerse yourself in the architecture, sites, smells and the people...

Water taxi arriving at the Metropole hotel...

A day in Venice

Our tour group spent Day 7 in the breath taking city of Venice...

We stayed in a hotel on the mainland which meant we need to take a walk to the train station and take the train into Venice. This city is very old and all transportation is via small boats.

P.S. If you plan to visit Venice stay at a hotel on the mainland. Hotels in Venice can cost upwards of $300 or more per night! Also, there are no cars on the streets of Venice. All transportation is done by water taxi. This makes finding your hotel and taking your luggage through the streets a bit of a challenge.

Once we arrived the boat dock is right outside the train station and our water taxi awaited us...

Event the police in Venice use boats!

Partial view of St. Mark's Square

Bobsleds anyone?

One of the excursions in Innsbruck, Austria was a chance to experience bobsledding on a track used during the 1964 and 1976 Winter Olympic Games. This track is used year round and accommodates a sled that holds up to 5 people (four riders and one driver)....

Saying good-bye to Austria...

A day in Austria

Austria is the birthplace of Swarovski, Mozart and The Govenator (Arnold Schwarzenegger)!

Free Schnaps tasting. We were alllll over that!

Birthplace of Swarovski crystal

Let's break bread at the Hofbrauhaus!

Most of the beers served at the Hofbrauhaus are served in liters. This was the ONLY beer they served as a half liter...

The pretzel/ginger bread cookie girl...

Giant pretzel and beer!

Apple strudel

Pork knuckle and dumplings! Magically Delicious!

The Hofbrauhaus!

Liter beers from The Hofbrauhaus...

Hofbrau menu

The Hofrauhus was founded over 400 years ago by William V, Duke of Bavaria and remains one of the largest and well known beer halls of Munich... This famed beer hall also has beer halls outside of Germany. They even have one in Las Vegas!

This portico of the Hofbrauhaus once served as a meeting place for the Nazi party...

P.S. Want more info about the Hofbrauhaus Google it! This is one of Munich's most popular beer halls. It's a top tourist attraction! There is so much history at the Hofbrau even Mozart and Johnny F. Kennedy visited this beer hall...

Surfing... In Germany???

YES, believe it or not PEOPLE DO SURF IN GERMANY! Locals have found a way to surf in this land locked country without every having to set foot on a sandy beach. Within the English Garden The River Isar is home to one of Germany's standing waves. Of course this curious sight is a tourist attraction. There were lots of on lookers many of whom were amazed with the talented surfs ripping it up on the narrow river.

Next surfer waiting his turn...

P.S. Would you ride the river wave??? In front of a crowd? They only suggest experienced surfers on the river waves. But, just in case you get the urge here are some river surfing etiquette tips: http://www.ehow.com/how_4822854_go-surfing-munich_-germany.html