Welcome to the Sauer's
European Destinations Page!


Isn't it amazing! They can make you look fat, from just the neck up!!> On November 1, Alan, Amy, Laura and Peter, set forth on what is to be, perhaps, the most terrifying vacation of their lives. Terrifying for whom, remains to be seen. The following is a short itinerary of their trip, including links and pictures that they have not yet taken. While we are gone, we will be using <a href=sauerscape@hotmail.com for our e-mail, should we get the chance to send any while we are away. Mouse-over the pictures for attached captions.
Wednesday, November 1
Leave home at 1:00 P.M., Arrive in New Haven for 3:00 or so, train to NYC, arrive at Grand Central in time for 5:30 bus to JFK, check in two hours before flight. Find out if we have actual seats on the plane or not, and if we have left our passports at home. Leave New York's JFK about 9:00 P.M. Fly all night, arrive in London (Heathrow) about 9:30 A.M. the next morning.
Thursday, November 2
View of parliament buildings and Big Ben, from the Thames Take tube to Hotel....Royal National in Russell square. Only about a block from the British Museum, actually!
Eat lunch (there were no scheduled meals on our flight)
Tour the British Museum or take a bus tour of London. (or vice versa! I was so tired that when we took the double-decker bust tour I fell asleep up on top!)
Friday, November 3
Trafalgar Square Tower Bridge. We will see it at some point. I promise!! Walking tour of London. Start with the Tate Gallery and end up by the National Gallery, not missing:
  • Buckingham Palace
  • Big Ben
  • Trafalgar Square
  • The Parliament buildings
  • Westiminster Abbey
  • St. Margaret's Chapel
  • St. James' Park
  • The Marble Arch
Return to Hotel exhausted.
Saturday, November 4
The Tower of London
  • Today's the day!! One must be up early to beat the crowds at the Tower of London!
  • Also tour St. Pauls- we got in on a choir concert (or was it rehearsal?) Excellent!
Sunday, November 5
    Globe Theater
  • Go to Church at Spurgeon's church, right accross from Elephant and Castle. If you ever get a chance to go...do! It was excellent!
  • Tour the Imperial War Museum
Monday, November 6
The Roman Baths This is Laura's "business" part of the trip. Today we will travel to Bath to visit the city, and more especially the museum for whom she is the editor of their on-line magazine: The Jane Austen Centre in Bath. Bath is called such for its interesting history involving the hot springs in the area. When this part of Europe was under Roman control, these springs were turned into public baths which are still usable today. Other attractions include the Costume Museum of Bath and various walking tours of this picturesque city made of creamy limestone.
Tuesday, November 7
    Another walking trip!
  • View the Globe theater, a perfect replica of what it looked like in Shakespeare's day (with better fire proofing)
  • Millenium Dome....almost robbed (not us though)
  • Museum of London- most interestin? The Roman London exhibit. Research for Italy!
  • Back to the British Museum for a tour of "Gladiators and Ceasars"..again, research.
  • Attend a showing of "The Mousetrap" by Agatha Christie. The longest running stage play ever! It has been showing continuously since it opened in the 1950
Wednesday, November 8
The Victoria and Albert Museum
Thursday, November 9
  • Tube to Heathrow, check-in
  • Depart for Rome.
  • Arrive in Rome.
Friday, November 10

Tour Rome, see the main points. We stayed at Casa Kolbe, on the Palantine Hill. It was right accross from the Royal Palace where Caligula was murdered. From the top of the hill you can see the Colleseum, Roman Forum, and the Victor Emmanuel monument. At the bottom of the hill is Circus Maximus!
  • Colleseum
  • Spanish Steps
  • Fountain at Trevi
  • Circus Maximus
  • Try Gellati!
Saturday, November 11
The Colleseum in Rome
More sightseeing! Shopping!!
Sunday, November 12 St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican The fountain at Trevei, in Rome> <ul>Walking tour of Rome. We crossed the Tiber and just tramped around. The city really closes down on Sundays. </td></tr> <tr> <td> <font face=Monday, November 13
Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence or Duomo
  • Monday afternoon, take train to Florence. See a bit?
  • Travel to Montacatini, where we will be staying for the several days we are in Tuscany.

    We are here so that my dad can check up and see how things are going with the Elderhostel trips that Trinity College sponsors. Hands on experience, you might say.
Tuesday, November 14
No, the camera is not crooked, the tower is leaning!!
  • Visit the leaning tower of Pisa!! We finally get to see if it really does look like a salt shaker! They say that the tower is not the only thing worth seeing in Pisa...but it's close! Recent work on it protects the tower from leaning anymore. It was about to topple!
Wednesday, November 15
Yep! It's him. The Statue of David, modified for Family viewing
  • Back to Florence. This time for REAL sightseeing. It should be great! If you want a picture of Florence, rent "A Room with a View". Just sort of fast-forward the swimming scene. I have maps for it, but still haven't found the "Loggia".
Thursday, November 16
  • Ahhh! Lucca!! This is the hometown of the Fontanini crafters. We hope to visit their museum....and pick up some interesting pieces for my mother's and grandmother's sets. Oh yes....there is sightseeing here, too.
Friday, November 17
Ceiling of the Sistine Chapel
Saturday, November 18

We fly home today, from Rome to London, but this time using Gatwick Airport. At least we will get to see them all, if nothing else! Then nine or so hours back to NYC and home.
Pictures courtesy of: Planetware | Back to Sauerscrapbook