Germany & Norway June 17 - July 5, 2023

Trip Itinerary

  • Friday 6/16 Fly to FL : SW Airlines

  • Saturday 6/17 - Fly Lufthansa Direct from MCO - FRA

  • Sunday 6/18 - Land in Frankfort

  • Monday 6/19

    • Enjoyed fresh baked cinnamon bread and walked to river in Frankfort

    • Drove on Autobahn from Frankfort to Cologne to meet up with cousin Harold and His wife Beatta

    • Went downtown with cousin Harold to enjoy the Cologne Cathedral

    • Enjoyed a nice dinner out on a boat in the Rhine

    • Stayed at: (19th- 20th)

  • Tuesday  6/20

  • Wednesday 6/21

    • Drove the Autobahn from Cologne to Varel to visit Omi’s Brother Deter and wife Irene

    • Midway stopped off at road side McDonolds were Omi enjoyed a ‘MacPlant’ - when I asked her how she liked it, she responded  ‘I could not really taste there was beef, there was a lot of lettuce’

    • Had lovely visit with family and Omi’s friends from school

    • Had dinner at Hafenblink : https://www.hafenblick-varel.de

    • Stayed at (6/21 - 6/23)

  • Thursday 6/22

    • Enjoyed breakfast the hotel with 3 pots of amazing tea  - Omi, her brother Deeter and wife Irene

    • Deeter tour took us on a driving tour to see Omi’s home where she grew up.  2nd story floor right above the post office.  On the corner she pointed out that was where American GI’s gave her Hershey’s Chocolate and Wrigley’s Gum.    She shared stories about her having to go to the bomb shelter during the war, and one time bomb hit side of building and killed the post office worker because he did not go to the shelter.   She said her father and brothers were in the German Navy during the war.    She pointed out the room Cousin Harald was born in (The Cousin we just visited) and stories about how her mother helped protected her from the War and how she use to walk to elementary school with her friends, and the in middle school years would ride the train.

    • Deeter took us to the Wilhelmshaven deep water port were we saw oil and gas tankers unload and German cars (Audi, Fiat, VW) lined up to be shipped.

    • We then went to visit a windmill cafe where we enjoyed an afternoon snake and had a tour of the windmill by the Miller himself.  The windmill is one of 10 left still operational in Germany, built in 1885, and the only one that has a saw mill still working.  Learned about the grinding seeds for the animal feed, and grinding wheat for baking.   A very enjoyable visit and tour learning and seeing an old windmill in operation.

    • We returned back to the hotel where we enjoyed another pot of tea and the walked around town and to the ocean.

    • Dinner was outstanding at the hotel

  • Friday 6/23

    • Enjoyed a walking tour of Varel and seeing the Church that Omi was confirmed in.  Originally St. Peter Church founded in 1150 and grew in 1450 by adding the side expansions (creating the cross of the church.  In 1531 the church becomes Protestant / Lutheran/ now Ev.-Lutherische Kirchengemeinde Varel

    • We enjoyed meeting Stephon Bitner, His wife Stephlana, and son Daniel. 

    • We also enjoyed more walks around the bay and a family dinner at the hotel

  • Saturday 6/24

  • Sunday 6/25

    • We did an outstanding canal boat ride with ‘Hey Captain’ - enjoying 2 hour trip with Brodty seeing lots of history and beautiful architecture

    • In the afternoon we ran into our old Louisville neighbors- Cathy and Brian Bisner - so serendipitous - we enjoyed a coffee / tea catch-up - Cathy and Brian were finishing there vacation- sharing with us there trip to Germany VW manufacturing plant and Legohouse.com 3 day all Lego experience.

    • Later on we picked up a hop on hop off bus and saw the little mermaid along with other historic buildings - finishing our day with outdoor Italian pizza https://www.iloveluca.dk/

  • Monday 6/26

  • Tuesday 6/27

    • Took Omi to Airport

    • Visited parliament and changing of guard

    • Visited the  Frederik's Church ( known as Marble Church) https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederik%27s_Church

    • Started in 1749 - finished construction 1894

    • Inside the church was inscribed in a circumstance in the dome - in Danish - for all to read and understand John 17:3 ‘Now this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God and Jesu Christ, Whom you have sent”

  • Wednesday 6/28

    • We walked to Rosenborug Castle in Copenhagen and enjoy a nice morning walking through the city. 

    • We checked out of the Hotel and boarded our boat Silver Dawn in Copenhagen

    • Room 819, outstanding.  596 passengers - we began our trip to the Fjords of Norway

    • Outstanding Dinner at the Japanese’s Restaurant

  • Thursday 6/29

    • Sea day on the way to Flåm Norway (pronounced FL-OM - Like Mum)

    • Cool overclass and windy day - Temperatures at 58, but an enjoyable day of checking out the boat, hearing the lecture on Flåm, and spa visit

  • Friday 6/30

    • Flåm Norway- WOW, absolutely amazing  - breathtakingly beautiful.

    • Morning we had a four mile hike to Brekkefossen Raokjen

      • https://www.alltrails.com/trail/norway/vestland/brekkefossen-raokjen

      • a nice 1km hike up steep hill via steps to reach the photo point of the falls - just a gorgeous view, did not want to return down.

      • Met David and Lee (wife) and enjoy the days company on our train excursion in the afternoon. Meeting David and Lee was a highlight of our trip, met up over the week in tours and seeing them around. Just a great couple to hang out with.

    • Afternoon we went on the Flåm rail to enjoy a nice tea and scenic views form high up.  On the way stopped at the Kjosfossen Waterfall - 305 fee.   Enjoy the hiking and great weather

  • Saturday 7/1

    • Ålesund Norway:(All-i-/ sund)

    • Sugar Lump mountain hike

    • walked around town and enjoyed the sights

    • Dinner at 7 and finished at 9…I’m wiped out

  • Sunday 7/2

    • Trondheim Norway

      • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trondheim

      • We had a nice canal tour around the old city and then walked the the old city to the cathedral https://www.nidarosdomen.no/en

      • Construction started in 1070 and finished in 1300

      • The cathedral is built over the tomb of St. Olav, the Viking king who converted Norway to Christianity and became “Norway's Eternal King”.

      • We enjoyed a nice walk back to the boat, some resting / reading / pool time

  • Monday 7/3

  • Tuesday. 7/4

    • Nordfjordeid Norway

    • Went on scenic tour to Loen lake and up the gondola +3k feet

    • Walked around top of mountain

    • Walked around NordFjord town / picture of church

    • Cold 53 and raining - took in relaxing afteroon hot tub on ship in the rain and enjoyed a good relaxing

    • Packed for departure

  • Wednesday 7/5

    • Bergen Norway

    • Hung out with David and Lee from our cruise and enjoyed the city and historical spots.

  • Thursday 7/6 - Fly Home