Enjoying a European road trip

Dave and Patsy Schweitzer

Drive our new BMW 750i in Europe? What a great reason for a trip!

The two of us flew Lufthansa for the cost of one, and the savings

on the car paid for the next 21 days. Dave loosely mapped the course,

and Patsy went along for the ride.

We spent three days in the Munich-Augsburg area of Bavaria --

strolling, shopping and people-watching from sidewalk cafes.

Highlights included the Marienplatz, home of Oktoberfest; the

marvelous Deutsches Museum; and in Augsburg, the Maximillian Museum.

We were on the road to Italy, when the car’s global positioning

system picked out a large lake. Lake Garda, 25 miles from Verona, is

the largest lake in Italy. We found Hotel Mavino in Sirmione at the

southernmost shore and spent two nights there at the foot of a narrow

peninsula, which begins with a 13th century castle and ends at

Etruscan-Roman ruins from the 6th century BC.

We drove south to Florence to spend three nights at the Hotel

Antica Torre by the Arno River, one block from the Ponte Vecchio. It

features rooftop breakfasts and evening cocktails with an incredible

panoramic view of Florence. The famous Uffizi Gallery, to our dismay,

requires reservations weeks in advance, but at the Accademia, we

gasped as we gazed upwards at the Michelangelo’s exquisitely carved

and huge figure of David.

The excitement of Florence for us became a sport -- that of

dodging bicycles, motorcycles and small cars at full speed. We were

victorious. It’s a fabulous city.

On the road again, it was time for gas. At $6.50 a gallon, Dave

cringed as he paid $130 to fill the gas tank. Slightly south of

Florence, we spent one night at the hilltop Tuscan town of San

Gimignano and then went northward to an ancient abbey called San

Maurizzo in the town of Santo Stefano Belbo. We marveled at the views

of undulating Italian vineyards.

We crossed the border into France and an overnight stay at the

beautiful Chateau Levernois. Dave brought his golf clubs and was able

to play a round at a course next to the chateau. A travel tip --

always ask: “Is breakfast included in the room price?”

Paris being our final stop, we were driving through the brilliant

yellow mustard fields and making time at the comfortable Euro roadway

speed of 80 to 90 mph.

Seventy miles east of Paris sits hotel Chateau de Fere, which we

got to enjoy for three days. The 15th century castle is in the

shadows of the dramatic ruins of a 12th century castle built by

royalty.

The travel section of the Los Angeles Times lured us there. Nearby

were historically significant World War I and World War II sites,

plus the second largest American World War I military cemetery on

foreign soil, with 6,300 of our men and women there.

Then it was off to Paris and Hotel Galileo, located about a block

from the Champs Elysees. Besides walking the length of this famous

street several times, our sights for four days included the top of

the Arc de Triomphe, art at the National Gallery and the exquisite

Jacquart Andre gallery.

Our River Seine water taxi trip included eight stops, a notable

tour of Notre Dame Cathedral and an incredible lunch in the Eiffel

Tower at the Jules Verne Restaurant. Reservations are a must, ours

being arranged by our friend Jan Browman Barnes, who is living in

Paris with her family.

Having said bon voyage to our Beemer, we are now highly trained

people-watchers and connoisseurs of inexpensive wines while lounging

in the many outdoor cafes of Europe. In six weeks, our car will

arrive at Crevier Motors in Santa Ana -- all shiny and ready for

another trip.

The perfect end was a hamburger, Coke and French fries at the

local McDonalds on the Champs Elysees.

-- Dave and Patsy Schweitzer are residents of Costa Mesa.

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