27, 28, 29 & 30 June 2012  

Berlin

The famous Brandenburg gates.

Brandenburg gates.

 It was unfortunate that like every where else in Europe at the moment Hyundai have put up great big screens and there is scaffolding every where for the  football.  That's great if you like the football and great if you like to party with about a million other people but terrible if you want to take a decent photo.

The local law enforcement officers on BMW's, what else?
I think they heard we were coming!

As well as the gates Berlin is of course known for the wall (or what's left of it) and Check point Charlie which was the crossing controlled by the Americans.

I know what your thinking, we went all the way to Berlin just because we are interested in war history!  Wrong.

Spandau-Berlin just happens to be the one and only place in the world that make BMW motorcycles so of course we had to take the babies home to see their birth place.

Out the front of BMW Work Gate 1.
If you look closely you can see the huge grin on his face :)

The babies even got to sleep undercover right
out the front of the hotel.

Maurice & Kev were like kids in a lolly shop. That had to sit and touch every thing and during the guided tour they wanted to be up the front closest to the guides so they made sure they didn't miss out on any thing.

Well what do you expect we wanted to have fun as well!

Maurice and I celebrated our 12th Wedding Anniversary while we were in Berlin and enjoyed a great dinner at the Dalmatian Grill restaurant.

When we told Denis, our excellent waiter, that it was our anniversary he presented us with a gift wrapped bottle of our new favourite drink. "Kruskovac"

Next instalment will be from the Czech Republic.  

Schloss Moritzburg

Cheers until next time.

24, 25 & 26 June 2012

Wolfsburg, Germany

Maurice couldn't wait to get back to Wolfsburg after 38 years and Kev being the Kombi owner that he is couldn't wait either.  To add to Maurice's excitement he found the hotel he stayed in on his first visit and much to his delight we all stayed there again on this visit.  The owners had changed but we stilled received an extremely warm welcome and were very well looked after by Radi and his wife.

Maurice even made the local paper.  The picture shows him holding his VW passport with stamps from 1974 when he did some training at the Wolfsburg factory.  Despite being disappointed that he couldn't go into the school room we did go on the factory tour and went past the building.

We also went to the VW Museum which had a heap of great vehicles.  Amongst them was this one that Maurice remembers being parked outside the classroom 38 years ago.

It was great to see Maurice and Kev's eyes light up at the all things VW but I think the highlight was the stay at the Hotel Niedersachen.

 Oh I almost forgot we discovered our new favourite drink here "Kruskovac"

Cheers until next time.

22 & 23 June 2012

  Paderborn, Germany

Paderborn was just suppose to be another overnight stop on our way to Wolfsburg.  It turned out to be a great little spot and we just happened to be there when they were having a food festival of sorts.  As and added bonus Germany played Greece in the European Football cup so every one was in a party mood.  We had a great night and decided to stay for an extra night.  

It's a bit hard to see but this is Maurice
helping the guy fit my new rack!!1

On the way to Paderborn we also called into Be Jo-Tec and had my new rack fitted Yah! no more carrying my handbag all day long!!!

Crossing into Germany.

All the restaurants try and out
do each other and the results
are these beautiful tents.

Maurice sampling some of the great food.

Some of the football fans.  I know it doesn't look like it but
this was quite late into the evening.

All the little towns that we
stayed in have fantastic buildings
and lovely gardens. 












and most have great wine and good beer.
Cheers until next time.

20 & 21 June 2012

Amsterdam


Ahhh what can you say about Amsterdam?

Well a lot actually but then I would have to self sensor it?
Amsterdam is full of people having fun, some more than others if you know what I mean.  

Do they look guilty or what?

Trying to pretend she wasn't looking in the shop.

And you all thought Karen was sweet and innocent. 

We actually couldn't get her to go into this one but I still think she secretly wanted to.














We did do some real sight seeing, including a canal boat ride and Karen & Kev had a look at Anne Franks house & museum. 

The canals are a main feature and another is the amount of push bikes there are.  I mean they are every where including in the canals!

I wouldn't be forgiven if I didn't mention the fact that Karen took photographic evidence of us riding our Motorcycles down the Bicycle tracks! Well the road was closed what were we suppose to do? 

I also wouldn't be forgiven if I didn't mention that we met Doctor Pam in our travels.  It really is a small world.  

Bye for now.

  

19 June 2012

Harwich to Hook of Holland

Our 5th ferry crossing today. 

According to Maurice

 "We had to get up yesterday to get on the ferry"

Karen,                Kev                 Maurice           and me
The helmets having a sleep.

It was a reasonably long crossing but Karen managed to find a few friends to chat with.  She especially liked chatting to this guy.

Leaving England behind, at least for a little while.

When we arrived at our Camping ground we were sure that we had misunderstood the directions to our cabin.

But no it really was that tiny,

little shed at the end of the park.  We have

named it the too lshed.  

At least the babies were happy.