Motorbike Europe Tour

"Home, sweet home!" (Livry Gargan - 11/08)

2007-08-20T11:58:00.000-07:00

Around 7pm we arrived in Livry Gargan. It felt strange to be back again. This three weeks we have ridden 4457 km and it went so fast.

Helmet washing (11/08)

2007-08-19T09:45:00.000-07:00

The cathedral of Metz (Metz - 11/08)

2007-08-19T09:43:00.000-07:00

Lunch break in Metz (Metz -11/08)

2007-08-19T09:42:00.000-07:00

We started around 12 am in Strasbourg to go normally to Reims. Since the weather was not so good and we were quite tired we changed the plan. We decided to go home directly from Strasbourg so we arrive on Saturday and we have Sunday to relax before going back to work on Monday. Ahhhhh!

Traditional houses (Strasbourg - 10/08)

2007-08-19T09:41:00.000-07:00

City tour (Strasbourg - 10/08)

2007-08-19T09:40:00.000-07:00

Arriving in Strasbourg (Strasbourg - 10/08)

2007-08-19T09:38:00.000-07:00

Fussel and Blume (Basel - 09/08)

2007-08-19T09:35:00.000-07:00

"Fussel" (Basel - 09/08)

2007-08-19T09:32:00.000-07:00

This Fussel, one of Sandy's cats.

The "Lallekoenig" (Basel - 09/08)

2007-08-19T09:30:00.000-07:00

Basel is devided by the river "Rhein" in two parts, the old part and the new part. In former times people of the old part did not like the people of the new part and the other way around. On this photo you see the so called "Lallekoenig" who is showing his tongue to the new part of Basel.

At the "Marktplatz" (Basel - 09/08)

2007-08-19T09:29:00.000-07:00

On this photo you see us on the traditional market place of the city.

Sandy & Jérémie (Basel - 09/08)

2007-08-18T13:48:00.000-07:00

The river "Rhein" (Basel - 09/08)

2007-08-18T13:46:00.000-07:00

Three days of non-stopping rain as-well in Basel! The boat traffic got stopped on several parts of the river.

Arriving in Basel (Riehen / Basel - 09/08)

2007-08-18T13:45:00.000-07:00

After just 2 hours driving we arrived in Basel. We very happy that the distance between Bern and Basel is not soo long because it was still raining. First of all we had to say "Hello" to the two little cats of my sister.

Drying clothes... (Bern - 09/09)

2007-08-18T13:44:00.000-07:00

The heavy rain on our tour to Bern made the water level of the rivers go up. We arrived around 6pm in our hotel which was situated at the exposition area outside of Bern. All wet and cold, we were very happy to be arrived! We were too wet to still visit the city center of Bern under the rain :-(. At around 9:45 pm we heard the sirenes of Bern. The receptionist explained that they do this, to wake up the people who live close to the river "Aare". The river level was too high and for security reasons the people had to leave their houses. During the night it kept raining!

Changing wet socks... (Goppenstein - 08/08)

2007-08-11T15:38:00.000-07:00

Jérémie's motorbike boots were all wet inside. We followed the advice of Jocelyn: putting a bag around the socks ;-).

Whole view of our waggon (Goppenstein - 08/08)

2007-08-11T15:37:00.000-07:00

The motorbike is taking the train! (Goppenstein - 08/08)

2007-08-11T15:36:00.000-07:00

From the city Goppenstein we took the "car and motorbike train" to pass through the Loetschbergtunnel to arrive at Kandersteg. We paid 9.50 Euro and we had to attach the motorbike in this special waggon. To get of the train we had to follow the cars to get to the end of the train. Our journey took around 15 minutes.

"Rain drops falling on my head" (E62 - 08/08)

2007-08-11T15:35:00.000-07:00

We were very dissappointed about the weather. The days before we had around 30 degree and now 16. Our motorbike gloves and Jérémie's shoes were all wet.

Welcome in Switzerland! (Gondo - 08/08)

2007-08-11T15:29:00.000-07:00

During the trip from Milano to Bern we were supposed to have the most beautiful landscapes views of the Alpes. Unfortunately we had the whole day rain and the alpes where hidden by the fog :-(! We got wet and in the mountains it was freezing, grrrrrrrrr.

"Piazza della Scalla" (Milano - 07/08)

2007-08-11T15:28:00.000-07:00

The cathedrale (Milano - 07/08)

2007-08-11T15:27:00.000-07:00

"Piano concert" (Milano - 07/08)

2007-08-11T15:25:00.000-07:00

In the gallery we listened to this piano playing girl.

"Galleria Vittoria Emanuele II" (Milano - 07/08)

2007-08-11T15:24:00.000-07:00

In the city center you find this beautiful gallery.

"Piazza della Scalla" (Milano - 07/08)

2007-08-11T15:23:00.000-07:00

"Fresh fruits shop" (Sirmione -07/08)

2007-08-11T15:22:00.000-07:00

In front of the city entrance we bought some fresh melone pieces. The fruit saler were cutting the fruits in front of the clients.

Flowery old city center! (Sirmione - 07/08)

2007-08-11T15:21:00.000-07:00

Leaving the stony beach... ("Lago di Garda" - 07/08)

2007-08-11T15:20:00.000-07:00

Having a bath! ("Lago di Garda" - 07/08)

2007-08-11T15:18:00.000-07:00

The fortress with the view on the "Lago di Garda" (Sirmione - 07/0 8)

2007-08-11T15:17:00.000-07:00

The entrance of the old city (Sirmione - 07/08)

2007-08-11T15:16:00.000-07:00

To have a break on our trip from Venezia to Milano we stopped in the city Sirmione next to the "Lago di Garda". At the entrance you find this building which looks like a romano-medieval fortress.

"Venezian citizen" (Venezia - 06/08)

2007-08-09T10:07:00.001-07:00

On our tour we got to know this native venezian citizen.

"Our bus " (Venezia - 06/08)

2007-08-09T10:07:00.000-07:00

At the "Plazza le Roma" we had to take the bus to get back to our hotel.

"Washing day!" (Venezia - 06/08)

2007-08-09T10:06:00.002-07:00

Checking the map, once again! (Venezia - 06/08)

2007-08-09T10:06:00.001-07:00

Catching WIFI! (Venezia - 06/08)

2007-08-09T10:05:00.002-07:00

To up-date our blog with new messages and photos we had to catch some "internet waves". This break was relaxing for our legs too.

Our bus-boat, line 1! (Venezia - 06/08)

2007-08-09T10:05:00.001-07:00

To see the city in another way, we took one of the famous bus boats. We paid a one-hour ticket and took line 1, which is leading through the Canal Grande.

Police in mission (Venezia - 06/08)

2007-08-09T10:04:00.002-07:00

Another nice view nr. 2! (Venezia -06/08)

2007-08-09T10:04:00.001-07:00

Another nice view! (Venezia - 06/08)

2007-08-09T10:03:00.002-07:00

The big boat! (Venezia - 06/08)

2007-08-09T10:03:00.001-07:00

We still wonder if the Canale Grande was big enough and next to which gondel it parked ;-) !!!

And once again, the Plazza S. Marco. (Venezia -06/08)

2007-08-09T10:02:00.001-07:00

"Pizza-Pasta-Time" (Venezia - 06/08)

2007-08-09T10:02:00.000-07:00

A whole Venezia-Day makes hungry!

The famous Plazza S. Marco (Venezia - 06/08)

2007-08-09T10:01:00.000-07:00

The famous Ponte di Rialto! (Venezia - 06/08)

2007-08-09T10:00:00.001-07:00

"We were not alone!" (Venezia - 06/08)

2007-08-09T10:00:00.000-07:00

Were there are monuments, there are growed tourist markets too. Ahhhhh!

"Gondel race" (Venezia - 06/08)

2007-08-09T09:59:00.001-07:00

Hmmm, italian ice-cream! (Venezia - 06/08)

2007-08-09T09:59:00.000-07:00

A real labyrinth! (Venezia - 06/08)

2007-08-09T09:58:00.002-07:00

To find the way in this labyrinth was sometimes not so easy.

"Vegetable boat market" (Venezia - 06/08)

2007-08-09T09:58:00.001-07:00

When we passed this street we got to know one of the typical vegetable and fruit markets on a boat.

Typical houses (Venezia - 06/08)

2007-08-09T09:57:00.000-07:00

Small tiny street (Venezia - 06/08)

2007-08-09T09:56:00.002-07:00

We are starting our Venezia-Day! (Venezia - 06/08)

2007-08-09T09:56:00.001-07:00

Yesterday we arrived around 6:30 pm in our hotel in Mestre - Venezia. The trip from Salzburg to Mestre has been less tiring than we thought and the weather is as-well on our side :-) . Today we will visit Venezia!!!

Eaten by a mountain (E55 - 05/08)

2007-08-09T09:55:00.001-07:00

Aaaaaaaaahhhhhhh

For Venezia, go right (S. Dona di Piave - 05/08)

2007-08-09T09:55:00.000-07:00

Landscape from the Motorway (E55 - 05/08)

2007-08-09T09:54:00.000-07:00

This is the kind of landscape we could admire from the motorway in Italy.
It was less interesting once arrived in the Venezia region...

Lunch Break (Arnoldstein - 05/08)

2007-08-09T09:50:00.001-07:00

One of the latest Austrian village before Italy.

Tauerntunnel (E55 - 05/08)

2007-08-09T09:50:00.000-07:00

Just before the long darkness of 6.4 km.

Curves beginning (B159 - 05/08)

2007-08-06T08:10:00.000-07:00

A little break before riding in the nice curves which are following the moutain shapes!!
We had very nice landscape: moutains and rivers.

Pressure checking (Salzburg - 05/08)

2007-08-06T08:09:00.000-07:00

It was important to check the tires before our trip of more than 400km in the Alpes!!
In Austria, the petrol stations provide this kind of independant pressure machine which get refilled when you put it back on its station.

Chess player (Salzburg - 04/08)

2007-08-06T08:08:00.000-07:00

Cable Lift (Salzburg - 04/08)

2007-08-06T08:07:00.000-07:00

We went up to Fortress by feet and we go down by this lift.
It was funny because it was quite fast.

Sunset on the city (Salzburg - 04/08)

2007-08-06T08:06:00.000-07:00

We were finishing our diner in the same time the sun was finishing is shift.

Diner at the Fortress (Salzburg - 04/08)

2007-08-06T08:05:00.000-07:00

We did not find a garden to lay on... So we relaxed, seated on some chairs, in front of a peacefull landscape for maybe two hours.
Then, the hungriness appeared and we went in the nearest restaurant...still with the same nice view...

View from the Fortress (Salzburgh - 04/08)

2007-08-06T08:04:00.000-07:00

View from the Staats-Brucke bridge (Salzburg - 04/08)

2007-08-06T08:03:00.000-07:00

We arrived tired at Salzburg, but, we wanted to see the old city... And to find a place to rest a little...
We were targeting a nice garden next or in the Salzburg's Fortress to lay down and sleep!!!
You can see the fortress in the top background of the picture.

Along the Cheimesee (Seebruck - 04/08)

2007-08-06T08:02:00.001-07:00

Lunch break at the Chiemsee (Gstadt - 04/08)

2007-08-06T08:02:00.000-07:00

We were expecting to see the Herrenchiemsee Castle, well, it is maybe too hidden...

Mini-living room (Munchen - 03/08)

2007-08-06T08:01:00.000-07:00

To test the accomodation (and to economise...), we had our diner in the room.

Fully equiped (Munchen - 03/08)

2007-08-06T08:00:00.000-07:00

In SuiteHotel rooms you can have this kind of kitchen... The minimum needed...

In the English Garden (Munchen - 03/08)

2007-08-06T07:59:00.000-07:00

Another lucky day! (Munich - 03/08)

2007-08-06T07:58:00.000-07:00

The "touching tradition" is known everywhere!

City center (Munich - 03/08)

2007-08-06T07:57:00.000-07:00

We arrived around 6pm and had a short city tour.

Pic-nic time again! (B27 - 03/08)

2007-08-06T07:56:00.000-07:00

This time we stopped somewhere in the czech country side close to the german border. We still had a long way to get to Munich.

End scene (Praha - 02/08)

2007-08-06T07:55:00.001-07:00

Applause!!!

We on our balcony (Praha - 02/08)

2007-08-06T07:55:00.000-07:00

"Door 16 open" (Praha - 02/08)

2007-08-06T07:54:00.000-07:00

"Door 16" (Praha - 02/08)

2007-08-06T07:53:00.000-07:00

This door is hiding our seats on the first balcony of the "Estate Theater".

Opera "Don Giovanni" (Praha - O2/08)

2007-08-06T07:52:00.000-07:00

We and our tickets for the opera "Don Giovanni" of Mozart.

Funny singing man - (Praha - 02/08)

2007-08-06T07:51:00.001-07:00

Praha offers street concerts for every taste. This funny man is singing in Czech in front of a groupe of chinese women.

The Castle (Praha - 02/08)

2007-08-06T07:51:00.000-07:00

"Lucky day" (Praha - 02/08)

2007-08-06T07:50:00.000-07:00

During our several old town sight seeing tours we found often a monument or statue with the costum to touch it to have luck. The one of Praha you find on the Charles Bridge.

Another old town street (Praha - 02/08)

2007-08-06T07:49:00.000-07:00

The church in the castle (Praha -02/08)

2007-08-06T07:48:00.000-07:00

The back of the church.

Second concert (Praha - 02/08)

2007-08-06T07:47:00.000-07:00

The guy sat in the front was playing an instrument very original.
That was the first time, we saw somebody with the ten fingers dressed with iron hats beating on an iron board.
However, we already heard this sound when listening some Jazz music without wondering how it could be done... Very interesting!!

It's clock watching time (Praha - 02/08)

2007-08-06T07:46:00.000-07:00

At every hour, all the tourists gather in front of this astronomic clock at the Old Town hall and watch some little statue moving...
At every hour, expecting a big show, they are mainly disappointed...

First concert (Praha - 02/08)

2007-08-06T07:45:00.000-07:00

One nice Jazz band performance on the Charles Bridge.
They were playing some good vintage New-Orleans music!!!

We are rich !!! (Praha - 01/08)

2007-08-06T07:44:00.000-07:00

We have 2000......krones....

Here it is (Praha - 01/08)

2007-08-02T05:03:00.000-07:00

Finally, we found it at the end of the Virnohradska street behind a tram...

Find the hotel (Praha - 01/08)

2007-08-02T05:02:00.000-07:00

Once arrived in the city, we have to find the hotel...

Communication system (B16 - 01/08)

2007-08-02T05:01:00.001-07:00

Our both helmet are connected to this machine with which we can listen to some music and talk to each other.

Racing with a old train (Litomerice - 01/08)

2007-08-02T05:01:00.000-07:00

We were driving at the same speed of this old train where some kids were waving us through their window.

Along the Elbe (B253 - 01/08)

2007-08-02T04:58:00.000-07:00

This is the kind of landscape we had all the way along the river Elbe.

Speed limits (B172 - 01/08)

2007-08-02T04:57:00.000-07:00

When you enter a country, you have all the different speed limit displayed like in the picture.

German boundary (B172 - 01/08)

2007-08-02T04:56:00.001-07:00

First we had to go through this german check boarder where there was nobody.
Then we had to pass the tcheck control where we showed our id cards.

Passed by a moped... (Schmilka - 01/08)

2007-08-02T04:56:00.000-07:00

For the way to Praha, we decided to follow the river Elbe because it is crossing Dresden and Praha.
The landscapes are very nice and similar to the ones in Switzerland.
The curves next to the river were very nice too!!!
In the picture, we passed this village which is the last one before getting into Tcheck Republic.

Gold at the Royal Garden (Dresden - 01/08)

2007-08-02T04:55:00.000-07:00

In the city, we saw a lot of monuments which were halfy washed.
Here in the picture, the statues are clean in comparison to the one of the previous picture which is all black.

Otherwise, the golden parts are always shiny and clean.

Royal garden observed (Dresden - 01/08)

2007-08-02T04:54:00.000-07:00

Prayer in the Frauenkirche (Dresden - 01/08)

2007-08-02T04:53:00.000-07:00

We could attend the prayer of 12 o'clock where some orgel music was performed.

The opera (Dresden - 01/08)

2007-08-02T04:50:00.001-07:00

Like typical tourist, we did our bus tour. We started by the opera.