5 Things We Miss About Travel to Europe

By Hank Schrader, USMA ’71, Europe Destination & Europe River Cruise Expert

And Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Consultant and Europe Destination Expert

www.dreamdestinations.com

Today’s blog title is inspired by Anne—it’s Thursday Morning and the blog comes out in a couple of hours and I just didn’t have a good topic. But in true form, after returning from walking our Dog, Libby, Anne had a brilliant idea.

“Why not write about the 5 things we miss in Europe? She then suggested for her it was food, flowers, friends, famous places and fun.

**My co-author Anne on a recent AmaWaterways cruise**

So, today, I’d like to tell you about the “F”ive reasons why we miss traveling to Europe. Hopefully, after reading this and seeing Anne’s pictures you will give us an A grade and not an F!

Food

If you know us, food and wine are always on the list of important experiences we have in Europe. They range from picnic supplies for the train, small bistros to Michelin starred restaurants. Perhaps the best factor is the overall importance most European countries place on food—it is really hard to get a bad meal!

Here are just a few great food experiences we miss so much (I really am missing so many here but I had to cut it down a lot):

In Paris, here are 3 favorites—Danton’s (a small bistro), Le Soufflé and the Coup Chou.

We love German food and Anne’s favorite is Schweinhaxe—pork shank!

In Austria, in our opinion, the best Weiner Schnitzel comes from Figmüllers in Vienna but Anne lovers their liver and onions.

In Italy, for us, it has to be Carbonara, although Henry has never had a pasta dish he didn’t like. The good thing about carbonera is that it is a favorite throughout Europe.

In Brugge, it has to be Mussels and Frites for Anne; lobsters (both of us) and Flemish carbonnade (a wonderful stew dish) for Henry.

**Hank attacking his lobster meal in Brugge**

For Hank it would be tough to choose between Flemish Carbonnade and Guinness Irish Stew. But luckily for me, Anne can make both wonderfully, so he has the best of both worlds.

I guess we can’t really leave the food topic without a good story about friends and food.

As you probably know, we have annual trips with our very good friends Denise & Mark Thomas. While Mark is the certified wine expert, Denise has as an excellent palate and has her preferences.

We almost always leave the wine choices to them. Their knowledge, is not only about the wines themselves, but they also know whether the choice will enhance all of our menu choices, and to insure there is a true value (biggest bang for our Euros) that makes the experience even better. Can’t do better than the right wine(s) at the right price!

Other than agreement on the wine(s), food choices are not always in sync for the four of us. Both Denise and Anne are NOT fish aficionados, even though Anne does love shell fish, Denise’s only choice is Alaskan King Crab.

However, Mark and Anne are up for just about everything! So, for Christmas in Paris, Denise and I acquiesced to let Anne & Mark dine on one of the most extravagant seafood meals they had been trying to convince us to experience during every one of our Paris trips (we have never been shy about spending our Euros)! They were not disappointed and the presentation, regardless that Denise and I ate beef, was certainly something in and of itself to behold! Great Memories!

Are you hungry yet?

Flowers

It always is amazing to me how many gardens and flowers are available in Europe. They range from large, formal gardens, to small window boxes. Here is a small sample:

**Doorway bursting with color in Cochem Germany**

Friends

Life is sure better when you share it with others. We have been so lucky to have many great experiences and chances to share with others.

On the tours and river cruises we have led, the best part has always been traveling, not with clients, but friends who trust us with their travel experiences. We have built some awesome bonds with these folks. Here a few pictures of some of the times we have experienced.

**The rest of our 2015 river cruise group**

The hardest part of traveling with friends is having to say good-bye after the trip is over. Of course, we’re lucky because we do stay in touch and spend time talking not only about our past excursions, but also planning future ones! We have recently discovered that the more photos we can post of our times traveling together with a certain friend does keep him involved in the weekly blog and we are certain that it means we’ll definitely have more opportunities to update and enlarge our gallery of times we’ll spend with him!

Happy birthday, my friend, Jeffrey (I’m proud to share the same birthday 6 October, but you’ll always be the older and wiser man!)!!!

**The October 6 Birthday Boys—Jeff (1948) and Hank (1949)**

Famous Places

There is just no shortage of famous places, structures and iconic symbols of countries in Europe.

I wrote a blog about the 10 most iconic places in Europe—here is the link https://visitdd.wordpress.com/2017/04/05/how-many-of-these-10-iconic-europe-landmarks-have-you-visited/

Here are a few pictures:

Fun

Life is too short not to enjoy it—we always create memories from our experiences when traveling to Europe. The world becomes just a little smaller seeing how others live and play and have fun and we just love joining in.

**Drinking Wine in Bayeux with some new European friends**

Sometimes it also involves Americans traveling to Europe.

Think I’m kidding—here is a great story about how small the world is.

We attended a great wine tasting in Rome at Vino Roma with Hande Leimer, a wine and food expert.

**Handi leading us on a food and wine tour**

While we were waiting to start, talking with some of the other guests, it turned out one of the couples was from Virginia, where I went to high school. I asked what High School they attended and their reply was Fort Hunt HS. Small world, same HS I graduated from in 1967!

Fast forward to 2018, over lunch at a West Point rugby reunion, during a discussion about traveling in Europe, we learned one of my classmates, Jack, also had gone to a wine tasting at Vino Roma. Small world indeed!

Sometimes when leading groups on AmaWaterways our clients show talents that are delightful. My classmate John and his wife, Irene, who is Greek, are both specialists in the Greek culture and language. It was amazing in 2019 to watch them lead and dance the other passengers to beautiful Greek music provide by the on-ship entertainer. A true joy and fun for all!

**John and Irene dancing on out 2019 AmaWaterways Cruise on the Rhine**

We also love festivals—here is part of our 2019 75th Anniversary of D Day group in 2019 with some fashionable ladies from the 1940’s!

**Bob, Tom and Joe with 3 reinactors from 1944 from our D Day Anniversary Tour**

And, to show you even Santa likes us, here is photographic proof! He is one fun guy!

My Final Thoughts

So, how did we do—do we deserve an A for our five F things we miss about travel to Europe?

We hope this inspires you to dream about European travel—and then take action when travel restrictions are lifted! We will be ready to help!

When you are spending your hard-earned money for a vacation, you want an advisor who can match you with the right trip. You want someone who will understand your expectations and fuel your anticipation (or excitement) to get you the best possible trip experience. And, you want someone who can help you with the decision making process. We think we have all these qualities.

Whatever your Dream Destinations are, we are here to help you get the best possible vacation based on what is important to you! We will provide you high quality, expertly planned travel. Please give me a call 713-397-0188 (Hank) or email me at hschrader@dreamdestinations.com. We want to help you: Savor life…make memories…Visit Dream Destinations! Your journey begins here!

HANK is a certified Western European Destination Specialist (DS) who has been traveling to Europe for 49 years. He is also an Accredited Cruise Counselor (ACC), conferred by the Cruise Line International Association (CLIA). This recognized expert in cruise and leisure travel is a retired Army Officer, and taught World Geography for 8 years. He is a `71 graduate of West Point and has earned 2 master’s degrees. His other Certifications:

AmaWaterways River Cruise Specialist
Viking River Cruise Specialist
Scenic River Cruise Specialist
Emerald Waterways Specialist
Avalon Waterways Specialist
Brit Agent

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