N and K’s European Vacation

A 17-day adventure by Kate & Neal Read more

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Trip start
June 24, 2023
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Day 1
Saturday, June 24, 2023 at 7:37 AM
☀️ 73 °F
Altitude: 1,257 ft
United States Oklahoma City 35.482577, -97.51773235°28’57” N 97°31’4” W
And so it begins…
June 24, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 73 °F
House is cleaned, bags are packed, and I am getting properly fueled for a loooong day of travel! Oklahoma City - Houston - Frankfurt - Santiago de Compostela. Let’s go!
TravelerMay you have safe and smooth travels!!
6/24/23Reply
Looking forward to following all your adventures! [Sarah Julian]
6/24/23Reply
TravelerHappy reuniting with Kate! Look forward to following your adventures together!
6/24/23Reply
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Day 1
Saturday, June 24, 2023 at 12:48 PM
☀️ 88 °F
Altitude: 1,348 ft
United States Will Rogers World Airport 35.395397, -97.5985535°23’43” N 97°35’55” W
See ya, OKC!
June 24, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 88 °F
When they say extra legroom, they mean it!
TravelerBig pimpin’! Nice score on the legroom!
6/24/23Reply
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Day 1
Saturday, June 24, 2023 at 3:32 PM
☀️ 99 °F
Altitude: 217 ft
United States George Bush Intercontinental Airport 29.985584, -95.33434629°59’8” N 95°20’4” W
I called it!
June 24, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 99 °F
I have been watching this flight closely the last week. It seemed to get delayed every other day, with even a cancellation this week! Let’s hope for no more delays!
Traveler👎🏼
6/24/23Reply
Travelerbooooooooo...sorry to hear you're delayed
6/24/23Reply
Hoping you're in the air by now. [Catherine Jenkins Re]
6/24/23Reply
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Day 1
Saturday, June 24, 2023 at 8:32 PM
🌙 90 °F
Altitude: 148 ft
United States George Bush Intercontinental Airport 29.985158, -95.33526829°59’7” N 95°20’7” W
Flow
June 24, 2023 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 90 °F
My flight to Frankfurt is significantly delayed. They are changing planes. I will miss my connection to Santiago de Compostela by more than an hour. Let’s see what the universe has in store for me.
TravelerOh, good grief! Hang in there. She will wait for you.
6/24/23Reply
TravelerAt this rate, I might be meeting her in Barcelona!
6/24/23Reply
TravelerDislike!!!
6/24/23Reply
TravelerYou could probably rent a bike and get their faster. :)
6/25/23Reply
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Day 1
Saturday, June 24, 2023 at 10:35 PM
🌙 86 °F
Altitude: 85 ft
United States George Bush Intercontinental Airport 29.98438, -95.33456129°59’4” N 95°20’4” W
Finally
June 24, 2023 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 86 °F
Well, I’m on a plane! I will miss my connection, so tomorrow will be interesting. Stay tuned!
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Day 2
Sunday, June 25, 2023 at 5:38 AM
⛅ 81 °F
Altitude: 190 ft
United States George Bush Intercontinental Airport 29.986759, -95.33832629°59’12” N 95°20’18” W
One step at a time
June 25, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 81 °F
After all passengers were boarded and snuggled under their airline provided blankets and pillows, the lights came on and we were all told the flight was CANCELLED!! United provided a hotel and I had about two hours of fitful sleep before returning to the airport. I have a plan, but won’t divulge it until I get through the first couple of hurdles.
I have been thinking a lot about Kate and what she accomplished these last six weeks and she provides me infinite inspiration, especially in the face of this adversity!Read more
Traveler🙏🏼🤞🏽Sending good vibes to get out of there and on your way soon!!!
6/25/23Reply
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Day 2
Sunday, June 25, 2023 at 6:28 AM
⛅ 82 °F
Altitude: 161 ft
United States George Bush Intercontinental Airport 29.986758, -95.3380829°59’12” N 95°20’17” W
A day late, but no dollars saved
June 25, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 82 °F
Due to yesterday’s unfortunate turn of events, I will not be joining Kate in Santiago de Compostela. All the more reason to come back when she finishes her pilgrimage! I will give details later, so I don’t jinx anything, but there is a plan in motion to get this vacation back on track. Wish me luck!Read more
Traveler🤞Fingers crossed!! Safe travels and I hope Kate is feeling better.
6/25/23Reply
TravelerSending you all positive vibes!
6/25/23Reply
Traveler🙏🏼🤞🏽
6/25/23Reply
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Day 2
Sunday, June 25, 2023 at 2:58 PM
☀️ 100 °F
Altitude: 607 ft
United States Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport 32.899277, -97.04366632°53’57” N 97°2’37” W
One step at a time (part 2)
June 25, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 100 °F
Plans are in place. More to come.
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Day 2
Sunday, June 25, 2023 at 3:02 PM
☀️ 99 °F
Altitude: 620 ft
United States Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport 32.898969, -97.0436532°53’56” N 97°2’37” W
Plan B
June 25, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 99 °F
If you are reading this, then it means I am finally on my way!

Yesterday was a disaster. All my plans were shot and I went to bed with a great deal of uncertainty.
New plan: Get back to IAH first thing to see if they could retrieve my bags with enough time to change terminals, check in, get through security, and catch a 9:20am flight to Dallas. I was told the luggage crews don’t start working until 6:30am and it can take up to 90 minutes or more for luggage to show up. Well, I gotta hand it to the Houston luggage crew! I had both bags by 6:45am! All hurdles cleared! Early flight to Dallas, then on to Frankfurt!

Once in Germany, I will collect my bags and recheck with another airline before a long layover (intentional), then fly to Barcelona. Kate is scheduled to arrive on Tuesday and we are back on track!Read more
TravelerJust chalk it up to something awesome is going to happen for one or both of you (or someone you will never meet) because of this "mess".
6/25/23Reply
TravelerWay to pivot and stay positive about the rerouting! 🙌
6/26/23Reply
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Day 3
Monday, June 26, 2023 at 10:30 AM
☀️ 79 °F
Altitude: 423 ft
Germany Frankfurt Airport bus station 50.051208, 8.57137250°3’4” N 8°34’17” E
Just in case…
June 26, 2023 in Germany ⋅ ☀️ 79 °F
If you don’t hear from me, I’m somewhere in there!
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Day 3
Monday, June 26, 2023 at 10:56 AM
☀️ 82 °F
Altitude: 364 ft
Germany Paulskirche 50.110895, 8.681350°6’39” N 8°40’53” E
1 1
Exploring
June 26, 2023 in Germany ⋅ ☀️ 82 °F
Scheduled an extended layover in Frankfurt to ensure there were no connection snafus and decided to take advantage of the extra six hours to explore old town Frankfurt. Not the best time of day for pictures, but you can still see a bit of the old school charm!Read more
Traveler Pai family ate here 2019!😂
6/27/23Reply
Traveler🍻
6/27/23Reply
Traveler 👏🏻
7/25/23Reply
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Day 3
Monday, June 26, 2023 at 6:54 PM
☀️ 84 °F
Altitude: 30 ft
Spain Zona Franca 41.357395, 2.12607241°21’27” N 2°7’34” E
End of Fiasco
June 26, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 84 °F
Just a quick note that I made it to Barcelona, Kate arrives tomorrow, and our vacation together starts! After a disastrous start, I’m ready to experience new and exciting places, eat their food, and sanitize my system with their drinks!
Pictured is the neighborhood bar near the hotel called Hoppiness! Patrons all appeared to be locals after a day of work. They brew their own beer and do it rather wellRead more
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Day 3
Monday, June 26, 2023 at 11:59 PM
🌙 66 °F
Altitude: 833 ft
Spain Hostal dos Reis Católicos 42.88147, -8.54577242°52’53” N 8°32’45” W
1
Meanwhile, in Santiago…
June 26, 2023 in Spain ⋅ 🌙 66 °F
(this is Kate)

I’m in Santiago de Compostela, where I was to have finished the Camino de Santiago, met Neal, and then started my vacation as a tourist with him. Well. I got very ill at the end of the Camino and couldn’t finish. I took a train to Santiago to recover. Neal’s flight was canceled, so I’m here alone while he travels.

Once I stopped feeling sick and a little sorry for myself, I’ve been excited to think about finishing the Camino another year, and have been poking around Santiago. It felt great to get out and walk again today (7.5 miles), this time without a plan. I’m still eating quite cautiously, so I’ll have to save seafood extravagance for next time. My best meal here so far was tomatoes - amazing.

1. One of the courtyards at the beautiful parador of Santiago
2. Detail on building housing a primary school
3. Detail (crest?) on the Museo do Pobo Gallego, which was closed today
4. and 5. Views from a trail system in town. You can see the Cathedral on the right in 4.
6. Seen on my walk near a tunnel that went under a highway
7. This was almost literally a wall of blue hydrangeas next to some apartments
8., 9., 10. The famed Cathedral de Santiago de Compostela.Read more
TravelerI am so sorry Kate!!!! Glad you are feeling better!
6/27/23Reply
Traveler 🤎
7/25/23Reply
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Day 4
Tuesday, June 27, 2023 at 7:56 AM
☀️ 75 °F
Altitude: Sea level
Spain Platja del Bogatell 41.395954, 2.20826741°23’45” N 2°12’30” E
Aimless Wanderings
June 27, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 75 °F
It felt really good to wake up this morning with more than 2 hours sleep! I can safely say that due to the lack of sleep the last couple of days, I am fully adjusted to the new time zone.

I spent most of the morning wandering the city. It started down at the beach to enjoy the sunrise, then off to find coffee! After a short break, I continued on towards the Cathedral de Barcelona (construction began in 1298). On the way, I visited the Cascada del Parc de la Ciutadella and then walked through the Basílica de Santa no Maria Del Mar (1329). While I didn’t have tickets to enter the Cathedral de Barcelona, I was thoroughly entertained by the people watching.

The return trip included a visit to the Arco de Triunfo de Barcelona (1888) before a beeline to my air conditioned room. While I am no Kate Pritchett, 6.5 miles was good prep for the walking beat down I am anticipating! ;)Read more
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Day 5
Wednesday, June 28, 2023 at 7:58 AM
⛅ 75 °F
Altitude: Sea level
Spain Platja del Bogatell 41.395247, 2.20835541°23’43” N 2°12’30” E
1
More Barcelona
June 28, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 75 °F
(this is Kate)

We crammed in a lot of sightseeing today! A Camino-sized walk - at least 13 miles! Not pictured: the Picasso museum

1. Checked off of the bucket list this morning: dipping a toe in the Mediterranean. Clear, blue, and warm(ish)!
2. Growing on a fence
3., 4., 5. At Park Güell, with wonderfully quirky structures, mosaics, etc. by Gaudí.
6., 7., 8. A few random examples of the Nouveau buildings here
9. We also walked down some VERY old narrow streets.
10. Lots of interest in the Parc de la CiutadellaRead more
TravelerI am so happy you two are having an epic vacation!
6/28/23Reply
Traveler 🤎
7/2/23Reply
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Day 5
Wednesday, June 28, 2023 at 9:41 AM
☁️ 77 °F
Altitude: 125 ft
Spain Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família 41.403625, 2.17515841°24’13” N 2°10’31” E
La Sagrada Familia
June 28, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 77 °F
(this is Kate; I’ll bet Neal will also post pics)

Our second stop today (after the beach) was Gaudí’s amazing Sagrada Familia cathedral. Ground was broken for construction in 1882, and they plan to finish it in 2026. It’s one of those tourist destinations that definitely lives up to the hype! I told Neal it reminded me of a Beethoven symphony: a recognizable iteration of the form, but expanded and embellished beyond what was imagined possible before.Read more
TravelerWOW!!
6/28/23Reply
TravelerAmazing!
6/29/23Reply
TravelerWOW! I was just reading about this edifice a couple days ago. Looks like it is worth visiting.
7/25/23Reply
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Day 5
Wednesday, June 28, 2023 at 10:00 AM
☁️ 77 °F
Altitude: 157 ft
Spain Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família 41.403774, 2.1745741°24’14” N 2°10’28” E
The rest of the day
June 28, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 77 °F
Neal:
Not much more to add about the cathedral. Just incredible. I tried to capture the scale of the building. I really wish we could have gone up the spiral staircase!

After the Sagrada Familia, we continued uphill to the Park Güell. I’m pretty sure Walt Disney had this in mind as he designed his parks. Sangria and tapas ended a long, hot, 13 mile day of sightseeing. Pic of our route does not include the 2 mile round trip to the beach!

Tomorrow is a 10am flight to Vienna, then two days of music geekness!Read more
TravelerMore WOW!!
6/28/23Reply
TravelerI never even knew this existed.
6/29/23Reply
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Day 6
Thursday, June 29, 2023 at 3:57 PM
☀️ 82 °F
Altitude: 669 ft
Austria Belvedere 48.191697, 16.38085848°11’30” N 16°22’51” E
Vienna, Day 1
June 29, 2023 in Austria ⋅ ☀️ 82 °F
We made the most of the day once we got to Vienna! Lunch, coffee and torte, Belvedere palace/art museum, sightseeing bus and wandering, dinner, and St. Stephen’s cathedral before a quick subway ride back to our apartment. I’m excited to do more tomorrow!

1., 2., 3. All from the Belvedere.
1. There were four large figures like this in the entrance hall.
2. Ceiling mural (fresco?). There were many of these.
3. Just a corner of a painting of which I didn’t grab the name or artist name. So much detail!
4. and 5. It’s novel to be in a place where the rock stars are classical musicians.
6. I love looking at the details on the old buildings. This could be a deodorant ad, no?
7.-10. Details on St. Stephens. Look for all of the weird little faces in 10.Read more
TravelerAmazing!
6/30/23Reply
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Day 6
Thursday, June 29, 2023 at 9:04 PM
🌙 73 °F
Altitude: 669 ft
Austria Wien Hauptbahnhof 48.183563, 16.37718648°11’1” N 16°22’38” E
1
Prost!
June 29, 2023 in Austria ⋅ 🌙 73 °F
Neal:
Easy day of plane and train travel. The train was especially impressive (smooth, quiet, and comfortable). Lunch was at a restaurant across from the Wien train station as we waited to get into our room. While our accommodations are quite small, we don’t intend to spend much time in it. From there, we headed to the Schloss Belvedere to view their impressive collection of Klimt, then downtown to see a few more sights (Mozart’s apartment and St. Stephan’s Cathedral) and dinner at a craft brew house.

Enjoy the pic! Hopefully more to come from Kate.

P.S. - I may have had schnitzel for lunch and dinner.Read more
Traveler You went to 1516!!! We did too:)
7/8/23Reply
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Day 7
Friday, June 30, 2023 at 6:54 PM
☁️ 81 °F
Altitude: 669 ft
Austria Wien Hauptbahnhof 48.183552, 16.37717848°11’1” N 16°22’38” E
Vienna, Day 2
June 30, 2023 in Austria ⋅ ☁️ 81 °F
(This is Kate)

We had another busy day! Schloss Schonnbrun and its grounds, vegetarian restaurant for lunch, the Albertina museum, the national library, coffee (with whipped cream!!), the Secession building, and a long bus ride to see the Ferris wheel.

1. No photos allowed inside the castle, which was ornate in the extreme. Here’s one of the paths in the beautiful grounds.
2. Detail from a Matisse painting at the Albertina.
3. The Albertina is housed in a building that was one of the Hapsburgs’ homes. They’ve restored some of the rooms. Also very ornate!
4. and 5. From the national library.
6. The Secession Building (1898)
7. Panel from Klimt’s Beethoven frieze in the Secession building. This frieze is Klimt’s portrayal of Wagner’s interpretation of the final movement of Beethoven 9. Remarkable.Read more
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Day 8
Saturday, July 1, 2023 at 9:32 AM
☁️ 70 °F
Altitude: 577 ft
Austria Burggarten 48.203925, 16.3645748°12’14” N 16°21’52” E
Vienna, last day (part 2)
July 1, 2023 in Austria ⋅ ☁️ 70 °F
Kate and I enjoyed our last day exploring the sights of Vienna, knowing we have barely scratched the surface. Such an amazing city, rich with history! Now, a day on the train to Germany!
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Day 8
Saturday, July 1, 2023 at 11:27 AM
☁️ 73 °F
Altitude: 610 ft
Austria Laimgrube 48.202842, 16.35983848°12’10” N 16°21’35” E
Vienna, last day
July 1, 2023 in Austria ⋅ ☁️ 73 °F
Once again we crammed in as much as we could. So much to see here! We went to the Leopold Museum and the MAK (Museum of Applied Arts), plus walked and gawked. Tomorrow we head to Germany on the train.

1. There is art EVERYWHERE here, including tunnels.
2. Lots of flower stands. The Viennese love beauty, it seems.
3. and 4. From the MAK
5.-8. Details from the exhibits at MAK. We also saw Klimt’s Tree of Life there.
9. Schubert monument in the Stadtpark
10. Really good meals today, even if not traditional Viennese food. This was a falafel bowl from a street kiosk. The purple sauce is beetroot tahini. Yum! Terrific Indian food for dinner.Read more
TravelerOutstanding! I don’t think I would leave. Ha!
7/1/23Reply
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Day 9
Sunday, July 2, 2023 at 8:29 PM
⛅ 70 °F
Altitude: 495 ft
Germany Gau-Odernheim 49.783517, 8.1907249°47’1” N 8°11’27” E
1
Travel Day!
July 2, 2023 in Germany ⋅ ⛅ 70 °F
Today was mostly spent in the train, taking in the Austrian and German countryside, before arriving in Worms to meet our friend Steve. We are looking forward to exploring the German countryside in the coming days, including some of the Camino!Read more
Traveler Kate in her natural habitat. 😏
7/3/23Reply
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Day 10
Monday, July 3, 2023 at 7:52 AM
☁️ 59 °F
Altitude: 446 ft
Germany Framersheim 49.76923, 8.18853849°46’9” N 8°11’19” E
Germany: Rhine and Moselle Valleys
July 3, 2023 in Germany ⋅ ☁️ 59 °F
(Kate)

Today our friend Steve was a wonderful tour guide; he took us to see various castles and other sights in the Moselle and Rhine Valleys. So beautiful! We enjoyed muesli for breakfast, typical German tourist food for lunch, ice cream, and ended the day sitting in Steve and Franziska’s courtyard eating cheese, drinking nice wines, and savoring lovely cool weather while we can. Owl and bat sightings before bed. An excellent day!

1. I got up early to walk a few miles along one of the routes of the Camino de Santiago (known as Jacobsweg here in Germany). It was really nice to be walking in the countryside again.
2. and 3. Burg Eltz - a beautifully maintained castle in the Moselle Valley. We took a guided tour but couldn’t take pics inside. You can see in 3. how the castle is built into the rocks on the mountainside. It’s quite a massive structure, and it’s been owned by the same family since it was built! Construction first started in 1472.
4. A very nice trail through a forest back to the parking lot of the castle.
5., 6., 7., 8. There was a castle of some sort almost literally at every bend in the road/river in the Rhine Valley. Some are ruins, and others have been turned into tourist attractions, hotels, or youth hostels. These are just a few of them. That’s the Rhine River in 7.
9. and 10. Views from the very picturesque town of Bacharach.Read more
TravelerWow those castles 👀!!
7/3/23Reply
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Day 11
Tuesday, July 4, 2023 at 11:27 AM
☀️ 72 °F
Altitude: 328 ft
Germany Maaraue 49.997074, 8.27465349°59’49” N 8°16’29” E
Germany: Mainz and Bechtolstein
July 4, 2023 in Germany ⋅ ☀️ 72 °F
(Kate)

We both think this will end up being one of our favorite days of the trip. Steve drove us to the city of Mainz to visit beautiful churches and have a really delicious Italian lunch. Then we walked from his village of Gau-Odernheim to Bechtolstein, the next village, for wine tasting at a winery and a lovely dinner in the courtyard of friends of Steve and Franziska’s. It was a beautiful day with nature, friends, and off-the-beaten-path sightseeing - we loved it.

1. and 2. The German Baroque Augustiner Kirche in Mainz
3. In Mainz - built in 1450!
4. and 5. The elaborate Romanesque main cathedral in Mainz
6. and 7. St. Stephen’s Church with windows by Chagall. Fascinating and sad to see the photos of this church as it looked after WWII. Lovely restoration!
8. and 9. From the idyllic walk to Becholstein
10. I rode Franziska’s bicycle back to their house after dinner. So fun to ride through the vineyards in the late light (after 10pm) by myself.Read more
TravelerLove the stain glass 🥰
7/6/23Reply
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