If you travel far away, remember to bring back that piece of European style
Europe is a land favored by God, where you can see time-honored scenic spots and classic Western history and culture everywhere.
I have long wanted to travel abroad after retirement to see different countries and appreciate different customs. The retirement procedures are still under review and I can’t wait to apply for my passport. If you have no overseas experience and have no language proficiency, you are suitable for group tours. According to the travel agency, the classic route for overseas travel is of course European countries, so we chose the one-price all-inclusive quality tour to many countries in France, Germany, Italy, and Switzerland.
On the morning of September 19, 2018, we arrived at Jinan Yaoqiang Airport on time and took a China Southern Airlines flight with the group to transfer directly to Paris, France via Guangzhou.
There are 29 tourists from Shandong in the team. Most of them are families. There are one newlywed couple and three couples, as well as relatives and friends. It can be said that the team is a combination of young and old and is full of vitality. The team leader and tour guide is a handsome guy surnamed Li, who is proficient in multiple languages. He has led tours in Europe for more than ten years. He is experienced in business and knowledgeable. He has won praises from everyone with his skillful and interesting explanations along the way. In particular, the time arrangement is compact and reasonable, and the itinerary is comprehensive. sequence.
The time difference between France and China is six hours delayed. The China Southern Airlines international flight took off from Guangzhou Baiyun Airport in the evening, flew overnight, and landed on time at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport the next morning.
The bus that picked you up was a European-made luxury bus with air shock absorption, full power, very little noise, and a spacious and comfortable ride. The two drivers were both Hungarians. They were skilled in driving and very polite. They kept the car clean and neat, placed the luggage in an orderly manner, and had a strong sense of time.
As soon as they set foot on European land, the sky was clear and the air was clear. The group guests felt the special air for a while, and took deep breaths frequently to enjoy the fresh air there. Looking at the blue sky, more than a dozen lines of "smoke" formed at the tail of the passenger plane pierced the sky, criss-crossed, and flew to various parts of the world in different directions. I had just arrived in France and I was a little curious to see this rare sight.
When traveling to Europe, you need to know something about the local architecture. The main architectural forms include Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque. The Greek style triangular lintels and pillars are easy to recognize. The Roman style added arches, vaults and half domes on this basis. The Byzantine style evolved the half dome into an onion-shaped large half dome. The Gothic style featured towering domes. The spire of Yuntian replaces the former dome. The Renaissance style features left and right symmetry, and the shining golden light is a Baroque style building.
Paris, France, is one of the most popular tourist cities in the world. It is known as the "City of Flowers", "City of Light" and "City of Romance", and is filled with a strong romantic atmosphere everywhere. Take the bus from the airport to downtown Paris. The streets are clean and tidy, and the European buildings on both sides of the street seem to be exactly the same and very distinctive. Looking back on history, this should be attributed to the thorough transformation of the old city carried out by Mayor Haussmann as the chief architect during the Second Empire. Since then, Paris has entered a "modern city" that transcends tradition and has become the most romantic "flower" in the world. All".
The bus stopped near the Louvre, and we walked into the largest museum in Europe. The Louvre was built at the end of the twelfth century and was initially used for defense. Later, it was expanded and repaired and gradually evolved into a magnificent palace. In the 16th century, Francois I began to collect various works of art on a large scale, and successive emperors continued the tradition. Most of the collections come from the trophies of the Napoleonic period. The collection reaches 400,000 pieces, making it the largest collection in the world. Among them, the "Venus" statue, the "Mona Lisa" painting and the "Goddess of Victory" stone sculpture are known to the world as the "Three Treasures of the Palace".
The "Venus" statue has the perfect figure and appearance of ancient Greek women, with plump breasts, round shoulders, and flexible waist. This mature beauty is considered to be the highest symbol of female physical beauty. No matter which angle you look at it, it shows a unique beauty of women, and the incomplete upper limbs also give people more room for imagination.
The statue of "Goddess of Victory" is perfect and vivid, with superb carving skills. The goddess guides the fleet to ride the wind and waves on the base of the warship, showing the theme of victory. Although the head and arms are missing, it is still regarded as a rare treasure by the world. Its strong, plump and graceful body and its wings make people feel its majestic appearance of spreading its wings and ready to fly, which is breathtaking.
The "Mona Lisa" painting, also known as the Eternal Smile, is considered to be the first work in the history of Western European painting that focuses on psychological description. The figure is dignified and handsome, with a deep and gentle smile on his face.
In the Louvre, I also saw many famous paintings that I had seen before but not yet recognized. Director Li previously introduced the history of the palace, and each person was given a guide map and electronic reading pen. The time was only one and a half hours. When they first arrived, it was difficult for the group guests to get into the mood. They had no way to listen to the electronic explanation of the reading pen. It was like walking into a maze. They could only browse through some exhibition halls and walked out of the palace with some regrets.
Director Li has repeatedly said that when you go to Europe, you won’t see modern things, not many high-rise buildings. What you really see are ancient European buildings, magnificent palaces, cathedrals in spiritual holy places, and fortified castles. There are also exquisite sculptures and paintings, followed by many inspirations to people.
The next stop is the Place de la Concorde, a famous French attraction. In the 18th century, King Louis XV ordered the construction of the "Louis XV Place" in order to show the world his supreme imperial power.
During the Revolution, it was called "Revolution Square" and was regarded by the French people as the stage for the destruction of royal power. It was renamed "Place de la Concorde" in 1795 and renovated in 1840 to form its current scale. After staying here for more than ten minutes, the group members hurriedly took photos.
The Arc de Triomphe in Paris is located in the center of the Place de l'Etoile. It was built by Napoleon to commemorate his victory over the Russian and Austrian forces in 1805. It has a history of more than 100 years. With this as the center, there are 12 avenues radiating outwards, making Paris urban traffic accessible in all directions.
The famous attractions in Paris are concentrated on both sides of the beautiful Seine River, so taking a boat tour is a good choice. In the afternoon, the group took a cruise to visit the Louvre, Place de la Concorde, Notre Dame, and the Eiffel Tower...especially Notre Dame, a typical Gothic building on Sinai Island. From any angle, it is still stunning. It is solemn and sacred, even more distinctive than paying respects on land. The group members had dinner at a cruise ship restaurant on the Seine River and felt the romantic atmosphere of a foreign country. That night we stayed at Le restarturant chain hotel in a small French town. This hotel is located on a hillside with convenient transportation. It has a beautiful environment. The two-story wooden structure building is very unique. The bedding is clean and the western food is rich in the morning.
We arrived at Frankfurt, Germany’s financial center city, at noon on the third day. It was raining in the city, which greatly reduced the scenery here. The old city hall building on one side of the square, three conjoined buildings with stepped gabled roofs, is very distinctive and is a symbol of Frankfurt. The Emperor's Cathedral next to it is also called the Emperor's Coronation Church because ten German emperors held coronation ceremonies here during the Roman period.
On the morning of the fourth day, we took a bus to the small town of Fussen in Austria. The town of Fusen has a casual and free style, with the modernity of a town and the casualness of a village. It is famous for the two old and new Swan Castles in the mountains. Looking at the castle from a distance, the castle is heavily fortified and invincible, giving this town a mixture of strength and softness. of infinite charm.
This day was Saturday, and the number of vehicles increased significantly. We encountered hundreds of RVs and trailers along the way. Europeans like to travel during holidays and enjoy a leisurely and romantic lifestyle, which is enviable.
In the afternoon we arrived in Innsbruck, Austria. This city is located in an Alpine valley and has hosted the Winter Olympics twice in its history, in 1964 and 1976. Among them, to commemorate the engagement of Maximilian I, the "Golden Roof" decorated with 3,450 gold foil veneers on the balcony of a building in the city is a landmark building in the city. We toured the city scenery, stayed in the Winter Olympics Village in the valley, and enjoyed the accommodation treatment that the Winter Olympics athletes would have received back then.
On the fifth day, we set off on time early in the morning. When Director Li announced that he was going to Venice, the group members were filled with joy and expectations.
Venice is the most beautiful water city in the world. It is said that God shed his tears here, making this water city full of crystal and tenderness. The bus approaches Shuicheng. According to local regulations, we transfer to a local bus and arrange for a local tour guide to pick up the group. The sight of busy traffic already illustrates the allure of this water city, attracting tourists from all over the world. After transferring to a cruise ship from the coastal pier, after disembarking in Venice, the tour guide led the group along the north bank of the Golden Canal while explaining the Stone Prison, the Bridge of Sighs, and the Doge's Palace, and soon arrived at St. Mark's Square.
Piazza San Marco is the most famous attraction in Venice. At the entrance, there are two tall columns. On the east column stands a bronze lion with wings spread. This is the city emblem of Venice, known as the "Flying Lion". The square is surrounded by European-style ancient buildings, which are majestic, spectacular and shocking. In the 19th century, French Emperor Napoleon once praised it as "the most beautiful living room in Europe". The most eye-catching is the magnificent St. Mark's Basilica to the east of the square. It was the largest church in Europe during the Middle Ages. It blended Eastern and Western architectural features. It was an original Byzantine building that was renovated several times and added Gothic decoration. , and later the Renaissance style appeared, and the structure of the entire church showed Greek design. The perfect combination with each other made it a classic work of Venetian architectural art. The San Marco bell tower, about 100 meters high, rises from the ground next to it. Dozens of seagulls hover in the sky, and hundreds of pigeons sometimes spread their wings and fly, sometimes landing to get close to the tourists. Artists played relaxed and cheerful Western music in the square. All these things make people immersed in a joyful and romantic world. It is said that at high tide, the water can overflow the square and turn into a water park, where children of all ages can play and play in the water, which is quite interesting.
This water city was built on wooden piles and silt, and was covered with a layer of Istrian stone. The water buildings are so solid and have been so well preserved after thousands of years of vicissitudes. It can be called One of the wonders of world architecture.
The style of Venice is always inseparable from "water". It is also the only city in the world without cars. The main means of transportation has a beautiful name like "Gondola". This light, slender, unique black boat is the means of transportation for Venetians who have lived here for generations. In order to save time and see more scenic spots, Director Li adjusted the original arrangement of riding a "gondola" to a ten-person yacht to tour the beautiful scenery on both sides of the canal.
The rippling Grand Canal, the "gondolas" in the winding water alleys, various ancient European buildings on both sides of the strait, and the beautiful bridges on the water... Venice, this city floating on the water, not only has its unique architectural structure It attracts tourists and keeps them lingering with its profound historical accumulation.
In the evening, stay at a four-star hotel in Boston (Embassy & Boston) on the seaside. Amidst the lingering thoughts of the water city, staying in this extraordinary sea view room has a unique atmosphere. On the balcony, the warm sea breeze blows on my face, and the fatigue of the day goes away with the wind.
The hotel's Western-style breakfast has a full range of varieties and everything you need. Looking out the window of the restaurant, a red sun is rising from the eastern sea level. This beautiful scene brings people more reverie and makes them not want to leave for a long time.
After breakfast, take the bus to Rome. Rome is the capital of Italy and the birthplace of the ancient Roman Empire. It has a history of more than two thousand years and is like a huge museum, constantly subverting our understanding of history and reality. According to Director Li, when the United Nations World Heritage Organization arrived in Rome, it was unable to define what it specifically meant. It could only classify the entire Rome as a World Heritage Site.
Walking into urban Rome, you can see many ruins left over from the ancient Roman period and preserved historical sites everywhere. From them, you can vaguely see the prosperity of ancient Rome at that time, and it is also an important symbol of ancient Roman civilization. There is the Triumphal Arch of Constantine here, which was built to commemorate the unification of the Roman Empire by Emperor Constantine after defeating Emperor Maxentius. It is also one of the three most famous and best-preserved triumphal arches in the world. Next to it is the ancient Colosseum, which can accommodate 80,000 spectators during the imperial period. It was specially designed for slave owners, nobles and free people to watch beast fighting or slave gladiatorial performances. In imagination, the scene of the fighters facing honor and death must be horrific.
In Rome, we passed by the Vatican of China, a country with the smallest land area and a population of less than 1,000 in the world. It is the seat of the Roman Catholic Church and the center of world Catholic faith. It has the largest St. Peter's Church in the world and a large square with a distinctive Baroque architectural style. Here you can feel the mystery of Western religious culture. You can enter and exit at will after security check, and there is an endless stream of tourists.
Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival in China. Director Li specially added a bottle of red wine to each dinner table to let everyone have a special holiday in a foreign country. At the dinner table, everyone toasted to each other with the help of the affinity of wine, which enhanced the friendship among the group guests. After dinner, we hit the road. The sun had not set on one side of the car window, but the full moon was already in the sky on the other side. As the sky gradually darkened, the moonlight became brighter and brighter. Every festive season, we miss our loved ones even more. At this moment, accompanied by the bright moonlight, I believe everyone is missing their relatives in their hometown.
The bus drove along a mountain road to a small town in Italy and stayed at a Michelin chain store with a history of more than 400 years. Director Li has been traveling in Europe for more than ten years. This is only the second time we have stayed at such a historical store, so we are lucky.
Europeans believe in advocating ancient and historical things. The older they are, the more valuable they are. For example, they don't pay much attention to the new BMW and Mercedes-Benz, but classic cars are more valuable than these luxury cars, and the same is true for housing. Under Director Li's hint, everyone can feel the simple and elegant atmosphere exuded by the century-old store. Oil paintings with golden frames are hung at appropriate places on the wall, several pieces of ancient European furniture are placed just right, and there is a European chandelier in the center of the roof. The warm light emitted at night adds to the splendor of this century-old store.
After having the same sumptuous Western breakfast at the old restaurant, we took the bus to Florence.
Florence is known as the "City of Flowers" and is the birthplace of the Renaissance. Many cultural celebrities in history were born here. There are many museums, art galleries, palaces and churches, which collect a large number of precious cultural relics. The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore is one of the most beautiful churches in the world. It has the largest dome in the world and has become an important landmark of the city. Opposite the church is the Baptistery of San Giovanni built in the seventh century and converted into the current white octagonal building in the eleventh century. Giotto's bell tower is located next to the church, and its exquisite reliefs and harmonious colors complement the church. Not far away, the Town Hall Square, also known as Piazza Medici, is like a magnificent open-air sculpture art gallery, with sculptures from different historical periods abounding. The pure white marble David statue in front of the city hall is praised as a model of classical art, but it is a pity that only a replica of the same proportion is seen.
After hurriedly visiting various scenic spots, we drove to a three-star hotel in the suburbs to check in. Because there was a supermarket nearby, Director Li deliberately changed the group meal to self-catering and promised to treat everyone to taste the traditional French dishes of snails and foie gras when he returned to Paris. Everyone agreed. Then I went to the supermarket to buy food, where I experienced the dignity of being a Chinese.
On the eighth day of the trip, we set off for Switzerland early in the morning. Switzerland is known as the "hometown of mountains and lakes" and has the most beautiful natural scenery among the countries visited.
In Switzerland, we first arrived at the central city of Lucerne, also known as Lucerne. This is a beautiful city surrounded by mountains, lakes and mountains. Medieval churches and towers can be seen everywhere in the city. It has ancient narrow streets and squares, century-old shops that make you stop, and a dazzling array of traditional products. The most famous ones are Swiss clocks and watches. sabers and exquisite handmade lace and embroidery.
In Lucerne, we visited the Lion Monument.
The Lion Monument is a symbol of Swiss loyalty and perseverance. It was established to commemorate the 786 Swiss mercenaries who died in the battle to protect the Louis XVI family in Paris on August 10, 1792. This statue of the "Dying Lion of Lucerne" fell to the ground in pain, with a broken spear stuck on his shoulder, and a shield with the Swiss national emblem next to it. It was carved on natural rock by a Danish sculptor in 1821. It is known as "the most tragic and touching statue in the world". Since then, Switzerland has ended its history of exporting mercenaries, except for the Vatican.
In the square by Lake Lucerne, the group members moved freely. Some admired the beautiful scenery here, and some went into the store to choose their favorite special traditional products. The transparent window cabinets of the store were filled with various kinds of products. Whether you want to buy a Swiss watch or not, a visit to the country of origin is a worthwhile trip.
After the whole team gathered, they crossed the highway to the Golden Pass Express Station and took the sightseeing express to Gstaad. At the train station, I discovered that there was no ticket gate or security check channel. The platform was open and there were only a few automatic ticket vending machines. Occasionally, I saw a few staff members. Passengers had to buy tickets voluntarily. This shows that Europeans have a very high degree of integrity and do not need strict supervision of public behavior. However, the credit mechanism is very complete. Once a dishonest person is investigated, his credit will plummet, and the gain outweighs the loss. As far as staying in the hotel is concerned, no deposit is required at all. When you check out, you hand over your card and leave.
Europeans also have a strong sense of rules. Judging from the traffic situation, it is no longer a problem that pedestrians have priority at crosswalks. Vehicles can follow other vehicles in urban areas and congested sections of highways, and there have been no traffic jams. Traffic regulations are a bit different from those in China. There is no speed limit for passenger cars on German highways, and they must drive with lights on in broad daylight. Vehicles can pass freely between EU countries, and the journey is very pleasant. There are only transit checkpoints in Switzerland, a non-EU country.
Sitting on the sightseeing express, you will see lakes and mountains along the way, greenery, and small wooden houses with local characteristics, either in dots or clusters, forming a beautiful picture that is breathtakingly beautiful. Get off at Gstaad Station, which is a small town in the valley. Due to the increase in altitude, the chill is thick, so the group guests went to the store and rested early.
Early in the morning on the ninth day, take a bus to the Piyon Pass Cableway Station at the foot of Glacier 3000 Snow Mountain, and take the cable car in several sections to the top of the mountain at an altitude of 3,000 meters. It is famous for its glaciers, snow-capped mountains and crevasses, and skiers from all over the world flock here in winter. In the season we are in, most of the snow everywhere we go has melted, and we can only see Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in Europe, the Matterhorn, the iconic Swiss peak, and the famous Jungfraujoch from a distance from the observation deck. Unfortunately, time is limited and we are traveling with a group, so we cannot get close to these famous European peaks, nor can we experience the excitement of the Glacier Express and Gear Train, let alone enjoy the mood of a free traveler.
At the third station of the cable car, some of the group members went down to the cliff plank road for a walk. The glass plank road, people walking on tightropes, crawling through cages, allowed tourists to enjoy the thrills and excitement.
Chillon Castle is located east of Montreux in the canton of Vaud. It is built on the rocks on the shores of Lake Geneva and seems to be floating on the lake. It is known as one of the "Top Ten Castles in Europe". The castle was once a military fortress in a special geographical location. The castle has complete defense facilities and a reasonable and complete overall layout. Because it is strong and beautiful, it is called a strange pearl in the history of architecture.
In the evening, we rushed to the French town to check in, and returned to Paris at noon the next day. In the afternoon, we visited the Palace of Versailles, the largest palace in Europe and one of the five largest palaces in the world. The Palace of Versailles showcases the most powerful history of the Kingdom of France four hundred years ago. The palace is grand and luxurious, with French classicism on the outside and Baroque decoration on the inside, supplemented by Rococo design. The rooms such as the Hall of Mirrors, the War Hall, the Apollo Hall, and the King's Palace are all decorated with splendor. The back garden of the Palace of Versailles is a model of French garden. The exquisite sculptures, symmetrical designs, exquisite patterns, and bright flowers and trees all reflect the French ingenuity.
On the eleventh day, drive to the last scenic spot on the itinerary - the Eiffel Tower. The Eiffel Tower is 324 meters high and stands on the Champ de Mars on the south bank of the Seine. It was built to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution. It was named after the designer. It was built in 1889. It is a symbol of French culture and a landmark of Paris. It once held the title of the tallest building in the world. 45 years. It is fondly called the "Iron Lady" by the French. It is graceful and has stood proudly for more than a century. It shows the French people's whimsical romantic taste, artistic taste, innovative courage and sense of humor. On the first day, we took a boat along the Seine River to see the majesty of the Eiffel Tower from multiple angles, and the visual impact lingered for a long time. Ten days later, I once again stood at the foot of the Iron Tower and once again looked up at this masterpiece in the history of world architecture, feeling extremely moved and honored.
France is not only a romantic city, but also a gourmet paradise. The French's pursuit of perfection is also reflected in their food culture. The European trip is about to end, and everyone is still looking forward to the French feast of snails and foie gras promised by Director Li. Snails are the "national dish" of France, and foie gras is also one of France's top delicacies. There is a saying that "you are not in France if you don't eat snails and foie gras." In a restaurant near the Paris Opera House, Director Li specially gave this generous gift to each group member for the sake of the friendship that lasted for more than ten days. A small plate of refined foie gras melts slowly in your mouth and feels beautiful. A small plate of five small snails with olive tapenade condiments tastes even better. This is not only the beauty of taste, but also the beauty of heart.
As a traditional French dish, it will definitely stimulate everyone's taste buds. Thanks to Director Li for carefully arranging for everyone to taste the national delicacy in Paris. Let this beauty bring a successful conclusion to the European trip.
Everywhere I visited during my European trip, I deeply felt the long historical accumulation of the West, and the leisure and romantic life that this history and culture brought to people. In general: you can eat well, live cleanly, travel far, travel in a hurry, see a lot, and have fun. Completing a multi-country European tour in such a short period of time is already satisfying. If I were asked to travel far away again, I would choose Europe, because it is a thick and living textbook of Western history and culture, and Western history and culture has brought Europeans green ecology, leisure and romance, rigorous and trustworthy customs.