Germany-Prague Day 4. Rock and Roll!

Last evening VBT entreated us with a scrumptious meal in a local century old eating establishment. Yum yum yum.  Wandered back to our hotel just before 10:30 only to have to be up and to breakfast by 7.  Oh yeah... :).  The day began with experiencing the local mass transit system. A local tram took us to the Bahnhofstrasse -- train station, which took out of the Potsdam city to our starting point. The goal was to ride back to our hotel. Far be it from me to tell you there were pockets of riders who took some creative side tour extensions.  Oh, guess that is part of the fun. :D. 

The countryside was fabulous once again.  At Werder, which is a cobblestoned island, we locked our bikes and walk over the bridge to it in search of sustainance and libations. Happy to report, it was a success!  

The culmination of the ride was to experience Schloss Sanssouci. Obscenely huge palaces built by Frederic the great in 1769 period of time just to entertain nobles. The grounds, gardens and palaces were jaw dropping opulent. Bike riding is a bit limited but we managed to check it out a bit by foot. 

The evening was capped off by mustering together the MN-CA Big 10. After about 8 blocks of indecision, a consensus was reached to wedge ourselves into a local Rathskeller teeming with patrons. Which is always a good sign. Cheers!!

Here see a few visual memories from today:

Blog would not be complete with out some lager visual...  Cheers everyone!!  

Tomorrow, the riding continues! On to Spreewald!

Germany - Prague -- day 3. ..and we're off!

... And we are off!! Today the real biking begins!!  Yeah!! The day started with meeting our most excellent guides, Corinna and Milan, said goodbye to Berlin and on our way to Potsdam. Little did we know, we were to mount our steeds (trek bikes) about a 30 minute drive out of the city and ride our way into Potsdam.  What a really cool ride that was!!  We rode by centuries old churches, structures, massive mansions, Scloss Ceclienhof ( the manorial residence of Germany's last crowned Prince, which was used to host the Potsdam conference in 1945 with Truman, Stalin and Churchill in attendance, their discussions sealed the fate of Cold War Europe) and dense forests. The ride was absolutely fascinating.  That is between the moments we were trying to figure out where we were, where  we where we are supposed to be, and where to go next.  Nothing says confusion than being lost on a bike.... In another country.... Eeeeek

Enjoy some scenes of back county Germany 

The bridge location where captured spies were exchanged between the soviets and U.S. during the Cold War. A Tom Hanks movie set here is soon to be released. 

Scloss Ceclienhof

Potsdam 

A few of us spending way too much energy missed this opportunity to sample some local brews.  For sure will not let that happen again....

Today was warm up ride, tomorrow we really role!! 

Stay with us!

Germany-Prague. Day 2 On the Town

LBerlin, more specifically, East Berlin. Never thought in this lifetime, we would be spending 3 days in East Berlin. It is everything we studied in history class and more. As you know, the most pivotal moments in this city's history was 1933 and 1989. The restoration & revitalization as a result of the removal of the wall is amazing. 

Today's mantra was ice cream, not as much walking, and, yes, of course beer!  We gathered in late morning and quickly agreed on a game plan for the day. Ride the on & off site seeing bus. This worked quite well. We all were able to get on and off where there was an interest. The biggest surprise of all was after the bus took us into West Berlin.  There was a stop right across from a Hard Rock Cafe!!! A couple of our group were thrilled ( it was on their must do list ) while the remainder of the group thought, ok, an opportunity for a beer.  :D 

Enjoy some of the notable sites:

Mario look alike

Berlins's antenna. 

Holocaust memorial

The Reichtag and the Minnesota 8

Victory column

Berlin sculpture in West Berlin symbolizing how Germany and Berlin were torn apart but very much intertwined together. 

Julie size door

The wall remnant ... Lest we never forget 

Nothing better than ice cream and beer!!

Tomorrow, we get on the bikes!!  Stay tuned!

Germany-Prague -- the adventure begins!

...and adventures continue!  This series is a VBT biking tour from Berlin to Dresden and post extending in Prague. We are thrilled you all are traveling with us vicariously through this blog!

Pleased to report we all arrived from our home towns to Berlin safely and, for the most part, on time.  Joe and Jim, our "fly by the seat of their pants" pair miraculously arrived by 11 p.m. delayed 4 hours in Minneapolis due to a mechanical. 

Back on topic... Berlin. Walking walking walking. Lots and lots of walking. Lots and lots of construction, like literally on every block. As you all know, this city was heavily bombed in the course of WWII. Nearly all of the buildings were damaged or destroyed. Absolutely amazing restoration and revitatilzation is in progress. This was really acelerated after 1989 when the wall came down. Did I mention, our hotel is in East Berlin?  

Time out for a short history lesson -- the nazi party lead by Hilter in 100 days took over this country then on to many parts of Europe. Tens of thousands of people lost their lives and homes. The allies prevailed and as a result, Berlin was divided into East and West Berlin. Both were located in East Germany. In 1961 the Berlin Wall was built to prevent people from continuing to defect from communist controlled East Germany/East Berlin into democratic West Berlin. Again thousands of people lost their lives in attempt to gain freedom as a result of their efforts to cross the wall that was built around West Berlin. In 1989, the wall came down. Berlin was reunited and reinstated as the capital of Germany. 

Enjoy some of sights of Berlin though the following pics. Oh, yeah... Had to have to sample some of the local brews ... Surprised?  :D

Some unusual architecture

Berlin Dom

Stumbling stones - created by an artist to mark the location of a Home where the Jewish occupants were taken by the nazis and never returned.  In this pic, a corner of the bronze blocks can be seen. 

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Brandenburg Gate. Was the original grand entrance into Berlin centuries ago. 

Holocaust Memorial

Location of the Berlin Wall. 1961-1989

Aaaaa!  Our reward for all that walking... Yeah!

One more day of exploring in Berlin tomorrow, so much to see so stay tuned!!

PEI - biking adventure day 6 and journey home

Another awesome day of riding!!  Who knew 56+k would become so easy. Yesterday and today's rides were a ton of fun. Almost hated to have it all come to an end ... Except that body portion in contact with the bike seat had really worn out its welcome... Especially the last few kilometers ... You know what I am saying... 

What a genuinely wonderful group to have had the privilege to spend the last 7 days. My most humble thanks to them all and hope to ride with you again. 

Enjoy some of today's memories --

Ride on dear friends. 

PEI - biking adventure. Day 5

Believe it or not, today was my favorite day of biking!  Truly quiet roads, dirt roads, off roads, and busier roads with shoulders.  Oh yeah, most of the last 14k was on a rail to trail bike path. Absolutely a ton of fun. 

The after glow onset was pretty much immediately upon arrival to our evening's destination. To which much "smart talk" broke out.  We regaled each other with many stories. One stands out to which a female biker in Ontario shopping for a new and better bike seat. the shop keeper responded by saying this is what you want, a twat seat. Which our conversation proceeded to the Texan in Ontario in the bike shop asking for some "aaaasce scream". Some would thing he was asking for something closer to gelato but no, he meant more something along the line of reducing the friction of one's posterior and related regions to a bike seat.  Well, our conversation, deteriorated further to a Texan asking "do you want some aaass scream for that twat seat?" Oh you get the gist....

Back on point... 😇   Absolutely lovely day of biking today and again in a boutique resort with a fantastic view of St Peters bay just off the gulf of St Lawrence.  Absolutely charming bungalows. We socialized in the gazebo along the sea shore late afternoon and then a scrumptious dinner. The halibut was tasty.  

Tonight is our last night on the island. Tomorrow another 56k, a run for the ferry and back to Halifax. Not sure if there will be time to jot off a blog entry but will try.  Those 7 a.m. Flights make for a very early rising ... 3:30 a.m. 

Hope you have enjoyed this journey.  Here are some photos from today...

Cheers!

🍻. 😋.  🚴.    ❤️

PEI - biking adventure Day 4

Whew... What a day!!  The biker's trifecta --- wind, hills, AND rain.  😅.  On our travels today, there was water to our right, water to our left, water falling on us... Kinda 360 degrees of moisture... A lot of moisture. 😅   The wind was blowing so hard could have sworn it was sleeting.... Who knew rain could pelt a person to the point it is stinging. ?!? 😜

Drenched is how to describe the lot of us as we trapsed into one of the most decadent resort boutique former summer home of the rich and famous built in the 1890's - Dalvay Inn. Absolutely stunning. It is on the north (I think) coast of PEI. A bit of social faux pas as to how we all entered this bit of a blue blood establishment, dripping wet. The staff was pretty tolerant and lent us a little beach towel to get some of the moisture and grit from our face and legs in the ladies washroom. -- 2 staller... With our luggage... Another opportunity for exercise.  😝.  We rode hard and fast which was a good and bad thing... We were able to get out of the weather but got here 3 hours before we could get into our rooms...   No worries, there was the room across from the foyer was the pub... Yeah!!

My room is second floor, bay window on the left. Really really really cool room!

View of the day ....  A dry view of the day.... Writing this blog and sipping on some yummy honey jack.  What is not to like!!

Two more days of biking.  Hope there are hills and wind.... Maybe our clothes will be dry by the end of the week...

Cheers!! 🍻