In retrospect, it sounds like a crazy road trip: six countries in 12 days but in actuality it was very leisurely and doable with driving times between destinations averaging 2 1/2 hours (minimum 2 and maximum 3 1/2 hours).
We flew into Amsterdam, Netherlands and flew out of Paris, France and in between traveled by rented car and stopped at Brussels, Belgium; Luxembourg City, Luxembourg; Karlsruhe, Germany; Zurich, Switzerland; and Dijon, France.
The 2- and 3-star hotels were all more than adequate although the wifi in Paris was nonfunctional and 6 CHF charge for a cup of tea in Zurich along with the 5 CHF per 3 hours of wifi was excessive. The airbnb accommodations just outside of Amsterdam (but an easy train ride in) were delightful. The airbnb location in Brussels was very convenient but the host's claim that it was non-smoking apartment was a little deceitful as she smoked like a chimney on her balcony.
Favorite city? Back-to-back-to-back made for easy, albeit superficial, comparisons. Dijon was most unexpectedly delightful. Of course, it benefited from being right after Zurich (the most expensive). In Zurich, like Amsterdam, locals were not very helpful in giving directions as they pointed vaguely in the direction of where we were supposed to go. Dijon was an all-around lovely town.
Naughtiest city? Amsterdam, hands down. Where women (and, apparently, men too) rent street-side windows and show off their wares (and underwears, of course). We also walked though the porno/sex shop area of Paris (near Moulin Rouge). But, Amsterdam also has the pot shops and funky culture scenes.
Friendliest city? Probably not fair to judge on such a small sample of interactions but why not?! In Karlsruhe, the locals were very helpful in giving directions and also very politely corrected my German.
But, overall, none of the cities disappointed at all. Each has amazing and very well-preserved architecture, good food, and wonderful markets.
Enjoy the photos in the posts below. Here are a few highlights:
We flew into Amsterdam, Netherlands and flew out of Paris, France and in between traveled by rented car and stopped at Brussels, Belgium; Luxembourg City, Luxembourg; Karlsruhe, Germany; Zurich, Switzerland; and Dijon, France.
The 2- and 3-star hotels were all more than adequate although the wifi in Paris was nonfunctional and 6 CHF charge for a cup of tea in Zurich along with the 5 CHF per 3 hours of wifi was excessive. The airbnb accommodations just outside of Amsterdam (but an easy train ride in) were delightful. The airbnb location in Brussels was very convenient but the host's claim that it was non-smoking apartment was a little deceitful as she smoked like a chimney on her balcony.
Favorite city? Back-to-back-to-back made for easy, albeit superficial, comparisons. Dijon was most unexpectedly delightful. Of course, it benefited from being right after Zurich (the most expensive). In Zurich, like Amsterdam, locals were not very helpful in giving directions as they pointed vaguely in the direction of where we were supposed to go. Dijon was an all-around lovely town.
Naughtiest city? Amsterdam, hands down. Where women (and, apparently, men too) rent street-side windows and show off their wares (and underwears, of course). We also walked though the porno/sex shop area of Paris (near Moulin Rouge). But, Amsterdam also has the pot shops and funky culture scenes.
Friendliest city? Probably not fair to judge on such a small sample of interactions but why not?! In Karlsruhe, the locals were very helpful in giving directions and also very politely corrected my German.
But, overall, none of the cities disappointed at all. Each has amazing and very well-preserved architecture, good food, and wonderful markets.
Enjoy the photos in the posts below. Here are a few highlights:
Amsterdam
Brussels, Belgium
Luxembourg
Karlsruhe, Germany
Zurich, Switzerland
Dijon, France
Paris, France
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