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Rick Steves Tour 2026: Munich, Salzburg, and Vienna
This Rick Steves tour gave me the chance to revisit Munich, Salzburg, and Vienna while reflecting on faith, music, kindness, and the importance of sharing love, peace, and happiness with the world. The song I wrote, “What Happened to this Beautiful World,” echoes the same sentiments and received recognition in Munich and Berlin. The tour was educational, inspirational, and breathtaking! The people that were on tour with me became a second family; we became remarkably close. Munich: A Warm Welcome The plane ride to Munich was surprisingly comfortable. Déjà vu: I had the whole row to myself, so I was able to lie down and sleep. Amazingly, I had the same accommodation when I took the Rick Steves tour to Paris. I took the S-Bahn to the hotel, but instead of turning right from the station, I turned left, which made my walk much longer. I called Hotel Excelsior for directions, and Akeel told me to take a taxi, which I did. As it turned out, if I had turned the other way, the hotel would have been right around the corner. When I arrived at Hotel Excelsior, Akeel treated me like a queen until it was time to check in. The Bavarians are so nice and friendly in Munich. Munich is bustling with tourists. Our hotel is in the heart of most tourist attractions. Salzburg: Music, Mountains, and Memories The bus ride to Salzburg was beautiful and breathtaking. It truly felt like “the hills are alive with the sound of music.” Salzburg is Mozart’s birthplace, although he eventually moved to Vienna. He wrote six hundred pieces of music, which included sonatas, concertos, and operas. We listened to music from The Sound of Music as well as Mozart’s compositions. Beer is extremely popular in the region, so we visited a brewery and saw a demonstration of the beer making process. We also visited a cheese farm and learned how they make cheese and other products. The farmer’s wife also instructs students with special needs on the farm. Our hotel was near Mozart’s residence. It was a great and amazing day during our walking tour of Salzburg. We visited Dom zu Salzburg, St. Peter’s Church, and Mirabell Gardens, where the Von Trapp children sang “Do-Re-Mi” in The Sound of Music. We then took a cooking class to learn how to make apple strudel. The highlight was an opera singer who sang a song from The Magic Flute and songs from “The Sound of Music” which we had sung along. I genuinely enjoyed every moment. Bad Ischl and Emmersdorf: History and Scenery In Bad Ischl, we toured the Kaiser Villa and enjoyed a wine tasting. We then traveled to Emmersdorf and checked in at Hotel Zum Schwarzen Bären. The next day, we visited Melk Abbey and took a Danube River cruise. Vienna: Art, History, and ReflectionWe took a scenic bus ride to Vienna and checked in at Hotel Stephansplatz, an impressive hotel in a fantastic location. Visited Third Man Museum for a fascinating look at the city's post-WWII history. Our walking tour continues with a visit to the Kunsthistoriches Museum to marvel at art collection that once belonged. to Habsburgs. There were many tourists and activities. I had a formidable time and met new friends, and I will miss my cappuccinos.
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“It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light.” – Aristotle
“Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.” – Desmond Tutu “We are told to let our light shine, and if it does, we won’t need to tell anybody it does. Lighthouses don’t fire cannons to call attention to their shining – they just shine.” ― Dwight L. Moody Traveling 20 hours to Cape Town, South Africa was worth it. Touring the breath-taking scenery, and natural beauty was nature at its best. The people were friendly, kind and welcomed us with open arms. We worked mostly every day with Send Relief, Woodstock Baptist Church and other organizations. The youth also helped. We improved the living conditions at a Senior Housing: painting, hanging curtains, sprucing the landscape and other things. We also fed the homeless and other needs. Seeing the smiles and joy on their faces was a blessing. “Be a beacon of light in someone’s darkness.”    
Historic Heart of Paris Medieval Gothic churches: the resilient and legendary Notre-Dame and the exquisite Sainte-Chapelle, and Latin Quarter Montmartre, Seine Cruise, and Sacré-Cœur Basilica. Marais District and the Louvre Europe's greatest museum where with the works of Raphael, Delacroix, and Leonardo and timeless treasures including the Mona Lisa, Winged Victory, Venus de Milo, and hundreds more. Château de Versailles The elaborate palace that Louis XIV, XV, and XVI called home. Dazzling Hall of Mirrors and other sumptuous rooms of the palace Masterpieces of Paris The Orsay Museum, home to the world's greatest collection of Impressionist art with works from Monet and Degas to Cézanne and Gauguin and beyond The Orangerie Museum, featuring Monet's magnificent water lilies and other fine works by Renoir, Matisse, Picasso, and more. Loved it! French family, chic resorts, delicious seafood, café, cappuccino, old villages, music, love, bling, beautiful scenery, wide sweeping bay and golden beaches! My second home!
   UBC Team  This spiritual journey was not only for me but for my mother who recently passed away. She always wished to visit Israel; nevertheless, she was with me the whole time. This was a cathartic experience; tears of love, peace and happiness flowed when I was at the Wailing Wall/Western Wall, crossing the Sea of Galilee and Baptism in the Jordan River. Each site I visited brought me closer and closer to God, my Lord and Savior. The devotional guidance was tremendous, which took me on a biblical as well as a historical journey. Reading biblical verses in reference to several sites set the tone. “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” (Psalm 119:105) On the tour bus, we sung, praised, and worshipped in spirit and truth. The journey was incredible, spectacular and simply a blessing. It gave me new meaning to my life and also a different perspective about the tension between factions. I heard the facts and both sides before judging. It takes a lot of energy to hate and less to love. “And now abides faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” (Corinthians 13:13) At the end of this journey, I am still singing: “What a Mighty God we Serve.” “Worthy is the Lamb.” “This is the Air I Breathe,” "Oh Happy Day," and “You Are the Living Word.” One word sums up this experience/journey, WOW!  Old Jerusalem - Days of Jesus 2000 years ago
 Pilgrim Tour Group 
 Qumran Cave- Remains of Dead Sea Scrolls written by the Essenes( about 825 to 870 separate scrolls biblical & non-biblical - 9 copies of the Book of Isaiah, 25 copies of Deuteronomy and 30 copies of the Psalms, Prophecies by Ezekiel, Jeremiah and Daniel not found in the Bible)
 Wailing Wall/Western Wall
 Pastor Allen serving Communion/Last Supper Old Town Hall and Astronomical Clock, Franz Kafka Museum, St. Vitus Cathedral, Charles Bridge Great coffee places: Muj salek kavy, Café Lounge, and I Need Coffee, EMA Espresso Bar         St. Stephen's Cathedral, Naturhistorisches Museum, Vienna Secession, Burgtheater, Hofburg Palace and Schonbrunn Palace. Coffee is not only drunk in Vienna, it is also roasted here. "Vienna without coffee would be like a latte without foam."
      Royal Palace, Holmenkollen, Bygdoy Island and the beautiful, breathtaking Fjords
Norwegians love their coffee and artisan coffee bars are not the place to ask for decaf. Recommended coffee scenes in Oslo: Tim Wendelboe, Mocca Kaffebar & Brenneri, Stockfleths Lille Grensen |
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July 2026
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July 2026
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July 2026
AuthorI love traveling and witnessing history. Of course, I have to find a coffee shop; so I can have my latte. CategoriesArchives
July 2026
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