Our Van Trip - Germany

Drew navigating the way through Munich

Munich - the home of Paulaner beer. Incidentally, Peg's favourite! We just had to have a Stein of this!

"I don't think I'm going to get through this!"

"Oh, fancy that, I did! Bartender!..."

Drew enjoys Peg too.

Cool old Porsche at the Porsche museum in Stuttgart, home of Porsche.

We couldn't just do one luxury car museum. We had to do both! This is the Mercedes Benz museum, also in Stuttgart. Peg's car of choice pictured above.

Drew comparing the cost of our house to the cost of his car of choice. We could pay that off in 30 years! For those short of vision, it cost 158,000 euros- AU$260,000.

Drew's uncle Kurt, in Frankfurt. He's actually Drew's Dad's second cousin twice removed or something, so "Uncle Kurt" is good enough.

A shock to the system and reality check. Hmm, Volkswagon camper with bikes on the back. Don't know who that reminds us of. Luckily we're brown and not blue!

Drew enjoying a man-size pretzel. He had a man-size thirst afterwards. After that, we had to stop at a man-size servo...

Checkpoint Charlie, Berlin. Just out of sight from the flag, the guy is holding a sign that advertises the costs for taking a photo with/of them. No joke. We guess, technically, we're stealing by not paying for this photo!

One of the biggest sections of the Berlin Wall still intact. We were walking home and they locked us into the viewing yard for this. As they were about to release their appropriately named German Shepards out on patrol, they saw us and let us out. That was nice of them.

Whenever we saw the name "Paulaner" we got thirsty! After, of course saying "That beer's name is similar to Peg's!" Every single time... We get excited pretty easily.

The glass cupola at the top of the Reichstag building.

The view from the Cupola.

More beer... Remember - we were in Germany!!! Land of the brew.

Memorial to the Murdered Jews - city block completely covered in columns. A bit like a maze. A really easy one.

Drew in the Memorial.

Near the Reichstag in Berlin. Very modern and architectural along the water.

Brandenburg Gate - apparently (according to the fountain of knowledge that is Drew's Mum) the horses face the direction of who has power at that time. It's facing us at the time of taking the picture!

Our Van Trip - Drew's 25th Birthday

Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany. We hired a car and drove through the countryside and alps around here. This was the beautiful castle that the Disneyland Cinderella castle was based on. Peg wants to move in.

The birthday boy in front of a castle, that's not his. Unfortunately.

Out to lunch, Austrian alps style.

There's never been snow for Drew's birthday before, but there was this time!

Peg holding some snow at the peak of our drive.

Our car of choice... and some snow

Driving in style. We hired a BMW, appropriate being in Bavaria and all! This day we drove through 4 countries- had lunch in Austria, arvo tea in Liechtenstein, dinner in Switzerland and drinks in Germany!

When we hit the Autobahn we stretched the Beemer's legs. This wasn't top speed at all. A little faster than the van... More than double in fact.

Drew dining out, outside (or al fresco) on his birthday dinner. His favourite- Satay Chicken. Recipe courtesy of Mum Griffiths- imported via SMS. Actual dinner day was the next day as we were too busy hooning around Europe in our car of choice on the actual day!

Our Van Trip - Austria - The Hills are Alive!

Whilst in Salzburg we did a 'Sound of Music' Tour. It was great. Our tour guide, Peter, was constantly slagging off the bus driver, Verner, who couldn't speak much English. It was hilarious!This is the house they used to do the lake shots, however they didn't actually use the house, just the backyard.

Everybody knows what this is... Couldn't go inside as an 80 year old (going on 81) lady broke her hip jumping around the benches inside a few years back. Spoiled it for the rest of us!

It looks just like a paddock with some trees but look closely and you'll see the entry to the house they used for the filming.

Lake Fuschal, still on the tour. However the only thing it had to do with the movie was the fact that it sold 'Sound of Music' souvenirs.

St Michael's Church, where Maria and the Captain marry. This was not the real church they got married in though.

Nice lakeside town. Apparently they had the best Apple Strudle in the world, however it tasted just like McCain Apple Strudle to us!

The dwarf that the children and Maria all pat on the head as they're dancing around with the Do-Rei-Me song.

Peg thinking she's one of the Von Trapp children.

Nice view from near our campsite in Innsbruck. So much snow- in September!

Peg with her emergency-purchased new jacket. It was rather chilly.

More Innsbruck - the Golden Roof. That's pretty much what it was. Beautiful, though.

On the river that runs through Innsbruck. More snow in the background. These folks don't know how to do a proper summer!

Everywhere you looked you were surrounded by huge mountains and hundreds of kilometres of mountain bike trails. Drew was in heaven, however frustrated as he didn't have a proper bike to do the job with!

Our Van Trip - Venice

One of the thousands of amazing canals. We took so many pictures of them. Think yourselves lucky you're only subjected to a few!

Piazza San Marco- where you go if you miss being around thousands of tourists and pigeons.

Try getting a photo without a pigeon in it.

The Bridge of Sighs- it connected the jail to the hangman's noose, and is called thus as the prisoners would sigh as they saw Venice for the last time.

The Murano Glass factory- this guy made a horse out of a blob of glass in less than 3 minutes.

The final result. Funnily enough you could buy thousands of these in the gift shop!

Canale Grande (funnily enough translates to 'Grand Canal'). The "main road" or "High Street" for you poms.

Peg on the Rialto bridge looking over the Grand Canal. You could buy many pieces of jewellery here, or, if you so desired, a bona0fide Dolce and Gabbana belt from a street vendor! They send you the receipts in the mail, apparently.

Duelling Gondolas

When in Venice... Our Gondola ride.

Complete with singing Venetian Gondalier in typical dress. They really do wear the straw hats and stripey shirts!

James Bond style water taxi. Drew was disappointed there were no high speed boat chases like in the Italian Job movie.

They even have water buses! If you miss it, don't try running after it.

Rialto Bridge from the Grand Canal.

One for the dads- dials and things.

Peg being chauffered through Venice, like she should be.