BMW Tour 2011
We started exploring charming Dublin where history and pubs abound. We had the mandatory pint of Guinness. The city of Henry James is devoted to drink. We did the two must-do things, saw the Book Of Kells and took in a river dance. We headed by train to Galway and the coastal area of County Clare.
Here we explored the beautiful windswept Burren and enjoyed pubs where traditional music was played. We took in stark, shear cliffs of Moher. Driving up to Galgorm Resort and Spa above Belfast was a beautiful scenic drive. From Ireland we flew to Scotland and Fort William. We drove across the scenic green Highlands of Scotland visiting the remains of Torwood Castle home of Carole’s ancestors and then to the famed Sterling Castle. This is a “not to be missed” Castle and has been preserved to capture history so you can imagine life in another time. We spent two days in Edinburgh and visited the castle there.
Next we flew to Munich to meet the others picking up cars and had a group dinner of traditional German food. We enjoy the historic city and then off to BMW Velt to pick up our cars and head to the mountain resort of Konigssee. Here we explored the cool mountain lakes and hiking trails. We visited the “Eagles Nest” for an amazing view of the countryside. Next we drove south to Italy and the resort spa town of Abano Terme. Some drove to Venice, while others relaxed in thermal pools at the spa. Soon, we headed to Castellina in Chianti, a favorite of Ray’s in Tuscany. Some of us hiked down to the nearby vineyards. We had a luncheon at Baddia in Coltibono, the most famous of the Chianti Classico vineyards and were treated to great food and wine and a booming midsummer thunderstorm. Some drove to the nearby Etruscan villages of San Galgano, the perfectly preserved walled city of Monteriggione, and Arezzo, scene of “Under The Tuscan Sun. Further into Italy, we stayed on Lake Maggiore in Stressa. We could walk on the promenade or take a water ferry to the island in the middle of the lake, visiting the amazing villa and gardens built by the Italian aristocracy. We headed north to the Alpine village of Breuil-Cervinia, a famous ski resort that is beautiful for hiking in the summer with views of the Matterhorn. Next we headed toward Yvoire, on Lake Geneva. The charming historic village was perfect for walking and paddle boat ferries took us across the lake to visit other villages. This was just outside of Geneva, where we dropped off our cars and headed home

   In 2010
We visited the grand capitals of Eastern Europe. After a great experience at the BMW Welt we began with a drive from Munich to a spa in the Czech Republic for some rest and relaxation and then on to our first city, Prague for three nights. From there we drove to Budapest the capital of Hungary. Our next stop was Lake Balaton and the village of Balatonfüred. Unfortunately we experienced some of the coldest and windiest June weather. On to Slovenia and the capital city sometimes called the new Paris, Ljubljana. From this point we headed down to Pula in Croatia. There is a long drive to Vienna from Pula so we made a stop in the Southern Austrian Alps.

   In 2009
We began with a beautiful drive through the Brenner Pass to Sirmione on Lake Garda. Then on to my heaven, bella Tuscany. After three days in the Chianti District we drove to the Riviera at Bormes-Les-Mimosas with a brief stop on the Italian Riviera to break up the long drive. From this less touristed part of the Côte D'azur we drove to our stay in an 18th century chateau above Lyon. Then a drive to the Dordogne near where the movie Chocolat was filmed. Fun in the sun was our next stop, the resort island, Île De Ré. We spent a few days on the Normandy coast and visited Omaha Beach and Mont Saint-Michel. We stopped in the Champagne District of France as we made our way to Franfurt to leave our cars for shipment home.

   In 2008
We started with a drive to Sirmione on Lake Garda. Next, a drive to the coast and an overnight ferry to Sardinia. After three days on Sardinia we took the overnight crossing to Marseilles. Our next stop was on the Western Riviera at Bormes-Les-Mimosas and a tour of the vineyard of a friend, Les Valentines. From this less touristed part of the Côte D'azur we drove to the spa at Eugénie-les-Bains. After refreshing ourselves, it was a short hop into the Basque country. We stayed in the Navarre, the best wine area in Spain. In 2008
We started with a drive to Sirmione on Lake Garda. Next, a drive to the coast and an overnight ferry to Sardinia. After three days on Sardinia we took the overnight crossing to Marseilles. Our next stop was on the Western Riviera at Bormes-Les-Mimosas and a tour of the vineyard of a friend, Les Valentines. From this less touristed part of the Côte D'azur we drove to the spa at Eugénie-les-Bains. After refreshing ourselves, it was a short hop into the Basque country. We stayed in the Navarre, the best wine area in Spain. Our last drive was to Madrid where we dropped our cars for shipment back to the U.S. This magnificent city has it all and we were there when Spain won the World Cup. The whole city was a madhouse of celebration.