The Plan….

25 days until we leave. At this point everything major is booked and paid for (ie flights, hotels, train, cruise, tours, etc). Still need to book meals in Zurich and those smaller tours, but our traveling partners for that portion have a wedding this week and, well, we've also had our hands full this past week. Additional suitcases have been purchased (our older ones are years old and finally splurged on better suitcases).

And finally got the teenager to agree to a winter coat.... now to see if he will wear it.

Christmas market photo just because

Why yes I'm bringing the big cameras

This time next week we will be boarding our first flight. Have I packed? No. Have I sorted out all the camera stuff? Also no. Have I been sick for 3 weeks? Yes. Did I finally make an appointment to get checked out? Also yes….

Random photo just because

1
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT), 5501 Josh Birmingham Pkwy, Charlotte, NC 28208, USA

First flight!!!

Should be on time to Detroit!!!!!

2
McNamara Terminal A, Detroit, MI 48242, USA

First stop!

Not sure why the side eye

Best cheese crackers EVER

Somewhere over the Atlantic

Holy shit this trip is happening!!!! Y'all this has been 7 years in the Carter planning brain. I've got to say while delta out of CLT isn't great, Air France thus far has been. For these cheese cracker alone

When your phone hasn't caught up to the new time zone.

3
Charles de Gaulle

Racing another plane

4
Le Grand Hôtel Cabourg - MGallery

First stop Cabourg

We chose (by we I mean Elizabeth) Cabourg since it was mostly between Mont St Michel and the Normandy beaches. She then found this amazing hotel. Since there are 5 of us, we either do two rooms or a suite. Again E found us a suite in the hotel that is simply amazing.

5
Le Grand Hôtel Cabourg - MGallery

Watching the sun rise during breakfast. Breakfast was at 8:30

6
Le Grand Hôtel Cabourg - MGallery

Today was a long day. I will post pictures of Normandy and the beaches, but right now enjoying this amazing hotel and some beautiful cocktails

7
Church of Sainte-Mère-Église

The windows of this Medieval church were updated after WWII. They commemorated D-Day and the American paratroopers who landed in and around the village. This is a Roman Catholic Church.

8
Abbaye du Mont-Saint-Michel

I honestly can say this is one of the most magical places I've been

9
Le Beau Site

Lost my voice again so CALVADOS!

10
Le Grand Hôtel Cabourg - MGallery

It's been a day. Tomorrow Disneyland Paris and my birthday.

11
Parc, Disneyland Paris, Main Street, USA, 77700 Chessy, France

Happy birthday to me!

12
Walt's - an American Restaurant

Lunch!

How Jackson Eats that domed cake

13
Walt Disney Studios Park

It's still at most a third of a day park but it is beautiful

14
Bistrot Chez Rémy

Eating amongst the mice

15
Parc, Disneyland Paris, Discoveryland, 77700 Chessy, France

Last night at Disneyland Paris. Enjoy the night photos. Will update as we walk through the park

16
Gare de l'Est

Au revoir France! It's been a crazy week. Snow on the beaches, history back to the Middle Ages, Disney and now the fastest train in the world. Next stop- Munich.

Champagne, wine and beer (with some coke) at 300 km/hr on a train is WILD

17
Munich

Munich!

Bavaria is wonderful. Mom and I have been here before, many years ago. New to Jeff and the boys. I would love to come back for Christmas again and tour Bavaria

18
J5PQ+63 Vilshofen an der Donau, Germany

On the ship! 750km and 11 locks between us and Budapes... errrr the captain just just 623 km and 12 locks

Oktoberfest! In December

19
Ort 16, 94032 Passau, Germany

First port

20
Passau

Passau is beautiful. It's quite possibly the perfect Bavarian town. The cathedral (Saint Stephen's) is breathtaking and huge.

Mom was the criminal who wound up in the pillory

Black plague door

The cathedral is huge.

21
Salzwelten Salzburg - doplňkové parkoviště

Austrian Salt Mine day

22
Salzburg

Salzburg

23
Melk Abbey

Melk \240Benedictine Abby

24
Wachau

Wachau Valley

25
Dürnstein

Durnstein

26
Vienna

Vienna

27
Bratislava

Bratislava

28
Budapest