Day-to-Day Itinerary – DC All-Stars Germany Tour September 15 – 30, 2015 Daily activities will be posted daily and are subject to change due to weather, scheduling, etc. DC All-Stars will play every day except when other music is scheduled. Breakfast served daily at your hotel. All except three dinners are included. Visit Crisp Tours and various websites on this document by simply CTRL + Click on the highlighted blue links. Many websites you visit below have an English translation Day 1: Tue, 15 Sep - Depart on an overnight flight to Munich. This is a long flight so we suggest you go to bed early before you travel, stay hydrated (less alcohol), snooze during the flight if you can and you’ll experience less jetlag. Day 2: Wed, 16 Sep – Upon arrival at the Munich airport, we will meet at the information booth just after going through customs. We will gather everyone together and meet our busses. Our busses have Kreuz-Reisen (Kreuz Tours) written on the side. Everyone’s patience is greatly appreciated as it takes time to round up all our people from different flights. After an approximate 1 ½ hour bus ride, we’ll arrive at our new home in Grassau. We have three housing locations to Zacherlhof Apartments choose from; Hotel Sperrer is the closes to the Restaurant Sperrer. Gästehaus Gamsei are B&B apartments, about a 10 minute walk to the restaurant. The last is the Zacherlhof Farm Apartments, a working dairy farm, about 15 min walking distance. All facilities are excellent accommodations. We will have a van to shuttle folks to and from the apartments. The apartments all have extra room, a kitchenette with microwave, fridge, etc. Hotel Sperrer Gamsei Apartments Day 3: Thu, 17 Sep – Morning free time. Shops open at 8 am. Banks open at 8:30 am. After breakfast, you will have free time to explore Grassau. There will be time to exchange money, shop or just relax. Grassau has nearly anything you might need all within walking distance, including two banks, a post office, several places to get fresh bakery goods, butcher store with fresh sandwiches, coffee shops, several eateries & restaurants to include pizza and Bavarian specialties, pharmacies, groceries, souvenirs, clothing stores, bus service, 24-7 medical services, and much more. Be sure to visit the tourist information office across the street from the town May Pole for maps and area information. Note: If you are interested in an English USA Today Newspaper, it can be ordered/picked it up at Gerti’s, a nearby newspaper stand. Sign up with Tom. Often you’ll find an evening Sommer konzert der Marktkapelle in the Hefterstadel behind the Gasthaus zur Post at the May Poll. There are frequent summer concerts preformed by the town “Market Band” from the Grassau Music School. During the afternoon we’ll take a short bus ride to the Amerang Farmers’ Museum. You’ll see farm houses built centuries ago and learn about how people lived back then. At the Farmers’ Museum there is a restaurant where you can have lunch. They are known for their wonderful soups. Tonight after dinner, we will have live Jazz. For those who like a little night life, there are a couple of bars in Grassau and the typical Gasthaus will usually stay open as long as drinks are being ordered. Hotel Sperrer has two party rooms downstairs. One room has a TV with English CNN. This is a perfect spot to play cards with your friends. The Hotel has wireless Internet, for a small fee with unlimited access. So bring your wireless laptop. There is also a computer in the lobby for guests. Day 4: Fri, 18 Sep – Salzburg, the City of Mozart. Late this morning we’ll travel a short drive to Salzburg, Austria. Our guide will meet us for a city walking tour. If you don’t want to do the 1 ½ mile foot tour, you can stop off at the horse and buggies where you can do your own tour by coach or stroll the old part of the city on your own. You will see Mozart’s birthplace; a house in the center of the old town. You’ll find open-air markets, several cathedrals, music halls and lots of sidewalk cafés. You can also take the funicular inclined railway (small discount for groups of 10 or more) to the impenetrable Hohensalzburg Fortress for a fantastic view of the city. There you will find a free museum, gift shop, restaurant, medieval village, and court yard. This is the largest fullypreserved fortress in Europe. The fortress was constructed in 1077 during a dispute with the Pope over who should be allowed to appoint the bishop. This evening is what everyone is waiting for, the Mozart Dinner Concert, held in the atmospheric, baroque vaults of St. Peter's Abbey, known as the Stiftskeller St. Peter. Visitors will savor a fine three-course meal accompanied by the Mozart Ensemble, which performs works composed by Salzburg's most famous son. The musicians are clad in historical costumes and the whole atmosphere transports you back to Mozart's time. The Mozart Dinner Concert is a must for any visitor to Salzburg. Formal attire is not required. No jazz tonight, it’s all classical. It’s a late return. Day 5: Sat, 19 Sep – Today it’s Innsbruck. We head south into Austria for the Tyrol City. We’ll do both a bus and walking tour of the city. You’ll see the Olympic Stadium from the mountain side and walk the old medieval down town pedestrian center and see the famous Golden Roof. Upon our return, we’ll stop in the medieval town of Rattenberg am Inn, the smallest city on the Inn river and famous for Swarovski Crystal. Later this evening we will attend a Traditional Bavarian Show. You may prefer to eat at the show. They offer beverages and light snacks; for example: a couple of wieners with a roll or even a schnitzel. The show will be held in the Heftersaal or the local Town Hall. It’s called a Heimatabend, or Bavarian Traditional Schuhplattlers (Shoe Patters). This Schuhplattlers dance is preformed at its best in this area of Chiemgau. You will see the locals in their traditional outfits dance these traditional dances. Drinks and food will be available for purchase so we recommend you support the waitress by ordering something – this is their only income for providing service. Tonight it’s live Oomph music and dancing for a wonderful time. We encourage you to get up and dance! It’s the band’s night off. Day 6: Sun, 20 Sep – This morning we head for Munich for the original Munich Oktoberfest, the largest beer festival in the world where over 7 million liters of beer are consumed in 17 days. This particular day is a very special day for the Oktoberfest. You will see the world-famous procession on the first Sunday opening parade of the Oktoberfest starting at 11 am. Be sure to bring your camera and take your place early along the parade route. This Costume & Riflemen's Procession gives an impressive insight into the fascinating diversity of customs rooted in the heart of Bavaria. The Opening Costume Parade, approximately 7 km long, includes bands and traditional outfits from different regions all over Germany and neighboring countries. It’s a highlight of German culture and traditions. While visiting the Oktoberfest, don’t miss the Ferris wheel ride for a spectacular view of the city and over 14 huge beer tents of which most are larger than the size of a football field. Check out the different beer tents, but don’t try to visit them all. Ask if you can join someone at a table and enjoy the celebrations. Most tables are reserved after 5 pm when it really gets packed. Take the time to see the sights, enjoy the Bavarian costumes and hear the songs and sounds of the biggest beer festival in the world. (See how fast a beer tent can fill.) We’ll still be home in time for dinner and jazz tonight. Day 7: Mon, 21 Sep – Today we will take a short bus ride for a jazz cruise on Lake Chiemsee. We’ll bring along some musical instruments so we can dance and party on the boat ride over to Herrenchiemsee, the larger of two islands. Once on the island, it’s about a ¾ mile flat walk to King Ludwig's Chiemsee Castle. There are optional horse and buggy rides available to take you to the castle. The castle is really a palace, because it is not fortified. But you could also say it has a moat if you consider Lake Chiemsee. The castle was designed after the French Sun King, Louis XIV’s Palace of Versailles near Paris. The tour takes us through only a portion of the inside which was completed. There is also a small museum which is included with your tour ticket. You will also find another museum next to the restaurant near the boat dock – your castle ticket also gets you in for free. Be sure to allow sufficient time to make it back to the boat dock at our scheduled departure time. Don’t miss the boat or lose your return boat ticket otherwise you’re on your own. This afternoon will be the first of three Dinners on Your Own. There are several eateries in town to choose from – all close by. We recommend Grassauer Hof, or Gasthaus zur Post. Or dine at the Hotel Sperrer and select dishes from the menu. There are also a several popular pizza restaurants that don’t just serve pizzas. They include: La Rotonda, Restaurante Pizzeria Da Pino, Das Doktorhaus Restaurant, Bar, Cafe and La Pergola Pizzeria-Restaurante, an Italian restaurant - Restaurants Stamperl and the Restaurant El Torro Steakhouse. You can also grab a snack at the local a grocery store or butcher store where they sell delicious sandwiches to go. Then you can always try those scrumptious pastries at the bakeries and coffee shops. Day 8: Tue, 22 Sep – Today we take about a 45 minute drive to Berchtesgaden, one of most the breath taking alpine regions in the Bavarian Alps. We’ll visit the Obersalzberg Salt Mines. You’ll dress in the traditional miner’s outfits, straddle the open train cars and ride deep into the salt mountain. The tour includes several interesting displays of how the miners worked the mines years back. The fun part is experiencing the slides the miners took to get from one level to the next. If the weather permits, we will visit Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest. Note: This trip would be useless if the mountain is overcast or raining. Jazzin’ after dinner. Day 9: Wed, 23 Sep – This will be our furthest bus excursion - about a 2 ½ hour bus ride to the famous Schloss Neuschwanstein. Translated into English, the New Swan Stone Castle is one of the most beautiful and well preserved castles in the world. Originally ordered to be built by King Ludwig II, this is the epitome of neo-romantic style and is the most famous of all medieval castles. It’s a fairy-tale fantasy come true. The castle overlooks the picturesque Hohenschwangau Castle and the romantic Alpsee Lake. From here it’s on to Oberammergau, famous for woodcarving and the every ten year Passion Play. This unique village is known for its religious airbrush paintings on the buildings and the flowers on the balconies with the Alps as a background. It’s a photographer and painter’s dream come true. Oberammergau is the perfect place to send back home that cuckoo clock and other souvenirs. We recommend the Käthe Wohlfahrt’s "Christkindlmarkt" store where they offer small discount to our group by simply showing your badge. This is only one store of many. Take your time and shop around. Many store will offer a discount if you simply ask. Most of the shops will ship your purchase home using your credit card. Jazzin’ tonight Day 10: Thu, 24 Sep – This morning we head back to Munich to take a closer look at the Bavarian capital. We’ll meet our local guide for a guided city bus tour. We will see places of interest like the Nymphenburg Palace, Olympic Stadium and Englisher Garten, (English Garden), the city’s largest park which was laid out along the Isar River just after the French Revolution—in hopes that it would calm the population and keep it from storming the duke's palace. After the city tour, we’ll end up in the heart of old town Munich at the Marienplatz. We’ll see the Glockenspiel, the New Town Hall, The Old Town Hall, sidewalk cafes, several department stores and nearby City Farmer’s Market, beer gardens and famous cathedrals. You do not want to miss a visit the famous Munich Hofbrauhaus, the oldest beer hall in Munich. The Hofbrauhaus is also famous for its Bavarian specialties (English menus are available). This evening, we’ll head downtown to the Wirtshaus zum Isartal Bavarian Gasthaus for dinner. (Included) Thereafter, we’ll enjoy our very own Draga-Coots All-Star Jazz Band sharing the stage with the Veterinary Street Jazz Band, for a wonderful joint jazz concert. Late return to Grassau. Day 11: Fri, 25 Sep - This morning we travel through the alpine valleys to the beautiful little village of Reit im Winkl where you’ll see traditional Bavarian houses with flowers on the balconies. The village fountain coupled with mountains and waterfalls make this a painter’s and photographer’s paradise. For the shoppers, the prices are most reasonable compared to other cities. For the guys, don’t miss the Schnapps Museum where you can sample a variety of German schnapps. After our visit to Reit im Winkl Area This evening get set for a joint concert with the Teachers Groove Big Band and our All -Stars. This has always been a big hit for the town’s people of Grassau. There will be VIP’s in attendance along with the Burgermeister. All musicians play for free and all proceeds goes directly to the Grassau Music School. Food (light snacks) and beverages will be available for sale at the concert. We recommend you order drinks and even have a snack at the concert. Food and drink sold by the waitresses are their only income. Bring your cameras for this one. After the concert, anyone wishing to join an after party next door in the Gasthaus zur Post is most welcome. Day 12: Sat, 26 Sep – This is a free day. Here is where the village transforms into a huge market or Michaeli-Markt. This is an annual tradition where the entire town is blocked off and booths are set up on the main street through town. There will be farm equipment displays, children rides, lots of food and live music. We may feature our own band at an open venue for all to enjoy. By evening there will be nothing left, not even a scrap of paper. This is a real fun day with lots to do, places to eat, people to see and places to go. Tonight it’s Dinner on Your Own and the bands night off. Refer above for suggested places to eat in the village of Grassau. There are plenty of things to do in and around town. Go shopping, explore the area, take the shuttle bus to neighboring towns, go hiking on trails around the area, rent a bike or just relax. The town information center can help you with information of things to do around town. Day 13: Sun, 27 Sep – This Sunday morning you can sleep in, go to church or attend an early morning Gospel Jazz Concert from 9:00 -11:00 am with our very own All-Stars Jazz Band. For those who wish to attend church services, there is a Catholic Church Service check schedule at the church. Later, if the weather is favorable, we’ll take a local two -seater alpine ski lift up to the Grassauer Almen Wanderung (Grassau Alpine Hiking trails), also known as the Hochplatte (High Plateau). It’s a perfect place for a hike. You will see spectacular views of the village of Grassau and Lake Chiemsee on a clear day. During nice weather we may see Hang-Gliders and Parachute Jumpers taking off from a favorite launching site. There’s a small restaurant which serves the finest German dishes and pastries and of course fine wine and beer. This evening it’s Dinner on Your Own. In addition to all the wonderful places to dine in Grassau, might we also recommend the beautiful Bavarian Hotel Weßnerhof, located about 1 kilometer from Grassau. Here they raise all their own beef and pork plus make their own schnapps. Their menu (also in English) is famous for Bavarian specialties. It is here where we will have the free optional Schnapps tasting tour – not just for those wanting to try a variety of schnapps and liquors, but for anyone interested in learning what Schnapps is and how it is produced. Schnapps will be available for sale in the hotel lobby after the presentation.There will a bus to the Schnapps Tour located at the Weßnerhof. If you choose to take the schnapps tour, you can also eat at the Weßnerhof Restaurant. If there are enough people interested, there will be two schnapps tours, each lasting about 30 minutes. There will be one bus returning later for those who chose to eat after the 2nd schnapps tour. You can also and easy walk back to Grassau – a paved path which will take about 30 minutes. It’s the Band’s night off, so have fun and hang with the musicians. Day 14: Mon, 28 Sep – Last jazz concert with special requests from 11 am to 1 pm. This is your last full day and a free day for last minute shopping and time to pack. Please have your checked baggage in front of your door or in the hotel lobby no later than 4 pm to be loaded onto the busses for the early morning departure tomorrow. You will see your luggage again once we arrive at the airport in Munich. Save what you will need for the last overnight and what you will wear to the banquet. Our Special Farewell Banquet will be at 5:30 pm. Tonight we will pass the mike and let everyone have a chance to share their story about the experiences they had on the trip. No music after banquet – early to bed or party in the Gasthaus until the wee morning hours. It will be your last chance to have a drink with your friends. Some may wish to party all night with an early wakeup call. Day 15: Tue, 29 Sep – Early morning departure to the Munich airport for flights back to the USA. Breakfast will be at 3 am and the first bus will depart at 4:00 am for the people on early flights home. Earliest fight departs as early as 7:45 am. We wish everyone a safe trip home. Aufwiedersehen until we meet again. Your hosts, Tom & Gina Grassau, Germany Speaking German is not essential on this tour, but appreciated by the locals if you learn just a few basic German words and phrases. You can do a Google search, for “Basic German Phrases”, or simply click here or here or here. As of 10/4/2012 Guten Tag! - Tag! Hello! - Hi! Guten Morgen! - Morgen! Good morning! - Morning! Grüß Gott! Hello! (southern Germany & Austria) Guten Abend! Good evening! Gute Nacht! Good night! Wie geht es Ihnen? How are you? Wie geht's? How are you? (familiar, informal) Danke, gut. Fine, thanks. Sehr gut. Great. Nicht so gut. Not so well. Auf Wiedersehen. Good-bye. Was möchten Sie? What would you like? Ich möchte... I would like... Darf ich? May I? Können Sie mir helfen? Can you help me? Bitte! - Ja, bitte! Please! - Yes, please! Danke! Thanks! Vielen Dank! Thanks a lot! - Many thanks! Bitte schön! You're welcome! (in response to "Danke schön!") Nein, danke! No thanks! Danke schön! Thank you!
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