European Reformation Tour
Greg and I had the opportunity to accompany our oldest, Cate, on her school’s junior/senior trip to Europe, mostly Germany, to learn about the Protestant Reformation she’d been studying all throughout her time at New Covenant Christian Academy. What a joy!
I loved seeing the historical sites, touring new-to-me parts of Europe, and being with my husband and daughter. The whole trip truly felt like a vacation to me because Pilgrim Tours planned our route and destinations, so I just had to show up and listen to our wonderful tour guide Pilar. Our coach driver took us where we needed to go and I was just along for the ride. In the season of parenting we’ve been in, this alone was a great blessing to Greg and me.
Day 1 —
We arrived around 9 am local time after an overnight flight that shortened our night with the time change. We dived right in with a tour of Berlin, including the Checkpoint Charlie Museum, Brandenburg Gate, and a remanent of the Berlin Wall. Berlin is a hodge podge of architecture because it’s been bombed and rebuilt twice and unified as one country.
We stayed the night in Wittenberg. Yes, there’s a statue of Martin Luther in the hotel lobby.
Day 2 —
I slept 10 hours and woke up feeling like a new person. We started the day with a delicious breakfast at the hotel and then began our tour of Wittenberg with a Catholic theologian & teacher as our guide.
Our tour included the Luther house, a Katharina statue, the Melanchthon house where Bibles were translated, St. Mary Church where Luther preached in what became first Protestant church, and Castle Church. What a way to spend Easter morning!
As our guide pointed out, we wouldn’t live in the world we do today without the church reformation because it brought self-determination and freedom of choice to light. The priesthood of all believers — meaning the pope solely doesn’t speak for Christ and has special access to God — is a big part of my personal testimony.
After lunch, we took an afternoon walk to the Elbe River and around the green belt, which used to be where the old city’s moat was. Some of us went back to a gelato cafe we’d passed earlier — and I got a waffle with strawberries instead.
I walked 13,000+ steps before dinner!
Day 3 —
After breakfast at our Wittenberg hotel, we hit the road for Erfurt, Germany. First was lunch at the authentic German Hofbrau am Dom, where I had white sausage and a pretzel with delicious sweet mustard. So yummy!
Then we toured the town with a guide who showed us the cathedral, Protestant church, and different squares among the beautiful buildings. She also told us more history of Luther coming here as a teenager and learning at the university and Augustinian monastery.
Dinner was at a traditional schnitzel restaurant next door to our lunch choice. We had tomato soup, schnitzel, fries, and berries & cream. Good stuff!
Day 4 —
After breakfast at the hotel, we traveled to Eisenach, where we toured Wartburg Castle. This is where Luther started translating the Bible into German. Then we had lunch — I had a caprese pizza and crepe with strawberries.
We loaded back up on the bus to head to our hotel in Frankfurt to be closer to tomorrow’s adventures. We walked around part of the city and by the Main River before dinner at the hotel.
Something weird about traveling in the motor coach is I take a nap anytime we drive a significant distance. It’s comfortable. I’m sleeping so well at night too. Maybe I’m catching up on sleep … who knows! Or maybe it’s jet lag. Or maybe it’s the fact I am mentally really on vacation with few responsibilities. Probably a combination.
Day 5 —
We had breakfast at the hotel and then took a three-hour cruise down the Rhine River from St. Goarshausen to Rudesheim. There were several castles and charming towns.
We saw some of Rudesheim and then rode cable cars up to the top of a hill, where there’s an enormous statute dedicated to Germany becoming a country.
We also toured Abbey of St. Hildegard. We saw more of town and shopped — and I ate a delicious cinnamon baumstriezel, also known as chimney cake!
Full day! We walked 11,000+ steps and that’s with a bus ride, river cruise, and cable car ride. We’re staying at a quaint hotel in Rudesheim tonight.
Day 6 —
We came to Worms, our last stop in Germany, after breakfast at our hotel. We toured the town, which included the place Luther debated with other church & political leaders (aka Diet of Worms). We shopped and lunched in Worms before heading to Strasbourg, France.
In Strasbourg, we toured the city and then had some free time to roam and shop before a delicious dinner that included incredible crème brûlée.
Day 7 —
Breakfast in Strasbourg, lunch in Colmar, and dinner in Bern. And 17,245 steps today! But it was one of my favorite days.
We toured, shopped, and snacked in Colmar, France. The town was so charming, shops were open and easy accessible, and snacks and desserts were delicious.
Then we headed to Switzerland! Our first stop was Bern. We saw the Alps in the distance, toured the town, and had a yummy dinner. So picturesque & impressive with city planning throughout the years!
Day 8 —
More Swiss beauty today! We went to Interlaken — between the lakes — and were closer to the Alps. It’s a cute town!
Then we went into the mountains via a gondola from Grindelwald then a train into Jungfraujoch (aka Top of Europe). The pictures don’t do this mountain experience justice. The views and ice tunnels were stunning!
Even with all the different modes of transportation, we still walked 14,000+ steps.
We saw a little of Zurich while walking to dinner and then checked in to our last hotel. I’m excited to see more of Konstanz and Zurich tomorrow — our last tour day.
Day 9 —
We returned to Germany to tour Konstanz, which was not destroyed in WWII because it is so close to the Swiss border. It’s a charming lake-front town. Konstanz is also where John Huss, who some consider the first church reformer, was on trial, imprisoned, and martyred for arguing against Catholic teachings.
While in Konstanz, I had kasespatzle — cheese egg noodles — at Konzil Konstanz that was delicious and then mango ice cream.
We came back to Zurich and toured the historical part of the city, including Protestant reformer Ulrich Zwingli’s home, statue, and church. Our last meal of the tour was at an authentic Swiss restaurant.
Another day with almost 14,000 steps. I’m worn out and thankful for this experience, especially with Greg and Cate. And, yes, I’m looking forward to coming home. It’s the longest I’ve ever been away from Ben and Rachel.
*****
I have tons of photos, and Cate hasn’t even gotten hers off her SD card yet. I shared several posts on Facebook that you can see in this album.
Also, here are some of my favorite travel items and tips on how to take the trip.
Here are some of our favorite U.S. destinations, if you’re looking for inspiration: