Europe '81: Château de Versailles

September 20, 1981

I spent the last day of my first trip to Europe at Château de Versailles, the impressive French palace located twenty kilometres outside of Paris. Versailles was a luxurious royal residence until King Louis XVI and his wife, Marie-Antoinette, were forced out by an angry mob during the French Revolution. Today the Palace and Park of Versailles is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Château de Versailles (1981)

Europe '81: Ile de la Cité

September 19, 1981

My last day spent exploring the city of Paris focused on Ile de la Cité, the natural island in the middle of the River Seine where the city was first settled. Like many other days during my first trip to Europe I don't remember much, but fortunately I have my trip diary and several photos to remind me of the places I'd been.

The River Seine and Ile de la Cité, Paris (2010)

Europe '81: Montmartre

September 18, 1981

I had such high hopes that scouring my trip diary and going through my old photographs would bring back deeply buried memories of my first trip to Europe. Unfortunately many of those days remain a blank. About the only thing I remember about my visit to Montmartre was the weather: warm and rainy.

Montmartre, Paris (2012)

Europe '81: Paris Bateaux Mouches

September 17, 1981

My second day in Paris was full. According to my trip diary I finished my day by taking a bateau mouche along the Seine and around Ile de la Cité. Bateaux Mouches is a company in Paris that offers excursions on the River Seine and but today other tour boats plying the river are often referred to by the same name.

River Seine Excursion Boat (2010)

Europe '81: Paris Right Bank

September 17, 1981

My second day in Paris began on the city's Right Bank with a visit to the world's largest art museum, the Musée du Louvre. The museum is housed in a former royal palace and is classified a historic monument. Here at the Louvre I came face to face with great pieces of art, in a simpler time before the extensive security measures we encounter today.

The Right Bank of Paris

Europe '81: Paris

September 16, 1981

The final stop on my first tour of Europe was Paris, the City of Light. I arrived early in the morning on the 06:44 overnight train from Munich – the Orient Express. But the train I'd taken was named for the route it travelled, not the famous luxury service of Agatha Christie's day. After all, I was travelling Europe on $20 a Day.

Eiffel Tower, Paris (1981)

Europe '81: Munich

September 13, 1981

I arrived in Munich on a cool rainy day on the 1:23 p.m train from Innsbruck. I was now past the midpoint of my three-week tour of Europe and about to begin a brief visit to the capital of the German state of Bavaria.

Europe '81: The Austrian Alps

Last week I shared the first half of an essay I'd written many years ago about my first trip to Europe and the day I spent in Innsbruck. The second half takes us into the Austrian Alps and the Nordkette Mountain range where I rode a funicular from the city centre to the first viewing level at Hungerburg and then ventured further up the slopes by cable car to to Seegrube.

The Austrian Alps (1981)

Europe '81: Innsbruck

Often when you’re searching for something you won’t find it. And sometimes you come across something even better. That’s exactly what happened when I was trying to find one of the souvenirs I’d bought in Vienna. I have no idea where it’s hiding. But I did stumble across an old essay about the day I spent in Innsbruck, written at a time when the memories were much fresher.

Innsbruck, Austria (1981)

Europe '81: Schönbrunn Palace

September 10, 1981

My third day in Vienna began at Schönbrunn Palace, summer residence of the Habsburgs. The previous day I'd toured their winter residence, the Hofburg. According to the meagre notes in my trip diary the palace was beautiful and elaborate; the grounds lovely and spacious.

Schönbrunn Palace, Vienna (1981)

Europe '81: Imperial Vienna

September 9, 1981

My fascination with the Habsburg dynasty began with the 1968 film Mayerling starring Omar Sharif and Catherine Deneuve. The movie is about the mysterious deaths of Crown Prince Rudolf and his mistress at the imperial hunting lodge, Mayerling, in 1889. On my second day in Vienna I paid a visit to the Hofburg, centre of the Holy Roman Empire, and residence of the Habsburgs for over 600 years.

The Imperial Apartments, the Hofburg (1981)

Europe '81: Vienna

September 8, 1981

I once did a school project on Austria and fell in love with this Alpine country of imperial palaces, Strauss waltzes and warm apfelstrudel. When planning my first trip to Europe I was aware that reality might not live up to my high expectations but I needn't have worried. Austria was everything I'd hoped it would be, and more.

The Rathaus, Vienna's Town Hall (1981)

Europe '81: Florence

September 7, 1981

If you only have one day to spend in Florence, birthplace of the Italian Renaissance, don't go on a Monday. The city's great art museums, like the Uffizi Gallery with Botticelli's Birth of Venus and the Accademia Gallery with Michelangelo's David, will be closed. But this was the day I arrived in Firenze in September of 1981.

Michelangelo's David, Accademia Gallery

Europe '81: Rome

September 4, 1981

Day 4 of my first trip to Europe must have been one of my best and, unlike the first three days, I actually do have memories. I also have a few photos which I'd had printed from my slides. I toured some of the city's major sights, beginning with the Trevi Fountain and my travel journal states that I threw two coins and made a wish, which is said to ensure one's return to Rome. The fountain has worked its magic as I've been back to the Eternal City twice since this first visit 37 years ago.

Trevi Fountain, Rome (1981)

Europe '81: The Arrival

My first trip to Europe in 1981 was a 3-week tour through Italy, Austria, Germany and France. I still have my travel journal, although most of the entries are terribly brief. At the time I believed I'd never forget the details of such an amazing experience. Hah! Thank goodness I still have my slides and a few souvenirs. And now, using these meagre memory aids, I'll attempt to recreate my journey.