A European Vacation #3
a virtual trip across the old country
This week I have for y’all a quick 7.5 hour trip across many of the most popular places in Western Europe, so I hope you brought a snack and some good walking shoes. First off, we will wind our way down the Rhine River, stopping in Germany and Switzerland, then over to France for a long stay in the capital, next we will hop on a train to Italy for awhile, then return to Switzerland to explore some more, finally it’s off to Ireland and Scotland for the remainder of the trip.
And please make sure to stay tuned until the end of the post for some throwback photos from my time in Germany, Switzerland and Italy back in 2010!
Let’s get moving!
The Rhine: from Mainz To Cologne
1989 | Runtime: 30 Minutes
The Rhine between Mainz and Cologne - one of the most beautiful areas of Germany. Cities, towns castles and vineyards which date back to Roman times as well as exceptionally beautiful landscape can be seen from the boat. All the famous historic sites are shown. Unforgettable and exceptional impressions are captured as one passes by Mainz, Rüdesheim, Loreley, Marksburg, Koblenz, Cologne, and many other worthwhile views on both sides of the Rhine. A most valuable souvenir with lasting memories.
Magnificent France: Fodor's Video Travel Planner
1992 | Runtime 99 Minutes
Come discover the glory of France-its people, history, culture and cuisine. Fall in love with Paris with its landmark Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Champs- Élysées, Louvre museum, and the bohemian Left Bank. Slip behind the scenes into the haute couture world of Pierre Cardin and peruse the shops that define style along the Avenue Montaigne. Explore the history of French cuisine and from France's foremost chef the art of selecting wine. Stroll the hails of Versailles and the vineyards of Bordeaux. From the spires of Chartres cathedral to the castles of the Loire Valley... from the the alpine heights of Mont Blanc to the beaches of Saint-Tropez, France is a feast for all your senses.
Romantic Italy: Fodor's Video Travel Planner
1992 | Runtime: 98 Minutes
The land of emperors and pontiffs, piazzas and pastas invites you on a journey that bridges the centuries. Walk with a prominent historian through the ancient ruins of Rome and Pompei. Experience the spirit and tradition of Venice's Regatta and marvel as a master glassmaker spins his craft. Discover the artistic legacy of Florence through the eyes of a local painter... and share the art of the vine with a master vintner in Chianti. From Tuscany to Sicily, Verona to Capri, treasures unveil themselves at every turn.
Magnificent Switzerland: Fodor's Video Travel Planner
1993 | Runtime 91 Minutes
Enjoy the multicultural rhythms of Swiss cities and the pristine mountains and valleys of its countryside. Tour the elegant, lakeside cities of Lausanne, Lucerne, Lugano and Geneva. Ski down the glorious white slopes of the Alps to gracious St. Moritz. Discover the traditional arts of making Swiss timepieces and Appenzeller cheese, then stroll through Ballenberg's Swiss Rural Architecture museum. Celebrate Zurich's Festival of Sechscläuten, a tribute to guildsmen. Interview a famous journalist, then discuss Italian architecture with the renowned architect, Mario Botta. Chat with painter, Franz Fedier, and travel to Basel, the country's cultural center, to see his work. Climb aboard a cog railway to ascend part way up the magnificent Jungfrau.
Charles Haughey's Ireland
1986 | Runtime 52 Minutes
"I belong to a race of people that has been on this island for a very, very long time".
These words are spoken by Charles J. Haughey, former Irish prime minister and present leader of the opposition, in this one-hour television documentary which was produced for Channel 4 by Pipeline Productions. Charles Haughey presents his personal vision of the Ireland he loves - past and present - its people, its history, its sporting and cultural traditions, its places of interest.
Edinburgh Military Tattoo 2003
2003 | Runtime: 93 Minutes
The Edinburgh Military Tattoo was conceived in its present form and first performed in 1950. Today, with its unique blend of music, ceremony, entertainment, and theatre, set against the amazing backdrop of Edinburgh Castle, it is without question one of the world's greatest shows.
For three weeks in August each year the Esplanade of Edinburgh Castle is the venue for the world-famous Edinburgh Military Tattoo, a colourful kaleidoscope of music, dance and pageantry, attracting some 217,000 spectators annually and an estimated 100 million international television viewers.
This 90-minute video contains the very best moments from the 54th Tattoo including the dazzling sights and sounds of the Massed Pipes & Drums and the inspirational music of the Massed Military Bands.
Contributions also featured range from the tropical sounds of The Band of The Bermuda Regiment and Gombey Dancers to a dynamic drum display from Switzerland's Top Secret Drum Corps.
(Something odd happened here with the transfer to VHS during the production of this tape. This footage was shot digitally, and probably offered on DVD as well, as it’s in widescreen, but this tape’s footage is pretty dark. I tried my best to brighten it up in the digitization process but there just wasn’t enough information in the footage.)
Italy, Switzerland, & Germany in 2010
Part 2
In 2010, while I was still in high school, I was extremely lucky to be able to take a class trip to Europe. At the time, I hadn’t really had access to a reliable camera or really a huge interest in photography, but I would like to just share a few photos here that make me feel very nostalgic for a very transitory time of my life from a Nikon point and shoot camera. I hope you enjoy these!
Well, that’s it for this week! I hope you enjoyed the tapes! If you’re looking for more, please check out my page on Archive.org for the full list of digitized media. If you have any questions, feel free to send me a message right here or drop a comment below. If you haven’t already, please check out one of my previous Virtual European Vacations below, or all of my other previous posts here. Thanks so much for checking out this week’s edition of Diptych!
See you soon!
—Forrest
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