05/07/2026
Last night of our Bavarian trip. Fussen, Lindau, Neuswanstein castle, thanks to our European tour guide Smiffy. Sat night we were in Rhudesheim for the Rhine in Flames festival. Think New Year's Eve fireworks display then double it, then duplicate it. Then tonight in Ypres Belgium and a beautiful tribute to the 250,000 who died to protect Europe in the First World War. Every night of the year at 8pm, the last post is played and marching bands play, think of our Remembrance Sunday every single night. And the crowds gathered in complete silence. People my age and older and children and teenagers, and the town stands still. It's very moving especially seeing teenage boys and girls standing in silence and respect. A great, different way to end one of our trips. And without ceremonies like this to help us pay our respects to those who died or those who lived but fought so we could see fireworks festivals, and go on bike tours and do everything else we take for granted, we might just forget the sacrificies others made. We are all back in England on Monday, thankfully speaking English but eating French croissants and Danish gouda while drinking Irish Guiness and - not at the same time, driving my German car.
