Hoping you have a wonderous and happy cycling time Orchid with your sweetie. I am glad he won't be alone since his accident. I bet he is thrilled to have you by his side.
How does it work with the bikes? Do you have to rent them wherever you are and then how do you leave them and get other ones for other countries? I always wondered how that would work.
We are taking our bikes there. Hence, we are taking folding bikes which on trains and buses in Europe do not often get charged extra because folded up, it's considered as baggage. Besides it's easier for a shrimp like me to carry/lift the bike up and down rail steps. Conductors aren't around to help out between their frequently switching trains since train choice/frequency is extensive in several European countries. And sometimes there isn't much time for transferring from 1 train to another, so a person has to be not too slow.
Also to fly international airlines, it might be cheaper with a folded bike.
In some of the major European cities there are bike share systems which might be free for a 1/2 hr. or a small fee. Usually in centre of city. I wrote an article based on my partner's visits there and his contacts.
http://thirdwavecyclingblog.wordpress.co...void-some-pain/Because I'm petite, I usually cannot fit an average sized bike for such bike share systems. (It appears 'average' to me ie. a woman around 5'4" or usually taller. I'm 5'1". That makes a difference on bike fit. I have shorter limbs.)
Yes, he's excited about having me along. We will visit his birth city in Germany (Karlsruhle) which he has visited several times before. Probably drop by to visit his frail uncle somewhere in the wine region nearby.
He even wonders if he'll be able to see the area where his father.....was shot in WWII in Czech. I seriously wonder about this because we may not have time if it's far from the cities where we are going, but he has the letter he has stored somewhere after all these decades. Letter was presented to his mother that confirmed the death. He was 4 yrs. old and with his mother on the day she was told. They were both still living in Germany before immigrating to Canada 3 yrs. later.
It's not a major priority for him--- only if the location is convenient in our travel plans. He doesn't remember his birth father at all. I'm sure Edelweiss understands what this means that for my dearie and that terrible time period, that really it's not the greatest priority since my dearie was so young as a little boy during WWII.
Dearie does have some vague memories of his life before immigrating to Canada in early 1950's. But the greater, stronger memories are of his journey by ship from Italy (family was told to board from that country at that time. He was seasick during whole voyage.) to Canada and later..
Already I found out that cycling particularily in Prague area is not exactly as safe..Not even as safe as even New York City. No bike lanes, etc. Not like the northern European countries which have some more cycling infrastructure.
After I leave Europe, I'm stopping to visit my family in Toronto on my way back home, while he stays for a few days cycling around in Denmark.
I look forward to great architecture, art, food, etc. Not sure what to expect since last time was in Europe over 20 years ago.
Edelweiss: Where on earth do you find such photos?
Is Berlin a huge, busy city with a teeny tiny historic centre? Not sure we could easily whip into Berlin for 1 day. I understand there is a metro/subway there.
Due to train transfers we are stopping briefly for a few hrs. in Nuremburg before continuing onward to Prague.
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