Hans, I was stationed in Europe for a year during the Berlin Crisis in
1962 as a pilot. I flew over just about all of free Europe during that time and visited many places.
In the years after that, I worked for IBM and I spent a lot of time in Europe. Whenever I had a chance, I would extend a business trip into a vacation. That way, IBM paid my air fare.
Since I have retired, my only overseas trips have been to the United Kingdom. I have not been in Europe for several years now.
Nowdays, being retired, I must stretch my travel dollar a lot further. There is so much I have not seen in the US and the cost of one short European trip will buy me months of Airstream travel in the US.