After riding with us in 2006 for an Alpine loop, the Jacare Moto Clube from Brasil returned to Europe for a 17-day custom tour in June, 2010 on a Germany, Czech Republic and Austria route. Travel arrangements were made by the interline turismo travel agency from Brasilia.

Tour stop highlights included the World Heritage sites of Quedlinburg and Dresden, Hattersheim am Main, Berlin, Prague, Vienna, the Citta Slow town of Enns, Wels, a KTM factory visit in Mattighofen, Munich, Nördlingen, a Brasilian lunch event in Ingelfingen, Heidelberg and Frankfurt am Main. This group of 27 persons used 21 motorcycles from BMW, Ducati, Honda and Kawasaki.

After an early evening ride through the volcanic Vogelsberg hills, we had a late dinner at the Brasserie in the Hotel Schubert at Lauterbach. Antonio had the pleasure of presenting a complementary t-shirt.

After riding Hessen hills, we stopped at Point Alpha on the former East and West Germany border. We rode Thuringian forests to lunch at Eisenach and arrived in Quedlinburg at our Hotel Brauhaus Lüdde stop just in time to see the Brasilian game.

Riding through Dessau and Jüterbog, we rode north to Kloster Zinna for a Frederick the Great glimpse. All roads now led to the Kurfürstendamm. Our nearby Berlin Plaza Hotel surprised our group with German soccer polo shirts which we thankfully accepted.

Berlin has exquisite restaurants, but in the countryside it is forgotten when a plate of fresh Beelitzer asparagus with ham and boiled potatoes is served at the Weißes Ross in Elsterwerda.

Riding south through Sachsen on fast and well-paved roads, the Moritzburg appeared on the horizon. After our photo stop, we then crossed the Elbe river to see the Frauenkirche in Dresden.

We enjoyed friendly and competent service at our Landhotel Dresden stop. Good weather allowed a barbecue on the restaurant Bellevue terrace with a well-stocked wine cellar of German and Italian vintages.

Prague deserves more than 2 days, but the views from the Strahov monastery were wonderful. At the Crowne Plaza Prague Castle hotel riders were welcomed guests and signed the visitor's comments book.

At our Restaurace lunch stop in the Moravia hills at Stonarov, (south of Jihlava on the B 38), we found some Brasilian team supporters who served lunch with elan.

After repairing Luciano's excessively shaking Duc 696 exhaust, Alex from the Vienna Ducati dealer only wished to wear a Brasilian soccer t-shirt. Thanks again for your time and expertise.

The Austria Classic Hotel Wien offered an ideal location to explore Vienna and meet Mister Blumi. Many riders parked bikes and wandered the Prater grounds, some rented bicycles, a few visited Stephan’s Cathedral, relished a tasty (and real) Wiener Schnitzel at Gasthaus Hansy or enjoyed an evening Mozart concert.

After passing through Klosterneuburg, we had a Danube river ride to Aggsbach Dorf and a delightful terrace lunch at the Gasthaus zur Post restaurant. Once again friendly service was rewarded with soccer shirt souvenirs from Brasil (and a well deserved tip). Only a few minutes away is the World Heritage Melk monastery.

Riders even found some Citta Slow time for Enns, the oldest city of Austria. The tourist office arranged special parking permission and presented our group with their city Polo shirts which we gratefully accepted. Thank you again for your hospitality.

Our overnight at the Hotel Greif in Wels, the heart of Upper Austria, was highlighted by a helpful staff, World Cup games, coffee-houses, wine-bars and beer-gardens.

All eyes were focused on the engine power test when we conducted a 2 hour KTM factory visit in Mattighofen. The KTM folks made us feel we were "ready to race" as they showed us around.

After purchasing a new set of leathers, Mr. KTM jr. was ready to set the pace with some serious riding (and joke telling) to arrive in Munich as soon as possible.

After departing Munich, our late morning coffee break for some riders was highlighted by a stop at the Rasthaus Hurlach on the B 17 south of Augsburg.

Our overnight in the historic town center of Nördlingen was supported well into the wee hours by the Kaiserhof Hotel Sonne team.

We dined at the Movida Ristorante Italiano in Nördlingen where the cuisine and Primitivo in the cellar complemented one another.

Brasilian finger food prepared by experts combined with Württemberger hospitality, wines (and water) created a special lunch event at the Winery Gaufer in Ingelfingen. Thank you and Obrigado.

After enjoying the the university town of Heidelberg and the Hotel Heidelberger Kulturbrauerei with its Biergarten and brewery restaurant, riders were ready to ride.

Dimitri from the Restaurant Meandros allowed the wine glasses to chime away late into the night (with a delightful Skouras Cuvee red) when the Brasilians won again.

After bikes were parked one last time, we received a warm welcome at the Hotel am Zoo in Frankfurt am Main. Good location (with Zeil shopping nearby), a friendly and helpful staff made us feel we were almost home.

Special thanks to Davi (standing to the right with a cap) and Geraldo for bringing their many friends to Europe for another adventure. Thank you again and Obrigado.

Last, but not the least, our back office technical support (Jutta and Andreas Wolf with the new Yamaha XT 1200 Z Super Tenere) were only a call away. Danke schön nochmals.