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  • Home
  • Das Ist Lustig
    • Bio
    • Photos
    • Videos
    • Applause
    • Das ist Sláinte
    • In The News
    • Albums
    • School Edutainment
    • Valina's Original Songs
    • Past Performances
    • Christmas Shows
    • History
    • Backyard Parties
    • Tip Boot
  • Prost Y'all!
  • Calendar
  • Contact
  • Lustig Tours HOLIDAY!
    • 2027 Holiday in Germany & Switzerland
    • 2026 Holiday! Rhein, Belgium & Netherlands
    • Past Lustig Tour Holidays
  • Links & Sponsors
  • Valina Polka
    • Coordinating and consulting
    • Festival Emcee / stage managing
    • German dance lessons
    • Social dance lessons
  • Tomball German Festivals
    • Tomball German Heritage Festival
    • Tomball German Christmas Market

Prost Y'all!

Take a little stroll through photos and memories from past Lustig Tour Holidays

Holiday 2025

Headed home

Headed home

The last evening, sitting on a patio, beer in hand, re-hashing all of our adventures.  It's been a fun trip!

The last evening, sitting on a patio, beer in hand, re-hashing all of our adventures. It's been a fun trip!

Watching the noon Glockenspiel in Munich

Watching the noon Glockenspiel in Munich

How many people can you fit in a .5 x 1.5 meter space at the top of the Rheinfall?

How many people can you fit in a .5 x 1.5 meter space at the top of the Rheinfall?

at the base of the Rheinfall, between the falls!

at the base of the Rheinfall, between the falls!

The Black Forest is known for wood carvings.  We found a whole forest of them!

The Black Forest is known for wood carvings. We found a whole forest of them!

The Black Forest is known for wood carvings.  We found a whole forest of them!

The Black Forest is known for wood carvings. We found a whole forest of them!

The palace on the Isle of Mainau

The palace on the Isle of Mainau

that's 15 minutes in the stocks for you!

that's 15 minutes in the stocks for you!

Giant Sequoia here too!

Giant Sequoia here too!

A desert between Germany and Switzerland?!? On the Isle of Mainau, yes!

A desert between Germany and Switzerland?!? On the Isle of Mainau, yes!

...you can always spot the American in the crowd...

...you can always spot the American in the crowd...

Hanging out down by the old mill, waiting for our Medieval castle tour.

Hanging out down by the old mill, waiting for our Medieval castle tour.

Looking out over the Bodensee

Looking out over the Bodensee

Breakfast on the terrace.  Vacation vibes!

Breakfast on the terrace. Vacation vibes!

Ferry ride to the Isle of Mainau

Ferry ride to the Isle of Mainau

Dinner by the lake

Dinner by the lake

Silent Night chapel in Oberndorf

Silent Night chapel in Oberndorf

...coolest seat in the house!  Ice sculptures!

...coolest seat in the house! Ice sculptures!

Texas was here...

Texas was here...

The hills are alive with Lustig tourists...

The hills are alive with Lustig tourists...

Stealing a kiss in Salzburg

Stealing a kiss in Salzburg

Cable car ride to the glacier

Cable car ride to the glacier

Looking out over Werfen

Looking out over Werfen

Do you wanna carve an ice man?

Do you wanna carve an ice man?

pretty wild alpine flower

pretty wild alpine flower

ice sculptures!

ice sculptures!

Pretty little alpine houses

Pretty little alpine houses

Representing Tomball Germanfest at the glacier restaurant in Austria!

Representing Tomball Germanfest at the glacier restaurant in Austria!

Climb every mountain!

Climb every mountain!

Enjoyed this view for 5 hours!

Enjoyed this view for 5 hours!

Brass name plates to remember those lost in the Holocaust.

Brass name plates to remember those lost in the Holocaust.

A few moments with family

A few moments with family

Waited 5 years for this beer!

Waited 5 years for this beer!

the tunnel to the golden elevator that goes to Eagle's Nest

the tunnel to the golden elevator that goes to Eagle's Nest

Melk abbey was still beautiful, even in the rain.

Melk abbey was still beautiful, even in the rain.

Let's get on the Wiener Riesenrad!

Let's get on the Wiener Riesenrad!

Found some Czech goodies in Vienna!

Found some Czech goodies in Vienna!

Getting ready for the salt mine!

Getting ready for the salt mine!

We found a secret hiding place!

We found a secret hiding place!

No one over the age of 10 allowed!

No one over the age of 10 allowed!

View from Eagle's Nest

View from Eagle's Nest

Ready to head back down the mountain

Ready to head back down the mountain

The grown ups who weren't allowed in the secret hiding place

The grown ups who weren't allowed in the secret hiding place

St Stephens Dom in Vienna is looking really pretty with the stones all cleaned!

St Stephens Dom in Vienna is looking really pretty with the stones all cleaned!

Let's grab a photo while we're here!

Let's grab a photo while we're here!

Konigsee - I love it when the entire boat is silent, so we can hear the nature!  ...and the trumpet playing at the echo wall.

Konigsee - I love it when the entire boat is silent, so we can hear the nature! ...and the trumpet playing at the echo wall.

Melk Abbey

Melk Abbey

We crossed the border 4 times that day!

We crossed the border 4 times that day!

Looking at Koenigsee from the Eagle Nest bus

Looking at Koenigsee from the Eagle Nest bus

Ross' Mom on the GipfelKreuz

Ross' Mom on the GipfelKreuz

The fortress over Werfen

The fortress over Werfen

Oma and Granddaughter at the top of Eagle's Nest

Oma and Granddaughter at the top of Eagle's Nest

Spitze

Spitze

Dinner at the hotel

Dinner at the hotel

Melk Abbey

Melk Abbey

(to the tune of "Walk like an Egyptian")  Act like an American...

(to the tune of "Walk like an Egyptian") Act like an American...

Dinner in Werfen

Dinner in Werfen

The bus heading up to Eagle's Nest

The bus heading up to Eagle's Nest

Dinner in Werfen

Dinner in Werfen

Found a rubber duck that I can't take home.

Found a rubber duck that I can't take home.

St Bartholomae

St Bartholomae

crossing the border in the mines

crossing the border in the mines

riding in to the salt mine

riding in to the salt mine

riding in to the salt mine

riding in to the salt mine

only the naughty ride in the back of the bus

only the naughty ride in the back of the bus

Looking out at the mountains

Looking out at the mountains

The boat ride on Koenigsee

The boat ride on Koenigsee

ready to go into the mines

ready to go into the mines

wheeee!!!

wheeee!!!

the Vienna selfie

the Vienna selfie

One of the rooms in Schoenbrunn

One of the rooms in Schoenbrunn

Alpine bird; Alpendohl.  Very cute, and very friendly if you have food to offer

Alpine bird; Alpendohl. Very cute, and very friendly if you have food to offer

Riding the Riesenrad in Vienna

Riding the Riesenrad in Vienna

look at my crown

look at my crown

look at my crown

look at my crown

I have the best crown!

I have the best crown!

riding in to the salt mine

riding in to the salt mine

Alpine wild flowers

Alpine wild flowers

these birds only occur above 5000 feet.

these birds only occur above 5000 feet.

Inside St Stephens Dom

Inside St Stephens Dom

dinner in Werfen

dinner in Werfen

look at my crown

look at my crown

riding the train in to the salt mine

riding the train in to the salt mine

I have the biggest crown!

I have the biggest crown!

we're ready for the salt mine

we're ready for the salt mine

roadside art in Austria

roadside art in Austria

view from the Riesenrad in Vienna

view from the Riesenrad in Vienna

the porcelain room in Schoenbrunn

the porcelain room in Schoenbrunn

Inside St Barthalomae

Inside St Barthalomae

Alpine weather window

Alpine weather window

today's a good day!

today's a good day!

riding the train in to the salt mine

riding the train in to the salt mine

looking out the window from the Riesenrad in Vienna

looking out the window from the Riesenrad in Vienna

even the tour hostess gets a crown

even the tour hostess gets a crown

Schoenbrunn Palace interior

Schoenbrunn Palace interior

looking for the entrance to the Schoenbrunn Palace

looking for the entrance to the Schoenbrunn Palace

the dining chamber in Schoenbrunn Palace

the dining chamber in Schoenbrunn Palace

...glad I don't have to polish all these chandeliers and clean the mirrors!

...glad I don't have to polish all these chandeliers and clean the mirrors!

We were thinking of maybe breaking out into a waltz...

We were thinking of maybe breaking out into a waltz...

this room with the deep blue silk wall fabric and gold and white trim is so pretty

this room with the deep blue silk wall fabric and gold and white trim is so pretty

follow the Lustig Tours rubber duck - he knows the way!

follow the Lustig Tours rubber duck - he knows the way!

A visit to a bird of prey sanctuary in Austria

A visit to a bird of prey sanctuary in Austria

The best tour bus company with the best drivers around!

The best tour bus company with the best drivers around!

let's see, what time is it back home?

let's see, what time is it back home?

a young owl at the bird of prey sanctuary

a young owl at the bird of prey sanctuary

singing along at the culture exchange evening and dance party in the Vienna Woods

singing along at the culture exchange evening and dance party in the Vienna Woods

singing along at the cultural exchange and dance party in the Vienna Woods

singing along at the cultural exchange and dance party in the Vienna Woods

A man and his owl.  She's a rescue, and bonded herself to him.

A man and his owl. She's a rescue, and bonded herself to him.

hungry?

hungry?

playground zipline in the Vienna Woods

playground zipline in the Vienna Woods

hungry?

hungry?

cultural exchange and dance party in the Vienna Woods

cultural exchange and dance party in the Vienna Woods

First dinner of our vacation - just a little jetlagged...

First dinner of our vacation - just a little jetlagged...

Dieter has the essentials for toasting our travelers!

Dieter has the essentials for toasting our travelers!

swings!

swings!

enjoying the music with our friends in the Vienna Woods

enjoying the music with our friends in the Vienna Woods

a labyrinth in the middle of Austria, just there for the fun of it?  Yes, please!

a labyrinth in the middle of Austria, just there for the fun of it? Yes, please!

..new yoga pose?

..new yoga pose?

pretty good balance for 30 hours without sleep...

pretty good balance for 30 hours without sleep...

owls at the bird of prey sanctuary

owls at the bird of prey sanctuary

we played some American music for our friends in Vienna

we played some American music for our friends in Vienna

...did someone say "more cowbell"?  They got em in Bavaria!

...did someone say "more cowbell"? They got em in Bavaria!

our travelers ready to go in to Schoenbrunn Palace

our travelers ready to go in to Schoenbrunn Palace

waiting in line at the airport never was so much fun!

waiting in line at the airport never was so much fun!

lunch after landing in Munich

lunch after landing in Munich

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Holiday 2025

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2024

Finally traveling internationally again, our small group got to see Bamberg, Bayreuth, Berlin, Leipzig, Dresden, Wittenberg, Bautzen, Goerlitz, Prague, Kutna Hora, Dachau, Garmisch, and Farchant.  Check out this video made by Carl Henderson, who has been on every one of our tours to Europe.        

2022 

Road Trip through Seven states in the USA!  With stops in Oklahoma City, Kansas City, Pella Iowa, Milwaukee Wisconsin, Hermann Missouri, and lots of other fun places in between.  

World's largest rocking chair!

World's largest rocking chair!

Santa surprised us with a visit, and had just the gift we needed.  A cork screw!

Santa surprised us with a visit, and had just the gift we needed. A cork screw!

Schurzenjager in person at Milwaukee Germanfest

Schurzenjager in person at Milwaukee Germanfest

Ready to see the Glockenspeil at Milwaukee's Germanfest

Ready to see the Glockenspeil at Milwaukee's Germanfest

Amanda, Cody and Chloe met our group for dinner at Royal Bavaria

Amanda, Cody and Chloe met our group for dinner at Royal Bavaria

Look at the bones!  A fascinating museum in OKC!

Look at the bones! A fascinating museum in OKC!

Robbie, Don and our group at Royal Bavaria.  They're all Mollie B Polka Party fans!

Robbie, Don and our group at Royal Bavaria. They're all Mollie B Polka Party fans!

Artifacts that were preserved in the mud with the sunken Steamboat Arabia.

Artifacts that were preserved in the mud with the sunken Steamboat Arabia.

Pipe Organ music and a pizza party in Milwaukee.

Pipe Organ music and a pizza party in Milwaukee.

Tour of the wine cellars in Hermann, MO

Tour of the wine cellars in Hermann, MO

Ross' accordion professor Joan, and accordion orchestra friends Jane, and Betty, and his old boss from the sound company, Ron, all in KC, MO

Ross' accordion professor Joan, and accordion orchestra friends Jane, and Betty, and his old boss from the sound company, Ron, all in KC, MO

Don and Annette also met us at Royal Bavaria.  I can't remember the names of the couple behind them, but they are also Mollie B Polka Party fans.  Behind them were the Schwartzes from the OKC area.  Sucha  fun night!

Don and Annette also met us at Royal Bavaria. I can't remember the names of the couple behind them, but they are also Mollie B Polka Party fans. Behind them were the Schwartzes from the OKC area. Sucha fun night!

The guys love to ponder the rivers of the US.  This is the Mississippi in easter Iowa, and it's not too dirty up there!

The guys love to ponder the rivers of the US. This is the Mississippi in easter Iowa, and it's not too dirty up there!

Acting silly after a fun afternoon in Pella.  What else is there to do when you've eaten your weight in Poffertjes and have a bag of props to play with?

Acting silly after a fun afternoon in Pella. What else is there to do when you've eaten your weight in Poffertjes and have a bag of props to play with?

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US Road Trip 2022

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2016

A great group of travelers joined us in Germany from July 20 through  Aug 2, 2016.  The highlight of this trip was the Festwoche in Garmisch, but EVERYTHING was amazing!  

Take a look at the photo gallery below to see what we were up to.  

getting silly waiting to board

getting silly waiting to board

ready to go

ready to go

warm pretzel and cold beer waiting for us on the bus

warm pretzel and cold beer waiting for us on the bus

a tired but hungry bunch

a tired but hungry bunch

first evening meal together

first evening meal together

after dinner stroll through Meersburg

after dinner stroll through Meersburg

looking up at the castle tower

looking up at the castle tower

Carole was no longer jet lagged

Carole was no longer jet lagged

resting in the square after that climb

resting in the square after that climb

ruhe abend

ruhe abend

the view from breakfast

the view from breakfast

entry to the Burg Meersburg

entry to the Burg Meersburg

armory

armory

armory

armory

one of these swords is more delicate and stylish than the others, because it's for a lady to use...  Somehow, I don't imagine slinging a sword as a dainty job...

one of these swords is more delicate and stylish than the others, because it's for a lady to use... Somehow, I don't imagine slinging a sword as a dainty job...

view from the castle garden

view from the castle garden

love birds

love birds

Honeymooners

Honeymooners

25 year anniversary vacation

25 year anniversary vacation

the original beer boot?

the original beer boot?

Valina's new mug shot

Valina's new mug shot

so glad she has a partner in crime

so glad she has a partner in crime

Prost y'all!

Prost y'all!

tasting the bier at Schussenrieder Brauerei

tasting the bier at Schussenrieder Brauerei

ruhe abend with a delightful bubbly

ruhe abend with a delightful bubbly

Our Disney pic at Neuschwanstein

Our Disney pic at Neuschwanstein

Playing music on top of the Laber Berg

Playing music on top of the Laber Berg

pausing for a picture during a morning stroll through Ettal

pausing for a picture during a morning stroll through Ettal

having lunch on the river Inn

having lunch on the river Inn

Schnapps tastings on the bus

Schnapps tastings on the bus

playing spoons with Wade

playing spoons with Wade

Dancers at the Festwoch in Garmisch

Dancers at the Festwoch in Garmisch

Prost Y'all!

Prost Y'all!

visiting old farmhouses in Glenleiten

visiting old farmhouses in Glenleiten

doors and windows were small and ceilings were low to keep in the warmth

doors and windows were small and ceilings were low to keep in the warmth

Everyone in their new Bavarian threads

Everyone in their new Bavarian threads

Group photo behind the Alphotel, complete with the hilarious angry Lithuanian waiter

Group photo behind the Alphotel, complete with the hilarious angry Lithuanian waiter

Casey Yeager visited and played some good old American country for and with us.  The hotel supplied the funny hats.

Casey Yeager visited and played some good old American country for and with us. The hotel supplied the funny hats.

view of Munich from St Peter's Turm

view of Munich from St Peter's Turm

Marienplatz and rare yellow Crane

Marienplatz and rare yellow Crane

a reflection selfie up on the St Peter's Turm

a reflection selfie up on the St Peter's Turm

I wonder if there are any bats in there?  It was pretty neat to be standing next to the wall when the bell rang!

I wonder if there are any bats in there? It was pretty neat to be standing next to the wall when the bell rang!

caution, be on the lookout for giant lobsters running the streets of Munich

caution, be on the lookout for giant lobsters running the streets of Munich

ahh, Hofbrau; the Dick's Last Resort of Bavarian Beer Halls!

ahh, Hofbrau; the Dick's Last Resort of Bavarian Beer Halls!

Brezeln are good!

Brezeln are good!

See, there really are faces up there!

See, there really are faces up there!

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2016 Europe Trip

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2015 

A great group of travelers joined us for a 4 day road trip to the New Orleans Oktoberfest.  We had so much fun!

Take a look at the photo gallery below to see what we were up to.  

upon meeting him when we boarded the bus we all loved Russel, and knew this would be a great trip!

upon meeting him when we boarded the bus we all loved Russel, and knew this would be a great trip!

ready to board!

ready to board!

hoooooh boy are we in for a fun weekend!

hoooooh boy are we in for a fun weekend!

delicious, fast and clean!  Lunch stop at Poche's in Breaux Bridge

delicious, fast and clean! Lunch stop at Poche's in Breaux Bridge

Carriage ride and entertaining history lesson on Thursday evening

Carriage ride and entertaining history lesson on Thursday evening

we had two carriages that held 9 people each!

we had two carriages that held 9 people each!

dinner at the Gumbo Shop

dinner at the Gumbo Shop

Dinner at the Gumbo Shop

Dinner at the Gumbo Shop

haha, made you smile!

haha, made you smile!

such a happy plate

such a happy plate

Pat O's knows how to decorate!

Pat O's knows how to decorate!

double trouble!

double trouble!

Peekabooo!

Peekabooo!

You shake my nerves and you rattle my brain!

You shake my nerves and you rattle my brain!

making new friends!  ...with the lady who was dancing for my dad too!

making new friends! ...with the lady who was dancing for my dad too!

Beignet good!

Beignet good!

looking cute

looking cute

SUGAR HIGH!

SUGAR HIGH!

waiting for the rum distillery shuttle

waiting for the rum distillery shuttle

even some yummies for the non drinkers!

even some yummies for the non drinkers!

This schtuff was awesome!

This schtuff was awesome!

our guide Annie was fun!

our guide Annie was fun!

We'll take this bottle!  It might be just enough to get our rowdy bunch back to Houston.

We'll take this bottle! It might be just enough to get our rowdy bunch back to Houston.

realllly good rum!

realllly good rum!

loooootttss of good rum!

loooootttss of good rum!

Let's go surfin now!

Let's go surfin now!

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Oktoberfest Party Bus 2015

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Primary e-mail address:  valinapolka(at)yahoo.com

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