Paris
Mon 26 – Thu 29 Oct · 3 nights
Ease in gently. Stay around Saint-Germain-des-Prés / Latin Quarter — walkable, romantic, and full of churches.
Getting in: Land CDG T1 at 07:30. Easiest with luggage: official taxi rank (fixed fare ≈ €56 Left Bank) or pre-booked transfer, ~50 min. RER B is cheaper but tiring after a 14-hour flight.
Day 1 · Mon 26 Oct
Arrival & the first golden evening
Daily Mass12:00 midday Mass at
Notre-Dame Cathedral — a stunning first Mass of married life in the restored cathedral.
Verify times at notredamedeparis.fr closer to the date.
Plan
- Check in / drop bags, café breakfast, easy riverside stroll.
- Afternoon nap — beat the jet lag before it beats you.
- Evening: walk Pont Neuf and the Seine banks; simple bistro dinner near Saint-Germain.
Photo spotSunset at
Trocadéro — the classic Eiffel Tower couple shot; the tower sparkles for 5 minutes every hour after dark.
Day 2 · Tue 27 Oct
The Louvre, the Medal & dinner in Lille
Plan
- Morning: The Louvre — book a 9:30–10:00 timed slot online well ahead. Hit Mona Lisa early, then wander slowly.
- Lunch in the Palais-Royal gardens area.
- Afternoon: Sainte-Chapelle (book ahead — the stained glass will move her) and Notre-Dame if not visited Day 1.
- Evening: TGV from Gare du Nord to Lille (~1h) — dinner with Victor's cousin Nia in Vieux-Lille; the return train lands you back by ~22:30–23:00. Trains roughly hourly — confirm exact times when booking.
NoteConfirm the date with Nia first, then book the Paris ⇄ Lille TGV right away — the usual booking window has already passed; prefer an exchangeable fare. If the 27th doesn't work for her, swap: the Lille dinner moves to Wed 28 and Sacré-Cœur adoration moves to tonight. If neither evening works, invite her to TGV down and join dinner in Paris. Tonight takes priority over finishing the afternoon list — Sainte-Chapelle can slide to Wednesday; and if jet lag has you flagging by mid-afternoon, make the swap call before boarding.
Photo spotThe Louvre pyramid courtyard at blue hour; inside Sainte-Chapelle's upper chapel (no flash); Lille's
Grand'Place lit up after dinner.
Day 3 · Wed 28 Oct
Eiffel Tower, Artefact & Montmartre
Daily Mass07:00 at
Saint-Sulpice (Chapelle de l'Assomption — enter via Rue Garancière; also 09:00 & 12:05), near your base. Equally early: 07:00 at Sacré-Cœur if you'd rather start in Montmartre.
The 07:00 was posted on the spring/summer schedule — confirm it survives autumn at paroissesaintsulpice.paris.
Plan
- Morning: Eiffel Tower — book summit tickets ahead for ~09:30 (shortest queues).
- Lunch, then Victor's work window: Artefact HQ (19 Rue Richer, 9th) to see Edouard — email him a few weeks ahead. Optionally swing by Station F, the world's largest startup campus, to feel the Paris AI scene. Agitha idea meanwhile: Galeries Lafayette dome, 8 min from Artefact.
- Evening: Sacré-Cœur, Montmartre — perpetual Eucharistic adoration since 1885; a few quiet minutes together before dinner in Montmartre.
Photo spotRue de l'Université / Rue Saint-Dominique for Eiffel framing; Sacré-Cœur steps at dusk over all of Paris.
Swiss Alps
Thu 29 Oct – Tue 3 Nov · 5 nights
Base: Interlaken, gateway to the Jungfrau region — five unhurried nights in the scenic-train heart of Switzerland.
Getting there: TGV Lyria
Paris Gare de Lyon → Basel (~3h05), then Swiss IC to
Interlaken Ost (~2h). Book TGV ~2–3 months ahead; consider the
Berner Oberland Pass or Swiss Half Fare Card for the mountain trains.
Daily Mass honesty note: the Catholic parish here (
Pfarrei Interlaken, Schloss-Strasse 4) has a sparse weekday schedule — per its published calendar for these exact dates: Thu 19:00 Mass, Fri 09:00 Mass, Sat 31 Oct 18:00 All Saints vigil, Sun 1 Nov 10:00 Mass — and
no Mass Mon 2 Nov or Tue 3 Nov (Tue 09:00 is a Word-service with Communion, not a Mass). No weekday Mass exists in any Jungfrau village. The gap days are covered below.
Live calendar: kath-interlaken.ch → Gottesdienste.
Day 4 · Thu 29 Oct
Rails east: Paris → Interlaken
Daily MassBest of both: 07:00 at Saint-Sulpice before the train, and/or 19:00 Mass at Pfarrei Interlaken (Eucharistic adoration from 18:00) on your first Swiss evening. Confirmed on the parish calendar for this date — re-verify ~2 weeks out.
Plan
- ~09:00 TGV from Gare de Lyon; picnic lunch on board.
- Arrive Interlaken mid-afternoon; walk the Höhematte meadow with its Jungfrau view.
- 18:00 adoration + 19:00 Mass, then fondue dinner — you're in Switzerland now.
Photo spotHöhematte at golden hour, Jungfrau glowing pink behind you two.
Day 5 · Fri 30 Oct
Jungfraujoch — Top of Europe
Daily Mass09:00 Mass at Pfarrei Interlaken — the parish's only Friday Mass, confirmed on its calendar for this date. Head up the mountain right after; with 5 nights here there's no rush.
Re-verify ~2 weeks out.
Plan
- The day: train Interlaken → Grindelwald, Eiger Express gondola → Eigergletscher → Jungfraujoch (3,454 m): Sphinx observatory, Ice Palace, snow plateau.
- Return via Kleine Scheidegg and Wengen for the full scenic loop.
- Book Jungfrau tickets online ahead; check the webcam that morning — go only if clear.
Photo spotThe Sphinx terrace with the Aletsch Glacier behind you; the red train against the Eiger north face at Kleine Scheidegg.
NoteIt is properly winter up there (−5 to −10°C) — gloves, hats, sunglasses.
Day 6 · Sat 31 Oct
Lauterbrunnen valley & lake stillness
Vigil Mass18:00 All Saints family/vigil Mass at Pfarrei Interlaken (no morning Mass today; there's also a 20:00 Mass in Portuguese). Confirmed on the parish calendar — re-verify.
Plan
- Morning: train to Lauterbrunnen — the valley of 72 waterfalls; cable car up to car-free Mürren for lunch with cliff-edge views.
- Afternoon: boat cruise on Lake Brienz (turquoise) if time and weather allow.
- Quiet evening — this is the "just us" day.
Photo spotLauterbrunnen's church-and-waterfall lane (the classic shot); Staubbach Falls behind you.
Day 7 · Sun 1 Nov · All Saints
All Saints above the clouds
Sunday MassSolemnity of All Saints —
10:00 Mass at Pfarrei Interlaken. Alternatives from the same parish calendar: 09:30 in
Grindelwald or 17:45 in
Wengen — Mass in a mountain village is a memory in itself.
Confirmed for this date — re-verify.
Plan
- After Mass: Harder Kulm funicular — Interlaken's own summit terrace over both lakes (runs into late Nov).
- Afternoon: boat cruise on Lake Thun or lazy café afternoon — Sunday pace.
- Sunset apéro with the Jungfrau turning pink.
Photo spotHarder Kulm's Two-Lakes-Bridge viewpoint — Thun and Brienz at your feet, Eiger–Mönch–Jungfrau behind.
Day 8 · Mon 2 Nov · All Souls
Grindelwald & First — the bonus day
Daily MassNo Mass available today — the parish has no Monday liturgy and the villages have none either (honest gap; the parish calendar confirms it). Keep All Souls with a rosary for your departed at the
parish church (open for prayer), and offer tomorrow evening's Rome Mass for the holy souls.
Plan
- Train to Grindelwald; gondola to First — cliff walk, mountain lunch; the village at leisure after.
- Alternative if weather turns: Thun old town & castle, or Interlaken spa afternoon.
- Evening: pack for Italy; last rösti dinner.
Photo spotThe First Cliff Walk platform with the Eiger north face behind you.
Day 9 · Tue 3 Nov
Alps → Rome
Daily MassNo Mass in Interlaken today (the 09:00 is a Word-service, not a Mass) — so plan on
19:00 Mass at Santa Maria in Traspontina, 5 minutes from your Borgo/Prati hotel, on your first Roman evening.
Official parish schedule — re-verify.
Plan
- Morning train Interlaken Ost → Zurich Flughafen (~2h15, direct); midday flight Zurich → Rome Fiumicino (~1h35, Swiss/ITA — book ahead).
- Taxi (fixed €55 to center) or Leonardo Express to your Borgo/Prati hotel near the Vatican.
- First evening stroll to St Peter's Square lit up, Mass at Traspontina, trattoria dinner in Borgo Pio.
Photo spotLast Alps panorama along Lake Thun from the train; the basilica's dome glowing over the colonnade tonight.
Rome & the Vatican
Tue 3 – Sat 7 Nov · 4 nights
The heart of the trip. Stay in Borgo or Prati — a short walk to St Peter's, so early Masses and quiet evenings come easy.
Do this in advance: ① Papal general audience tickets (free) via the Prefecture of the Papal Household — see Practical section. ② Write to Villa Tevere to ask to visit St Josemaría's tomb and request a greeting with the Prelate. ③ Book Vatican Museums for Thursday afternoon. ④ Tell Kenny Ang you're free Friday evening.
Weekday Mass times (researched, official): St Peter's 07:00, 07:30, 08:30 (Blessed Sacrament Chapel, adoration after), 09:00–12:00 hourly, 17:00, 18:00 · Traspontina (Borgo) 09:00 & 19:00 · Sant'Eugenio (next to Villa Tevere) 07:25, 13:15, 19:00 · Santa Maria Maggiore hourly 07:00–12:00 + 18:00. Re-verify ~2 weeks out.
Day 10 · Wed 4 Nov
General audience with Pope Leo XIV
Daily Mass07:00 at
Santo Spirito in Sassia (Divine Mercy shrine, 5 min from St Peter's) before heading to the square —
St Peter's itself is locked down for the audience until ~noon, so don't plan Mass there this morning.
Verify Santo Spirito's time.
Plan
- Papal General Audience, St Peter's Square — audience ~09:00–09:30; be at security by 07:30 with your (free) tickets. Newlyweds within about two months of the wedding who come in wedding attire ("sposi novelli") get special front seating and a blessing from the Holy Father — see Practical.
- Relaxed afternoon: Santa Maria Maggiore (the oldest Marian basilica in the West) and the Colosseum (exterior at sunset is enough on a honeymoon pace).
Photo spotThe audience itself — dress smart; official Vatican photographers sell photos of the sposi novelli blessing at fotografiafelici.com.
Day 11 · Thu 5 Nov
St Peter's Basilica
Daily MassMorning Mass inside
St Peter's Basilica — doors open 07:00; Masses at
07:00, 07:30, then 08:30 in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel with adoration following. Arrive at opening to walk in with almost nobody there.
Official schedule; security queue grows after 08:30.
Plan
- Morning: the basilica slowly — the Pietà, St Peter's tomb, St John Paul II's tomb; climb the dome (lift + 320 steps) for the view over the colonnade.
- Afternoon: Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel (pre-booked, ~3h at a relaxed pace).
- Evening: dinner in Borgo Pio's lanes.
Photo spotVia della Conciliazione at dawn with the basilica behind you; from the dome, the keyhole-shaped square below.
Day 12 · Fri 6 Nov
Villa Tevere, the classic centre & Kenny
Plan
- Morning at Villa Tevere — pray at the tomb, and if granted, a greeting with the Prelate.
- Afternoon golden walk: Pantheon → Piazza Navona → Trevi Fountain (toss a coin together) → gelato at Giolitti.
- Evening: dinner with Kenny Ang — suggest Trastevere; wander its lanes after.
Photo spotTrevi at ~08:00 before crowds (detour on the way if you prefer), or Ponte Sant'Angelo at dusk — angels, castle and dome in one frame.
Day 13 · Sat 7 Nov
Arrivederci Roma → Hola Barcelona
Daily MassEarly Mass at St Peter's (07:00 or 07:30) — one last time under the dome before check-out. Bonus option tonight: the Sagrada Família's international Mass, Sat 20:00 (free, Nativity-façade entrance on Carrer de la Marina). Verify both.
Plan
- Midday flight Rome FCO → Barcelona (~1h50, Vueling/ITA — book ahead).
- Afternoon: check in Eixample; first stroll through the Gothic Quarter and Barcelona Cathedral.
- Evening: tapas crawl — start at Cal Pep or the El Born district (before or after the 20:00 Sagrada Mass if you take it).
Photo spotPont del Bisbe (the Gothic bridge) in Barri Gòtic.
Barcelona & Torreciudad
Sat 7 – Tue 10 Nov · 3 nights
Gaudí's hymn in stone, and a drive into the Pyrenean foothills to Our Lady of Torreciudad.
The drive: Rent a car for Monday only (pick up Sun evening or Mon ~08:30). Barcelona → Torreciudad is ~230 km, 2h45 each way via the A-22 (tolls). An easy, beautiful day loop; your international driving permits + home licences + passports in the glovebox.
Daily Mass base: Basílica de la Puríssima Concepció (Carrer Aragó, Eixample — a short walk from the hotel) has weekday Masses
hourly 08:00–13:00, plus 19:00 & 20:30, confessions before each. The Sagrada Família has
no ordinary weekday public Mass — only the Sunday 09:00 and Saturday 20:00 international Masses.
Official schedules — re-verify.
Day 14 · Sun 8 Nov
Sagrada Família Sunday
Sunday Mass09:00 international Mass inside the Sagrada Família — free, no ticket, enter via the Nativity façade on Carrer de la Marina; capacity is limited, so be in line by ~08:20. Note: Mass-goers can't stay on to sightsee — you exit and re-enter later with your timed ticket.
Official — verify at sagradafamilia.org.
Plan
- Late morning: Sagrada Família interior with tower access (book ~a month ahead; late-morning light through the stained glass is unreal).
- Afternoon: Park Güell (timed entry) then Passeig de Gràcia — Casa Batlló & La Pedrera façades.
- Evening: pick up rental car (city office) if doing the early start tomorrow.
Photo spotNativity façade from Plaça de Gaudí's pond; Park Güell's mosaic terrace with the city and sea behind.
Day 15 · Mon 9 Nov
Drive to Our Lady of Torreciudad
Daily MassTwo-Mass day if you want it:
08:00 at Puríssima Concepció before departing, and/or the shrine's only winter weekday Mass —
18:00 at Torreciudad (Rosary 17:00; confessions — a signature grace of this shrine, so dear to St Josemaría). Staying for the 18:00 Mass means a ~21:00 return to Barcelona in the dark; skipping it means Mass is already covered at 08:00.
⚠ Medium confidence — the shrine's site was unreachable when researched; call +34 974 304 025 before the drive. Winter opening: Mon–Fri 10:00–14:00 & 16:00–18:30.
Plan
- 08:00 Mass, then depart ~09:00; coffee stop ~Lleida; arrive ~12:00.
- Torreciudad 12:00–14:00: the alabaster retablo, the medieval image of Our Lady; lunch at the shrine cafeteria or picnic overlooking the turquoise El Grado reservoir (site closes 14:00–16:00 midday in winter).
- 14:00–16:00: 25-min detour to the old town of Barbastro, St Josemaría's birthplace; back for 17:00 Rosary + 18:00 Mass, or start home early.
- Return car in Barcelona tonight; easy dinner.
Photo spotThe shrine esplanade with the reservoir far below — one of the great unsung views of Spain.
Lourdes
Tue 10 – Thu 12 Nov · 2 nights
The Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes — where the Immaculate Conception appeared to St Bernadette in 1858. Off-season means a quiet Grotto, often nearly to yourselves.
Getting there: Barcelona → Lourdes is ~4h by car (AP-7/A-64; one-way cross-border rentals carry a hefty fee — compare) or ~5–6h by train via Narbonne/Toulouse. Leaving on: direct TGV Lourdes → Paris Montparnasse (~4h30–5h) on Thursday. Book a hotel that stays open year-round near the sanctuary gates — many Lourdes hotels close after the season.
Off-season honesty note (researched): the pilgrimage season ends ~1 Nov, so the nightly 21:00 torchlight procession will not be running, the English chaplaincy Masses wind down, and the baths run reduced (likely morning-only) hours. What remains: the Grotto — open, floodlit and quiet until 01:00 — daily Masses, and 17:00 Eucharistic adoration. The November grid isn't published yet: check the official Lourdes app or lourdes-france.com for live times, or call the info desk +33 5 62 42 20 08. Wed 11 Nov is Armistice Day (French holiday) — sanctuary open; town services reduced.
Day 16 · Tue 10 Nov
Barcelona → the Grotto by night
Daily Mass08:00 at Puríssima Concepció (Eixample) before leaving Barcelona; or, if you arrive in time, 18:00 Mass at the Adoration Chapel in the sanctuary. Verify the 18:00 winter Mass on the Lourdes app.
Plan
- Morning Mass, check out, drive or train to Lourdes (~4–6h); arrive late afternoon.
- Check in near the sanctuary; first walk through St Michael's Gate down to the Grotto of Massabielle — it stays open (and floodlit) until 01:00, and on a November night you may have it almost alone.
- Fill your bottles at the taps; light the first candle together.
Photo spotThe illuminated Rosary Basilica façade from the esplanade at night.
Day 17 · Wed 11 Nov
A full day with Our Lady of Lourdes
Daily MassAnchor Mass: 09:30, Basilica of the Immaculate Conception (Upper Basilica). Other researched options: 10:00 Grotto Mass (French; winter continuation unconfirmed), possibly the 09:30 Wednesday international Mass at St Pius X (runs "April–November" — verify), and 18:00 at the Adoration Chapel. Check the app the night before — November times aren't published yet.
Plan
- Early: the baths / water gesture at the Rotonde — off-season likely 09:00–11:00 only; go right at opening, then Mass. (If the queue logic clashes, Mass first and water gesture after — hold it loosely.)
- Walk St Bernadette's Lourdes: the Boly Mill (her birthplace) and the Cachot; the high Stations of the Cross on the hillside if the weather is kind.
- 17:00 Eucharistic adoration; unhurried Grotto time after dark — the quiet gift of coming off-season.
Photo spotThe two of you at the Grotto with candles; the basilicas mirrored in the Gave river from the meadow across.
NoteArmistice Day — expect some shops/restaurants closed in town; the sanctuary itself keeps its schedule.
Day 18 · Thu 12 Nov
Lourdes morning → TGV to Paris
Daily Mass09:30 Mass at the Upper Basilica if your train allows — or, once at Val d'Europe, the parish rotation has 18:30 Mass at Sainte-Geneviève, Magny-le-Hongre (5–10 min from the Disney hotels) tonight. Both researched; verify.
Plan
- Last Grotto visit; buy Lourdes water bottles & rosaries.
- Late-morning direct TGV Lourdes → Paris Montparnasse (~4h30–5h), then RER A / taxi to your Val d'Europe / Disney hotel.
- Evening: 18:30 Mass at Magny-le-Hongre if the timing works, then early night — Disneyland tomorrow. ❄
Photo spotMorning mist on the Gave with the basilica spires — the goodbye shot.
Disneyland Paris
Thu 12 – Sat 14 Nov · 2 nights
The grand finale — Agitha's day. Stay at a Disney hotel or Val d'Europe so the park (and CDG on Saturday) are minutes away.
Day 19 · Fri 13 Nov
Elsa, Pooh & fireworks
Daily MassNo morning Mass exists in the Val d'Europe area (researched — the pôle has one weekday Mass per day, always evening). Tonight's is
18:30 at Notre-Dame de l'Assomption, Bailly-Romainvilliers (~10 min drive) — tight against the night show, so a fair play is: yesterday's 18:30 Mass + tomorrow's airport chapel, and full Disney immersion today.
Rotation: poledevaldeurope.catho77.fr — village Masses occasionally cancel; call 01 60 42 01 15.
Plan
- Rope-drop Disneyland Paris. Priorities: World of Frozen / Arendelle in the Adventure World park — ride Frozen Ever After and meet Elsa (check the app: this land is newly opened; book character meets early). Confirm Frozen-land status & meet-and-greet times in the Disneyland app that morning.
- Winnie the Pooh: meet-and-greet spots near Casey Jr / Fantasyland (check the app's character schedule — Pooh appears most days).
- Classics together: Sleeping Beauty Castle, Peter Pan's Flight, Big Thunder Mountain, the 17:30 parade.
- Stay for Disney Tales of Magic night show on the castle, then collapse happily.
Photo spotCastle centerline shot on Main Street; with Elsa in Arendelle; matching Pooh ears optional but encouraged.
Day 20 · Sat 14 Nov
Homeward — mille mercis, Europe
Plan
- 06:45 Magical Shuttle / taxi to CDG Terminal 1 (~25 min) — aim to arrive 07:30 for the 10:20 SQ335.
- There are chapels at CDG (Terminal 2F) if time allows a visit.
- Land Singapore Sun 06:10 → SQ952 07:40 → Jakarta 08:30. Home as husband and wife.
Photo spotOne last selfie at the gate — day 20 of the rest of your lives.
Packing List
late Oct – mid Nov
The weather you'll meet
| Paris | 6–14°C, grey spells, occasional rain |
| Alps | 0–8°C valley; −10°C at Jungfraujoch, snow certain up top |
| Rome | 10–19°C, mild, some rain |
| Barcelona | 11–19°C, mostly pleasant |
| Lourdes | 3–13°C, Pyrenean foothills — cold nights, rain possible; warm layers for the night Grotto visits |
What to pack (35 kg allowance each)
Core (layering beats bulk)
- 1 warm packable jacket each (down/puffer) + 1 waterproof shell or compact umbrella ×2
- Sweaters/cardigans ×3, long-sleeve tops ×5, t-shirts ×4, jeans/trousers ×3
- Thermal base layer, beanie, gloves, scarf, wool socks — for the Jungfraujoch day
- Comfortable waterproof walking shoes (you'll do 15k+ steps/day) + 1 smarter pair
For church & the papal audience
- Modest church-appropriate outfits: shoulders/knees covered (a light shawl for Agitha covers every basilica dress code)
- Wedding attire for the sposi novelli blessing (Wed 4 Nov): suit for Victor; Agitha's wedding dress or a white dress — garment bag it
- Chapel veil if Agitha uses one; rosaries; a small daily missal or the app equivalents
- Marriage certificate copy + parish letter (needed for sposi novelli tickets)
Documents & driving
- Passports (Schengen: check ≥6 months validity), tickets, travel insurance
- Both international driving permits + home licences, credit card in driver's name for deposits
- EU plug adapters (Type C/E; Switzerland also Type J — bring one three-prong-J or use C)
Photo kit (for the scenic-spot ritual)
- Phone gimbal or mini tripod + phone bluetooth remote — couple shots without asking strangers
- Power bank ×2, charging cables, plenty of cloud storage set to auto-upload
Misc
- eSIM with EU data (e.g. Airalo/Holafly) covering FR/CH/IT/ES — note Switzerland is often excluded from "EU" plans; check
- Small day-pack, packable tote for market days, laundry bag (do laundry in Rome & Barcelona)
- Medication, basic first-aid, sunglasses (Alpine snow glare is real), sunscreen
- Empty space: you will come home with Miraculous Medals, Lourdes water, Torreciudad rosaries and Disney ears
Practical
book-ahead & how-tos
Papal general audience — how to get tickets
Tickets are free. Request them from the Prefecture of the Papal Household 1–2 months ahead: online form at vatican.va (Prefecture section) or fax/letter; collect them the Tuesday afternoon before at the Bronze Door, St Peter's Square. Your parish or the Pontifical North American College visitor office can also help.
Sposi novelli (newlywed blessing): couples married within ~2 months who attend in wedding attire get reserved front-row seating and a personal greeting/blessing from the Holy Father. Married 24 Oct, audience 4 Nov — you qualify beautifully. Apply through the Prefecture marking "sposi novelli", and bring a copy of your church marriage certificate. Confirm current rules when applying.
A private audience with Pope Leo XIV is realistically not obtainable for individuals; the sposi novelli blessing at the general audience is the closest — and it is genuinely close.
Villa Tevere & the Prelate of Opus Dei
Visits to the Prelatic Church of Our Lady of Peace (Viale Bruno Buozzi 73–75, Rome) and St Josemaría's tomb are arranged in advance — write via the contact on opusdei.org (Rome information office), or ask your local Opus Dei centre in Jakarta to arrange it; they do this routinely for travelling members and friends. In the same letter, request a brief greeting with the Prelate — not guaranteed, but newlyweds asking months ahead have a real chance. Do this in July–August 2026.
Book-ahead checklist (chronological)
- ASAP: hotels (Interlaken has limited stock; in Lourdes pick one of the hotels that stays open year-round); Villa Tevere letter; audience tickets request
- ~3 months out: TGV Paris→Basel; flights ZRH→FCO, FCO→BCN; TGV Lourdes→Paris (Thu 12 Nov); decide Barcelona→Lourdes mode (train via Narbonne/Toulouse vs one-way rental — cross-border one-way fees are steep); rental car for Torreciudad (Barcelona, Mon 9 Nov); TGV Paris ⇄ Lille (Tue 27 Oct evening) — book now, this window is already open: confirm the date with Nia first, or pick an exchangeable fare
- ~1–2 months out: Louvre, Sainte-Chapelle, Eiffel summit, Vatican Museums, Sagrada Família + tower, Park Güell, Jungfraujoch, Disneyland tickets + character-meet reservations
- ~2 weeks out: re-verify every Mass time on this site (French/Spanish parishes reset schedules in Sept; Lourdes/Torreciudad November grids publish late); call Torreciudad +34 974 304 025; install the official Lourdes app; Disneyland app for Frozen land & Pooh schedule
Money, phones, driving
- Currency: EUR everywhere except Switzerland (CHF — cards work everywhere)
- Time zones: one zone the whole trip — FR/CH/IT/ES = CET (UTC+1); no clock changes after arrival
- Driving: Spanish autopista tolls on the Torreciudad run (and French A-64 tolls if driving to Lourdes); carry IDP + licence always
- Emergency number everywhere: 112