http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Pedallingpete/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Pedallingpete en-us Sat, 28 Nov 2009 22:52:35 +0000 Sat, 28 Nov 2009 22:52:35 +0000 A mixed bag from along the Danube http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/blog-223713.html Here are a collection of windows that are from my Danube cycle trip from Regensburg to Brataslava and then onto Ljubiljana by train. http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/blog-220110.html 23rd 24th Octoberhelliphellip.SalzburgFor ease of train connections and to spend time in a pleasant city rather than Frankfurt prior to flying back to Australia I headed by train to Salzburg. Mediterranean is one side of the Alps and Salzburg is on the other and so it wasnrsquot long before the scene changed from deciduous autumn to snowy winterhellipin fact it happened entering a tunn http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Austria/Salzburg-State/Salzburg/blog-219741.html 20th 22nd October...............Ljubljana with a population of 269000 was the city that inspired me the most as to what Adelaide could be like that would draw tourists to experience an alternative relaxed lifestyle. What is needed however is inspired leadership on a Adelaide Local Government and State level. Ljubljana is in a lovely setting with a backdrop of alpine mountains a castle that over http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Slovenia/Upper-Carniola/Ljubljana/blog-219740.html 18th October........................Budapest lays on a geological fault line that result in some 30000 cubic metres of thermal water being released daily from about 120 springs. As a result it is a major centre for thermal baths. Having just cycled over 1000 kms from Germany I felt justified in lolling about and in fact I went to two different ones. The 1570 Turkish bath with its sky lit centra http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Hungary/Central-Hungary/Budapest/blog-217841.html 16th OctoberhelliphelliphelliphellipBudapestI stayed 4 nights 3 days in Hungaryrsquos capital of 2 million people. I got a single room in the 11th Hour Hostel probably once an old apartment building. The first couple of nights were spent as the sole occupant of a 6 bed dorm but it was noisy being next to the common area which turned party mode till late wit http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Hungary/Central-Hungary/Budapest/blog-217010.html 12th October 13th October............. Gyora Hungary ...................Bratislava is right on the border of Austria and Hungary and so it wasn't long before I found myself in my 4th country this trip and all on a bicycle. Hungary does not have the obvious wealth of Austria but it is a return to houses that are more cared for. Rural towns appear as somewhat 'peasant' communities. One gets the http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Hungary/Central-Hungary/Esztergom/blog-213306.html 10th October 12th October.......... Bratislava........I arrived back in the Land of Oz yesterday but let's you and I pretend I'm still over there having a good time Don't forget you can click on a photo to enlarge it.It was an easy ride out of Vienna and before I knew it I was cycling towards the derelict AustrianSlovakian border crossing. It was so unused looking I didn't even notice http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Slovakia/Bratislava-Region/Bratislava/blog-213173.html 9th October.....................Vienna Continued....................One could spend their whole time in Museums and I limit myself to ones that may be more interesting or different. The Haus der Musik uses computer interactive technology to explain the physics of sound. There are also separate rooms devoted to the great composers of Haydn Mozart Beethoven Schubert Strauss and Mahler. It was http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Austria/Vienna-State/Vienna/blog-213165.html 5th October...................Pischelsdorf Where the hell is that..........................It was a long day riding today cloudy with some sunshine. There was nowhere I particularly wanted to stay on the way and when I attempted to stop around 5pm the places were either full or more than what I wanted to pay. At dusk I checked into a guest house that was fine for an overnight stay although m http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Austria/Vienna-State/Vienna/blog-212078.html 2nd October 3rd October......... Grein.......Another pleasant half day of cycling brought me to the very picturesque town of Grein set right on the river with a castlepalace overlooking the town. The central main square is unchanged with buildings from the 16C. The old Town Hall built in 1563 was constructed into a theatre in 1791. It has operated as such since then It would be an experience http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Austria/blog-211936.html 30thSeptember 1st October......Mauthausen via St Florian.......I went off the main R1 Danube Trail to visit the Augustinian Abbey at St Florian. St Florian was a Roman who converted to Christianity and was drowned in the Enns River. I know I know....God works in mysterious ways. The church itself is fullon baroque from the 17C on a grand scale. Think Big.I found Mauthausen an interesting town http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Austria/Upper-Austria/Mauthausen/blog-211246.html 29th September......Linz with a population of 208000 grew on me. While it has a lovely market square with a flea market on the Sat morning I was there it is an industrial city that belches out steam and pollution in the suburbs and across the Danube. You can taste it as you cycle out of the city. It is an alive city though and I enjoyed the large community art pieces on the riverbank. The Post http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Austria/Upper-Austria/Linz/blog-211245.html 28th Septmeber.....Passau to Linz......The next day saw clouds and an occasional sprinkle of rain as I crossed the 'border' into Austria. No demands of passport anymore instead you are welcomed by a sign that is in 4 different languages. The old custom house is now an art gallery and you don't have to change your money. I had a musical experience of a different kind yesterday. It was one of those http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Austria/blog-209509.html Bogan Passau...... It was an overcast day today but the rain stayed away. I met up with some other cyclists who were a bit older than me. They had very impressive folding cycles but had special narrow rims on the smaller wheel which was causing a real problem for them. The tube had gone and a replacemnt was looking very difficult to get. Let it be another lesson to me Mine are easy to get in th http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Germany/blog-206618.html I decided to ride up the river for 3040 kms to visit Weltenburg which has the world's oldest monastic brewery founded in 1058 and an over the top Baroque decorated church dated 1716. It is set on a remote somewhat inaccessable part of the river with high limestone cliffs and forest on either side. I cycled along the river on extremely well maintained paths along with other cyclists and the odd http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Germany/Bavaria/Regensburg/blog-207349.html 1999helliphelliphellip.6wks SOUTH AMERICAARGENTINA PERU............ Colca Canyon helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellipThe travelling from Arequipa to the Colca Canyon was a 6hour trip along a bumpy dusty road going past countryside reminiscent of Mongolia or Ladakh. I have had so much dust in the last few days that Irsquom congested with the coughs and a sore throat. http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Ica/Nazca/Nazca-Lines/blog-135254.html 1999helliphelliphellip.6wks SOUTH AMERICAARGENTINA PERU............I decided to head off to Arequipa by plane and give Lake Titacaca a miss with a 7am half hour flight. The view from the window was not amazing as they were dirty and the sun was shining on my side. Arequipa is Perursquos second largest city with 1 million people. It is set amongst the desert with the volcano El Misti http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Arequipa/blog-135231.html 1999helliphelliphellip.6wks SOUTH AMERICAARGENTINA PERU............ We were awoken at just after 4 am for the final dash to the Sun Gate to see Machu Pichu unfold itself at sunrise. It is about 1 hourrsquos walk which is a bit up and down with the usual Inca steps. What I want to know is if the Incas could build such amazing precise walls and architecture why didnrsquot they make the http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Cusco/Inca-Trail/blog-129970.html helliphellip.6wks SOUTH AMERICAARGENTINA PERU............ ldquoThis is deservedly the most famous footpath in Sth America. It has everything gorgeous mountain scenery cloud forest and lush subtropical vegetation with numerous species of flowers a stunning destination. There are Inca paving stones Inca stairways an Inca tunnel and of course five sets of ruins including Machu Picchu http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Cusco/Machu-Picchu/blog-129969.html