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Europe » Austria » Vienna December 13th 2019

Vienna Sunday 8th December 2019 – Friday 13th December 2019 Waltzing Vienna!! A few days away to celebrate Chris’ 73rd birthday! We had a lunchtime flight so quite a leisurely day arriving at the hotel about 4.00pm. No problems at all, an easy journey from the airport to the OPP Wien Hauptbahnhof (Central Vienna Station) and a five minute walk to our Hotel (Hotel Prinz Eugen) Apart from having a little local wander and a local gluhwien we had a relaxing evening, getting ready to explore Vienna tomorrow. Monday 9th December 2019 After a good breakfast we set off 9.30ish and caught the Blue Line on the Big Red Bus, past Belvedere Palace to Hofburg, the Winter Palace, the last royals that lived there - Franz Joseph and Elizabeth (also known as Sissi). It was enormous ... read more
Jewish Monument
Hotel Sacher
Spanish Riding School

Europe » Austria » Vienna October 26th 2019

When time is plentiful, there’s so much to do! Stepping out onto Klosterneuberg Straße behind the Augarten I’d be mistaken for thinking I was in Palmerston North. More hairdressers and beauty clinics than expected, this was barber street(s). Shave, cut, colour, foils, the works, in increments of euros. After passing one that morning with the failed swim, I motioned I’d return that afternoon although the morning quiet was deceptive. Come 4pm when I returned, I stood a good fifteen min at the front door before being acknowledged, at which point I asked could I perhaps sit and wait?. The one hour wait was suggested, so as various others came and went, I stayed. Perfect blog writing time, and around 6:15 I was taken for my hair to be wet then cut. It’s these moments I wished ... read more
Altenberg
Descent from Tulbinger kogel to Vienna

Europe » Austria October 24th 2019

So Austria is so close, it seems daft not to ‘bag another country, oh have we mentioned the goal is to visit every European country. No timescale on that, and oh that number varies between 44-52 dependent on where you go for your advise! Anyway we have visited Austria before but that was to Vienna some years ago, there is one thing I do know about Salzburg and that is the home of many of the locations of The Sound of Music, (oh and more notably the birth place of Mozart!?!) and whilst I do serenade Graeme with my version of ‘high on the hills ‘ as we make our way towards the city, I have assured Graeme that doing the Full SOM tour will not be on our itinerary. Our first stop is to Hellbrunn ... read more
Saltzburg
Konigsee lake
Eagle Nest

Europe » Austria » Lower Austria October 23rd 2019

Like always, departing NZ bound for Europe is lengthy. In line with a major event on the professional development calendar late in October, I just had to go. Without P2 this time. Just under 18 hours can pass surprisingly quickly when half of it is asleep. Qatar Airways direct to Doha from Auckland has the longest flight in the world, slightly more than the other Middle Eastern countries and on par nearly with some AirNZ to the America’s. And yet the cabin crew retain that unflappable appearance. Passengers, as myself, look more rugged! Hamad airport was buzzing at midnight, everyone on hasty short or taking-their-time long layovers. Fortunately this aircraft parking spot delivered us (via buses) right to the landmark of the giant teddy bear, lounges, and the much appreciated, Vitality Spa. If I needed a ... read more
Doha
Vineyards near Vienna Woods
Looking east to the Donau

Europe » Austria October 13th 2019

No ha hecho mucho frío (unos 10 grados) pero mucha humedad, y esta es una tienda de verano, toda la capa interior de la tienda es mosquitera. O sea, he pasado un poco de frío sobre todo en los pies, pero haciéndose una bola se podía dormir. Ha amanecido muy bonito, he socializado con las vacas y a las 9 y pico en marcha. Los 800m de subida hasta el paso me han llevado 3 horas relajadas. Además he subido hasta el Arlbergpass a pesar de que no hacia falta (200m extra). Aquí arriba comer y souvenir y bajada de 200m hasta la bifurcación al Flexenpass. Hay una galería de 1,5km picada en la montaña que lleva gasta arriba, con una pendiente del 10% o mas (picar galería es un coñazo y se intenta hacer corta) ... read more
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Europe » Austria October 12th 2019

Entre que el tren dura mucho y en que segundo sale a las 7:20 (el primero 5:20 descartado), he llegado tarde a Lindau. Y después los 50km mas aburridos y frustrantes de todos los tiempos hasta Feldkirch. Solo a partir de ahí empieza a mejorar el paisaje un poco, he llegado a Bludenz, que tiene una fabrica de Liebherr pero lo que es mejor, una fábrica de milka con outlet. Por desgracia con horarios muy escasitos y la he pillado cerrada. Tengo que volver un día que este abierta. Desde Bludenz la carretera empieza a subir y mi ritmo ha bajado, además he subestimado el paso de montaña y no me va a dar tiempo de hacerlo con luz. Así que me quedó en el camping de justo antes, y modifico la ruta planeada, mañana a ... read more
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Europe » Austria » Vienna October 9th 2019

Leaving the Czech Republic behind, a few hours later, the train crosses the border and into Wien, better known as Vienna, AUSTRIA, founded in the first Century AD. This very liveable city is also known as the city of music and dreams as Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Brahms, and Freud all worked here. It is lovely to hear the clip clopping of the horses pulling carts down the cobblestone streets, and the church bells ringing on the hour. It is also where coffee houses originated centuries ago, creating part of the Viennese charm. First stop is to the Stephansdom Crypt which is still used as a burial spot for Archbishop’s today. In one section, hermetically sealed metal jars store the organs and hearts of royalty, much like the ancient Egyptian traditions. During the outbreak of the bubonic ... read more
Prague - The Old Railway Station
Bye to Prague - The Old Railway Station
A Statement?

Europe » Austria September 21st 2019

Hoy por fin he cerrado el círculo. En tres etapas ya he terminado el recorrido de esta prueba de locos. Yo he invertido 10horas el primer día, casi 12 el segundo y hoy 9. Y he recorrido los 5500m de desnivel y he hecho de propina 120km de rodar rápido por en valle del Inn https://www.oetztaler-radmarathon.com/home.html El día de hoy ha empezado con el madrugón de rigor para pasarme luego 3 horas en el tren. A las 9:30 salida desde Innsbruck West. Hasta Kematen es llanear. Luego empieza la subida, primer mitad ligera, segunda mitad peor, y solo se pone civilizado al final otra vez. De lo alto del paso bajada al valle de Oetz, esquivando algunas vacas. Y desde Oetz piloto automático: llanear rápido a innsbruck. No me ha dado para llegar al tren de ... read more
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Europe » Austria September 16th 2019

Quería empezar a las 7 pero he empezado a las 7:30, después de desmontar el campamento en mi terraza maldita de St Leonhard. Una vez dejas el camping la cosa se pone seria enseguida. St Leonhard parece estar en un agujero a unos 700m de desnivel, el siguiente pueblo, Moos, ya esta a 1000m. Pero todo puede empeorar, en Moos empieza la serpentina a través del bosque, y arriba donde clarea da un poco de tregua. Y así se llega al paredón. Desde la carretera ya se ve una pared de roca y hierba hasta los 3000m (en los picos). Y si, el camino es por ahí. Como he comido bien (bocata de queso) y me he gestionado los plátanos he ido subiendo sin mucho problema y sin calambres. Arriba del todo hay un tunel y ... read more
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Europe » Austria » Vienna September 15th 2019

Well today required an early rise and trip to the beautiful new Vienna Station. Enjoyed my last best gluten free breakfast so far with fruit, yoghurt, scrambled eggs and an assortment of warm gluten free European sweet buns with home style pear jam. Oh how I will miss this. Just as well I’m one of those people who are always early as so was my pickup. Checking out I was gifted with a small jar of their branded jam for the journey ahead. Being a Sunday and early, Vienna was a quiet as a church mouse. My driver was jovial and dropped me off at the door. The station was just as quiet which meant an easy bathroom stop- if you have a euro! I have learnt to keep my 1€ for such important occasions. Security ... read more
Budapest Station




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