Blogs from Europe - page 11163

We decided to catch a train into Italy from Lucern rather than going backwards to Zurich. This meant we had to change trains at a little place called Arth Goldau. While there was a timetabled connection of 4 minutes, we thought we would play it safe and catch the train before. However we needn't have worried. Switzerland appears to have excellent timetabling with the local train getting in 4 minutes before the international train and departing another 4 minutes after (so stopping for 8 minutes). This gives plenty of time for people to change to and from the international train without holding it up. After our short stay at Arth Goldau we jumped on board the international train where we had reserved seats. The train was very full unlike most other trains we had caught recently ... read more

SNOWDONIA NATIONAL PARK - NORTH WALES Back from Brazil, staying over at friends' places: Celso and Alex. Ana was in London for the last bit of her holiday and was brave enough to be the very first pillion passanger in my new VFR; I forgot to take the padlock off and we both fell with the bike. Ana had to help me lift the bike so that my left foot could be freed from under the weight. Had I broke a bone? I thought so but changed my mind quickily when I got to the Whittington in Archway around 11pm and found the waiting room crowded - luckily the foot got better quickily... Three days after that I was off to SNOWDONIA with Helen and Ed: a weekend of trekking, scrambling and climbing which could well ... read more

Now we have arrived into London. We found our hotel, the London House Hotel, to be simple, clean with a nice simple breakfast, with an excellent location related to the underground, many excellent restaurants, a shopping centre, Marks & Spencer food store, etc. Would most definitely stay here again. After arriving and checking in, we wasted no time to go downtown to see the sights, and pleasantly came upon an oyster, sea food, & wine fair at Haysmarket. Lots of people, good music, excellent sea food. What a fun Sunday afternoon. Then we went for a walk to the old London Bridge and walked around the castle and numerous downtown streets. The next day, unfortunately Arlene came down with a bad sore throat so I ventured downtown on the Hop on Hop off bus tour taking ... read more

Hej allihopa, pünktlich zum Wochenende hat es natürlich angefangen zu regnen. Und wie. *grummel* Ja was macht man denn bei solch einem Wetter. Man könnte ja ins Museeum gehen - klar, aber nicht wenn noch ein gewisses Risiko besteht, ob die erste Zahlung des Lohnes funktioniert. Nein, ich werde nicht von Schweden, sondern von Dtl. aus bezahlt. Da müsste man eigentlich meinen, dass da nix schief gehen kann. Meine Erfahrung hat mir aber gezeigt, dass dies nicht so zutrifft. Vor allem nicht, wenn die Lohn- und Gehaltsabrechnung "outgesourct" wird. Bei meinem letzten Aufenthalt hier in Schweden habe ich dies gespürt. Sehr "schmerzlich". Eines Tages bekam ich eine Mail von meinem dt. Chef mit dem Hinweis, doch mal bei der Gehaltsabrechnung anzurufen, es gäbe Probleme mit meinem Vertrag. Da denkt man sich ja nun erstma nix schlimmes ... read more

Despite the tourist mecca Ireland has become, travellers often fail to head to the north. Northern Ireland, with its recent history of political and civil unrest, is often overlooked as a tourist destination without due consideration of the many appealing aspects of its truly unique natural landscape. As we were to discover, Northern Ireland offers natural beauty on a grand scale. Again, a weekend adventure took us north from Belfast to the city of Derry, once THE hotspot of the 'troubles' but now a city trying to rebuild itself on the backbones of its long history, its unique city achitecture (wth the old city walls still intact )and its emerging identity as a modern, progressive centre. We took a tour offered by a local guide which gave a wonderful local insight into the both proud and ... read more