Wow! Fantastic photo. What an amazing place to stay. So glad the weather was good- it can make such a difference to a place especially in the mountains. Definitely another journey and hotel for the list. I must tell James about it. I think I’d be happy repeating your whole holiday! Xx
Lovely Salzburg Another wonderful place to explore. I also visited here with my mum and dad on a summer holiday - I remember singing Doh, reh, mi on the steps and jumping up and down them like in the film. I’ve always loved that film but didn’t know all the other locations - will have to go again with your blog to hand. How did you come to stay with Reni’s family for the exchange - did your Dad know them? What a fortuitous match it has been for you all. Xxx
Lovely Salzburg Hi Fi. We could go one time and do a Sound of Music tour!! No, Dad didn't know the family. It was my German teacher, Miss Harvatt at Bolton School who strongly recommended doing an exchange at Parents' Evening. Which my Dad thoroughly approved of. There were only ten girls in my year doing the fast-track 2-year German O Level, and three of us did the exchange that she organised through the Anglo Austrian Society. x
Wonderful city You’ve reminded me how wonderful Prague is and made me want to visit again with your vivid descriptions. The hotel sounds great and what an amazing woman as a guide. I remember enjoying it when I went with the boys about 14 years ago - we travelled by train from Krakow. Time for another trip I think...
Thankful Dear Chris, thank you so much for your visit in Ljubljana. After few minutes I had a feeling I know you for ages! It must be fun to travel with you. I am looking forward to be your local guide next Spring when you bring Sue's group to Ljubljana. Take care, with love, mateja
Another one for the list. Looks like another interesting place. You’re doing fine for ‘gelatos’. It reminds me of when we went to Krakow with the boys and ice creams were only about 50p equivalent - they loved that holiday! I seem to remember cocktails were also cheap! Always good to have a boat trip when you can.
It all sounds well worth a visit. Have you time for any galleries or museums or is that a bit too much to fit in? In USA some of the best things we saw were quite small exhibitions. Not sure if they’d have any English translations though?
Really enjoying reading everything Chris.
Xx
Gelatos and other bits Hi Fi. It is great that you are reading the blog. I am enjoying writing it much more than I thought I would. sadly there isn't enough time to really 'do' any of the galleries or museums. My main goal for each place is to check out the logistic for next year and then give myself a good overview of the city. I felt quite unhurried in Zagreb and especially in Ljubljana, but there will be quite a few flying visits eg Graz where I am just now. I arrived around 7.30 and by the time I had checked in and eaten something, it was a bit late for hitting the city centre. So I shall be up and out in the morning as I continue to Bratislava at 1.30pm tomorrow. I feel on a mission now to check out beer and wine prices for the remainder of the trip xx
Trip Fabulous! Love it. R says his lacked substance compared with your detail!! Great you are having such an amazing time. R says he is travelling with you next true next time!!!! That’s true as we will be together summer 2020!! Xxxx
Sounds a beautiful city Zagreb sounds beautiful and interesting - perfect for a few days maybe before xmas as you suggest. Very good of Vlatka to give you a tour - that must have been great. Are you just buying separate tickets rather than using the Inter rail pass? Prices are so cheap maybe it isn't worth having the pass for some countries We are used to such high rail prices.
Another city to put on my list. Thanks
Xxx
Zagreb Hi Fi. I would definitely add it to your list. It is delightful. I will definitely return, probably at advent time as well as returning here in 2020 with two of the tours. Yes I have bought point to point tickets as far as St. Moritz as the trains have been ridiculously cheap. I used the website https://www.seat61.com. It is brilliant for planning and he explains everything. As I have planned ahead and know what times and days I want to travel, it has been much cheaper and easier to do point to point tickets. However, I have got a three-day pass for the final three days in Switzerland. This gets me on the Glacier Express (massive highlight!) and gets me all the way back to Wigan North Western. Ljubljana is also delightful - more of that later!! xxx
Train travel is great! The time on the trains seems to go very fast when you’re going for pleasure rather than work. It’s lovely meeting people from different countries and different ages - gives you a broader perspective on everything. Looking forward to hearing about Zagreb. I was once stranded at the airport for 9 hours with no food and not allowed out travelling on Yugoslav airlines - something to do with Tito flying there - we were finally rescued by a British Airways flight to Geneva. Never saw anything of Zagreb! Xx
Train travel bus great! I have a vague recollection of arriving in Dubrovnik whilst doing InterRail. Likewise there was an issue with Tito and for whatever reason we huts got straight back on a train heading out of Yugoslavia. Such a pity as I now understand that Dubrovnik is wonderful. Really glad that you will follow the blog xx
Great city! Looks like a very beautiful and interesting city to visit and walk around. I’ve added it to my list. The shoes are as you say a very poignant reminder. What price is a beer/ wine in HUF? In USA this summer beers/ cider were from £5-9 equivalent and wine £8.00 - £12.00. Very expensive. Xxx
Xx
Great city! You can get beer and wine quite cheaply in Budapest. I didn't have too many whist there - just a couple of glasses of delicious house red whilst enjoying meal in a nice restaurant close to the Basilica. There were approx 2,000 HUF each (£5/6 ish). But on the whole the alcoholic drinks are cheap. Thats was Andy remembers from his trip there!! It's a great point. I shall start to take more note of the average costs of wine/beer/coffee.xx
Looking forward to following your trip. Really enjoying your blog so far. Very true about the buses or local trains - always worth checking out as they can be so cheap and a good way to see a bit more and chat to people. Enjoy xxx
Looking forward to reading this I’m so glad that you are sharing this. We did the bus to the airport at Budapest but forgot to validate our ticket. Fortunately there were no inspections that time or we would have faced a hefty fine.
Looking forward to reading more xx
Great blog! Great to read. Wholly agree re the bus from the airport. Dead easy! Look forward to hearing about your trip! Hope it’s not a chore for you ! Have fun xx
Fiona
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Wow!
Fantastic photo. What an amazing place to stay. So glad the weather was good- it can make such a difference to a place especially in the mountains. Definitely another journey and hotel for the list. I must tell James about it. I think I’d be happy repeating your whole holiday! Xx