Flew into Heathrow London, via Dubai, on 25th April. After spending a few days in London, where we managed to catch up with a few friends we prepared for our European rail journey. Our trip took us from London to, Amsterdam in the Netherlands, to Cologne and Nuremberg in German, Prague in the Czech Republic, Vienna in Austria, and finally to Budapest in Hungry, then back home to Perth Western Australia. Our trip was a long term plan and we spent 23 day’s riding the rails.
As a brief overview of the trains. Leaving from St Pancras Station was pretty hectic but once on the train the four and half hour trip was very smooth. The DB trains,from Amsterdam to Cologne approx 2:40 hours and from Cologne to Nuremberg 3:40 hours were very clean and comfortable. However, the planned trip to Prague was changed due to maintenance and our trip’s mid way transfer at Schwandorf, a very easy cross platform transfer, was re routed to Regensburg. Here we had about 5 minutes to transfer from one platform to another. That in itself was okay but we did not know the train sitting on the platform had come from Prague and was heading to Munich. We found the train on the right platform and got on. It immediately pulled out. After a flush of panic and help from a young woman we were able to get off at the next stop, 25 minutes later, and get a train back to Regensburg, extending our overall trip by 2 hours. Not a huge disaster and something to tell friends about. From Regensburg just going to Prague was 4h:5 min.
A few of our rail trips. This trip is the pink route from London to Budapest.
Some of my favourite photos of the Colosseum. The Colosseum was started under Emperor Vespasian in 72AD and was completed under Emperor Titus in 80AD. It is still the largest ever-built amphitheatre. Originally called the Favian Amphitheatre.Continue reading 2023 Rome→
Although this was our second time in Venice, we still got a buzz walking out of the railway station and looking straight onto the Grand Canal.Continue reading 2023 Venice→
Although I had been in Scotland only a few months before this was our actual planned holiday for three weeks from 27th of August until 19th September. The weather was fantastic. Linda and I had few day in Largs and Paisley before heading to the highlands where we based ourselves at the village of Spean Bridge, just north of Fort William. We plan to visit Glencoe, Glenfinnan, Neptune’s Lock, the Commando monument, Urquhart Castle, Culloden and stopping off at Loch Lomond on the way home.
It was great walking along the foreshore in Largs everyone was sitting around enjoying the glorious weather. Up In Glasgow for the day. I see Wellington has now taking to carrying a spare traffic cone, just in case.
I decided in late May to travel to Scotland as my young brother was having serious health issues. I booked to be there for a month and left Perth on 2nd June. In no time at all I discovered how difficult it was dealing with numerous Government bureaucracies. And nothing moves fast.
I am happy to say we struggled through most of the requirements but some will take months to finalise. But we both felt we had achieved a lot.
Walking along the Largs front. David at this point needing to use a wheelchair. The weather was glorious. I am happy to say that he is walking better using a stick. It still takes it out of him but there has been good progress.
Everyday is was on to the things to do list. Spending hours on the phone and sending numerous emails. And later no matter the weather we went out for a walk. At least one day a week we had a break. I would leave David in peace and catch up with family and old friends. It helped us recharge our batteries.
We managed to jointly catch up with family members some in Largs and some in Johnstone. During our breakouts days I spent time visiting old friends In Glasgow and Renfrew. I also had two great visits to Paisley , to meet up with Ann. She arranged for us to visit a local art gallery, the old weaver’s cottage, our old workplace, as well as where I used to stay. We then went to the crematorium to help Ann find the plaque to hers and Linda’s dad. We had found it years ago but Ann could not find it since.
Ann was so happy finding the plaque again and she has the place firmly memorised now.
Inevitably it became time to leave, which is always hard. And even though I had a couple of, much appreciated offers to take me to the airport. I decided it was easiest all round for me to take the train from Largs. The trip went well, then things started to go south.
My flight was half an hour late in boarding, that’s okay. Just as we moved from the terminal we had a power shutdown. The plan was towed back and we sat, on the tarmac for about two and a half hours. It was quite oppressive and Someone was medically taken off, adding to the delay.
During the flight and over the next seven and a half hours I hoped we would make up time and I would get my once a day connecting flight. The flight took off 13 minutes before we landed. I, along with others going to various destinations found ourselves stranded.
I have to say Emirates was very efficient. We were met with signs sending us to agents who had hotel accommodation booked, our boarding pass for the next days flight. The seats are not great but at least we are on the flight, and transportation to and from the hotel. At the hotel I had the room until I departed, and all meals covered. Before you ask, it did not include any alcohol☹️. I can’t fault the support given. But by this time it’s after 4.30 am and I am shattered. Slept until ten , went for breakfast and wondered what to do for the next 12 hours. I could not go out for a walk as it was far too hot. Picked up a two hour tour, I will show some pictures below, then after a late lunch 2.15 I went back to bed until 9.45pm, only slept on and off. Then something light to eat before heading to the airport. Hope you enjoy the pics below.
Just to show I was there 😂I hope that tallest building in the world doesn’t fall down on me😂The back of the hotel. It was very humid and the camera started to mist up instantly.
With the cruise over we flew back from Rome to London and caught up with two friends for a few days, before the long flight back to Perth WA
After wandering around on this lovely warm 30th October, we stopped for a drink. I couldn’t believe the weather in London for this time of the year. These are the Herd of Hope. 20 statues of baby elephants and their mother are scattered around the Spitalfields Markets representing the real life orphans elephant rescued by the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in Kenya. Continue reading 2022 Cruise holiday part 8 London→
The area exposed is only about a quarter of the original town. it is believed that many more buildings are still buried. The restoration here is much harder than at Pompeii. At Pompeii they could wash the ash away exposing buildings etc. Here they have to use various tools including hammers and chisels. Because unlike Pompeii Herculaneum was a mixture of mud and ash, becoming solid within the buildings. Continue reading 2022 Cruise part 7 Naples at Herculaneum→
Had an early start as we were on the trip called, Walking in the steps of the Godfathers. We visited 2 villages where some of the scenes, mainly in The Godfather part 1, were shot. This was when Michael was in hiding and where he first gets married.
Kotor is in Montenegro, and Corfu in Greece. Both were small old towns so we had plenty of time to slowly walk around. I really liked the old town of Kotor. Just a few of the many photos we took.
Les McLaughlan 