Sunday, September 19, 2010
Catch up photos - Budapest
Catch up photos - Venice
Needs no introduction!
Catch up photos - Rome
This is my second attempt at uploading all these pics, hopefully I can get some more done today. Last day on the cruise, arriving at Nuremberg tomorrow then off to Prague.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
On the River Cruise
(Authored by Maz)
Had a day to wander around Vienna after we saw the Spanish Riding horses - Lippenzanas. They are truly magnificent animals and a pure joy to watch (no pics allowed so no pics to post - bugga). Then we toured thru the royal apartments at the Hofberg Palace before stumbling into a wine and beer festival - couldn't buy a Coke for love nor money. Did a bit more sightseeing around Vienna, then we were both quite tired from the previous 4 weeks on the go so went back to hotel for a rest before returning to the food festival for a multinational feed and some mime / talk with a pair of drunk Austrians.
On to the Metro again next morning from Schonnbrun Station to main station for train to Budapest. The standard of the trains in Europe is very high - even for us plebs in 2nd class. Plenty of leg room, buffet service, clean toilets, on time running, etc.
Found our way to Marriott Hotel to meet other passengers and be taken to ship. We are in Stateroom 230 with a balcony and good beds. We were in Budapest overnight and at 10.30pm we were taken for a sightseeing few laps of the Danube to see the beautiful lights of the city.
Today we had a city tour by bus before a terrific lunch on board then walked back to town for last souvenir shopping to get rid of our 11,210 HuF (Hungarian money - hoofers we call it, but it is actualluy Florints) which cost 50 euros. Hope to ease up on the extensive spending a bit now we are on board and well fed regularly.
Will be attending a night of champagne and dancing tomorrow night at the Lichtenstein Palais Vienna and dining with the Captain on board on thursday night - its hard work but we'll battle on.
David may post some pics later on, we have bought a week of internet for 30 euros, so will have to be making good use of the money spent.
Had a day to wander around Vienna after we saw the Spanish Riding horses - Lippenzanas. They are truly magnificent animals and a pure joy to watch (no pics allowed so no pics to post - bugga). Then we toured thru the royal apartments at the Hofberg Palace before stumbling into a wine and beer festival - couldn't buy a Coke for love nor money. Did a bit more sightseeing around Vienna, then we were both quite tired from the previous 4 weeks on the go so went back to hotel for a rest before returning to the food festival for a multinational feed and some mime / talk with a pair of drunk Austrians.
On to the Metro again next morning from Schonnbrun Station to main station for train to Budapest. The standard of the trains in Europe is very high - even for us plebs in 2nd class. Plenty of leg room, buffet service, clean toilets, on time running, etc.
Found our way to Marriott Hotel to meet other passengers and be taken to ship. We are in Stateroom 230 with a balcony and good beds. We were in Budapest overnight and at 10.30pm we were taken for a sightseeing few laps of the Danube to see the beautiful lights of the city.
Today we had a city tour by bus before a terrific lunch on board then walked back to town for last souvenir shopping to get rid of our 11,210 HuF (Hungarian money - hoofers we call it, but it is actualluy Florints) which cost 50 euros. Hope to ease up on the extensive spending a bit now we are on board and well fed regularly.
Will be attending a night of champagne and dancing tomorrow night at the Lichtenstein Palais Vienna and dining with the Captain on board on thursday night - its hard work but we'll battle on.
David may post some pics later on, we have bought a week of internet for 30 euros, so will have to be making good use of the money spent.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Brief Rome and Venice
Not much really to say about Rome, saw the obligatories and did our Vatican Necropolis Tour. Now that was something special, to see the necropolis which was buried by Emporer Constantine for the building of the first cathedral to St Peter. It was only excavated in the 1940s. It was incredible to see the tomb of St Peter, the little bit they would let us see that is. Very hot and humid under there, we were there for an hour. I found St Peter's Basilica itself to be magnificent but rather underwhelming. Enjoyed the Pantheon much more.
Our hotel was not in Rome as advertised, more like Campbelltown is to Sydney, only much less available public transport - 1 bus an hour which took an hour to get to thee nearest metro station. Taxi from the airport took over an hour and cost 85 euros. After a rather dubious start, we decided we didn't mind the hotel and its location, just would have liked better food and public transport options. A footpath wouldn't have gone astray either.
Venice....oh what a place. Very much heaven compared to Rome. I am in love. I have a new favourite place outside Australia. Amsterdam and Vanuatu have been kicked off the top, replaced by this marvel. We have walked and walked and walked (and caught the bus - the vaporeto, or waterbus). I dawned on me as we were wandering the streets late on our first night that there are no cars, buses, trucks, vespas, honking horns, bicycles - just pedestrians. Pure heaven. I could be easily tempted to stay here forever, if there were no tourist hordes, especially Americans. We have walked through amazing little alleys and streets, crossed I don't know how many bridges, seen so many masks (I want them all), beautiful glass and jewellery (mum wants it all). Today we even experienced the flooding of the streets at San Marco Square - it was coming into St Mark's Basilica while we were in there. The buildings are just gorgeous, the gondolas are serene. I love it. Did I mention that I love this place? And by the way, I love it!!!
Here is a picture of my souvenir of the trip. Handmade from leather and one-of-a-kind. Not quite a mask, but still distinctly Venice to me:
Only 3 more days and then we will be River Cruising. I am looking forwarding to unpacking and living out of a cupboard for 2 weeks!
Love to all
Our hotel was not in Rome as advertised, more like Campbelltown is to Sydney, only much less available public transport - 1 bus an hour which took an hour to get to thee nearest metro station. Taxi from the airport took over an hour and cost 85 euros. After a rather dubious start, we decided we didn't mind the hotel and its location, just would have liked better food and public transport options. A footpath wouldn't have gone astray either.
Venice....oh what a place. Very much heaven compared to Rome. I am in love. I have a new favourite place outside Australia. Amsterdam and Vanuatu have been kicked off the top, replaced by this marvel. We have walked and walked and walked (and caught the bus - the vaporeto, or waterbus). I dawned on me as we were wandering the streets late on our first night that there are no cars, buses, trucks, vespas, honking horns, bicycles - just pedestrians. Pure heaven. I could be easily tempted to stay here forever, if there were no tourist hordes, especially Americans. We have walked through amazing little alleys and streets, crossed I don't know how many bridges, seen so many masks (I want them all), beautiful glass and jewellery (mum wants it all). Today we even experienced the flooding of the streets at San Marco Square - it was coming into St Mark's Basilica while we were in there. The buildings are just gorgeous, the gondolas are serene. I love it. Did I mention that I love this place? And by the way, I love it!!!
Here is a picture of my souvenir of the trip. Handmade from leather and one-of-a-kind. Not quite a mask, but still distinctly Venice to me:
Only 3 more days and then we will be River Cruising. I am looking forwarding to unpacking and living out of a cupboard for 2 weeks!
Love to all
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Addit
The first half hour of the canal cruise in Paris was under the city of Paris!
Saw something very interesting in the Hooge Crater Museum - a badge for Australia Day in 1916 - 28th July!!!
Saw something hilarious in Ypres while having dinner - a bar (ie alcohol drinking bar) on wheels where the people sitting around the bar peddling to power the moving car - you will just have to wait for the photo when I get time to upload it
Saw something very interesting in the Hooge Crater Museum - a badge for Australia Day in 1916 - 28th July!!!
Saw something hilarious in Ypres while having dinner - a bar (ie alcohol drinking bar) on wheels where the people sitting around the bar peddling to power the moving car - you will just have to wait for the photo when I get time to upload it
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