Sunday 24 March 2024

TRAIN AGAIN

24th Mar 2024

I  am off on an 'escorted' train journey through Europe. As you may have gathered previously I much prefer travelling 'solo' and not so keen on being 'escorted' in a group (or travelling with anyone else for that matter!). However, I have done one of these before, several years ago, and found it interesting and well organised; through Switzerland on the 'Glacier Express' back in 2019 if I remember correctly. It was about the other people on the trip which interested me as much as the scenery! Anyway, a rush of blood to the head prompted me to give it another go.

So here goes! We were due to meet up at St Pancras Railway Station (London) near the Sir John Betjeman statue (left) early Monday morning to catch the EuroStar train to Brussels. I spent Sunday night at a 'reasonably by London standards' priced (ie. very expensive by my standards) hotel near St Pancras.

Well, we did from 7.15am onwards (on Monday 25th) in dribs and drabs courtesy of our 'Tour Manager' John. All most efficient, like escorting schoolchildren on a school trip. EuroStar tickets had already been provided and now an Interail Pass for European trains.

There were vast queues at the EuroStar check-in, but they moved quickly and with quite perfunctory checks through security and passport, UK and French, controls, in good time to board the 9.01am train to Brussels.

At this stage I hadn't met up with any of my fellow travellers; just seen some of them in the distance. We all assembled on the platform on arrival at Brussels. I think there are 25 of us. Lots of 'briefings' by John on the forthcoming trip, who was smartly dressed in jacket and tie. He is Scottish. Details of each day's travel and activities had already been e-mailed to us. Slips of paper with our next carriage and seat number were handed out. As said, all most efficient.

There was a 2 hour wait at Brussels which enabled visits to the local cafés; in my case for a snack and beer, before the next train, a comfortable ICE machine, left for Frankfurt arriving there on time at 5.28pm. From Frankfurt to Nuremburg arriving 8.30pm, then a quick group march to the nearby Intercity Hotel for a communal supper and then bed (not communal!) interspersed with yet more 'briefings' in Scottish by the redoubtable John. I'm not so keen on these 'communal' meals which involve sitting next to someone you don't know and probably don't have anything in common with. However, these meals are pre-paid for as part of the trip expense so silly to miss them!

I have yet to suss-out my fellow travelling companions....but most of the 25 (appox, difficult to count) are (like me!) in the 60/70 yr age bracket. I'm not sure if I have identified any kindred spirits so far. More to follow on that subject as we travel onwards.

The next morning (Tuesday 26th) after a very decent hotel breakfast (included, as explained, as were some of the meals in the price of this holiday) there was time for a 'solo' cursory wander through the 'Old Town' of Nuremburg. I only had 50mins to do this before parading for the onward train journey at 10.00am.

My start point was at the front of Nuremburg Main Station, then across the road to the Königstor, #8 at bottom right of the map (right, click on to enlarge). Thence north up Königsallee ending at the Burg fort at the top left. It was less than a mile.

Left: The 'grand' front entrance to the main railway station. Much more impressive than any UK railway stations.

There was no time to enter, let alone explore, any of the places I passed. So this is a quick resumé of the notable sights.



Right: The Konigstor. It had an entrance for visitors. I don't know what is inside. Konigs?





Left: A typical 'ye olde' cobbled street and restaurant inside this walled old city.






Right: I passed three impressive churches out of the eight mentioned on the 'map'. They are obviously 'big' on vast churches here. 

I attach photos in the order of the churches I passed from south to north. I didn't note which ones they were. You might be able to identify them from the 'map' above. If, indeed, you can be bothered or the slightest interested.


Left: The first church. The stall in front was selling lace embroidery, or knickers or somesuch.








Right: The second church. Big tower.









Left: The third church.






Right: An elaborate memorial to something or other around the back of the third church.









Left: On the way up there was an ancient building advertising 'medieval dungeon tours'. If I had had more time I might have gone in.






Right: I also passed by this impressive market stall display selling sticky cream cakes and biscuits. I spoke to the lady stallholder and asked her how long it took to set up this elaborate display and how likely was she to sell them all? She told me it took about an hour to set up, starting at 7.00am, and it depended on the weather as to how many she sold in the day, On a fine day she hoped to sell nearly all of them. On a rainy day she sells few. The creamy cakes would only keep for a couple of days, max. Good luck to her. Rather her than me!

Left: The Burg fortress at the northern end.










I then hastened back to the Hauptbahnhof to meet up with our 'group' at 10.00am. The efficient John always insists that we meet up 30 mins before train departure time which, in this case, was due at 10.31 and hands out our seat numbers. We are in the same carriage. He counts us meticulously. I don't know what he would do if somone was missing. Right: Some of the group. John centre.

So, on to Vienna...........






Saturday 20 January 2024

UPDATE OF INDEX

To remind my reader of how to view a particular location: 

Click on to the 'arrow' next to the relevant year at the 'blog archive' list top right of most recent blog. This opens up the month selections. Then click on to relevant month arrow and that will open up the blogs in that month.
 
It's a long scroll down to the latest on this list!

Incidently, if using a 'smartphone', scroll down to the bottom of the first page where you  should opt to 'view web version'. This allows you to select the 'arrows' as above. 

If you wish to enlarge a photo, just single click on it.


List of Posts

2011

Jan
1.      The Beginning
2.      At Sea - Now Antwerp - Belgium
3.      Stranded in Le Havre - France
Feb
4.      Crossing The Pond
5.      Noo Yawk, Noo Yawk - USA
6.      Virginia - USA
7.      Washington DC - USA
8.      Columbia - South Carolina - USA
9.      Charleston - South Carolina - USA
Mar
10.    Miami - Florida - USA
11.    Fort Lauderdale - Florida - USA
12.    Savannah - Georgia - USA
13.    Boston - Massachusetts - USA
14.    Boston - Post Script - USA
15.    Niagara Falls - Ontario - Canada
16.    Toronto - Ontario - Canada
17.    Winnipeg - Manitoba - Canada
18.    The Canadian - Toronto to Vancouver - Canada
Apr
19.    Vancouver Island - British Columbia - Canada
20.    Seattle - Washington - USA
21.    Amtrak. Seattle to San Francisco - USA
22.    San Francisco - California (Part 1) - USA
23.    San Francisco - California (Part 2) - USA
24.    San Diego - California - USA
25.    Tijuana to La Paz - Mexico
26.    La Paz - Mexico
27.    Mazatlan - Mexico
May
28.    Guadalajara - Mexico
29.    Mexico City
30.    San Christobal de Las Casas - Mexico
31.    Antigua - Guatemala
32.    San Salvador - El Salvador
33.    Managua and Granada - Nicaragua
Jun
34.    San José - Costa Rica
35.    Panama City
36.    Flight to Lima - Peru
37.    Lima - Peru
38.    Nazca - Peru
39.    Cusco - Peru
40.    Machu Picchu - Peru
41.    Andean Explorer - Peru
42.    Puno (Lake Titicaca) - Peru
43.    Arequipa - Peru
Jul
44.    Panama to Auckland - New Zealand
45.    Bay of Islands - New Zealand
46.    Lake Taupo - New Zealand
47.    Cape Reinga - New Zealand
48.    Russel Birdman Festival - New Zealand
Aug
49.    Rotorua - New Zealand
50.    Napier - New Zealand
51.    Wellington - New Zealand
52.    Blenheim - New Zealand
53.    Nelson - New Zealand
54.    West Coast, South Island - New Zealand
55.    Queenstown - New Zealand
56.    Lake Tekapo - New Zealand
57.    Christchurch - New Zealand
58.    Kaikoura - New Zealand
59.    Auckland - New Zealand
60.    Across the Tasman Sea
Sep
61.    Sydney (Part 1) - Australia 
62.    Sydney (Part 2) - Australia 
63.    Melbourne (Part 1) - Australia 
64.    Melbourne (Part 2) - Australia 
65.    Tasmania - Australia
Oct
66.    Adelaide - Australia
67.    The Ghan - Adelaide to Darwin - Australia
68.    Darwin - Australia
69.    The Red Centre - Australia
70.    Back to Adelaide - Australia
71.    Onwards to Brisbane - Australia
72.    Brisbane to Singapore (Part 1)
73.    Taxis
Nov
74.    Brisbane to Singapore (Part 2)
75.    Brisbane to Singapore (Part 3)
76.    Singapore (Part 1)
77.    Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia
78.    Up Country - Malaysia
79.    Singapore (Part 2)
80.    Mozart. Malaysia to Sri Lanka
81.    Colombo - Sri Lanka
82.    Coffee
Dec
83.    Kandy - Sri Lanka
84.    Nuwara Eliya - Sri Lanka
85.    Back to Colombo - Sri Lanka
86.    Galle - Sri Lanka
87.    The Ancient Cities - Sri Lanka
88.    Trincomalee - Sri Lanka
89.    Negombo - Sri Lanka
90.    Tiruchirappalli - India
91.    Kerala - India

2012

Jan
92.    Goa - India
93.    Bombay - India
94.    Delhi - India
95.    Palace On Wheels. Rajasthan (Part 1) - India
96.    Palace On Wheels. Rajasthan (Part 2) - India
97.    Palace On Wheels. Rajasthan (Part 3) - India
98.    Palace On Wheels. Rajasthan (Part 4) - India
99.    Palace On Wheels. Rajasthan (Part 5) - India
100.  Calcutta - India
Feb
101.  Rangoon - Burma
102.  The Train To Bagan - Burma
103.  Bagan - Burma
104.  Mandalay (Part 1) - Burma
105.  Mandalay (Part 2) - Burma
106.  Inle Lake - Burma
107.  Ngapali Beach - Burma
108.  Bangkok - Thailand
109.  Siem Reap - Cambodia
Mar
110.  Phnom Penh - Cambodia
111.  Saigon - Vietnam
112.  Hanoi - Vietnam
Apr
113.  Sa Pa - Vietnam
114.  Ha Long Bay - Vietnam
115.  Beijing (Part 1) - China
116.  Hong Kong
117.  Beijing (Part 2) - China
May
118.  Mongolia
119.  Siberia - Russia
120.  Trans-Siberian to Moscow
121.  Moscow (Part 1) - Russia
122.  Moscow (Part 2) - Russia
123.  St Petersburg - Russia
124.  Helsinki - Finland
125.  Rovaniemi - Finland
126.  Up To Kirkenes - Norway
127.  Hurtigruten (Part 1) - Norway
128.  Hurtigruten (Part 2) - Norway
129.  Hurtigruten (Part 3) - Norway
130.  Hurtigruten (Part 4) - Norway
Jun
131.  Bergen to Oslo - Norway
132.  Oslo - Norway
133.  Copenhagen - Denmark
134.  Hamburg - Germany
135.  Hook of Holland - and Home
Jul
136.  The End
Aug
137.  Post Script - London
138.  Stand-by For More...

2013

Sep
139.  To The Democratic Peoples Republic Of Korea (North Korea)
140.  Pyongyang 1 - North Korea
141.  Pyongyang 2 - North Korea
Oct
142.  Kaesong and Panmunjom - North Korea
143.  Back to Pyongyang - North Korea
144.  Pyongyang 3 - North Korea
145.  Samjiyon and Mount Paekdu - North Korea
146.  Daehongdan County - North Korea
147.  Chongjin - North Korea
148.  Hamhung - North Korea
149.  Wonsan and Mount Kumgang - North Korea
150.  Mount Kumgang 2 - North Korea
151.  Mount Kumgang 3 - North Korea
152.  Wonsan Again - North Korea
153.  Back To Pyongyang and On To Nampo - North Korea
Nov
154.  Nampo and Back To Pyongyang - North Korea
155.  Train To Beijing - North Korea
156.  The Finale
157.  Impressions of North Korea
158.  Vids From North Korea
Dec
159.  Zambia
160.  Battledore Farm - Zambia
161.  Cool Bananas - Zambia
162.  Banana Hazards - Zambia
163.  Back On The Farm - Zambia
164.  Continued Jollities - Zambia

2014

Jan
165.  Christmas In Darkest Africa - Zambia
166.  Lusaka 1  - Zambia
167.  Lusaka 2  - Zambia
168.  Livingston (I Presume) - Zambia
169.  On Safari - Botswana
170.  Ndola N'Home - Zambia
Feb
171.  Onwards To Sarf America
Mar
172.  Buenos Aires and The Wedding - Argentina
173.  Around Buenos Aires - Argentina
174.  Jujuy Province - Argentina
175.  Salta - Argentina
176.  Cordoba - Argentina
177.  Mendoza - Argentina
178.  Santiago (Part 1) - Chile
179.  Olmue and Valparaiso - Chile
180.  Santiago (Part 2) - Chile
Apr
181.  To Osorno and Bariloche - Argentina
182.  Bariloche - Argentina
183.  Ruta National 40 - Argentina
184.  El Calafate - Argentina
185.  Tierra Del Fuego (Part 1) - Argentina
186.  Tierra Del Fuego (Part 2) - Argentina
187.  Iguazu - Argentina
188.  Buenos Aires - Finale - Argentina

2015

Jan
189.  The Saga Of My Nearly Lost Hat - UK
Jul
190.  We Wish To Apologise... - UK
Aug
191.  Those Blasted Announcements... - UK
Sep
192.  Tuscany By Train - France
193.  Mulhouse to Montecatini - Italy
194.  Florence - Italy
195.  Around Montecatini - Italy
196.  Lucca and Pisa - Italy
197.  Venice 1 - Italy
Oct
198.  Venice 2 - Italy
199.  Venice 3 - Italy
200.  Turin - Italy
Dec
201.  'Nam Revisited - Vietnam
202.  Saigon Again - Vietnam

2016

Jan
203.  Merry Keesmah - Vietnam
204.  Up The Mekong - Vietnam
205.  Happy Noo Yeer - Vietnam
Mar
206.  Snowdrops - UK
207.  Turkey - An Inspiration
208.  Istanbul Or Bust
209.  Budapest - Briefly - Hungary
210.  Brasov - Transylvania - Romania
Apr
211.  Bucharest - Romania
212.  Onwards To Istanbul - Bulgaria
213.  This Was Constantinople - Turkey
214.  Up The Bosphorous - Turkey
215.  The Turkish Bath - Turkey
Sep
216.  Up The Kennet - UK
Oct
217.  Down The Baltics
218.  Tallinn 1 - Estonia
219.  Tallinn 2 - Estonia
220.  Tallinn 3 - Estonia
221.  On To Riga - Latvia
222.  Around Riga - Latvia
223.  Riga Finale - Stuck Up A Steeple - Latvia
224.  Vilnius...And The Dark Side - Lithuania
225.  Vilnius...The Bright Side - Lithuania
Nov
226.  A Damp Day In Warsaw - Poland
227.  Berlin And Bed Bugs In Brussels - Belgium
228.  Cultural Day In Lille - France
Dec
229.  Bah Humbug And Chrexit - Vietnam
230.  Laid-Back Laos - Vientiane - Laos
231.  Va Va Vang Vieng - Laos
232.  Vang Vieng Voom Voom - Laos

2017

Jan
233.  Luang Prabang - Laos
234.  Luang Prabang And Elephants - Laos
Oct
235.  Ariba Ariba and Off to Cuba
Nov
236.  Havana Wander - Cuba
237.  Havana Further Wander - Cuba
238.  On West to Viñales - Cuba
239.  Cienfuegos - Cuba
240.  Ye Olde Town of Trinidad - Cuba
241.  Santa Clara. Viva La Revolución - Cuba
242.  Varadero. - Cuba
243.  Guanabo. Playa del Ested - Cuba
Dec
244.  Back to Havana - Cuba
245.  Havana Finale - Cuba
246.  Chrexit 2017 - Thailand
247.  Phuket and Beaches - Thailand
248.  Phuket Town - Thailand
249.  Saigon Again - Vietnam

2018

Jan
250.  Wats in Chiang Mai - Thailand
251.  A Day Out in Chiang Mai - Thailand
252.  More Chiang Mai - Thailand
Feb
253.  Chiang Mai - Bangkok - and Home
Apr
254.  Silly Signs
May
255.  By Plane to Ukraine
Jun
256.  Kiev Part 1 - Ukraine
257.  Kiev Part 2 - Ukraine
258.  Chernobyl Disaster. The Background Story - Ukraine
259.  Chernobyl Part 1 - Ukraine
Jul
260.  Pripyat. The Ghost Town - Ukraine
261.  Chernobyl Part 2 - Ukraine
262.  Bermuda or Bust - Bermuda
Aug
263.  St. George's - Bermuda
264.  More Bermuda
265.  Carnival Time - Bermuda
266.  Hamilton - Bermuda
267.  Finale - Bermuda
Sep
268.  Update of Index 2
Nov
269. Colombia. Caramba
270. Bogota. A Prelude - Colombia
271. Transport around Bogota - Colombia
272. More Bogota - Colombia
273. Medellín - Colombia
274. More Medellín - Colombia
Dec
275. On to Cartageña - Colombia
276. Santa Marta - Colombia
277. Bogota. Post Script - Colombia
278. Chrismiss 2018 - Thailand

2019

Jan
279. Saigon Again - Viêt Nam
280. Vietnam Underground - Viêt Nam
Apr
281. Amsterdam Cultural Tour - Holland
282. Yodel-ay-ee-Hoo around Switzerland
May
283. Yodelling on and back - Switzerland
284. Down the Balkans to Ljubljana - Slovenia
285. Down to Split - Croatia
286. Split to Dubrovnik - Croatia
287. On South to Montenegro
June
288. Cetinje - Montenegro
289. To the beach - Montenegro
290. Bar and back home - Montenegro
Sept
291. To Japanada (or Canapan)
292. Vancouver Island - Canada
Oct
293. All Aboard the Westerdam - Canada
294. Juneau (Juneau What?) - Alaska
295. Onwards Westwards
296. Past Kodiak Island and Beyond
297. Across the Bering sea
298. Kushiro Briefly - Japan
299. Arrival Yokohama - Japan
300. Kyoto Intro - Japan
301. More Kyoto. Day 1 - Japan
302. More Kyoto. Day 2 - Japan
303. Hiroshima - Japan
304. Nagasaki - Japan
305. Brief Visit to Kure - Japan
306. Tokyo - Japan
307. Sayonara Nippon - Japan
Dec
308. (Not) Christmas Again
309. No 'Ell in Far East - Thailand
310. OMG!. Pattaya - Thailand

2020

Jan
311. Sodom and Gomorrah - Thailand
312. Back to 'Nam Again - Vietnam
313. Đà lạt  Part 1 - Vietnam
314. Đà lạt  Part 2 - Vietnam
Apr
315. Lockdown. Week 1
316. Lockdown. Week 2
317. Lockdown. Week 3
318. Lockdown. Week 4
319. Lockdown. Week 5
May
320. Lockdown. Week 6
321. Lockdown. Week 7
322. Lulok Island. Part 1. Arrival.
323. Lulok Island. Part 2. The Village.
Jun
324. Lulok Island. Part 3. The Hills.
325. Lulok Island. Part 4. The Aztecs.
Jul
326. Lulok Island. Part 5. The Coast.
Aug
327. Lulok Island. Part 6. The Capital.
Sep
328. To Stockholm - Sweden
329. More Stockholm - Sweden
330. Yet More Stockholm - Sweden
331. Uppsala - Sweden
332. Tällberg - Sweden
Oct
333. Mora - Sweden
334. Back to Stockholm - Sweden
335. Finale Stockholm and Home - Sweden
Nov
336. Zanzibar or Bust.
337. Stone Town - Zanzibar
338. Nungwi - Zanzibar
339. The East Cost - Zanzibar
340. Bwejuu - Zanzibar
341. Back to Stone Town - Zanzibar
342. Tortoise and Spice - Zanzibar
Dec
343. Temple, Shops & Slaves - Zanzibar
344. Mainland Tanzania and Back - Tanzania
345. More Stone Town - Zanzibar
346. Further Haunts & Sights - Zanzibar
347. Final Fling in Zanzibar
348. On to Ndola - Zambia
349. Gone Bananas Again - Zambia

2021

Jan
350. Back to Livingstone (I presume) - Zambia
351. The Falls and Zambezi - Zambia
352. Booze Cruise and Wildlife - Zambia
353. Back to the Bananas - Zambia
Feb
Now back in Stasi UK and travel illegal or difficult and expensive until 202?
Mar
354. Single Life - UK
Apr
355. Single Life 2 - UK
May
356. Single Life 3 - UK
357. My Little Covid Rant
Dec
358. More Frustrations and Events - UK
359. Chrexit 2021
360. Onwards to Bangkok - Thailand
361. Back in Bangkok - Thailand

2022

Jan
362. Pattaya and Jomtien Revisited - Thailand
363. Art in Paradise Pattaya - Thailand
364. The Highlife in Bangkok - Thailand
365. The Train to Kanchanaburi - Thailand
366. The Bridge - Kanchanaburi - Thailand
367. More Sights around Kanchanaburi - Thailand
368. 50 Ridiculous Rules
369. Out and About around Kanchanaburi - Thailand
Feb
370. Back to Bangkok - Thailand
371. Bangkok and Home - Thailand
May
372. Return to Warsaw - Poland
373. By train to Ukraine - Ukraine
374. Checkin' Kyiv - Ukraine
375. More Kyiv - Ukraine
376. Encore and Farewell Kyiv - Ukraine
377. Train back to Warsaw - Poland
378. Krakon to Krakow - Poland
379. More Krakow and Home - Poland
Aug
380. Old Buffers and Geriatrics Pool Society
Oct
381. Silly Signs and Nutty Notices
Nov
382. To Brussels and Beyond - Europe
383. Tally Ho! To Tirana - Albania
384. Touring Tirana - Albania
385. More Tirana - Albania
386. Yet More Tirana - Albania
Dec
387. Toodle Pip Tirana - Albania
388. Chrexodus 2022
389. Saigon Saigon - Vietnam
390. The Journey to  Đà Lạt - Vietnam
391. Đà Lạt Revisited - Vietnam
392. Đà Lạt Day Tour Part 1 - Vietnam
393. Đà Lạt Day Tour Part 2 - Vietnam
394. On to Nha Trang - Vietnam
395. Hué - Vietnam

2023

Jan
396. The Dee Em Zee Part 1 - Vietnam
397. The Dee Em Zee Part 2 - Vietnam
398. Uncle Sam in Vietnam - Vietnam
399. Hué back to Sài Gòn - Vietnam
400. New Year in Saigon - Vietnam
Jul
401. Bits and Bobs
402. To Portugal. Algarve - Portugal
403. On to Lisbon - Portugal
404. A Trip to Bélem - Portugal
405. A Day in Cascais - Portugal
406. Encore Lisbon - Portugal
Aug
407. To Porto (or Oporto) - Portugal
408. Up the Douro - Portugal
409. By Train Again to Ukraine - Poland/Ukraine
410. Around Lviv. A Start on Svobody - Ukraine
411. Lviv and the War - Ukraine
412. Churches and More in Lviv - Ukraine
413. Lviv Finale and Home. Eventually - Ukraine/Poland
Dec
414. Chrexit 2023
415. Off to Taiwan - Taiwan
416. A Start in Taipei - Taiwan
417. Taipei 2 - Taiwan
418. Taipei 3 - Taiwan
419. Up Taipei - Taiwan
420. Taipei. Post Script - Taiwan
421. South to Tainan - Taiwan
422. Hot Springs in Guanziling - Taiwan
423. Further South to Kaohsiung - Taiwan
424. More Kaohsiung - Taiwan
425. Around the Coast to Taitung - Taiwan
426. North up to Hualien - Taiwan

2024

Jan
427. Return to Taipei and Onwards - Taiwan/Vietnam
428. Taipei Finale and Home - Taiwan/UK