FUN-photos: Prague to Trieste – September, 2013

November 11, 2013 by · Comments Off on FUN-photos: Prague to Trieste – September, 2013 

Our trip started on September 16th. We flew to Prague from London on the 17th. Then we trained to Munich for opening day of Oktoberfest. From there we rented a car and drove to Dachau and on to Füssen to see the Neuschwanstein Castle. (#17 on the list vying for the New 7 Wonders of the World) Next we headed to Salzburg and Vienna where we dropped the car. Then we headed to Budapest and on to Trieste by train. We spent the night in Villach, Austria to eliminate the overnight train.

If you click on the first picture it will allow you to create a slide show. And it turns out they are in ascending order (in other words, the first is actually the last) So if you click the back arrow you will see them in order. Enjoy!

FUN-travel: Villach, Austria to Trieste, Italy

October 6, 2013 by · Comments Off on FUN-travel: Villach, Austria to Trieste, Italy 

Villach, Austria 2013 1

Villach

Day 17 – Wednesday, October 2 – Villach, Austria to Trieste, Italy – gray clouds mixed w/white & teeny patches of blue sky – cool 50’s – turns to sunny, windy & chilly in Trieste

What I LIKE

  •  *6:40 – first wake up
  • get dressed to go downstairs for coffee
  • WATCH! – open door & he’s standing their w/hot cappuccino
  • it’s really good!
  • 9:15 – head for breakfast to go
  • 9:30 – ready to check out (get more on time bonus pts!)
  • 200’ walk to train
  • on track 1 (closest w/no stairs)
  • **9:35 – board train – 3 seats double facing, enclosed w/door (like the old trains)
  • 10:04 – takes off on time for Udine
  • 10:20 – cross border
  • Yo adoro Italia!
  • sun is shining
  • ***11:58 – arrive on time
  • 12:18 – take off on time
Villach, Austria 2013 5

Villach

  • 1:26 – arrive Trieste & no stairs
  • met & picked up by Chris’ sister Cinzia who lives here (& why we came here)
  • wonderful lunch @ her home w/family – Dario, Sebastian & Isabel
  • caprese, melon w/prosciutto, roast beef, bread, vino & special dessert – molto buono!

    Trieste, Italy 2013 1

    Sebastian & Isabel

  • 4:00 – check in Hotel Victoria Trieste
  • nice big room, top floor (5th) w/little balcony
  • 5:00 – pick up for happy hour @ Caffe’ Tomasseo – local wine w/snacks of olives, chips, peanuts
  • 6:30 – walk thru town & main square
  • very cute & clean w/grand buildings on main square
  • 7:30 – dinner @ local restaurant – La Tecia di Lapaine – salad w/shrimp & mushrooms, mixed grill meat platter – local wine = $65 Euro

WATCH – What Are The CHances

What I DON’T LIKE

  • *chris trying hard to not make noise (NOT!)
  • 7:15 – no sign of chris w/capp yet
  • **only has 2nd class train cars
  • *** no elevator or escalator – have to schlep bags down stairs then up again!
  • 9:30 – turn on computer to find: Detected DNS cashe poisoning attack
  • now internet is really slow

FUN-fact – Trieste has a population of 250,000 on the north end of the Adriatic sea near the Croatia border.

Trieste, Italy 2013 61

Trieste Building with Mosaics

 

FUN-travel: Budapest, Hungary to Villach, Austria

October 3, 2013 by · Comments Off on FUN-travel: Budapest, Hungary to Villach, Austria 

Day 16 – Tuesday, October 1 – Budapest, Hungary to Villach, Austria – high clouds w/sun trying to peak thru – warmer than yesterday morn – high 50’s

What I LIKE

Budapest, Hungary 2013 61

View From Citadel

  • 7:15 – hot capp in bed
  • 8:15 – take breakfast to go
  • 8:30 – taxi to train (get more on time bonus pts!)Budapest, Hungary 2013 58
  • only costs 2000 ft – like $9 US
  • hotel reserves it
  • only takes 10 mins
  • nice small station
  • 8:55 – board train
  • last big city we will be in for rest of trip!
  • ready for quaint, charming & mystical
  • *use train time to catch up in travel log
  • 11:56 – arrive Vienna on time track 8 
  • departing on track 5
  • have an elevator to go down for stairs up to next platform
  • 12:15 – board train and get the double facing seats w/table
  • can spread out! (last train single man was piggy & took all 4 seats – bad train karma)
  • 12:30 – depart on time
  • **12:45 – figure out we have FREE WIFI
  • the hills are alive w/the sound of music!
  • beautiful ride thru Austria – more forested hills & mountains –  wispy clouds cling to tops & sides – lots of alpine meadows,  little towns dot the landscape
  • 4:05 – big lake w/villages & sailboats 
  • 4:46 – arrive Villach
  • staying here instead of overnight train – BI – (brilliant idea!)
  • BTDT (been there, done that) – in 1996 from Lyon, France to Venice & got no sleep!
  • don’t need taxi
  • *** Hotel City Villach literally steps across street
  • +5:00 – walk to city center only 5 mins
Budapest, Hungary 2013 46

Castle Hill

  • scope out dinner options
  • adorable little town w/arched bridge over river running thru
  • 5:15 – stiegl beer break
  • room R & R
  • hotel has umbrellas
  • 7:15 – dinner @ Goldenes Lamm – hotel recommends – Hagn Cuvée Colloredo cab/merlot blend – huge mixed green salad w/grilled mediterranean veggies – pork loin w/pepper sauce, veggies & croquettes –  (pork cooked medium, 4 pieces 2” by 2” – melt in your mouth tender)  EXCELLENT! one of best meals – great service = $60 Euro

What I DON’T LIKE

  • *takes a lot of time to write this (working on getting faster & maybe shorter?)
  • **intermittent
  • ***claims to be 4 star (not sure who’s in charge of rating system) – small room, no amenities (other than breakfast) teeniest bathroom yet! & costs $140 Euro – OUCH!
  • + starts to sprinkle & no umbrella

Budapest, Hungary 2013 26

FUN-fact – The Austrian trains are really, really nice and we LOVE not having to deal with airports!
FUN-question to Ponder – How did we survive before TA & hotels.com? (and all the others that followed)

FUN-travel: Vienna, Austria to Budapest, Hungary

October 2, 2013 by · Comments Off on FUN-travel: Vienna, Austria to Budapest, Hungary 

Day 13 – Saturday, September 28 – Vienna, Austria to Budapest, Hungary – clear blue skies, mild, cool – high 50’s

Budapest, Hungary 2013 16

Parliament

What I LIKE

  • 6:30 – wake upBudapest, Hungary 2013 22
  • 7:15 – Americano w/hot milk today
  • 8:30 – taxi to train (get more on time bonus pts!)
  • only takes 10 minutes (1 hr early makes Chris happy)
  • hang out @ station – quite nice w/lots of shops & food options – clean & bright w/big windows
  • 9:30 – board
  • 9:48 – take off on time
  • no crowds – have big table with 4 seats (double facing seats)
  • lovely australian couple across from us
  • 12:49 – arrive on time
  • 1:20 – nice driver – nice Mercedes – takes Euros
  • 1:30 – arrive hotel Palazzo Zichy – taxi cost $16 – give him $20 = $27 US
  • hotel very nice, newer (4 yrs) w/modern edge
  • 1:45 – off to ATM
  • 2:00 – beer break – Soproni & Zlaty Bazant pints = 690 ft = $3.30 US
  • take afternoon stroll to check out restaurants nearby (most offer outdoor patio tables)
  • 3:05 – pizza & beer break @ the pointer pub – salami w/hot chilis, Stella Artois & Guiness = $12 US
  • *4:30 – hotel lobby bar
  • Chris wonders what took me so long – new travel rule – come looking for me! (oh & he said he thought he heard construction noise too)

Budapest, Hungary 2013 14

  • 5:00 – room R & R
  • 5:30 – reception knocks on door w/coupon for 2 free drinks @ bar for my bathroom ordeal – validated that it really can’t be opened from the inside & emergency alarm doesn’t work!
  • 8:00 – still full from pizza so just snack in room & have some good “Unplugged”

What I DON’T LIKEBudapest, Hungary 2013 11

  • no ATM @ station & bad exchange rate
  • total taxi line chaos in Budapest – people not waiting their turn (bad taxi karma awaits them)
  • taxi’s not really regulated (anyone can put a sign on their car)
  • beer not that good (we think Belgium is the best)
  • *get stuck in bathroom on lower level – pocket door won’t open – start banging hoping someone hears – 5 mins & mild panic sets in! – emergency alarm on wall – finally pull it & nothing happens!– continue banging & reception opens door & thinks I’m crazy – reason it takes them so long – they think it’s from  construction going on next door – then it  dawns on them it’s 5 pm Saturday – (also, think to  myself – one reason you don’t want to travel alone as no one will miss you)

FUN-fact – Hotel Palazzo Vichy was completed in 1899 as the Vichy family home. It is 3 stories high and had a basement/cellar and featured a central court yard. Once you enter through the main doors, on the left side is an impressive iron railing staircase leading up the 3 stories, while on the right side there are 6 floors. These were probably for the servants and children. Today the lobby is on the main floor where the central courtyard was and the dining room is downstairs along with some meeting rooms. There is a glass roof just above reception so the rooms get fresh air.
More FF – They offer FREE coffee, espresso, tea, water & snacks in lobby bar all day long until 5 pm when the bartender comes on.

Budapest, Hungary 2013 38

FUN-travel: Vienna, Austria – Full Day 2

October 2, 2013 by · Comments Off on FUN-travel: Vienna, Austria – Full Day 2 

Day 12 – Friday, September 27 – Vienna, Austria – Full Day 2 – cloudy turns sunny – cool high 50’s

Vienna, Austria 2013 6

National Museum

What I LIKE

  • 7:15 – wake up
  • more hot Starbucks compliments of my love

    Vienna, Austria 2013 39

    Hofburg Fountain

  • 12:00 – lunch @ Gyros – not far from hotel – gyros plate w/rice, bread (no pita) & greek salad, diet coke = $20 Euro (RS pick)
  • off to Hofburg palace – huge complex near Opera house where Hapsburg emperors lived
  • filled w/museums, imperial apartments, church, national library, Spanish riding school, & crown  jewels
  • 1:20 – Treasury tour – opt to see royal regalia featuring crown jewels, gowns, & assorted bling in 21 darkened rooms w/audio guide
  • Chris is beside himself w/all the beauty inside (not!) doesn’t really like museums – can get him to maybe one a city
  • no rain
  • 2:30 – walk around other half of ring (did half yesterday before rain) to canal
  • stroll thru pedestrian only main shopping street – Karntner Strasse
  • Spar stop for more “Unplugged” for Budapest (Chris says wine there is sweet) & snacks for train
  • 5:00 – happy hour @ hotel – stiegl beer
  • 7:00 – head out for dinner
  • *giant outdoor screen on opera house projecting live performance for free
  • 7:15 – dinner @ Palmenhaus – RS says “modern Austrian surrounded by palm trees & not tourists” – endive salad w/pears, grapes, nuts & pecorino cheese – salmon w/pesto, Mediterranean vegetables & rosemary potatoes – roasted chorizo sausage w/eggplant, tomatoes & pita – 2009 Schlumberger cab/merlot – baileys & coffee for mama! she wanted to come here & never did = $127 US
  • 9:30 walk back – opera still on & square is full of people watching
Vienna, Austria 2013 47

More Hofburg Palace

What I DON’T LIKE

  • canal walls filled w/graffiti – thought it would be much nicer area
  • *German subtitles – have no idea what’s going on, other than someone’s heart will be broken & somebody will die

FUN-fact – The Treasury has one of the world’s most stunning collections & contains a really impressive 2,680 karat emerald table adornment.  Its two stones grown together with little legs and the top has cap with gold filigree. In addition, they claim to have one of the nails that held Jesus on the cross.

RS = Rick Steve’s

Vienna, Austria 2013 1

Opera House

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