Hungary to Vienna, Austria

Vienna will have a hard task competing with Budapest’s beauty and splendour. The only way to judge this competition is to visit Austria. Fortunately, European train travel makes this easy; a three-hour ride in a north-westerly direction from Budapest and we arrive in Vienna. Border guards casually wander onto the train to question our nationality and travel route. They are amazed when told two Kiwis (and a Penguin) boarded a train in Singapore.

A travel quest is to view some Klimt originals so thrilled to find our Viennese hotel is a 10-minute walk to the beautiful Belvedere Gallery and Botanical Gardens. Our pensioner status means a gallery discount and Klimt did not disappoint. His garden paintings look so simple - surely, I can emulate during these my summer holidays. Whereas Klimt’s stunning gilded collection is inimitable.Read more