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Big Five Oh Trip
  • Tasha Goddard
  • Tasha Goddard

Big Five Oh Trip

5 weeks interrailing round Europe as my big treat to myself for the year I turn 50. And hopefully as a taster for many adventures to come. Read more
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  • Trip start
    February 27, 2023
  • Tasha GoddardBig Five Oh TripTraveler

    Evening in Amsterdam

    February 28, 2023 in the Netherlands ⋅ ☀️ 4 °C

    I may have eaten too many chips!

    But I think I probably walked enough to work them off (22812 steps).

    Amsterdam quite pretty at night too. I do love city canals and rivers at night, with the reflections of the lights in the water.

    Early-ish start tomorrow, so I can get the train to Berlin. I think my feet will be happy to have a day on a train, though I imagine I'll still get a decent number of steps in.    Read more

  • Tasha GoddardBig Five Oh TripTraveler

    Foggy Amsterdam morning

    March 1, 2023 in the Netherlands ⋅ ⛅ -1 °C

    Left Amsterdam in a thick fog. So thick I had to check on Google maps that I was actually in front of the railway station.

    First time using the interrail pass QR code to get me through a station barrier and it worked perfectly.Read more

  • Tasha GoddardBig Five Oh TripTraveler

    Train from Amsterdam to Berlin

    March 1, 2023 in the Netherlands

    Quite a long journey, but it was comfortable and warm. More leg room and also felt like wider seats than in UK.

    I got kicked out of the first seat as someone had reserved it (reservations weren't showing so knew that was a risk), but found another further down the train and the conductor kindly let me know that it was not reserved so I'd be able to stay in it for the whole journey.

    I love seeing the differences in house shape as we go through towns and cities, and spotting solar panels and windmills.

    I went to the buffet and ordered everything in German. Feels good to be somewhere I can (kinda - A level was a long time ago) speak the language. And I got a nice cup of tea!    Read more

  • Tasha GoddardBig Five Oh TripTraveler

    Arrived in Berlin

    March 1, 2023 in Germany ⋅ ☀️ 7 °C

    And now I'm in Berlin. In Charlottenburg. Much bigger and more modern hotel room. And a lift rather than a gazillion super steep stairs.

    Also S-Bahn trains are included in interrail, so I may not get as many steps in here. Am here till Saturday. Then may go to Munich, but not definite yet.Read more

  • Tasha GoddardBig Five Oh TripTraveler

    Morning wander in Charlottenburg

    March 2, 2023 in Germany ⋅ ☁️ 2 °C

    Had quite a lie-in (the bed in this hotel is soooooo comfortable) and did a bit of pattern-making, but did get out when it was still morning.

    Walked down a couple of S-bahn stops to get a feel for this area and also to find a jazz bar that I would like to go to this evening if I have any ability to stay awake.

    Then jumped on the S-bahn at Zoologischer Garden and headed east.    Read more

  • Tasha GoddardBig Five Oh TripTraveler

    On the s-bahn

    March 2, 2023 in Germany ⋅ ☁️ 3 °C

    I really love how the S-bahn allows you to see lots of the city. Unfortunately most of the photos I took are doubled up with reflections of me.

    I took the S-bahn out to Ostbanhof to see the East Side Gallery.Read more

  • Tasha GoddardBig Five Oh TripTraveler

    East Side Gallery

    March 2, 2023 in Germany ⋅ ☁️ 3 °C

    Wow! A remaining bit of the wall that artists came and painted with their own impression of the wall coming down. They have been updated and I think there may also be some new ones too. Very powerful.

  • Tasha GoddardBig Five Oh TripTraveler

    Afternoon wander in East Berlin

    March 2, 2023 in Germany ⋅ ⛅ 5 °C

    I then wandered around a bit on the East side. I found an art centre, but only found one exhibition in it (I feel there was probably more, but it wasn't obvious). It was a photo exhibition of different sides of Istanbul, which was very good, so glad I did see it.

    It felt very scrappy in that area, but there were nice parks and cool wall art and it seems there's lots of building going on and it feels more modern and upbeat the closer I got to Jannowitzbruecke S-bahn station.    Read more

  • Tasha GoddardBig Five Oh TripTraveler

    Hackescher Markt

    March 2, 2023 in Germany ⋅ ☀️ 7 °C

    And finally (unless I do make it out to the jazz bar, which I feel is unlikely), a few pics from Hackescher Market, which was one of those 'let's jump of the tube* here' moments.

    *Not the tube, I know, but it something I quite enjoy doing on the tube and seeing where I end up.

    A lovely little market with artisan jewellery and bags and hats and scarves and so on (no, I didn't buy anything - there is NO room in the bag).

    And a nice Italian restaurant where I decided I would have a late lunch/early dinner, having only had a pastry all day. The salad was HUGE but lovely. I had a basic spaghetti pomodoro which was exactly what I needed. And a nice cold beer. Perfect.

    Now back in the room, with a box of lemon and ginger tea and some waffles. There's a chance I will have a siesta and then go out to the jazz bar later. But there's probably a much bigger chance that I will veg out in front of a boxset and do some drawing before getting an early night.    Read more

  • Tasha GoddardBig Five Oh TripTraveler

    Hallo München

    March 4, 2023 in Germany ⋅ ☁️ 0 °C

    Longish (5 hours), but comfortable, journey from Berlin to Munich. Sadly, my seat had no window, and the people in front were using the coat hanger thing, so couldn't even get glimpses out that small gap. One of my favourite things about train travel is watching the world go by - the changes in landscape, the differences in buildings, and the glimpses of people in different environments. But it did mean I got a good amount of reading done and finished my first book of the trip (The Lost Daughter by Elena Ferante).

    This hotel is very lovely. I think it's quite new (or newly refurbished if not new entirely). Beautiful wallpaper and some high-end touches, including a Nespresso (type) machine (sadly don't think that will give me booked water for my herbal teas) and a fridge and wider than normal single bed with three different types of pillow. And the receptionist was very nice and printed my Bologna Book Fair ticket, which I had forgotten to print before I left Stroud.

    I ventured out to look for food and wandered toward the old town (I'm pretty sure). I caught glimpses of a lot of beautiful old buildings so I am going to have a wonderful explore tomorrow. And there should be a bunch of photos tomorrow, I think.

    I'm also planning to go to a museum because it has a €1 entrance fee on a Sunday (have been avoiding them so far, because they're all charging over €20 and I would REALLY need to know there are things I want to see inside to pay that (on this particular trip, anyway). (Sidenote, we are so lucky at how many of our museums in the UK are free to enter - let's make sure they stay that way.)

    I went Italian again (definitely my default!) and was definitely a non-vegan day, as well. Spinach and ricotta ravioli and Tiramisu. I am pleased with how much I have been able to eat vegan, though. I hope I'm not fed up with Italian food by the time I get to Italy.

    And then I navigated myself back to the hotel, at night, without needing to check my phone once. I was especially proud of that, as I was constantly getting myself turned around in Berlin, even with Google Maps.

    Only here tonight and tomorrow night and then off to Italy.    Read more

  • Tasha GoddardBig Five Oh TripTraveler

    Statues and other 3D art

    March 5, 2023 in Germany

    So I really like Munich! I have so money photos I have to break them up into different chunks.

    There are LOADS of statues and decorative people or animals holding up plinths and the like. And I saw (but didn't photograph) loads more in the Bavarian National MuseumRead more

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