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Europe 2019

luglio - settembre 2019
This trip has been in the making for several years, with the stars finally aligning to make it possible, and the first payment made 18 months ago. Leggi altro
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Elenco dei paesi

  • Svizzera
  • Francia
  • Olanda
  • Svezia
  • Danimarca
  • Croazia
  • Germania
  • Mostra tutto (9)
Categorie
Coppia, Cultura, Treno
  • 37,5kchilometri percorsi
Mezzi di trasporto
  • Volo23,5kchilometri
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  • 46impronte
  • 57giorni
  • 236fotografie
  • 44Mi piace
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  • ViaggiatoreEurope 2019

    Getting to Zurich

    9 settembre 2019, Svizzera ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C

    Inter city train travel is quite a pleasant way to go as long as you don't have suitcases. I'm very glad we didn't bring our big one. Some trains have narrow doors and a few steep steps to test your agility and strength, both of which some days just don't work. Perhaps it's the lack of a good coffee in the morning. Once aboard, you have to find somewhere to stow them. The overhead shelves seem to be getting higher or perhaps the suitcases are getting heavier. Some trains have a small luggage space with shelves and it's usually only the top shelf that is vacant.

    This is our last intercity rail journey. Fortunately, this train had a gentle step to negotiate. We were second onto our carriage, the lady ahead used the prime bottom shelf but second shelf was adequate for both our suitcases and we easily found good seats so this was probably the easiest boarding of all. Time now to sit back and enjoy the Swiss scenery.    Leggi altro

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  • ViaggiatoreEurope 2019

    Au revoir, auf weidersehen or whatever

    10 settembre 2019, Svizzera ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    One thing you notice as your train gets closer to Zurich is that the announcements become German instead of French. This has been doing my head in ever since. I have to keep reminding myself that I'm still in Switzerland, not Germany. I'm still using Swiss francs, not euros and certainly not Deutsch marks. I have to remember to say danke instead of merci. I finish up speaking one third French, a third German and a third English in one sentence. It's driving me crazy.

    The other things you notice anywhere in Switzerland are Swiss flags, Switzerland is way more modern/hi tech than anywhere I have seen and that everything is really expensive. Luckily, we're leaving tomorrow, we couldn't afford to stay longer.

    Over the last 7 weeks, we've been in 7 countries with 6 languages and 5 currencies. One country with another language and another currency awaits us before returning to Aus.

    So it's time to say au revoir, auf wiedersehen, dovidenja, farvel, tot aliens and adjo to Europe for 2019.    Leggi altro

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  • ViaggiatoreEurope 2019

    In the air tonight

    11 settembre 2019, Singapore ⋅ ⛅ 32 °C

    No, nothing to do with Phil Collins, everything to do with a night on an A380 in Premium Economy class.

    This has been my best long haul flight ever. We left Zurich at about noon, on a 12 hour flight to Singapore. With 6hrs time zone shift, we arrive about 6am. Two thirds of the trip is in darkness.

    It's been several years since I've been on an A380 and the first time in Premium Economy. Why premium? For some unknown reason, when I was booking, premium economy was cheaper than standard economy.

    Premium economy on the Singapore Airlines A380 is at the pointy end of the lower deck, well before the noisy bit. With noise reducing headphones issued, wider seats and oodles of leg and knee room, this was a very smooth and comfortable ride. You almost forget you're on a plane except for some turbulence off the east coast of India that almost spilled my drink. There's also priority check in, more choice of meals and your luggage gets out quicker at the other end.

    Of course, business class or first class would be better but that will have to wait until I win lotto.    Leggi altro

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  • ViaggiatoreEurope 2019

    Singapore fling

    12 settembre 2019, Singapore ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    Getting closer to home. For us, any trip to Europe or Asia has a mandatory stopover in Singapore for family time and to eat Singaporean food.

    Having been here about 17 times, there aren't many things to see that haven't already been seen multiple times. However, there is one new one to see - Jewel at Changi Airport.

    Jewel is a massive indoor waterfall, 5 storeys high, surrounded by major shopping and dining. The waterfall starts as an nwards facing, circular waterfall, falling into the centre of another waterfall that is water cascading down the inside of a clear perspex, circular wall that narrows as it descends, i.e. a vortex shape. This is surrounded by a vertical garden with multiple, small waterfalls. The T2-T3 Skytrain runs through it, so if you are only transiting through Singapore airport and have a little spare time, you can take the Skytrain back and forth to see it, though won't be able to get out for a closer look.

    The biggest change I noticed in Singapore was the absence of share bikes. Just a year ago, they saturated the city centre and where also in large numbers scattered around the island. There were numerous companies competing for business. But now they are all gone. The government put restrictions and taxes on them, making them unviable businesses.

    There are still eScooters zipping around though not the numbers I saw in Europe. Here, they are restricted to footpaths. My opinion remains unchanged, they are too fast making them dangerous.

    It's mooncake time on the Chinese calendar, so we were given some to join in.

    Back in the days of getting around Singapore with toddlers and pushers, we found Singapore quite unfriendly to those on wheels. They seemed to put steps in wherever they could whether they were needed or not. Things have improved over the years since. However, as we get older and some of us getting weaker knees, focus returns on unnecessary steps. One of the nearby subway stations is the deepest in Singapore, having 3 escalators just to reach the ticket level and then more, long escalators down to platform level. So why do we need to go up 10 steps from street level when we're going down so far?

    This is the time of year that forest land on Sumatra (Indonesia) gets set alight to clear land for farming. Malaysia and Singapore are innocent victims having periods of very high smoke haze with associated health issues. It is a shame that this practice continues as our planet is becoming increasingly unable to deal with the impact of mankind's destruction. Sadly, Australia is also a participant in this stupid practice, putting more money in rich people's pockets being more important than a good world for our grandchildren.    Leggi altro

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  • ViaggiatoreEurope 2019

    Ghostrider adventure at Pulau Ubin

    15 settembre 2019, Singapore ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

    While some Ghostriders are currently cruising down the Loire valley in France, some more exotic locations are sometimes sought.

    Pulau Ubin is a Singaporean island wedged in the Johore Strait between Singapore's main island and Malaysia. The island is more like 1960s Singapore. The island is used mostly for walking and cycling. Access is by small bumboats and bikes are usually hired on the island, just don't have high expectations on the quality. Gear changing is not as smooth as I am used to but it works more often than not. Whilst the seat rattles a bit, it's nothing to be concerned about, the raffia and wire do a reasonably good job of holding the seat in place most of the time.

    Cyclists are treated to a mix of sealed and gravel roads and off road adventures in the Ketam Mountain Bike Park. Nature lovers can explore mangrove swamps and bushland with an exotic assortment of flora and fauna.

    Monkeys great you along the road much like a Pyrenees mountain top finish in the Tour de France, though they are sometimes more interested in intimate dancing with their partner in the middle of the road rather than showing any interest in approaching cyclists.

    Wild boar sometimes hog the road. You may have to duck as hornbills fly across the path. Whilst they are carnivorous, the monitor lizards are unlikely to harm you as long as you don't run over them.

    A day on Pulau Ubin has plenty to offer, just no air conditioning to escape Singapore's relentless heat and humidity.    Leggi altro

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  • ViaggiatoreEurope 2019

    The eagle has landed

    16 settembre 2019, Australia ⋅ ⛅ 6 °C

    After 9 countries with 7 languages and 7 currencies in 57 days, our journey comes to an end.

    We had an awesome time in Croatia, seeing it through the eyes of Croatians. We had a hectic but fascinating couple of weeks through Scandinavia, Germany and the Netherlands before slowing the pace with three weeks in France. We had 3 interesting days in Switzerland to cool off after the hot, windy cycling in Provence, before returning to sweltering, sweaty Singapore.

    But we look forward now to getting back to our family, burying our suitcases, sleeping in our own beds and having good coffee. Then we have to relearn what is normal life. My email tells me it's back on the bike on Thursday.    Leggi altro

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