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Walking in Europe 2023

junho - agosto 2023
West Highland Way, Paris, the Danube, Switzerland and the Dolomites of the northern Italy and south Tyrol Leia mais
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  • 40pegadas
  • 10países
  • 41dias
  • 373fotos
  • 7vídeos
  • 12,6kmilhas
  • 9,7kmilhas
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  • ViajanteWalking in Europe 2023
    Dia 11

    Remoteness to public…searingly

    5 de julho de 2023, França ⋅ ⛅ 55 °F

    The morning following the completion of the West Highland Way I caught the train from Fort William to London. It was surreal to see the highlands from the coach of the train. I have heard it said, “the train ride through Switzerland is one of a kind”… I (and Mimi) will be there in a couple of weeks to make the comparison.
    After a brief visit to London, I am now in Paris, a very short distance from the Eiffel Tower, that and other venues.
    People gazing from the Parisian cafes may be a bit more to my liking.... The dichotomy between the vastness of Scotland highlands and the bustling city of Paris is striking…squared.

    The picture of the Clydesdale Singers has special meaning to Boxer…karma… I will share the story if asked, but only in person    Leia mais

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  • ViajanteWalking in Europe 2023
    Dia 13

    Marinating in Paris

    7 de julho de 2023, França ⋅ ⛅ 64 °F

    The first full day in Paris was spent figuring the ‘lay of the land’ as it were. Unlike New York City with its boroughs, (e.g.Manhattan, Harlem and the Bronx), I am staying in the 7th (of 20) arrondissement or districts (7th ARR). Home to many foreign government buildings and residences. Most of which were built by the aristocrats of Paris in the 18th century and seized by the government after the French Revolution. The Eiffel Tower is in this district as well as museums and large gardens. I was able to take three rather long walks to visit some of places of interest and even ventured out to the 8th ARR and the Champs-Elysees and Arc de Triomphe. The afternoon was spent at the Jardin de la Luxembourg (Gardens of Luxembourg.) A very relaxing spot (park like) to have lunch. Boxer must say that Paris is an expensive place to stay, but Happy Hour is universal.Leia mais

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  • ViajanteWalking in Europe 2023
    Dia 14

    Sa souvenir du cours de francais,

    8 de julho de 2023, França ⋅ ☀️ 68 °F

    With a pinch of a ‘une peu’, translated: remembering some French class, a little. Some take aways from three days in Paris: don’t sell your stock in Phillip Morris, find an old pair of Levi’s- cut off legs and roll the denim over to make shorts; trail shoes aren’t a fashion statement; never in a hurry except when walking; or on e-bikes, scooters and motorcycles (mostly electric) - therefore Boxer is long Lime stock; old fashioned (non-cheaters) bikes are still being used by ‘boomers’ many looking like the ones they got as a birthday present from their parents; And Boxer feels a connection to those who shop for groceries every day…First coffee every morning (after an earlier walk) is a treat; lunchtime in a park (peaceful); and an abundance of people watching because Boxer only remembers “un peu francais”Leia mais

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  • ViajanteWalking in Europe 2023
    1
    Dia 15

    Adieu Paris...Hello Passau

    9 de julho de 2023, Alemanha ⋅ ☀️ 70 °F

    As I bid farewell to the respite the ‘city of lights’ provided, to start the journey to Germany I am feeling a bit anxious. Traveling by train between two countries in which Boxer speaks neither (or reads) language was a challenge. Layer that with fluctuating train schedules and…the small consolation is I allowed myself an extra day to get to Passau, Germany and the Danube River. The trip included 2 transfers, both in Germany, both with short layovers. One delay in Stuttgart forces Boxer to find a different train from Munich to Passau. With some assistance from a railway official and a fellow traveler whom spoke a little English I was able to complete the final leg of the journey.
    Boxer sampled some fine German cuisine at the restaurant adjacent to his hotel….pared with a German beer.

    Breakfast was as apricot tart pared with sparkling water    Leia mais

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  • ViajanteWalking in Europe 2023
    Dia 16

    A rendezvous at the confluence

    10 de julho de 2023, Alemanha ⋅ ☁️ 79 °F

    Waking up in Germany was a great relief, I had solace in knowing Mimi was flying over the Atlantic Ocean to meet me in Passau, Pittsburgh's geographical doppelgänger, being at the confluence of three rivers.
    Our rendezvous would be an achievement in more ways than just the actual journey we both took to Passau, but a realization of something we had talked about for years…sometimes it was just small talk and other times it was dreaming out loud.
    Being a guest on a floating hotel, not spending much time planning our day or meals allowed us to reconnect and the opportunity to develop relationships with other guests. Tom and Pam from Florida, Tom and Rachel from Melbourne, Sue from Idaho, Wayne and Jane from Iowa and the program director Marek from Slovakia. Long walks, sitting on the upper deck as we motor downriver toward the Black Sea and enjoying a snifter of Drambuie with coffee. What could be better?    Leia mais

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  • ViajanteWalking in Europe 2023
    Dia 18

    Act III scene 2 - Linz AT

    12 de julho de 2023, Áustria ⋅ ☁️ 84 °F

    Even an early early morning lightning storm would not spoil the backdrop on the Danube. The thunder did provide a different type of wake up call…the plan was to make the the ten minute walk to the town square called the Hauptplatz with its 20-meter-high column made of white marble. Completed in 1723 (do the math) as a symbol of gratitude for having survived the ‘big 3’….fire, war and the plague. We would return to this main square with a group of folks who were traveling with us on the river journey after breakfast. It is hard to emphasize enough the influence the Catholic Church has on this region, but is bifurcated with the changes that are occurring…fewer people attending church on a regular basis according to our guide…the baroque influence as given way to the impatient style the millennium has wrought. We did however find time in the afternoon to take the steepest train in Austria to the Postlingberg, the twin spires of the church were only trumped by the moat that protected it from those who which would like to invade. Sitting well above the city and the Danube it provided a great opportunity for see the future (literally and figuratively.)

    The (red) Altra’s now have 300 miles + on them.    Leia mais

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  • ViajanteWalking in Europe 2023
    Dia 19

    Act III scene 3 - Krems & Gottweig Abbey

    13 de julho de 2023, Áustria ⋅ ☁️ 73 °F

    The beauty of river cruising was readily evident to Boxer on day 3 as we travelled through numerous locks while we slept. The process is interesting and educational the first time through, but…
    As the early risers witnessed, we entered the Wacau Valley with a mixture of buildings dating back centuries to a modern age wine producing region with grapes grown on the north and east slopes (mainly.) The villages were small and I am sure that B&B’s are a staple of the towns.
    I can share unequivocally that producing wine while absolving sins is the modus operandi of the Gottweig Abbey. Seriously they produce apricot wines (and jam)…tasty.
    Boxer enjoyed a mid afternoon walk to the city of Krems to visit der Kremser Stadtpark...he is convinced that parks and gardens tells one much about the culture and more revealing the folks who live there.
    The daily bread this evening was a taste of Bavaria… Boxer’s plate doesn’t do justice to the amount of sausage, kraut and veal he consumed. It wasn’t quite to the level of the ‘Genghis Khan’ at the Sapporo Brewery but close.    Leia mais

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  • ViajanteWalking in Europe 2023
    2
    Dia 20

    Act III scene 4 - Vienna

    14 de julho de 2023, Hungria ⋅ ☀️ 84 °F

    Since leaving Passau on Tuesday last, we have ported in rather small, but quaint towns…not so today. We left Krems late last night and ported on west side of the Danube in Vienna early in the morning. Boxer’s first view of this was across the Danube at DC2 (tallest building in Austria) with the crescent moon winking at it.
    Our morning tour began in the middle Vienna, once the capital the Austria-Hungarian Empire..now the cultural center of this region. Some of the buildings (and streets) in this part of Vienna pre-dated A.C.
    After the guided tour Mimi and I left our group to explore this cultural center on our own.
    The Volksgarten was the first gem we found, with its 4000 rose bushes and 800 long stem roses. We found a bench with shade to enjoy the flavor and color of this beautiful garden. We wondered through the manicured lawns carefully staying on the paths. It provided a good opportunity to see what a rose garden on June St in Hood River might become.
    Boxer’s edification when he uses Google maps to find his way back to home base has steadily improved in the last couple of weeks. Even in old cities. We did find that smoking is widespread.,.but not only cigarettes…we slipped out of Vienna late in the evening but not before I had an opportunity for a late night walk on the Handelskai (walkway along the Danube) and a chance meeting with a pair of swans.    Leia mais

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  • ViajanteWalking in Europe 2023
    1
    Dia 21

    Act III Scene 5 - Bratislava, Slovakia

    15 de julho de 2023, Hungria ⋅ ☀️ 86 °F

    The majority of our travels on the Danube have been either in Germany (un peu) or Austria. Today we dip our toes into Slovakia, a country which was behind the ‘Iron Curtain’ in my youth. Millennials or those of us who were not paying attention in 1989 may not be familiar with this political metaphor, it describes that after World War Two the imaginary line that separated countries under Soviet rule (and occupation) from those is that were not. Slovakia from 1945 until the early 1990’s was occupied by Soviet troops and rule.
    Today Slovakia and its capital Bratislava looks much different…a vibrant city with modern architecture and amenities…although it has not forgotten its past.
    Enough history for now, the Bratislava Castle perched above the town proper provided a unique place to wander about its gorgeous landscape. Mimi especially loved Bratislava and would have been happy to spend more time there. And the Grassalkovich Palace was spectacular for its beauty although Boxer was unable to prowl around. By noon we were off to Budapest.    Leia mais

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  • ViajanteWalking in Europe 2023
    1
    Dia 22

    Act III Scene 6 - Budapest

    16 de julho de 2023, Hungria ⋅ ☀️ 90 °F

    We reached Budapest after dusk on Saturday evening and that was the captain’s intention…for the lights of the city are a sight unlike any Boxer has ever seen. Was it the fact that one is seeing bridges, parliamentary buildings, statues, museums brightly illuminated from the deck of a ship in the middle of the Danube? Unequivocally yes.yes and hell yes. But the city turns out the lights at 11pm so don’t be late.
    The Danube separates the city of Budapest into a Buda (side) and a Pest (side) not all that dissimilar to Kansas City (MO and KS). The Pest side is east of the river, flat visually, with much of the history of this area going back centuries. The Parliament is on this side and Hero Square. Hungary like Slovakia yesterday was occupied by the Soviets and the Nazi before that.
    Mimi and Boxer toured the area by motor coach while guided by Oliver who sprinkled some anecdotes, his own personal story.
    Again we slipped away to visit the Fishermen’s Bastion with a group of new friends. Our river cruise voyage is a petri dish of the USA, Great Britain, Australia and New Zealand.
    Note: some context on the statue with lady holding the palm leaf (behind barbed wire) is called the Freedom Statue .
    The last photo is the night before we disembark on the ship’s deck below the Freedom Bridge    Leia mais

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