European Train Trip

A 44-day adventure by Sue & Paul Read more

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Trip start
November 15, 2023
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Day 1
Wednesday, November 15, 2023 at 9:19 AM
☀️ 8 °C
Altitude: 135 m
England Birmingham Moor Street Railway Station 52.478699, -1.89270352°28’43” N 1°53’34” W
On our way
November 15, 2023 in England ⋅ ☀️ 8 °C
At Moor Street waiting for our first train of many.
TravelerOn our way
11/15/23Reply
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Day 1
Wednesday, November 15, 2023 at 2:55 PM
☀️ 11 °C
Altitude: 31 m
England St Pancras International Railway Station 51.531071, -0.12593651°31’52” N 0°7’33” W
Off to Brussels
November 15, 2023 in England ⋅ ☀️ 11 °C
We are on our way on the Eurostar to Brussels. It took a couple hours to get through the various checks, but we’re on the train waiting to go.
TravelerThank you for sharing this very nice trip
12/28/24Reply
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Day 2
Thursday, November 16, 2023 at 8:14 AM
☁️ 6 °C
Altitude: 20 m
Belgium Saint-Gilles 50.83157, 4.33669550°49’54” N 4°20’12” E
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Brussels day 1
November 16, 2023 in Belgium ⋅ ☁️ 6 °C
Our first night sleep in a very nicely appointed Airbnb it was somewhat interrupted by the party going on upstairs disappointingly we weren’t invited.“Mostly because we never get invited to those sort of parties” . We went to the bar across the street, which was a traditional old men’s boozer in the Greek style. The beer was good and they also smoked in it. We seem to be in a Greek area I went to a small Greek restaurant yesterday evening, food is excellent portions, a little large.Read more
Traveler Patisserie round the corner provided croissants for breakfast.
11/16/23Reply
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Day 2
Thursday, November 16, 2023 at 12:39 PM
Altitude: 17 m
Belgium Manneken Pis 50.845028, 4.34996750°50’42” N 4°20’60” E
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Short Walk around Brussels
November 16, 2023 in Belgium
Went for a short walk to the Grand Plaz and went to see the Manneken Pis. The statue is dressed to commemorate the release of the new Beaujolais Village.
Traveler Hôtel de Ville, Grand Place
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Traveler Porte de Hal. Part of the old fortifications. Survived because it was later used as a prison.
11/16/23Reply
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Day 3
Friday, November 17, 2023 at 9:34 AM
☁️ 7 °C
Altitude: 19 m
Belgium Saint-Gilles 50.831745, 4.33681950°49’54” N 4°20’13” E
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Brussels Day 2
November 17, 2023 in Belgium ⋅ ☁️ 7 °C
Minor drama this morning as boiler down so no hot water. Reached out to Jean so will see what happens.

Busy day planned. Guided tour round the centre and then metro to the Atomium.

The tour was very extensive so didn’t make the Atomium today. Not to worry found the Delirium Bar - enormous range of beers mostly quite strong.

Good news boiler fixed, so shower, cassoulet and a quiet night in.Read more
Traveler Egmont Park. Building behind is where the brexit deal was signed.
11/17/23Reply
Traveler Church of the Blessed Lady of the Sablon.
11/17/23Reply
Traveler Paulo our guide today
11/17/23Reply
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Day 4
Saturday, November 18, 2023 at 8:20 AM
🌧 7 °C
Altitude: 19 m
Belgium Saint-Gilles 50.83173, 4.33682450°49’54” N 4°20’13” E
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Brussels Day 3
November 18, 2023 in Belgium ⋅ 🌧 7 °C
Taking it easy today. Walked miles the last few days. Weather not looking good but it won’t dampen our spirits.

Got very wet and cold walking around the parkland at the Atomium so treated ourselves to a Burgerking. Still raining and damp right through so home to dry off and have a glass of our free wine.

Later and in for the evening. Used our metro ticket again to get back to the Atomium and then to Parvis St Gilles. This an area recommended by our guide yesterday and glad we went. Excellent pizza, one of the best I’ve had. Walked back from there and is an area I wish we could have seen in the daylight and explored a bit more.Read more
Traveler I was enjoying this. A long damp tiring day.
11/19/23Reply
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Day 4
Saturday, November 18, 2023 at 11:32 AM
🌧 8 °C
Altitude: 36 m
Belgium Mini-Europe 50.895218, 4.3410750°53’43” N 4°20’28” E
The Atomium
November 18, 2023 in Belgium ⋅ 🌧 8 °C
Metro to the Atomium. The view from the top not the greatest due to the weather but still an interesting place to visit. They have done well with the exhibition and light show to make it more than the novelty of the building itself. It’s also set in some lovely parkland that we had a short walk through despite the rain. Saw the American Pavilion left over from the 1958 Great Exhibition. Now used as artists space. Bit unloved from the outside which is a shame.

Went back at night for the twinkly light show.Read more
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Day 5
Sunday, November 19, 2023 at 10:47 AM
🌬 12 °C
Altitude: 17 m
Belgium Brussels-South 50.836651, 4.33566450°50’12” N 4°20’8” E
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On the Move Brussels - Hamburg
November 19, 2023 in Belgium ⋅ 🌬 12 °C
Waiting at the Brussels Midi for the first of four trains today. Probably our most complicated journey. The train from Brussels Nord is a reserved seat so the only fixed point. The rest are subject to making the required changes on time. Fingers crossed.

Hopefully our walk earlier today is not a portent of things to come. Epic fail as we turned completely the wrong way following our nose back to the square from last night.

So, reserved seat train cancelled due to German train strike 😀 Now on a different train to Vervier Centre to catch a train to Aachan. Unreserved and slower. Travelling hopefully onward.

Third train of the day successfully caught. On our way from Verviers to Aachan.

Fourth train: Aachan to Koeln Ehrenfeld our first double decker.

Fifth train just a short hop across Cologne to Koeln hbf. Now on our final train of the day direct to Hamburg. Hurrah.

Arrived only half hour or so later than planned journey. Fought our way through roadworks to what seems on first sight a perfectly reasonable hotel. Already biased in favour as given a free drink on arrival.Read more
Traveler Studying our onward route.
11/19/23Reply
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Day 6
Monday, November 20, 2023 at 9:21 AM
☁️ 9 °C
Altitude: 15 m
Germany Oberhafen 53.545898, 10.01387553°32’45” N 10°0’50” E
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Hamburg Day 1
November 20, 2023 in Germany ⋅ ☁️ 9 °C
Hôtel breakfast was worth the €15 and ready for the day. Learning from Brussels we are buying the Hamburg card. Two days unlimited travel on public transport. It also gives some discounts on tourist attractions.

Plan for today is boat trip and maritime museum.

Navigated public transport to the river and caught a ferry to Finkwerder. Now having a coffee and a warm.

Had a wander before getting back on the ferry and now waiting for lunch in a Vietnamese cafe near St Pauli. It was very tasty.

After the museum got very wet walking back towards the hotel. No bars so ended up back near the station. Found a small bar selling barre beer. Nice place. Ate in the station then back home. A long day. Finishing with a last beer in the hotel bar before bed.Read more
Traveler Rice Brothers Asian restaurant
11/20/23Reply
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Day 6
Monday, November 20, 2023 at 3:23 PM
🌧 10 °C
Altitude: 14 m
Germany Brooktorhafen 53.544006, 9.99814653°32’38” N 9°59’53” E
Maritimes Museum
November 20, 2023 in Germany ⋅ 🌧 10 °C
Off to the Maritime Museum this afternoon as it’s a bit wet outside.
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Day 7
Tuesday, November 21, 2023 at 10:04 AM
☁️ 6 °C
Altitude: 6 m
Germany Oberhafen 53.545677, 10.01621753°32’44” N 10°0’58” E
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Hamburg Day 2
November 21, 2023 in Germany ⋅ ☁️ 6 °C
Taking advantage of the drier weather to take a walking tour of the historic centre.

Phillip was an excellent guide, knowledgeable on the history of Hamburg but also funny with entertaining anecdotes of hamburgers. In 2 hours we took in: the town hall; the origin of Hamburg; the oldest street which was also the start of the catastrophic fire of 1842 and the warehouse district. We also saw a number of churches the most notable for me being the ruined St Nikolai church. Bombed in the war and left as a memorial to the loss and futility of war. Over 40,000 hamburgers were killed during the war.Read more
Traveler Site of the original Hamburg settlement
11/21/23Reply
Traveler Carillon at St Nikolai church.
11/21/23Reply
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Day 7
Tuesday, November 21, 2023 at 7:00 PM
⛅ 5 °C
Altitude: 31 m
Germany Große Wallanlagen 53.552284, 9.96819253°33’8” N 9°58’5” E
All the fun of the Fair
November 21, 2023 in Germany ⋅ ⛅ 5 °C
Went to St Pauli and came across this enormous fair that went on and on.
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Day 8
Wednesday, November 22, 2023 at 9:45 AM
☁️ 1 °C
Altitude: 13 m
Germany Nieder Haven 53.546165, 9.97641753°32’46” N 9°58’35” E
Thoughts on Hamburg
November 22, 2023 in Germany ⋅ ☁️ 1 °C
We both really like Hamburg. After the initial struggles with the road works the city was easy to navigate via bus and underground. The Hamburg Card is excellent vfm and makes hopping on and off buses easy.

Loved the city walk and need to do this early in other places. Gives a good overview of what the city has to offer.

Food and drink offerings many and varied. We ate Italian, Mexican, Vietnamese and French in our short stay. Stil to try curry wurst.Read more
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Day 8
Wednesday, November 22, 2023 at 10:56 AM
☁️ 2 °C
Altitude: 4 m
Germany Mühl-Bach 53.511135, 10.1054753°30’40” N 10°6’20” E
On the move Hamburg to Berlin
November 22, 2023 in Germany ⋅ ☁️ 2 °C
Just caught the train to Berlin. Straightforward hop to Berlin, one train 4 stops and 2 hours.

Train was good. Shared a carriage with a young Russian and his Turkish colleague going from Bremen to a conference in Prague. Interesting to hear his comparisons of trains, travel and life in Russia and Germany. He got out before the war and now won’t go back in case the borders are closed.Read more
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Day 9
Thursday, November 23, 2023 at 9:30 AM
🌬 7 °C
Altitude: 44 m
Germany Kottbusser Tor 52.506123, 13.41596452°30’22” N 13°24’57” E
Berlin Day 1
November 23, 2023 in Germany ⋅ 🌬 7 °C
Apartment feels a little unloved but it’s clean and the bed is comfortable. Good location right by several supermarkets and a few minutes walk to the underground.

Plan first thing is a guided walk.

Much later back in the flat. The walk was very good. Chris was Canadian and both informative and funny. He took us to many of the important sites relating both to the war and the Berlin Wall. Checkpoint Charlie now is just a post with an American soldier looking East and a Soviet looking west. Hard to imagine now the dead zone between both east and west barriers. Stood in the spot above Hitler’s bunker, saw the Jewish memorial and the Brandenburg Gate.

Finally got a curry wurst. Ok but not particularly a strong curry flavour.

After a rest we’ll go in search of a local bar. Found a small bar around the corner. Couple of beers and going back tomorrow to eat.Read more
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Day 10
Friday, November 24, 2023 at 9:07 AM
🌬 4 °C
Altitude: 40 m
Germany Alexanderplatz 52.522644, 13.41415952°31’22” N 13°24’51” E
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Berlin Day 2
November 24, 2023 in Germany ⋅ 🌬 4 °C
Weather a bit better today so going up the TV tower right in the main square. The East Germans built it as a massive middle finger to the West. Only problem was given the brain drain they had to employ Swedish architects.

Ate locally in the bar from last night. First meal that felt properly German. Half a chicken with potato salad and pickled white cabbage. The skin was really crispy and tasty.Read more
Traveler Red Town Hall
11/25/23Reply
Traveler Oldest church through the windows of the Red Town Hall
11/25/23Reply
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Day 10
Friday, November 24, 2023 at 5:59 PM
☁️ 4 °C
Altitude: 44 m
Germany Kottbusser Tor 52.506126, 13.41597652°30’22” N 13°24’58” E
Memorial to the murdered Jews of Europe
November 24, 2023 in Germany ⋅ ☁️ 4 °C
A sobering couple of hours spent at the memorial and associated museum. Extensive documentation of the holocaust from the overall timeline to the stories of individual families and individuals.
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Day 11
Saturday, November 25, 2023 at 10:38 AM
☀️ 2 °C
Altitude: 45 m
Germany Friedrichstadt 52.511993, 13.38748352°30’43” N 13°23’15” E
Berlin Day 3
November 25, 2023 in Germany ⋅ ☀️ 2 °C
On way to Potsdamer Platz to see if their Christmas market is open. Chris suggested it might be. Mostly German markets are opening on 27 November when we will be in Prague. Lots of shed building going on though and some lights.

Small market and I think B’ham has more traditional feel. Did like the death slide. We need one in B’ham.

Realised not far from the area of the wall we saw on the tour. Paul wanted a photo so we went back. Found an excellent free display along the bottom of the wall on the rise of nazism and impact on Berliners from 1933 to 1945 and beyond. Very busy today lots of tours. Weather closed in so taking shelter in a curry house.Read more
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Day 11
Saturday, November 25, 2023 at 4:32 PM
☁️ 2 °C
Altitude: 37 m
Germany Berlin Cathedral 52.519272, 13.40208752°31’9” N 13°24’8” E
DDR Museum
November 25, 2023 in Germany ⋅ ☁️ 2 °C
Spent a couple of hours in this museum based on the lives of people living in the DDR. Highly interactive and an enormous amount crammed into a small space. The replica flat actually seemed quite spaciousRead more
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Day 12
Sunday, November 26, 2023 at 10:02 AM
⛅ 0 °C
Altitude: 42 m
Germany Berlin Hauptbahnhof 52.525539, 13.36902252°31’32” N 13°22’8” E
On the Move Berlin to Prague
November 26, 2023 in Germany ⋅ ⛅ 0 °C
Here to catch the 11.01 to Prague. V large modern station with the feel of an airport.

On the move so of course there is blue sky.

Good journey. Prettiest route so far.
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Day 13
Monday, November 27, 2023 at 9:49 AM
☁️ 2 °C
Altitude: 242 m
Czech Republic New Town 50.077904, 14.43234850°4’40” N 14°25’56” E
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Prague Day 1
November 27, 2023 in Czech Republic ⋅ ☁️ 2 °C
Traveler Good King Wenceslaus
11/28/23Reply
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Day 13
Monday, November 27, 2023 at 6:35 PM
☁️ 2 °C
Altitude: 225 m
Czech Republic St. Wenceslas statue 50.080101, 14.42897250°4’48” N 14°25’44” E
Beer Train
November 27, 2023 in Czech Republic ⋅ ☁️ 2 °C
Found a restaurant that delivers food and beer by model train, great concept there was one in Brussels, but we failed to find it. This one is just down the road from our apartment. Great seeing the trains crash every so often brilliant place. Went on to find a Bar by the river.Read more
TravelerThat's awesome 😃 do they crash with drinks on them ? 😂
11/28/23Reply
TravelerYes, they come out of the bar sidings and sometimes the train coming through doesn’t stop. Fairly low speeds so no harm done. One train stopped completely just down from us so another train went in the back of it. Others then queued behind it. They had to send a man out to sort it out. Just like a proper train set😀
11/28/23Reply
TravelerThat's brilliant 😂 I would have trouble tearing myself away from that bar though 😄
11/28/23Reply
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Day 13
Monday, November 27, 2023
☁️ 4 °C
Altitude: 197 m
Czech Republic Právnická fakulta UK 50.090618, 14.41790550°5’26” N 14°25’4” E
Final Beer before home
November 27, 2023 in Czech Republic ⋅ ☁️ 4 °C
Walking down to the river, we went past the astronomy clock and then called in at this lovely bar to have a final drink.
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Day 14
Tuesday, November 28, 2023 at 10:41 AM
☁️ 1 °C
Altitude: 242 m
Czech Republic New Town 50.077915, 14.43231450°4’40” N 14°25’56” E
Prague Day 2
November 28, 2023 in Czech Republic ⋅ ☁️ 1 °C
A slow start to the day as we both felt like a lie in. No snow so far.

We’ll head out locally for breakfast to one of the places suggested by our landlord then see how we feel. Nothing planned, just a mooching sort of day.

Shared three warm filled croissants, a cheese, a salami and a ham. Decided to treat ourselves to a slice of cake.

Walked down to the river in sleety snow so decided to take a river trip. Still snowing so heading back to the ranch via a brewery pub. Claims to be oldest in Prague! Beers good though.

Christmas cards written back out into the snow to find dinner. There’s a couple of centimetres and slippy underfoot so staying local. Found a pizza place on a nice square with a lively local Christmas market. Big church will have to see where we are when we get back.Read more
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Day 15
Wednesday, November 29, 2023 at 9:36 AM
☁️ -3 °C
Altitude: 242 m
Czech Republic New Town 50.077915, 14.43231450°4’40” N 14°25’56” E
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Prague Day 3
November 29, 2023 in Czech Republic ⋅ ☁️ -3 °C
Traveler Charles Bridge
11/29/23Reply
Traveler President in exile during WW2
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Traveler St Vitus Cathedral
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