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Europe 2016
  • DR's Travels
May – Jul 2016

Europe 2016

A 53-day adventure by DR's Travels Read more
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  • DR's TravelsEurope 2016Traveler

    Venice to Florence, via Pisa

    June 3, 2016 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    Pisa is a very small town in Tuscany - much smaller than I'd thought it would be. Apparently, the Leaning Tower of Pisa is the biggest draw in the region. The parking lot for coaches is a fair walk from the site, but it was really interesting walking through Pisa because it felt very different than walking in other cities we've visited. It was like walking through a small neighbourhood - maybe in BC, it just rained and smelled so fresh!

    Glad to tick this one off the list!    Read more

  • DR's TravelsEurope 2016Traveler
    1

    Florence

    June 4, 2016 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    We got into Florence in the early evening, but the weather was definitely against us because it started pouring as we were unloading the coach and continued until all of the tents were set up and we were all thoroughly soaked. We've encountered rain before, but not to this extent. I'm glad I blew that $2 at the Dollar Store on that 10 meter length of rope to use as a clothes line!

    Apparently the Seine River that runs through Paris has gone up six meters since we were there a little over a week ago (the Louvre and Musée Dorsey are closed) and other areas across that northern part of Europe are also getting hit with fairly substantial rains. It's hard to even fathom a river rising six meters in such a short time with virtually no warning - at least when I've and snow start melting in the spring, there's some level of warning and expectation.

    Angus cooked an amazing meal for everyone of pasta (after all, we are in Italy) with ham and mushrooms in a creamy sauce... It was my favourite meal so far!

    Then, it was off to karaoke for a night of terrible singing voices and drinks by the litre at the Red Garter Karaoke Bar! I helped out with Wonderwall by Oasis with some of my new Aussie friends, and was up on stage again doing Ice Ice Baby for the crew... Great times had by all that night, but more than a few of the group were wishing they'd paced themselves better with the litre cocktails. Feeling that way doesn't appeal to me especially when there's so much I want, and need, to be fresh for the next day.

    We kicked off our full day in Florence at Leonardo's Leather for a talk about leather workmanship, types, spotting fakes (labels and smell can be easily faked, while uniform look isn't very likely for real leather), etc. Of course, there's also opportunity for purchases... I bought a couple of nice belts and a small card sleeve/wallet.
    Tax is automatically included, but can be taken off for non-European residents when purchases total more than €155, so a few of us combined purchases to capitalize on the savings! Apparently I'll have to jump through some hoops to have UK Customs stamp something, but definitely worth a shot (the tax in Italy is over 20%).

    Next, we were taken on a walking tour by Martina, our local guide, to see some of the big sites and get some history - including the rationale for Michaelangelo sculpting the statue of David as a symbol for Florence... It was always an underdog and faced great adversity over the years, but still flourished! Think David versus Goliath.

    After the walking tour, it was free time for the afternoon, I knew that David at the Academia Museum was my number one, so a few of us were advised to see about getting a "reserved time slot" to avoid the lineup that would likely mean a two hour wait. Unfortunately, the next available reservation was three days away, buy we decided to walk over to Academia anyway to check things out... The regular lineup was huge, but we bought "skip the line" tickets out front for €22 each (reservation is usually €16.50; regular lineup is usually €12.50). It looks like the woman we bought from simply buys up reservation slots and sells them at a substantial premium, but we went right in and out was absolutely, 100% worth it!

    That night, we went for a terrific dinner at Angus's favourite restaurant - Vecchio. I definitely didn't go hungry... Antipasto, pasta, beef/chicken (I ordered the beef and tried the chicken), tiramisu, and lemoncello! All in all, a great meal with great friends around! On the way to dinner, we stopped for a professionally done group photo overlooking the city just before the sun started to go down.

    After dinner, we walked to a club called Space, where we had a reservation for the entire group. Another few Contiki groups were in town too, so they were there too. I assume the club probably gives Contiki a kickback to bring their groups there because it wasn't anything overly special or different than most clubs... Loud music, dance floor, and high priced drinks. An interesting thing is that they use a card system for payment - you receive a card upon entry (don't lose it, or it'll cost you €50), you can then use that card to purchase drinks at the bar (once your card has been used for 4 drinks, you need to clear that tab and start a new card); when you're ready to leave, you must return your card (paying any outstanding tab) and receive an "exit ticket". About half the group, including me, were back at the campsite by 1am, while the remainder barely beat sunrise.

    Off to Rome in the morning!    Read more

  • DR's TravelsEurope 2016Traveler

    When in Rome

    June 5, 2016 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    We got into Rome early Sunday afternoon, set up there camp, and got ready to head out on our city driving tour, walking tour, and"walkabout dinner".

    Matt, from Melbourne, Australia, had a perfect descriptor for Rome - Grand. I think it's absolutely spot on because it seems that everywhere you turn, there's a building or structure of some sort with awe inspiring scale and bravado!

    Our driving tour took us all over Rome and helped with bearings. Some of the highlights were: the Circus Maximus (the site was used for chariot reaching in ancient Rome and the scale is enormous), some sort of key hole that you can look through (apparently it makes you feel like you're in three places at once: Malta, Vatican City, and Rome; I'll have to dig into that for next time), and the Tiber River. It's interesting that the roadway that follows the river is significantly higher than the river itself and that the city on the other side of the roadway often appears to be at the same level as the river. I'm not sure if this is to address flooding or what.

    Our walking tour started at Piazza Venezia and focused on what is considered Old Rome. Some of the highlights were: the huge building at the Piazza Venezia (massive building with many columns and a statue of Marcus Aurelius (the Caesar from Gladiator with Russell Crowe), the Pantheon (got there just as it was closing, so couldn't get inside), and the Trevi Fountain (approximately €3000 are collected from it each day and donated to charity). We wrapped up at Piazza Navona and groups headed for dinner. The advice was to walk up the streets off of the Piazza because anywhere on the Piazza is quite expensive.

    Eight of us picked a street and started out, virtually every restaurant has someone out front trying to entice you to come in with basically the same rap: "my friends, fresh, homemade pizza, pasta; free wifi". The of the place we decided on reminded me of Uncle Gavin, except with a very long ponytail. The food was great and they treated us very well! On the way back to meet everyone, we made a gelato stop - the pistachio is prenominal!

    The group met up, took the coach back to the campsite, and (some actually) packed it in early to be as ready as possible for the big day ahead!

    The next morning, we got going early and took the metro train to the Vatican for our guided tour. We arrived before 9am (opens at 10am) and the line was still hundreds of people long. Our guide provided an earpiece and headset, since there were over 40 of us and it wouldn't be possible to hear anything she was saying as the group moved through the mobs of people. That said, even with the headset, it was difficult to hear what she was saying - combination of a thick Italian accent and the technology not being the best. Oh well, it was fantastic to be there and see it for myself! The Sistine Chapel was amazing (no photos allowed), but pretty much everything else is also beautifully done with mosaics, paintings, or sculptures. St Peter's Basilica is enormous and the stained glass is gorgeous, while the Square in front is fantastic!

    When the tour wrapped up, a few of us headed off to the Colosseum for the guides tour that we'd booked. Our Contiki Tour Manager thought it would take about 40 minutes to get there on the metro train, which meant we'd be very tight for time. The extra hiccup was that when we were leaving the Vatican, we excited through an unfamiliar area and weren't sure how to get to the metro. We asked one of the many police officers stationed everywhere and he suggested we take the 40 bus, which would take us to a piazza close to the Colosseum in about 10 minutes... That was an easy decision, especially since Contiki gave us metro passes for the day that were valid for trains and buses!

    We arrived at the Colosseum meeting place with plenty of time to spare, so we had a bite to eat and I filled up my water bottle at the free water station on the street (still or sparkling, and it also had USB charging points). Cobey and Tom ventured to the pay toilettes (common throughout Europe), but they were apparently quite unfortunate.

    Georgio, our guide, met us out front and took us through security. As with Rome in general, the Colosseum is simply grand! It was very interesting to see the scale of things and marvel at how people built such a structure 2000 years ago! It's hard to fathom, but the estimate is that more than 500,000 people were killed during gladiator-type events over the few hundred years that it was in use. It was interesting to learn that the foundation for the Colosseum was a massive lake that Nero had built for himself, but he was such a hated man that when he died, they destroyed any legacy he had built for himself. The Colosseum floor was made of wood and covered with sand, while the area beneath was a maze of rooms and access points that offered entry and exit points for people, animals, and even vegetation (trees were put out for use during hunting exhibitions).

    After the Colosseum, we decided to walk to the group meeting point, which was quite a distance away, but we had a couple of hours and it would give us a chance to see more of the city. Our route took us past the Trevi Fountain again... The Trevi Fountain has been going through a restoration for quite some time, which was just completed about six months ago, so I was able to see it in all its glory - amazing! It's said that tossing coin(s) over your shoulder: 1 coin and you'll return to Rome, 2 coins and you'll find love, 3 coins and you'll get married. I tossed in 3, so we'll see!

    We met the group at the Spanish Steps (closed for restoration). Renae recommended a place for inexpensive pasta, so a few of us decided to have a pre-dinner snack. Then we made a gelato stop on the way to the train - excellent!    Read more

  • DR's TravelsEurope 2016Traveler

    Vatican City

    June 7, 2016 in Vatican City ⋅ 🌙 17 °C

    Vatican City is it's own country, the smallest in the world, and entirely within the city of Rome! I have a separate entry to add it to the country count. The country itself has only about 850 residents and they all work at the Vatican - essentially Catholic clergy or Swiss Guards.

    The rest of the Vatican comets are in the Rome posting.    Read more

  • DR's TravelsEurope 2016Traveler
    1

    Rome to Sorrento, via Capri

    June 7, 2016 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    We drove from Rome to the port of Naples to catch a ferry to Capri. Apparently, Naples was the most damaged Italian city during WWII and it has never fully recovered because even today, it is quite run down. That said, it is the second busiest port for cruise ships next to Hong Kong.

    The ferry to Capri was only about 45 minutes and the coach didn't come with us (Ollie continued in driving to Sorrento). Most of the group took a boat cruise around the entire island, which only took about 90 minutes, including scenic photo stops and swimming! The water wasn't as warm as I expected, but it was refreshing and the colour was amazing! It was very salty and easy to float without expending any effort.

    We got back with a couple of hours until our ferry to Sorrento and a few of us (UK Tom, Australian Tom, and Cobey) thought it would be interesting to see more of the island views, so we went to a scooter rental shop. If tried ones out, but the owner suggested I should go on with one of the other guys because it's quite challenging to ride on their road - especially since I've never operated a scooter. In hindsight, it was definitely the right decision because the entire route was all narrow, walled roads and switchbacks. Possibly the worst place to learn to ride a scooter! I rode with Cobey because he has ridden them for years and is very good at it, which meant I could take in all of the sights along the way! We made it to the other side of the island and took in the most amazing views I could imagine! It was €15 for an hour for each scooter, which was perfect because that was all the time we had.

    We made it back in time to meet the rest of the group and catch the 45 minute ferry to Sorrento. Ollie met us with the coach for a short ride to the campsite. We set up in record time and the whole lot of us descended on a piazza for a walkabout dinner. Ten of us found our way down one of the side streets to a great little place that held us, but that was pretty much it! For my last meal in Italy, I ordered lasagna AND gnocchi, finished both, and they were fantastic... Great way to wrap up my Italian food experience!    Read more

  • DR's TravelsEurope 2016Traveler
    1

    Ferries from Italy to Greece via Pompeii

    June 8, 2016 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    We got going from our Sorrento campsite at the crack of dawn because we needed to be at Pompeii for our 9am guided tour. We made it and it was already about 25 Celsius, so it was definitely a cooker! I was feeling a bit off that morning, which made for a rough start for me... All good by mid-morning though!

    Pompeii was interesting to see and experience. Right now there are about 20 bronze statues done by a Polish sculptor scattered throughout the area that will remain for the rest of 2016 (not sure why). As with many historical sites, much of the area is inaccessible due to restoration or archaeological digs. Many of us are familiar with the story of Pompeii and heard of things frozen in time from the ash that fell from the Mount Vesuvius eruption 2000 years ago. A few are on display for the public to see (e.g. a slave, a young boy, and a dog).

    After Pompeii, it was back on the road to Bari, Italy to catch the overnight ferry to Igoumenitsa, Greece. The ferry left at 8pm and arrived in Greece the following morning at 5am local time (one hour time difference) and the trip was uneventful. I was able to get a fairly decent sleep, which was fantastic! It was neat not sleeping in a tent for the first time in 16 days.

    Our arrival in Igoumenitsa meant that it was time for the next ferry ride to the Greek island of Corfu. The early morning trip was about 90 minutes long and it was terrific! Beautiful sites and great smell of the sea!    Read more

  • DR's TravelsEurope 2016Traveler

    Corfu!

    June 9, 2016 in Greece ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    Vacation within the vacation... The best descriptor for Corfu!

    We arrived at the campsite in the morning shortly after the ferry and we set up camp to get that out of the way. Then, it was into Corfu Old Town for lunch and to check things out.

    I had my first Greek gyros, which were similar to what is had at home, but they put French fries in them (turns out that everywhere does that and that it's the norm).

    We were also advised to go for a "fish spa"... Put your feet into a tank with small fish and they'll nibble at the dead skin to leave your feet silky smooth. Sure, why not! It was an interesting feeling - tickled for the first little bit, but all good after that! I think we could have sat there all afternoon to get to "silky smooth", especially since we'd been camping and walking in great abundance over the last few weeks!

    A few of us climbed the castle overlooking the island for some amazing views of the town and water ("wadda" if you're Australian). Then it was back to the campsite to some pool and beach time! The pool and patio area were fantastic, while the 5 minute walk to the beach wasn't bad either! The beach was all pebbles, but the water was gorgeous and it was sandy underneath. Find that night was at the poolside restaurant.

    The next day was was full on vacation vacation... Breakfast at 10, then poolside for a few hours, but then the skies opened up and in two hours it rained almost 3 inches! Luckily this campsite had a huge covered portion of patio, so we took shelter there and prayed our tents wouldn't float away! After the downpour, we surveyed the tent situation and we're pleasantly surprised that things were relatively dry - a welcome surprise!

    The next day was George's Boat, which was a cruise around Corfu with swim stops and a terrific fresh lunch (tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, bread, cheese, meats, and tzatikki) in great abundance! It was definitely needed considering all the swimming that took place that day! I was diligent about applying and re-applying sunscreen ("suncream" in Aussie), so I wasn't too crispy by day's end!

    Our last night in Corfu was spent at our authentic Ionian Dinner... Most of the food was great, but the meat (chicken, pork, and lamb) were very oily and I didn't do much more than try them. The best part of the evening was the Greek dancing and audience participation! It was like Folklorama on steroids!    Read more

  • DR's TravelsEurope 2016Traveler
    1

    Corfu to Athens, via Corinth Canal

    June 12, 2016 in Greece ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    Well, the vacation within a vacation has come to an end... Crack of dawn start this morning to catch the ferry from Corfu back to Igoumenitsa. Today is a long travel day, as we essentially cross the entire country of Greece with a stop along the way at the man-made Corinth Canal.

    We expect to arrive at the Athens campsite about 7pm... Greek-ish time. Then it's our last dinner with those that are only doing the first half of the trip, as The Big Chill (my trip name) is basically made up of two other trips (The Southern Trail is the first half that wraps up tomorrow and the second half is The Northern Trek that goes on to Amsterdam/London). Ten people drop off and we gain ten more; two guys are leaving, but we're only gaining one, so I'm going to officially get my own tent!

    The morning drive was slow going, since the roads were narrow, winding and filled with switchbacks... Fun in a car, but not so much on a coach!

    The stop at the Corinth Canal was interesting to see, but the half an hour so was sufficient. Apparently constriction started around 200 BC, but it wasn't actually completed until the 19th century. Also, is not actually very functional because it's not wide enough for larger ships and doesn't save a huge amount of distance. While we were there, we did get to see someone bungee jump from the bridge we were standing on - not my cup of tea, but each unto their own.

    We rolled into the campsite relatively on time, but dinner was a bit delayed and we weren't eating until 9:30. The next day was our full day in Athens, so it was pretty much bedtime after dinner.    Read more

  • DR's TravelsEurope 2016Traveler
    1

    Athens

    June 13, 2016 in Greece ⋅ 🌙 21 °C

    My impression of Athens... It was very interesting to see The Acropolis and the Parthenon, as well some of the other ancient sights, but the city itself was quite rough. It was very dirty and virtually everything that could be graffitied, had been graffitied.

    We had a local guide, Nina, for the Acropolis tour and she came on the bus for the city tour as well - she was fantastic, easily the best guide this far! She looked and sounded exactly like the mom from My Big Fat Greek Wedding, plus she was extremely knowledgeable!

    We had the afternoon free for whatever... One of the girls had a Europe travel book and 14 of us decided to try a recommended restaurant... As we walked there, the area seemed to get dodgier and dodgier, but there were a lot of us and it was the middle of the day. We finally found the place - not an easy feat because it was downstairs (yes, I had to duck to get down) and there was no restaurant signage. We didn't actually order anything, they just started bringing out dishes for the table to share - everything was quite oily and not a top pick for me, but it was definitely an experience! We made it out in tact; also, it's 24 hours later and I'm no worse for wear!

    We visited the flea markets, which is basically a huge number of shops selling the same touristy crap. I'd imagine it would be tough to know where to buy something because everyone has "best price"! By the end of the markets, the group was half the size and my continent stopped for a couple of gyros each on the easy back to the group meeting point - excellent idea because they were the second best gyros after Corfu!

    That night we meet the 10 new group members joining for the second half... A couple Canadians, Americans, and South Africans; of course the rest are Australian. There seem to be some great folks and I look forward to getting to know them over the next 25 days!

    Tomorrow, we leave Athens for one night in Kavala and then on to Gallipoli, Turkey. It is a pretty big deal for Australians and New Zealanders because of a WWI battle that took the lives of many soldiers from those countries.    Read more

  • DR's TravelsEurope 2016Traveler

    Athens to Kavala

    June 14, 2016 in Greece ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    Long driving day - 3, three hour legs!

    We did make a stop along the way at the site of the Battle of Thermopyle. There a great summary in the photo I took of a sign...This battle was also the basis for the Gerard Butler movie - 300.

    We only had one night in Kavala, but you could hear the sea from there tents and we spent the evening at the beach front patio! Unfortunately, the showers weren't ideal - heated by solar power and I did not enjoy the freezing cold shower I took that night! I decided to do that rather than have a shower in the morning, especially when we needed to pack up camp and be in the road by 6:30 because we needed to catch the ferry from Ecebat to Gallipoli at 7:30.    Read more

  • DR's TravelsEurope 2016Traveler

    Gallipoli

    June 15, 2016 in Turkey ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    Like I said, this is huge for the the Australians and New Zealanders of the group. We visited the memorials for them, as well as the Turks... We're in Turkey, so, as you'd expect, their memorial is quite extensive, but the Australian memorial is also quite large (signs mention that the Turkish government gifted the acres of land used to Australia). However, the New Zealand memorial is quite small.

    The campground was a short distance away on the Gallipoli Peninsula, which was nice because it was incredibly hot out and the group was definitely ready for a rest. It extended all the way to the beach, but it was about a kilometer walk to get there (or at least it felt like it) because it was so spread out. Most of us went for a swim in the ocean to cool off and it was terrific! Afterwards, I decided to wash off the salt with a shower, but unfortunately the shower facility was less than fantastic - I ended up enjoying a speedy drip of cool water from a showerhead. A decent shower is definitely something I'm looking forward to for the few nights we stay in hotels!

    Early start tomorrow to catch the ferry across the Dardanelles to Troy!    Read more

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    Gallipoli to Istanbul, via Troy

    June 16, 2016 in Turkey ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    Mustafa was our guide at Troy and he started out joking about his name because "most Turkish men share that name". He spoke excellent English and was definitely engaging; he also made more than a few references (as has come to be expected) to the books he'd written and would be for sale at the conclusion of the tour.

    The city of Troy was apparently actually made up of seven distinct cities that were built on top of each other over thousands of years because the location was so perfect and defendable. Hence the legend of the Trojan Horse being required to penetrate the walls of the city and it's "cargo" opening the gates of the city under cover of night.

    I'm told that this part of Turkey is considered to be part of Asia, so I've now been to Asia! We took the same ferry back to the Gallipoli Peninsula, as that was the preferred route for the drive to Istanbul. It was definitely a long day, which ended three hours later than usual because there was such significant road construction in Istanbul and the city is so huge that we were technically driving within the city for over five hours - not overly impressed by that fact! The other surprise was that we weren't able to be dropped off at the hotel because the coach can't stop there (tram route) and the drop off was a 20 minute walk from the hotel... Extra hassle after the exceedingly looking day, especially with all of our luggage. Oh well, sacrifices campers make for a night in a hotel :)    Read more

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    2

    Istanbul

    June 17, 2016 in Turkey ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

    After arriving at the hotel and checking in, the group headed to the hotel dining room for much needed food... The unfortunate part was that it tasted like it was ready three hours before, which was when we were expected - communication and subsequent adjustment could have done wonders. Oh well, maybe next time.

    A few of us went out after dinner to a lounge around the corner... I ordered raki (traditional Turkish digestif that's like Ouzo, but significantly more potent, as I discovered) and a highball glass full arrived, accompanied by a bottle of water. This was much more than I expected, so it went around the table for all to try this Turkish "treasure". After the trials were completed and there barely a dent in the glass, the proprietor came by and explained that you ship the raki and then take a sip of the water - we all tried that and it did help with the harshness, but by the end of the night, we still hasn't finished it. You've got to know when to fold 'em...

    I also tried sheesha (flavoured tobacco from a hooka). I tried each of the three flavours (grape and cherry, grape and orange, and apple and mint) that the table ordered throughout the night... I wouldn't describe it as bad, but it's not good and definitely not for me. Now I know. The other thing was that it turned into a very late night!

    Our full day in Turkey started with breakfast at the hotel followed by a walking tour around the oldest part of town. Then, my highlight of Turkey... A Turkish shave and haircut! Most of the guys of the group (most had bears or some level of scruff) stopped shaving about a week before, in preparation. The "Turkish shave" is really just a straight razor shave, but I've never had one before and it was fantastic to have one performed by such a professional! That was definitely an experience I would seek out again! The haircut was needed and I already love those, but the next two pieces were new and interesting, to say the least: wax applied to ears and nose, as well as threading. The customers being served while we waited both had it done, so maybe that's just part of the regular experience. There was a language barrier, but i think , while the nose wax was to remove pore impurities, while the ear waxing and threading goal was to remove stray hairs and/or peach fuzz. He applied the got wax very liberally with a massive tongue depresser-type wooden stick and started threading while the wax dried. I'd heard of threading before, but never really understood how it worked: thread is wrapped around fingers and hands, and twisted, then some rhythmic motion pulls hairs out... Magic! By the time that was completed, the wax was dry and could be peeled off - this was done rather aggressively, but it wasn't painful. The overall results: an pretty short haircut (good, especially for the hot, hot weather) and smooth skin! Success!!

    Next up was the Turkish bath experience: essentially a wet sauna, body scrub, and massage. You start of in a large, hot room by laying on warm marble slabs in a towel, which is quite relaxing. But then "aggressive" is the descriptor that dominates the rest of the experience. The scrub removes dead skin, which is great, but they want to continually show you how good a job they're doing, so I kept having to open my eyes, which disturbed my experience and caused me to almost lose a contact lens. Then the real fun began - the massage - a Turkish man brutalizes you for 30 minutes. We left with bruises, and I left with a knot in my left shoulder that was so mad that I could hardly turn my head and it took 4 days to improve. Needless to say, the Turkish bath was not a positive experience.

    We then went to check out the Grand Bazaar and have some lunch. The Bazaar is definitely grand, but my opinion would categorize it in the same manner as the Athens markets (Manny's vendors selling the same junk), except on a much bigger scale!

    Our last so of the day was the Blue Mosque... Surprising to me, it wasn't blue from the exterior, but rather the interior is decorated with thousands of blue tiles. It was free to enter and appropriate cover-up garments were provided to all. We arrived just after the mosque re-opened for viewing after lunchtime prayers. The wait time was minimal and the inside was quite beautiful.

    After getting cleaned up at the hotel, the group went for our official Turkish dinner and a show... Food was was mediocre, plus I want feeling particularly well, but the show was great fun! Historic cultural dancers, belly dancers, and a singer. He went through the entire audience to learn where people were from and then sang a song linked in some way to their country from memory... Oh Canada!    Read more

  • DR's TravelsEurope 2016Traveler

    Macedonia

    June 19, 2016 in North Macedonia ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C

    Our guidance from the crew upon arrival in Skopje for where to go was a bit off, so it took a bit longer to get oriented, but we figured it out. There is lots of old architecture that's been given updates, which is a rather unusual and interesting look. Alexander the Great was a famous Macedonian and the is a large square dedicated to him. Everything from monuments to buildings to parks and sidewalks are completely riddled with paintball attacks in all colours imaginable, not just the usual graffiti. The amount of damage is actually quite shocking as you walk and drive through the city.

    The drive through the mountains was also amazingly beautiful!

    We were only in Macedonia for the night and stayed in a small town called Struga. The campground was on the shores of Lake Ohrid (one of Europe's oldest and deepest lakes, over 300 meters in some places) and put campsite was right on the water!    Read more

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    Albania

    June 20, 2016 in Albania ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    Almost as soon as we crossed the border into Albania, every second car was a Mercedes of some variety... Apparently, many Italians moved to Albania over the last 60 years and a Mercedes was a way to show others your status. There are also a huge number that are stolen and find a second home in Albania (they definitely wouldn't stand out from the crowd).

    The other thing you notice is that everyone and their dog start up car washes on the side of the road; regardless of whether you're in a city, town, or along the highway. They spray water into the air to entice drivers to stop at their establishment.

    We stayed in the capital city of Tirana at a hotel.. Our last hotel night of the trip! This was definitely the best of the hotels we stayed in (it helped that I got a room to myself and didn't have any roommates): queen-sized bed, huge shower with rain feature, spacious, pool views, and great AC! The only downside was the wedding celebration going on in the pool patio area until the wee hours.

    We got into town in the early afternoon and spent some time exploring the city before heading to the hotel.    Read more

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    Montenegro in transit

    June 21, 2016 in Montenegro ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    Technically, I visited Montenegro, even though our only stop was for a rest stop for a few hours.

    That said, the drive through the country was amazingly beautiful - very picturesque! Apparently, most tourists to Montenegro are mostly day trippers from Croatian tourism, but most tourists to the country don't stay for more than one night, at most. It definitely has room to grow with respect to capitalizing on tourism opportunities, especially relating to the country's natural beauty.Read more

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    11

    Croatia

    June 21, 2016 in Croatia ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    I loved Croatia! Most of our time was spent in Dubrovnik, which was amazing, but the Dalmatian Coast up to Split is also incredibly beautiful!

    Dubrovnik is definitely one of my top destinations this far! The old part of the city is walled and the streets and set-up reminds me a lot of Venice (maybe that's why I loved it so much). The city walls were built for protection and financed by requiring all visitors to the city to purchase a stone for the wall. In recent times, Dubrovnik Old Town has been home to the filming of many scenes from Game of Thrones, as well as the upcoming Star Wars movie. Necessity was the mother of invention for Dubrovnik in relation to using the first "Quarantine" facility - During plague times, a quarantine facility was built outside the city walls to house people wanting to visit the city. Visitors were required to remain in the faculty for 40 days before being allowed to enter, if they survived, they were permitted entry.

    We took public transit from the campground into Dubrovnik Old Town and enjoyed a guided walking tour. Ida, our guide, included lots of Game of Thrones information (e.g. Kings Landing, walk of shame, etc.) because the show is so popular and our group had lots of huge fans! I've never seen the show, so all of that stuff went right over my head - maybe I'll check it out when I get back.

    For the afternoon, we took a boat cruise to Lopud Island, where we had a swim stop, and Kolocep Island, where we could explore and have lunch. The water was quite cool, but very refreshing, especially since the temperature was in the high 30s with almost 100% humidity! A few groups are at the same restaurant, which was right on the waterfront and had a great view of the harbour.

    The next day, 8 of us booked a sea kayaking tour... Great views of the city from the water! We also stopped mid-way for some sandwiches and a swim at a secluded beach. Then, we headed out into the sea loop around another island and head back to the start. Two of the group got seasick on the last leg of the parking adventure and our guide called to have his colleagues come pick them up in a boat - I didn't realize getting seasick happened on such a small craft, especially since the swells were fairly tame. Our guide, Dan, was great! He was knowledgeable and entertaining, plus our 3 hour tour turned into 4!

    The group was pretty drained after kayaking, but I really wanted to walk the city walls - great views overlooking the city and the coast line! Denae and I were the only ones that took it on and I'm so glad we did - fantastic! That said, incredibly hot and humid, but hey, it's Croatia in the summer!!

    I loved Dubrovnik, it's on par with Venice for my top places this far! I tried to find a piece of art to commemorate the experience, but I didn't come across anything that was quite right, so memories and photos will have to suffice for the time being. It's interesting that a lack of cars is a common denominator. The biggest challenge was the heat and humidity, especially when the tent was stiflingly hot by 5am!

    The next morning, we started our trek north up the Dalmation Coast... Wow! Amazingly beautiful scenery! We stopped in the afternoon at Split for lunch and exploring the Palace of Diocletian, as well as street markets.

    We spent the night in Seline and our campsite was right on the water. A few of us went for a nighttime swim to cool off before bed. The water was cool and refreshing, but very salty! It was great that they had a fresh water shower right at the beach.    Read more

  • DR's TravelsEurope 2016Traveler

    Bosnia & Herzagovina in transit

    June 24, 2016 in Bosnia and Herzegovina ⋅ 🌙 25 °C

    This country visit will likely be the shortest possible, as it was only an hour, which included a 45 minute rest stop. It's interesting that B&H extends out to the coast through Croatia - not sure why that's the case, but the two border crossings were also the fastest in history!Read more

  • DR's TravelsEurope 2016Traveler

    Budapest

    June 26, 2016 in Hungary ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    We rolled into Budapest at about 6 pm and it was still 39 degrees Celsius, but the saving grace was that the humidity want nearly as high as Croatia.

    That night some of the group went to Sparty, which is a "spa party" held at one of the thermal pools, but the only tickets available were almost €100 and that was just too get in the door. Essentially, the pool becomes a nightclub with DJs, lights, and lots of alcohol. The next day, the consensus from the attendees was that it was fun, but way overpriced and showers were needed immediately following.

    The next day, we had a driving tour and walking tour of the city, plus a nice group photo at Fisherman's Bastion. The Parliament buildings and At Stephen's Cathedral are quite amazing buildings. Sarah and I had lunch on a patio of a neat little restaurant just of the beaten track, I had Hungarian Goulash and fresh mint lemonade - both were excellent!

    The next so was the House of Terror, which is now a museum of history related to atrocities committed during the time of the Arrow Cross and Communist movements. For me the scariest piece was that the horrible things being done in that building weren't going on hundreds of years ago, but rather, 50 years ago.

    After we explored some more of the city on foot and decided to get a massage - great decision, plus they had AC!

    The whole group reconvened that evening for a dinner cruise along the Danube River. The meal was quite good and definitely available in ample portions. But the best part were the views of the city at night from the river - I wish the photos could do it justice! The Parliament building is the star of the show!

    "Ruin bars" are also very popular... Bars take over old buildings that are damaged, turn them into night clubs, and furnish them with mismatched, leftover furniture from anywhere and everywhere!

    Budapest is a really cool city. It seems to be a mix of very old with new and it just seems to work!    Read more

  • DR's TravelsEurope 2016Traveler

    Austria

    June 28, 2016 in Austria ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    After seeing up camp in Vienna, we had dinner at the campsite and headed to Prater, which is an amusement park. Entry is free, so you pay per ride/attraction. It was similar in size to the Red River Ex, but it remains in that location.

    We started off the next morning with a driving and walking tour of some of Vienna. Then we had some free time to explore and have lunch. The city has a really cool feel and it would be great to spend more time there. Apparently, it was named the second best city to live in, after Melbourne, Australia (a fact enjoyed by the many Aussies on the tour).

    They took the group on a tour of a schnapps museum... It was interesting, but the main focus was pretty clear - sample and buy. Moving on... We went to a famous castle, but they were setting up for a music concert on the grounds and we were somewhat limited in where we could go and what we could see. That said, a few of us walked to the side gardens and we're able to get some good photos.

    That night, we were taken to a Mozart and Strauss concert being held in the building where Mozart's first composition (he was six) was performed for Maria Theresa (first, and only, female member of the Hapsburg family to rule). There were only about 200 people at the performance and we were able to explore the building during the intermission.    Read more

  • DR's TravelsEurope 2016Traveler
    1

    Czech Republic

    June 29, 2016 in Czech Republic ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C

    The drive through the Czech was beautiful - filled with rolling hills and lakes. We spent a couple of hours in Cesky Krumlov, which is the second most visited place in the Czech Republic. It's a small town with a huge castle, beautiful river scenes, and great food! I had a savory crepe for lunch and a sweet crepe for dessert!

    We arrived in Prague and kept going to the campsite, which was quite far outside the city centre (90 minutes by public transport using a bus, a tram, and a train; 30 minutes by taxi). We managed to wedge our 24 tents into a space that should only have 12, so that was a bit cosier than what we're used to, but we managed. There was a pool and the shower facilities were the best this far!

    Our first night was spent in the heart of Prague experiencing the city's nightlife - is safe to say that everyone had a great time! Those that opted for a cocktails by the bucket had a really great night, but the next day was definitely a battle. Something to keep in mind: taxi drivers are as dodgy as you can possibly imagine, Uber is the way to go! Taxis cost between 450 and 600 krowns, while those that used Uber paid 250. The taxi driver will tell you that you don't need to negotiate a price because it's on the meter, but you won't have a clue where you're going so they'll drive around just to increase the fare. Lesson learned, and worth keeping in mind for other cities too.

    The next morning started with a drive around the city and a brief walking tour, including some time at Prague Castle (largest castle and grounds in the world according to Guinness). Then we took an afternoon boat cruise along the river. Some info learned from the boat MC (Misa can fact check):
    - Czech Name Day is bigger than birthdays. David is December 30, the day before Sylvester (a.k.a. New Year's Eve).
    - The Czech Republic is quite far behind the rest of Western Europe in many respects, due in large part to being under Communist rule until relatively recent history. Our MC was 22 and his father had to put his name on a two year waiting list to be able to purchase a car. He apparently created a fraudulent list with his name at the top to jump the cue.
    - The river commonly floods; most of the city was under water due to a flood in 2002 (referred to as the 100 year waters) and the city began putting flood prevention measures in place for the future. There was also a major flood in 2014, but not nearly as devastating 2002. Much of the river incorporates locks to maintain consistent water levels in certain areas and allow more efficient boat traffic.
    - Beer is cheaper than water. Czech people consume more beer per capita (150 litres annually) than any country in the world, except Muldova.
    - Easter is an interesting time for the Czech people... Females decorate eggs and give them (and other gifts; e.g. alcohol) to males; while males have reed-type sticks with ribbons to tap females with (a tap means beauty and fertility for the next year).
    - Pork with potato dumplings is the national dish.
    - Swearing in Czech is somewhat of an art form, as there are so many versions, combinations, and new creations that take place.

    We had the rest of the afternoon and evening free after the boat cruise, so a couple of us teamed up to do some exploring...
    - We started with the main square, which includes two cathedrals and the famous astrological clock.
    - Next we headed to the Jewish Quarter, which suffered virtually no damage during WWII because Hitler wanted to preserve the area to act as something of a museum.
    - Then it was off to the Charles Bridge that was built in about 1300. It's a pedestrian bridge that has many vendors and buskers. I found a great etching by a local artist of the Charles Bridge, Prague Castle, etc. that I picked up.
    - We went back to Prague Castle to explore in more depth, but we arrived at about 20 minutes before close, so we didn't bother paying entry fees and just explored the grounds.
    - We came upon a beautiful garden with a large pool, sculptures, and manicured hedges... And as we walked through, we started to hear classical music. There was an orchestra set up on the steps of a building with heaps of chairs for onlookers and it must have just started. We pulled up a seat and enjoyed the rest of the show - it was fantastic!
    - The city skyline looks like a rainbow because there are so many buildings of different colours... It's quite beautiful!    Read more

  • DR's TravelsEurope 2016Traveler

    Dachau and Munich

    July 1, 2016 in Germany ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    The Dachau Concentration Camp site was used prior to and during WWII is located just outside Munich, Germany. We were limited to a couple of hours and I could have easily spent an entire day going through the museum, buildings, memorials, and grounds. The audio tour would have been interesting, but it required at least 3 hours. Instead I took photos of much of the signage and descriptions I came across to read after the fact. It's obviously a very somber place and the scale is quite small when the volume of people housed at the camp is considered. Two prisoner bunkhouses have been restored, but there were over 30 in use during the camp's operation.

    The next morning started off with a Mike's Bike Tour of Munich. Hinx was our guide; he's Australian and quite funny. He provided a mix of historical information and funny anecdotes that kept people's attention. One of the first things he covered with us was hour to deal with people that try to join our group without paying (a common issue)... When one of our group identified an offender, we were to pass the "stranger danger" message quietly through the group and, when everyone knew, the unified group would call out "stranger danger", look at the offender, crouch down, and begin hopping in their direction. I'm sure it was quite a hilarious sight to see!

    We went through part of the Englischer Garten, which is the second largest park in Europe (Dublin has the largest). It's a huge and beautiful green space with some unusual extras: river surfing and a nude area.

    After the bike tour, a group of us headed to Marien Platz, a main square, which has the Glockenspiel (clocktower with characters that move at certain times of the day), as well as many outdoor markets that we explored. We walked Ludwig Straus for a few kilometers, explored the university area, and made out way back to the Englischer Garten, which was great, except for the fact that it was pouring rain for a good portion of the walk - I'm glad I still had the poncho that I bought on the street in Italy (I think).

    We warmed up and had a bit of dinner at a small cafe. Then we headed off to Hobrauhaus, a famous Munich beer hall, to meet some of the others. Germany was playing in the Euro Cup later that night and it was packed with people, it's the type of place where your whole group will not be able to sit together; rather, people sit wherever and get to know those around them - great time! They serve beer in one litre steins and quite a few of our group were there all afternoon; we left at 8:30pm, so you can imagine the state people were in. It was Nicola's birthday and I had the challenge of keeping her in her seat for the coach ride home    Read more

  • DR's TravelsEurope 2016Traveler

    Lunch in Liechtenstein

    July 3, 2016 in Liechtenstein ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C

    We stopped for lunch in the capital city of Liechtenstein, Vaduz, and ticked another country off the list.

    The was a small car show going on, so I snapped a few photos of the entrants. It was a fairly sleepy visit, but there was some excitement when a tourist decided they wanted a photo of themselves inside one of the convertibles... The doors were locked, but she didn't see that as a deterrent, unlocked it and climbed in. One of the organizers saw this happen and proceeded to tell and wave his arms in an attempt to get his point across that that was not allowed, she conveniently got the message after her husband got the photo.

    Liechtenstein is one of the smallest countries in the world, but the drive through was gorgeous!    Read more

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