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Europe (Venetians tour) 2025
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Europe (Venetians tour) 2025

A biggish trip:
Paris - 6 nights
Florence - 4 nights
Siena - 13 nights
Venice - 2 nights
Venetians cycling tour - Venice to Dubrovnik - 15 nights
Munich - 4 nights
Tokyo - 7 nights Læs mere
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  • EattravelmoveEurope (Venetians tour) 2025Rejsende
    Church of St. Donatus Crkva sv. DonataCollie our lovely guide who lived in CanberraSt. Anastasia’s CathedralAlex and his doppelgangerFish HouseGood local fish and chipsIt's no BondiChurch of St. Donatus Crkva sv. DonataVenetian gatesMark and TheresaRandom wedding photosOur roomLiz and RussVery tasty pizzaBig boatsZadarDan, Sally, Kate and Finn

    Ferry to Zadar

    26. september, Kroatien ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    We have a travel day with a ferry from Mali Losinj to Zadar at 9.30am. We dropped our bags down to the Odyssey team at 7am - the boys, Henrick and Dario, are driving the two vans with all our bikes and bags to a car ferry and then driving down to Zadar. The logistics involved are impressive to make our tour work smoothly.

    We had the buffet breakfast, which was quite a spread, probably the best of the trip, before getting taxis to the ferry terminal. It was an every man or woman for themselves fight for a seat on the ferry; we just popped our earbuds in, and the 2.5 hours went by quickly.

    Collie, one of our lovely guides, left us as she was only on tour for the first week. We had some time before check-in, so we had a wander around the old town, which is very near our hotel.

    Zadar is on Croatia’s Dalmatian coast and is known for the Roman and Venetian ruins of its peninsular Old Town. There are several Venetian gates in the city walls. Surrounding the Roman-era Forum is 11th-century St. Mary’s Convent, with religious art dating to the 8th century. There’s also the grand, 12th-century St. Anastasia’s Cathedral and the round, 9th-century pre-Romanesque Church of St. Donatus.

    To be honest, we were just trying to avoid the daytrippers from the three cruise ships, so we wandered the back alleys until we found a place to eat. We had fish and chips at Fish House, washed down with a local pilsner. We wandered along the seaside and then to one of the Venetian gates before having a very tasty pistachio gelato.

    We rested up in our room in the afternoon. We chatted to the nice hotel reception lady about Croatia, food, wine, and life in general before heading out for apero across the road.

    We had our team catch up at the hotel bar - it's a fun group. We even got a flyover from a synchronised flying team.

    We went out for dinner at a pizza place about 10 minutes from the hotel, Family Pizza, in the back alleys. We dined with Liz and Russ from Melbourne - they are a lovely couple, both retired from university roles.    Læs mere

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  • EattravelmoveEurope (Venetians tour) 2025Rejsende
    Pre ride photo
    Dan and AlexLiz and RussTara and JudyPre ride photoCraig and KateCruise shipsZadar with mountains in backgroundBridge on Uglijan IslandCathy heading to the bridge on UglijanFamous Croatian basketballerGetting on the ferryOur guides buying lunch wineThe bike pack upThe bike pack up by HenrickThe bike pack upSome tired ridersIsabel1D Resort pool

    Zadar to Sibenik

    27. september, Kroatien ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    We were up early once again and had a really good breakfast at Almayer Art & Heritage Hotel - it was a cooked breakfast - I had scrambled eggs, and Gayle had an omelette. We were on the road by 8.45am, a small 5km ride through Zadar to catch the ferry to Preko. 15 minutes later, we were riding along the coast of Uglijan on side roads.

    It was a 31km ride on Preko on the island of Uglijan, as we're catching another ferry back to the mainland. I was cruising along with a few kilometres to go when Isabel zoomed up behind me, telling me we only had 7 minutes to get to the ferry! I followed Isabel and Judy, and we got there as the last cars were being loaded on. It was pretty funny as others in the team were also caught rushing as they lounged around having coffee nearby, 😄 🤣 I have to say that the scenery along the way was spectacular once again.

    We got off the ferry back on the mainland at Biograd na Moru and stopped nearby for morning tea. The cherry pastries were very good!

    We headed out of town for our last 27km leg. It was a bit of a busy road for 6 or 7 kms before we got onto back roads, through quiet farmlands take us to a tiny village spot for lunch at Banjevci. The temperature warmed up to around 25c. We're getting transported into Sibenek to D Resort, as the roads are too busy and not very scenic. Gayle and I rode in the Odyssey van with Dario and Henrick - these are two of the nicest and funniest blokes we've ever met!

    Once at the resort, I went for a swim - I was miraculously rejuvenated.

    We met at the rooftop bar for apero and briefed for tomorrow's ride. Hopefully, the weather will hold, but rain is a possibility.

    We had dinner at the rooftop restaurant and really enjoyed the food, wine, and conversation. We deserved it after today's ride.    Læs mere

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  • EattravelmoveEurope (Venetians tour) 2025Rejsende
    2Stradinskli Buk Waterfall
    Pre ride photoWind turbines at morning teaStradinskli Buk WaterfallStradinskli Buk WaterfallStradinskli Buk WaterfallMushroom lady pantry?SkradinSkradinSkradinSkradin from the road above1Dario and RussCraig and ChristianaBurek - cherry, cheese or meatThai spring rolls1Thai food

    Sibenik to Split via Krka NP

    28. september, Kroatien ⋅ 🌙 17 °C

    We had a good breakfast at the hotel before heading out of Sibinek towards Krka National Park - can I buy another vowel!

    We have a 62km ride today. A slightly busy road takes us quickly out of Sibinek and onto smaller and quieter roads and a very country farmland area - the smell of manure was quite bracing. A couple of big climbs to take us to a well-deserved snack stop.

    We then had a long downhill along country roads before a busier road for the last 10km to the entrance to Krka National Park! It was a fun 3.5km flat gravel riding trail through the national park and well worth the effort to get here to see Stradinskli Buk Waterfall. We had a look around before riding back up the gravel road and down to Skradin. We had lunch on our own today, joined by Liz, Russ, Tony, Theresa, and Judy. Our riding ended here for today - a short shuttle into busy Split, where we have a rest day!

    Boring us, we did some washing and then went out for Thai food - it was nice to have some rice and spice 😋    Læs mere

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  • EattravelmoveEurope (Venetians tour) 2025Rejsende
    Diocletian's Palace Dioklecijanova palača
    Diocletian's Palace Dioklecijanova palačaSaint Domnius’ cathedralNarrow streetsA bit randomDiocletian's Palace Dioklecijanova palačaLocal marketPeople's squareBurekSea bass

    Split rest day

    29. september, Kroatien ⋅ 🌙 16 °C

    It was great to have a sleep in and later breakfast this morning. Gayle video called Donna and caught up on the Canberra and family news. We enjoyed the buffet breakfast before heading out to take in the sights.

    As far as we can tell, there's a lot of Americans and Australians in Split. Theres at least two cruise ships in port, so older visitors, lots of flag bearing tour guides - you know my thoughts on flag bearing tour guides and don't get me started on cruise ships!

    It was quite a lazy day for us - we're over halfway through the cycling trip, and the rest and recuperation will help. Lunch was burek from a nearby bakery - we had a cheese filled and beef filled burek - it's a filo pastry delight! I love how you can buy a beer at a bakery to wash it down.

    In the evening, we met up at 5.45pm for drinks put on by Thomo and Nicole, celebrating their recent nuptials, which was very nice of them.

    We then walked to our restaurant along the waterside, Brasserie no. 7
    A lovely evening was had with great food and even better company.    Læs mere

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  • EattravelmoveEurope (Venetians tour) 2025Rejsende
    Split from the ferry
    Split from the ferrySplit from the ferryOur bikes and van getting on the ferrySplit from the ferryOn the way to JelsaVrbanj1This hill climb never endsLunch to recharge usView from our room, Hvar town on Hvar IslandView from our room, Hvar town on Hvar IslandLiz riding by at 350m above sea levelThomo riding by at 350mWhat a viewEmily and that view

    Split to Hvar

    30. september, Kroatien ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

    We were really up with the birds this morning; the alarm went off at 5.40am. We had breakfast, and we all walked to the ferry - it's a chillier 13c this morning. The views of Split from the ferry were worth the early alarm. It's a spectacular city with stark, rocky mountains and clear skies in the background.

    The 2 hour ferry ride was uneventful, although the locals are certainly a noisy bunch - lots of loud conversations, especially on the telephones. The last half hour of the ride was slow as we entered a narrow channel as we headed into Stari Grad on the island of Hvar. A 58km ride awaits us!

    Once off the ferry, we saddled up, and we did a loop ride to Jelsa, a 17km ride through rolling countryside with vineyards and then along beautiful coastline. We had a quick softdrink in Jelsa and then wound up the hill before stopping for morning tea and some lovely local biscuits.

    The ride to lunch was challenging with a 10km hill climb, peaking at 458m above sea level. There are some other bike tours following this route, and our lunch stop was located at the top of the island, where there was a small stall selling cycling jerseys and lavender products. I bought myself a souvenir Croatia jersey! Lunch was once again excellent, and we were both famished after the big climb.

    The final 12kms was a rewarding decsent except for a 1.5km steep climb to our hotel in Hvar, Amfora Hvar Grand Beach Resort. The views along the last few kilometres of our ride were a sneak preview of the views from our lovely hotel room. Day 11 ride finished, and another 58km notched up!

    The world is a much better place after a negroni with views of the sunset over the Adriatic. We enjoyed a casual dinner at the balcony bar overlooking the sea, chatting with Jeremy and Emily - what a lovely couple.    Læs mere

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  • EattravelmoveEurope (Venetians tour) 2025Rejsende
    Views from fort
    Fortica in HvarHvar harbourHvarOn our way to the fortViews from fortViews from fortFish and chipsViews from fort1Showering as entertainment

    Travel day - Hvar to Korkula

    1. oktober, Kroatien ⋅ 🌬 16 °C

    A more relaxed day with a late hotel breakfast and 11.30am check out. After breakfast, we both had massages booked with Christiana - what a treat that is. Our legs appreciated the attention after all the hill climbing yesterday!

    We wandered around Hval town and up to the Venetian fort overlooking the town and harbour. A leisurely lunch of fish and chips in the main square followed before we met up with everyone else to catch the catamaran to Vela Luka on the island of Korkula.

    It was about an hour ferry trip to Vela Luka, and we walked to the hotel Korkyra to rest up and wait for the boys to arrive with our bikes and bags. They had to take the car ferry back to Split and then another car ferry to Korkula.

    Check out the open plan shower - a room with a view!

    We dined at the hotel restaurant where there was another tour group from China. We'd noticed the same lady in the group that we saw in Hvar - her bright-coloured pant suit was hard to miss - she looked like a Ken Donne print!    Læs mere

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  • EattravelmoveEurope (Venetians tour) 2025Rejsende
    New jersey
    The road ahead1Views from the climbView from wineryLunchA bit chillyMany new wine varieties triedKorcula harbourGateway to old townCurved alleysStraight alleysHenrick and DarioCraig's birthday

    Riding the length of Korcula

    2. oktober, Kroatien ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    We had breakfast and got our bags in the van and geared up for a big day in the saddle. Today, we're riding the length of Korcula Island, from Vela Luka to Korcula town via a winery for lunch, a total of 70km.

    The ancient Greeks called the island Kerkyra Melaina, or Black Korcula, for its dense forests. We rolled through lots of small towns, olive groves, and vines before hitting the first of seven hill climbs. I love how the hills are referred to by their average gradient, which were 5 to 6 percent; however, there were some parts where the gradient was over 11 percent!

    The views across the island and along the coast were fantastic, and we were 35km into the ride before stopping for morning tea. The weather is cool and breezy, the coldest day we've had on tour, so I had my sleeves on and even used my full finger gloves for the first time. I slammed down a coke, an apple, banana, and some little cakes at morning tea - it's amazing how much energy you burn! Dario fixed my broken spoke on my rear tire while I ate.

    Then it was a 26km to Vitis winery in Lumbarda for lunch. We just had to climb a very large hill to get close; about 10km of climbing at an average of 5% gradient! The views down to the sea and across to other islands in the Adriatic did make the climb all worthwhile. I had a puncture about 10km out from the winery, my first of the tour, but my hero, Dario, was on hand to fix it!

    It was chilly by the time we'd had our lunch and wine tasting outside overlooking the countryside, sea below, and mountains in the background. I've gotta say most people did not cope with the cool weather - us tough Canberrans were the exception of course 😅🤣

    A short 9km ride into Korcula town for a hot shower to refresh ourselves.

    We met up for apero at the hotel bar before walking into the old town. We met up with a local guide, Ivan, who walked us around the old town, explaining its long and interesting history. It seems, like many towns of its time, they lived inside thick and high stone walls as everyone was trying to attack them. Korcula was a successful town on the trading routes between Asia and Europe, but this also made them a target. They were prosperous under the Venetian empire.

    Ivan walked us past Marco Polo's house, and we heard about his life, both fact and myth.

    Dinner was on a lovely rooftop terrace, although it was quite chilly. Lots of great food, wine, and conversation. I chatted with Dario, my bike saviour today, who will be heading back home a day early for his daughters 9th birthday. It's getting near the end of our tour and we've met so many lovely people.    Læs mere

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  • EattravelmoveEurope (Venetians tour) 2025Rejsende
    Korcula town in early morning
    Some cold cyclists - Murray and CathyViews on a windy dayViews on a windy dayViews on a windy day - Dario riding upView back to OrebicView back to Orebic2End of the rideOn the ferry to OrebicEvening drinks

    Last ride and arrival in Dubrovnik

    3. oktober, Kroatien ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C

    We were up early for a 7am breakfast and roll out at about 7.45am. A short 2.5km ride to the ferry back to the mainland. The weather is not just chilly, it is cold and very windy, almost Canberra weather - 11c, but feels like 5c!

    We dont really have cold weather cycling gear, so sleeves on plus a long sleeved shirt and rain jackets will have to suffice. Once off the tree ferry in Orebic, the plan is to ride 57km to the small town of Ston, where we then are taken into Dubrovnik by bus.

    Once on the road out of Orebic, we followed the coastline on a busy road, and after about 4km, the big climb of the day commenced. The climb was over 6km at an average of 5 to 6 gradient - everyone knows what my thoughts are on this misleading average! The climb was a series of switchbacks up the mountains overlooking the sea, and nd the views were breathtaking. The winds were strong but in gusts at intervals when we weren't protected by the mountains.

    We both managed to make it to the top of this somewhat treacherous climb, which was quite an achievement given the wind and traffic. However, our Odyssey support team told us that the weather ahead was getting worse, with even more windy conditions on the way. A number of cyclists had already called it quits, opting to ride in the van.

    We continued onto a tunnel through the mountains at the 19km mark, where the remaining cyclists gathered for pick-up and transport into Dubrovnik. The tunnel was approximately 200m long and a single lane, so we did ride through to take a look while waiting for our bus. We couldn't believe that cars drove through this tunnel, but they did and both ways.

    The temperature was cold, and as we were just standing around waiting for the bus, our bodies cooled down. Our bus arrived and ferried us into our hotel, which took over an hour, but it was warm on board!

    The Odyssey team organised early check-ins, and we also had our picnic lunch in a conference room. I can't say enough about how professional the team are and how they quickly adapt to these curve balls - you can't control the weather!

    In the evening, we walked to a nearby pub, Public Bar, where we had some drinks and a cheese burger. It was a relaxed night where we chatted to a lovely Swedish mother and daughter. We returned to our hotel and played some pool with Henrick and Henrique.    Læs mere

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  • EattravelmoveEurope (Venetians tour) 2025Rejsende
    Dubrovnik old town
    View from our hotel roomDubrovnik old townDubrovnik old townDubrovnik1DubrovnikDubrovnik old townFinal dinnerFinal dinnerFinal dinnerFinal dinnerFinal dinnerGreat foodView from our apartment2

    Tour end in Dubrovnik

    4.–5. okt., Kroatien ⋅ ⛅ 11 °C

    Saturday:
    We had a lovely sleep in, recovering from 2 weeks of riding before heading down for an excellent buffet breakfast. The weather is clear but a bit cooler than what we've been used to on our travels.

    Whilst sitting in the lobby, some nice Scottish ladies gave us their city bus passes, which was thoughtful. We used them to catch a bus down to the old town gate, Pile. We took our time wandering around the old towns winding and hilly streets. There were so many tourists, and this isn't even the busy season! It's a beautiful old town, but I sort of feel bad for the locals - so many daytrippers, especially from cruise ships.

    We were feeling peckish, so we took the bus back near our hotel and went back to Public Bar for chicken wings and beer. We popped back to our hotel room and rested up before meeting up with the rest of the crew for drinks.

    We walked into the old town for our final dinner as a group to Bota Šare Oyster & Sushi Bar. The food was great, and the wine flowed very freely, and people got a bit loose 😄 🤣

    Afterwards, we stopped in the main square for a gelato - pistachio, of course. It was pretty cold, so we grabbed a taxi back to the hotel with Murray and Cathy. We stopped at the pool tables and had a couple of drinks and played some pool, which was great fun.

    Sunday:
    We were both a little slow getting moving in the morning - a few too many wines and negronis. We caught up with people at breakfast before checking out of our room at 11am. We moved to our new apartment, where we're staying for the next 5 nights.

    It started raining in the afternoon and really seemed to set in. Gayle is feeling a bit seedy, so I went out in search of a supermarket, and I got a bit wet! I managed to locate a supermarket and got some supplies for our stay. I'm such a good husband - I made some toasted cheese sandwiches and some tea for us!

    We have all our washing hung out through the apartment - nothing like a week with no washing for it to build up!

    We took an uber to the old town to get something to eat - we dined at Silk, a pan-asian restaurant. It was good to eat something a bit different 😋 An early night as we both have slight head colds - the joys of travel.    Læs mere

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  • EattravelmoveEurope (Venetians tour) 2025Rejsende
    Jesuit steps
    1The many, many stairsNarrow alleys of the old townWestern wallJesuit stepsOld TownPublic Bar lunchView from our apartment1View from our apartment

    Dubrovnik so far

    6.–7. okt., Kroatien ⋅ 🌙 11 °C

    After a busy two weeks of cycling, we have really slowed the pace down. We are both a bit fluey and I've got a cough, so we haven't been doing too much.

    Monday:
    We were supposed to take a tour to Montenegro on Monday, but the operator called it off - not quite sure why. Instead, we walked down many, many stairs to the old town - entering through Pile gate.

    We walked through the small alleys on the western side of the city, climbing up as much as possible, mainly to avoid the tourist throngs. It really is a beautiful old city, but I feel it's being loved to death! We sat on some steps near Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary (they love a good cathedral here), and people watched for a while.

    Feeling hungry, we decided to take a bus to our favourite bar, Public bar, to get some chicken wings and beer! After filling our bellies, we took an Uber back 'home' for a rest - this cold is taking its toll.

    Dinner was pizza from a 'nearby ' restaurant - not that far distance wise, but did I mention the stairs! Pizza, red wine, and Netflix for us!

    Tuesday:
    We did very little today, although the weather is quite good - I'm just tired. We did walk to a bigger supermarket, Tommy hypermarket (love the name), and picked up some supplies for the day, including the Croatian equivalent of a bachelors handbag!

    We video called Marsha in NYC, updating her on our travels and our recovering bottoms post-tour.

    Another quiet night in - almost Michelin-starred dining, with fish fingers and fried potatoes, yum!    Læs mere

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  • EattravelmoveEurope (Venetians tour) 2025Rejsende
    View from our apartment
    Old townOld townOld town2Souvenirs2Evening view from our apartmentOld town viewsOld townMy loveSashimiTempura prawnsOld town1Not a bad viewDubrovnik airport

    Dubrovnik..you've been fun

    8.–10. okt., Kroatien ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    Wednesday:
    I am feeling much better with my cough easing. After breakfast at the apartment, we walked down to Pile Gate in the old town. The sun is shining but still a little windy, but it's good to be in the sun.

    We purchased some bus passes so we could explore the city a bit more, and so we didn't have to walk up all those stairs to get back to the apartment. We took a ride on the no.4 which took us out to a peninsular beyond our previous hotel for a looksie. We returned back to the bus hub, Pile Gate, and took the no.3, which passes our apartment - it was a very circuitous route, passing by the ferry port and bus station. We picked heaps of noisy school children along the way - it was like Lord of the Flies!

    We stopped at the apartment briefly before taking the no.3 back to the old town. Note for future visitors; the buses don't run on time and stop randomly for bus driver discussions. We had a late lunch at Silk, an eclectic Asian fusion restaurant we've visited previously. We chatted to two chatty Taiwanese girls who also needed a hit of rice and Asian flavours.

    We returned to the apartment on the aforementioned no.3 bus for an arvo snooze - the real joy of vacations. A quiet dinner of leftover chicken and red wine followed by some TV streaming.

    Thursday:
    After breakfast, we walked to the old town via Buza gate, which brought us into the town from the top of the eastern side of the town. We went souvenir shopping, picking up some fridge magnets, a bottle opener, and a tea towel - we know our souvenirs!

    We decided we needed a drink and food, so we located an Irish pub, the Gaffe. It was pretty quiet, especially given the huge tourist numbers on the streets. We shared a fish and chips, which was very good, and a few drinks and just relaxed for a while.

    We returned 'home' on the no.3 bus (we're really getting our moneys worth) to rest up and do a bag pack for tomorrow's departure.

    In the late afternoon, we walked down to Buza gate and went to Bota Sare restaurant - this was the japanese restaurant we went with our tour gondola our last night. The food was, once again, excellent - we had sashimi, tempura prawns, and gyoza, washed down with some local wine. A good way to end our last night in Dubrovnik.

    Friday:
    Let's call it what it is. Today is a travel day. It's a day of filling in time before we fly out late in the afternoon. We checked out of the apartment but hung out on the terrace with views across the city and sea until about 11 am.

    With our backpacks on, we took 2 buses to our old favourite, Public Pub, for lunch. We shared a cheese burger and fried chicken and a couple of drinks. They're pretty relaxed here, and we sat around having a drink after lunch.

    We took an Uber to Dubrovnik airport, which is about 40 minutes from the city, where we quickly checked in and made our way to the Adriatic lounge
    Free booze is always a good formula to waste time before our flight to Munich. This day-drinking will have to stop after the holidays 😄 🤣    Læs mere

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  • EattravelmoveEurope (Venetians tour) 2025Rejsende
    German beer
    Good coffeeMunich Dobinson1My next carOld townOld townOld townOld townOld townOld townRoast chicken2DumplingsSwaad Indian restaurantSpicy food

    Munich..its been a while

    11. oktober, Tyskland ⋅ ☀️ 12 °C

    We arrived at Munich airport about 45 minutes later than scheduled on Friday night. I'd arranged an airport transfer and our man met us at arrivals to take us to our hotel, about 30 minutes away. The last time we arrived in Munich, it was by train in 1997 and there was no such luxury. Arriving after 9pm, we checked in and had a bite to eat at the hotel restaurant/bar before retiring for the night.

    Saturday:
    I worked out that you could purchase public transport day passes online, so I organised that and added to my google Wallet. We walked up the road to a bakery, Aumuller, for some very drinkable coffee and bakery items for breakfast. The place reminds me of Canberra's Dobinson Cafe and so shall now be known henceforth as Munich Dobinson!

    After our breakfast, we took tram no.21 into the old town. There seems to be an old town in nearly all European cities, and this old town was rather scenic. First stop, however, was H&M in search of some warmer clothes - I found some more trousers and a cheap jumper. I really had no warm clothes.

    Afterwards, we wandered around the old town, taking in the sights. It was quite busy, even though Oktoberfest is officially over! Feeling a bit peckish, we wandered to a Bavarian restaurant, Ayinger am Platzl, near the more famous and raucous, Hofbräuhaus München. We had roast chicken and roast pork, with some local lagers.

    Now stuffed, we took tram no.21 back to our hotel, the Scandic Munchen, stopping at a cheap store, where Gayle bought a thrifty denim jacket to keep her warm. It's about 15c and overcast, so it's not that cold.

    In the evening, we went for a walk around the local neighbourhood, it's only 3 or 4 kms from the centre of the city, and very diverse, with lots of North African, Asian and Middle Eastern stores. We returned to our hotel bar for some happy hour drinks before heading out for dinner.

    We weren't super hungry but found an Indian restaurant, Swaad, just around the corner for a meal. The place reminded us of Blue Ginger in Canberra - very cool, Industrial decor, and the food was excellent. It was good to eat food with real spice.    Læs mere

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  • EattravelmoveEurope (Venetians tour) 2025Rejsende
    Munich Dobinson
    Donut with appleWeiner schnitzelPork knuckleDeutsches MuseumDeutsches MuseumSwaadDeutsches Museum

    Munich ... the last few days

    13. oktober, Tyskland ⋅ ⛅ 11 °C

    The weather has been much cooler, and Gayle has enjoyed shocking the locals of Munich by continuing to wear shorts on 13c days.

    We caught up with Michelle and Adrian for a video call, comparing travel stories - they're in Paris, and importantly, the same time zone.

    It's almost time to leave Europe and head back home via Japan, but we still have time to take in some more German culture. When I say culture, I'm mainly talking about eating!

    We dined at a classic Bavarian restaurant, Schneider Bräuhaus Berg am Laim, where we sampled Weiner schnitzel and pork knuckle and local beer and wine.

    We spent a couple of hours wandering around the Deutsches Museum - the closest Australian equivalent would be Questacon. It was pretty interesting once we got over the marauding children and their hapless parents. As I said, it is a bit like Questacon!

    Our last meal in Munich was less traditional, however; a very good Indian restaurant, Swaad - this wasour secondtime. It's good to have some spice 😋

    Next stop Tokyo: Michelin starred dining, Tully's, Mos Burger, Saizeriya and Jonathon's here we come!    Læs mere

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  • EattravelmoveEurope (Venetians tour) 2025Rejsende
    Here we go again
    AsakusaThe golden turdTokyo skytree1Vending machines¥400 wineTokyo skytreeSeven eleven rice snacks

    Tokyo....we meet again

    15. oktober, Japan ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    We got picked up by our accident prone driver to take us to Munich's Franz Joseph airport - he'd had a bingle upon arrival at our hotel, and the side mirror on the Tesla was banged up! He drove the car like he'd stolen it - we were woozy when we got to the departure counter.

    Check-in and security were pretty smooth, but we did have to take a train to our departure gate, where we went to the Lufthansa lounge. We boarded on time, and we were in the air heading to Tokyo by 11.30am. I know from brutal experience that day flights back from Europe are tough on the body clock. Even with our flat beds, sleep was limited, and we were going to struggle on day one in Tokyo!

    After 12+ hours flying, we arrived at Haneda airport before 7am, flew through customs with our carry-on bags, and grabbed a taxi to our hotel to drop off our bags. It's a cloudy day with spots of rain as we wandered around Asakusa. We need to stay awake until around 1pm when we can check into our room; this was brutal. We had a coffee at Tully's and hung around there for a while. We had an early lunch at Mos Burger - their burgers are the best 👌

    We sat and sometimes, laid down, at hotel reception until we got into our room at midday. We collapsed for a couple of hours and then did some washing - we really live the high life.

    I picked up some whiskey highball cans from seven eleven along with our favourite rice snacks - the seven elevens are awesome in Japan! We walked up to a nearby Saizeriya (a Japanese Italian chain restaurant) for a light dinner and wine.

    Japan now feels very familiar to us - looking forward to further exploration tomorrow.    Læs mere

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  • EattravelmoveEurope (Venetians tour) 2025Rejsende
    Sky Gallery Lounge Levita
    ShinjukuPork loin katsuGolden turd & SkytreeCheesy trianglesGyozaFried marinated chickenSkytree tower

    Tokyo ...the last few days

    18. oktober, Japan ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    The visit has been a bit of a blur so far. Our body clocks have been adjusting, but we've managed to sightsee and eat and drink quite a lot.

    Thursday:
    We had breakfast at a Dennys across the river in Asakusa - our apartment hotel, Bon Tokyo Asakusa, is actually across the Sumida River in Azumabashi. It's like a 5 minute walk, and the neighbourhood is much quieter than the heavily touristed Asakusa. Our breakfast of eggs, French toast and pancakes, and bottomless drinks was ¥1470 or around $15.

    We took the Ginza subway line to Shinjuku, and we had a look at some shops before heading to Shinjuku Subnade, an older underground shopping arcade. The weather is still a bit rainy, so sticking underground is a lot easier.

    We had some lunch at a pork katsu restaurant where we each had a crumbed pork loin set. I love the 'set' - rice, cabbage, and miso soup. This is always on our dining list when in Japan. We returned to our apartment on the very hectic subway to rest up. Well, Gayle snoozed, and I found a bar in old Asakusa subway to rest up instead.

    In the evening, we had our requisite whiskey soda and rice snacks we picked up from the seven eleven. Dinner was at the The Juicy Dumpling Manufactory, where we dined on some share plates of gyoza, fried chicken, edamame, and fried cheese triangles. As our body clocks are weird, we turned in for a quiet night after dinner.

    Friday:
    We had breakfast at Tully's - a coffee chain that makes drinkable coffee and light snacks. We've been to many Tully's on our Japan visits, and I do enjoy a breakfast hotdog - judge me if you must.

    We jumped on the subway to head to Ginza, which is a posh shopping area. Most of the shops weren't open as their opening hours were from 11am! We looked at a Swatch store that required access via a funky glass lift - it just went to the swatch store! We went to Itoya stationery shop, a multilevel complex just for stationery; we did buy some cool Japanese gifts.

    We returned to Asakusa for another sneaky Mos Burger - it'll be a while between cheese burgers, so we're getting our quota.

    In the afternoon, we got ourselves freshened and tarted up - we're heading out for cocktails and then to Chez Olivier's for dinner. We took the subway to Asaka-Mitsuke station and then to the 36th floor of a hotel complex to go to Sky Gallery Lounge Levita. The views across Tokyo are spectacular, with great views of Tokyo Tower. This is a bit of a repeat of our visit last year - if it's good, go back is our motto.

    A few cocktails later, it was time to take a short taxi ride to Chez Olivier's. We were greeted like old friends - the chef and wait staff remembered us from our previous visits. The degustation meal that followed was tremendous, and we had the sommelier choose our wines. It's a place we will return again, I'm certain.    Læs mere

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  • EattravelmoveEurope (Venetians tour) 2025Rejsende
    Zojo-ji Temple and Tokyo TowerSkytree TowerJonathonsRandom vending machine2

    Tokyo wanderings

    18. oktober, Japan ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    After a lovely evening out at Chez Olivier's last night, we slept in a bit this morning. We had planned to check out the Asakusa golden dragon dance, which is focused on Sensō-ji, but our late arrival around 11am meant we'd missed the first two performances. The crowds of tourists were also very overwhelming so we decided to give it a miss. We'll visit Sensō-ji on Monday morning to try and avoid the crowds.

    We took the Asakusa subway line to visit Tokyo Tower, which we've not visited on previous trips. It was 9 stops to Daimon station and then a 15-minute walk to the tower. We passed the very picturesque Zojo-ji Temple along the way - it's interesting to see the old and new (temple and tower) so close together.

    Tokyo Tower was built in the 1950s and looks quite similar to the Eiffel tower - it is considered a symbol of Japan's post-war recovery. It was the tallest tower up until Skytree Tower was built. We wandered through the shops at the base of the tower and discovered it was teeming with people. It seems to be a popular place for families to visit on weekends. We didn't go to the top of the tower - to be honest, the views from last night's cocktail bar were enough for us.

    Feeling very hungry, we walked to the very trendy and upmarket Toranomon district. We located a large shopping centre and proceeded to search for lunch. The good restaurants get line-ups outside, but we didn't have to wait too long to get into a katsu restaurant. The pork loin katsu set was great, especially the miso soup. I love a good 'set' - rice, miso soup, and shredded cabbage - what's not to love! A nice cold, frothy japanese beer to wash it down!

    We took the subway back to Asakusa, although we were a bit distracted and missed our stop. We got off at Skytree Tower instead and checked out the extremely busy shopping centre. Finally, sick of the Saturday crowds, we walked back to our apartment, an easy 15-minute walk to rest and recuperate.

    In the evening, we had our obligatory whiskey highballs at the apartment - we always grab a couple of cans from 7/11. We haven't dined at a Jonathon's family restaurant on this trip yet, and we feel the need. Jonathon's is a chain restaurant serving a very Japanese take on Western favourites. I first discovered them through reading Japanese detective novels by Jonelle Patrick.

    We walked about 25 minutes to the nearest Jonathon's, where we had to wait a little while to get a table. There's always an order to things in Japan whereby you place your name on a list so that they can call you up when a table is ready. We're familiar with their approach, but a kind Japanese lady asked us if we'd put our name down!

    We ordered our meals and drinks on the tablet - love how drinks arrived by robot waiter! The food is nothing fancy, but it's tasty and inexpensive, and it's fun to observe local people enjoying an evening out in the suburbs. For those new to such restaurants, it's common to pay the bill at a self-serve booth - you just scan your ticket, make payment, and leave. Imagine doing that in Australia - I'm not sure it would work.

    We strolled home on a beautiful evening, as it's still 18c but with a lovely breeze . We stopped at a 7/11 for ice cream along the way.    Læs mere

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  • EattravelmoveEurope (Venetians tour) 2025Rejsende
    Sensō-ji temple
    Neighbourhood TempleTori gateTrattoria TakahashiSensō-ji templeHalloween is comingCovered shopping areaCocktails2Asian BistroAsian BistroSkytree and golden pooSushi trainSushi train

    Final days in Tokyo .. sayonara

    19.–21. okt., Japan ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    Sunday:
    We wandered into Asakusa for a breakfast of fried eggs and toasted cheese sandwiches and coffee that would put hair on your chest! Asakusa shopping area and the nearby Sensō-ji temple were still teeming with humanity, so we headed away from the chaos.

    Its overcast and rain was highly likely, but we went wandering through the streets anyway. We stumbled onto quite temples and shrines along with lots of small shops. Gayle purchased some more souvenirs along the way. It was pleasant to stroll through suburban streets taking in regular life. We got to Ueno, where there is a large train station, just as rain seemed imminent, so we took the metro back to Asakusa and returned to our apartment. It was rainy on and off all afternoon, so we just picked up snacks and drinks from a 7/11, and this served as lunch.

    In the afternoon, we walked up near Skytree Tower in the rain - we had umbrellas from the hotel at least. We went to a craft beer place, Gahahouse, for a predinner drink. We then visited our friends restaurant, Trattoria Takahashi, catching up with Miwa and Kazu whilst they were working. Kazu prepared a lovely meal - pizza, carbonara pasta, and great wine. It was great chatting with Miwa, and we even met two of their kids. We also chatted with a couple of nice young guys sitting next to us.

    After a very enjoyable night, we walked back to the apartment to help digest our dinner, a great fun night.

    Monday:
    We dined at Tully's once again - the breakfast hotdog and coffee, what a country! I will starve myself upon returning home 😄 We took a wander around Sensō-ji temple, and the crowds were intense, with lots of Chinese tour groups.

    We love to visit different neighbourhoods while in Tokyo, so today we visited Köenji, known for its second-hand clothing stores. We took the Ginza subway line to Kanda and then the Chuo JR train to Koöenji; it took about 40 minutes.

    Once in Köenji, we wandered around a number of second hand stores and I almost bought a vintage leather jacket - it was half a size too small but it was only ¥4300 ($45) - tempting. We did stroll through a covered shopping street where Gayle bought some jewellery and another carry bag. We had our last Mos Burger for lunch - yes, I'm starving myself upon returning home!

    In the evening, we took the Ginza subway line to Asaka-Mitsuke to have cocktails at Sky Gallery Lounge Levita once again. The views are just so good, and they make a mean cocktail! After three cocktails, we were feeling both loose and hungry, so we went down to the 2nd floor, where there were a number of restaurants to choose from.

    We settled on Asian Bistro, which was a mix of Thai and Vietnamese cuisine. The place was buzzing on a Monday night with a couple of big tables of salarymen out eating and drinking with their colleagues. We ordered Vietnamese spring rolls, some fried chicken, and an eggplant curry, and it was excellent. Gayle had a white wine listed as guzzling wine - what else could one ask for!

    Afterwards, it was an easy but busy 14 stop ride back to Asakusa and a stroll back to the apartment. I'd taken an umbrella, but it didn't rain.

    Tuesday:
    Our final day in Tokyo and the weather has turned quite a bit chillier, a brisk 16c maximum today. We had our last breakfast at Tully's whilst doing wordle. We have bought some iced coffee and pancakes in a pack for tomorrow's breakfast as we're leaving the apartment at 5.30 am.

    We took a ride on the Ginza subway line to Nihombashi, a business area not far from Tokyo station, and wandered through Yaesu shopping centre. It's a large underground shopping mall with plenty of food options. We did some gift/souvenir shopping at a Can Do store - what a name.

    We then checked out the food options before settling on a conveyor belt sushi restaurant. I love a good Japanese process for smooth dining. First, you get a ticket from the reception machine and wait for our number to be called. Then, once called, you scan your ticket for your table number and seat yourself. All food and drinks are ordered on a tablet at the table and delivered by the conveyor belt. The food was really good and afterwards, you scan your ticket at the self-service payment booth, pay and off you go!

    We returned to our apartment, stopping at a 7/11 to pick up chocolate to take back home tomorrow. We got our bags packed and ready to go.

    Our final dinner was at Saizeriya and 'home' for an early night ... we have a 5.30am transfer to the airport.

    Sayonara Tokyo until next time....    Læs mere

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    22. oktober 2025
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