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Chris Dickson
Chris Dickson

Chris Dickson

war bereits in 58 Ländern Weiterlesen🇦🇺Sydney
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  • Chris DicksonEurope 2026Reisender
    The Holsten Gate
    The Holsten GateThe River TraveThe MarktSt Mary's Church (1350) behind the MarktDorne's Courtyard, founded in 1458 as an almshouseLübeck streetscapeThe Summer GardenHospital of the Holy Spirit (1286)Hospital interiorsCubicles built in the naveA cubiclePossibly on the waiting list...Burgtor (1444)BurgklosterSt Mary Magdalen, stuck in the mudThe 1535 Seamen's Guild Hall1594 staircase on the old town hallAttractive houses near the Holsten GateEsplanadi, Helsinki, leading down to the harbourArtsy bum shotNear KatajanokkaHelsinki CathedralThe Old Market Hall, full of fish, reindeer and moose dishesInside the Old Market Hall

    Lubeck and Helsinki

    24.–25. Juli in Finnland ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

    Before we left Germany, we took a day trip to Lubeck, another Hanseatic Port on the east coast of the country.

    It was a very attractive town, entered from the railway station through the impressive Holsten Gate, a fortification befitting Lubeck’s trading wealth and status. It was also very busy, with crowds around all the points of interest and an abundance of walking tours.

    We took a look at Marktplatz, with the rear of the Rathaus to one side and the Marienkirche to another, then went off grid slightly and strolled around some quiet, picturesque side streets.

    After a while, we came to the Hospital of the Holy Spirit, one of the oldest social institutions in the world and dating from 1286.

    Accommodating up to 170 sick or needy people, and only closed in 1970, it seemed a little inhumane. People were housed in very tiny wooden chambers constructed within the hall, or nave, of the building. The expectation around care for the sick and elderly has clearly changed over the past 740 years!

    The Burgtor, the 1444 northern city gate, was quite impressive, and nearby was a viewpoint over the river and to a rather unpicturesque industrial area on the other side.

    The Burgkloster - Castle Monastery - was also adjacent, a complex that developed on the site of the founding of Lubeck as Germany’s first Baltic harbour town. In 1229 it became a Dominican monastery dedicated to St Mary Magdalen, a statue of whom stands in the grounds.

    Pleasingly, the trains ran on time all day.

    Then we found ourselves in Helsinki for a single day.

    We revisited some of the sights, on a day when the city was loaded with cruise passengers. It proved again to be a picturesque, easy place to visit.

    And that was the end of our European holiday. It was a fascinating trip, once we got used to the cyclists, the cigarettes, the sirens and all those other little things that make a holiday fun.

    If only they could make the trains run on time.    Weiterlesen

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  • Chris DicksonEurope 2026Reisender
    Our broken down train, and fellow damp passengers
    Our broken down train, and fellow damp passengersThe Cap San Diego, a museum shipU434, a former Soviet spy submarineFish marketFormer cold store, now an upmarket retirement villageThe toured continued with the scrap metal yardAnd the container portThe ElbephilarmonieThe Elbephilharmonie's curving escalatorAnd the container port again...Speicherstadt, from the ElbephilharmonieEmbarkation point for scenic container port toursSpeicherstadt viewsSt Catherine ChurchMiniatur WunderlandA German train that actually runs on time...Sunflower trystBinnenalster - the Inner LakeView towards Rathuaus MarktThe RathausThe Alter ElbetunnelThe Alter Elbetunnel interior

    Hamburg

    20.–24. Juli in Deutschland ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    En route to Hamburg, at the tiny town of Friesack, our train broke down.

    The train was too high for the low platform in this small station, so about a thousand people had to be helped down off the train to stand in the rain and wait for a replacement.

    Then the crowd made their way up and down an overbridge to the replacement train (hauling their luggage, of course) and boarded it with the help of the constantly calm and helpful train staff. Astoundingly, throughout the whole process everyone was calm, smiling and helping each other - or maybe they’re used to their two-hour journey taking four and a half.

    Anyway, Hamburg.

    We wanted to look at the Speicherstadt, the WorldHeritage warehouse district where, between 1893 and 1927 timber-pile-founded warehouses were built to line the canals, and a cruise seemed like a good way to do it.

    Imagine our pleasant surprise, then, when we ended up on a cruise of the container port on the other side of the river. For those interested in gross tonnages and container-movements-per-hour it would have been great; for normal members of the human race, not so much. Anyway, it was our fault for getting on the wrong boat.

    We visited the viewing platform of the Elbphilharmonie, Hamburg’s handsome opera house, for some great pictures of the city, before finally enjoying Speicherstadt from solid ground.

    That evening, for something different, we visited Miniatur Wunderland.

    Well, we’ve never seen anything like it. Stretching over two floors and a part of another building, the world’s biggest train set absolutely defies description.

    Not so much the size of the project, it was the attention to detail that was astounding. From the traffic jams around the airport to the naked couple in a sunflower field that a teenage boy was eager to point out to us, it was just downright clever.

    Deservedly popular, and open nineteen hours a day, it was also crowded but not packed. It was always possible to make a little way along and find a spot in the front row.

    Away from the docks, Binnenalster (The “Inner Lake”j, with a water jet in its centre and still more boat rides on offer, is nearby to the Rathaus Markt, with the town hall itself looking imposing on one side. It seemed quite affluent; there weren’t many exclusive designer brands missing from the nearby streets.

    We also went to the Alter Elbetunnel, a car (well, originally horse and cart) and pedestrian tunnel completed in 1911 and running under the Elbe to the shipyards and docks to the south. Accessed by giant lifts, it probably wasn’t the most efficient vehicle tunnel in the world, but is certainly one of the most elegant.

    Our time in Germany is now almost ended, one more footprint will finish this saga.    Weiterlesen

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  • Chris DicksonEurope 2026Reisender
    The New Palace
    The New PalaceNew Palace exteriorNew Palace interiorThe GrottoRococo everywhereThe Royal Porcelain Factory, Berlin features prominentlyWhen the King got married, his bride made him get this smut off the wallCatherine, who became Empress of Russia from 1762 to 179690-ton marble floorSansouci ParkThe Chinese HouseA Golden Leprechaun, perhapsGardens near the Orangery PalaceOrangery interior"1945" scratched onto the wall by a Russian soldierSansouci PalaceNote narrow settees, to balance the narrow roomThe chair in which King Frederick the Great passed away......and, disturbingly, a painting of that very eventThe columns are real, single pieces of marbleIncredible adornments in the Yellow RoomKing Frederick, painted by Andy Warhol

    Potsdam

    18. Juli in Deutschland ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    For a break from Berlin’s assault on the senses, we took a local train to Potsdam and visited the Sansouci Palace and Park, constructed in the 1700’s by King Frederick the Great.

    In the peaceful, cool early morning, we came first to the New Palace and took some pictures of the outside. Then we realised that the building we were looking at wasn’t the New Palace at all - the New Palace was opposite and covered in scaffolding from head to toe.

    Inside was a celebration of rococo swirls, in the form of all sorts of plants and animals, with gilt paint everywhere you couldn’t fit a painting or beautiful piece of furniture.

    Any palace worth its salt, it seems, must have a grotto, and the New Palace’s one reached new heights of artistry, with shells designed into every conceivable pattern. Unfortunately, though, Frederick insisted the ceiling be unsupported, a fine idea until you install a 90-ton marble floor in the room upstairs - it took three attempts over the years to stabilise the floor.

    There are a number of other palaces and pavilions in the park. We looked in at the Chinese House, following the European fad for all things oriental, although since the figures outside were sculpted using local models, they all looked strangely European, and then the Orangery Palace. At the end of the war, a Russian soldier scratched some words and the year “1945” into one of the wall paintings; it is here to this day.

    Sansouci Palace itself, built in 1847 as a getaway for the king, is much smaller than the new palace, and is positioned at the top of a hill of vines, making it a photogenic location, except that the rise of the hill obscures the bottom half of the building. It does, however, look down on beautifully laid out gardens.

    Frederick’s rococo predilections really show here, too, with ornate embellishments everywhere. In a different vein, especially, was the Yellow Room, floor to ceiling with all sorts of painted animal and plant embellishments.

    There was a whole lot more to see, but we ran out of time; the rest will have to wait for another time.    Weiterlesen

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  • Chris DicksonEurope 2026Reisender
    Unter den Linden
    Unter den LindenThe Brandenburg Gate (1791)The Reichstag. Built 1894, burnt down 1933, renovated for united Germany 1999Pool of remembrance for the Sinti and Roma victims of the NazisThe Memorial to the Murdered JewsCheckpoint CharlieOne foot in the east, one foot in the westA piece of wall artAttractive buildings near Museum IslandBerlin CathedralThe New MuseumThe Old MuseumA Trabant, inside the DDR MuseumCutting edge East German appliancesSurveillance room. You couldn't fart without the Stasi knowing about itTranenpalast - "Palace of Tears"Inside TranenpalastVisitors from the west went through hereThe Berlin Wall Memorial Visitor Centre, with viewing platformThe WallThe WallThe people who died as a resultViewpoint over the reconstructed Berlin WallAnother Trabant

    Berlin

    16.–20. Juli in Deutschland ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

    If you are looking for a city with a mix of beauty and a bit of grit, old and new history and lots of humanity, Berlin is a standout.

    Our visit started with the obvious, a walk down Unter den Linden towards the Brandenburg Gate, topped by Victoria, Goddess of Victory, wielding her Iron Cross. To be honest, it was a little smaller in scale than we had expected.

    Through the gate and across the road was the Reichstag - the parliament building —completed in 1894. It is a most impressive building indeed, unusable by either the east or west during the Cold War, then redesigned by Sir Norman Foster for use by the newly-reunited nation.

    Then, a glimpse into the humanity. In the nearby park lies a monument to the murdered Sinta and Roma people - the “gypsies”. Hundreds of thousands of them were killed, and some of the stories were truly horrific. A children’s clinic where experiments were carried out and the child then euthanised - beyond belief.

    We also saw the Memorial to the Murdered Jews, a more abstract installation of 2,711 concrete stelae over an undulating 1.9 hectare site. It was a bit haunting, but we couldn’t say we “got it”.

    Checkpoint Charlie is probably the brashest tourist attraction in town, with competing museums all around and no shortage of queues for a photo. It was fun to stand astride the former border, one leg West German, the other East.

    Then there was Museum Island, on the river, with the quite magnificent Berlin Cathedral to one side, and no less than seven museums housed in incredible classical buildings.

    The one we saw, however, wasn’t one of them. On the other side of the river, built into the concrete embankment (and therefore not beautiful) was the DDR Museum.

    The DDR Museum was concerned with life in East Berlin, with all the tribulations of living in a police state with a sagging economy. There was a Trabant, a replica East Berlin “new” apartment and a huge number of stories with associated memorabilia.

     Unfortunately, though, it was also a great example of how to turn a fascinating subject and quality exhibits into a crappy museum. It was packed, and every time you opened one of the many interactive drawers or cupboards you risked hitting someone on the arse or worse. A much better idea, given the crowds, would be an audio guide for everyone, and exhibits fenced off further back, so that everyone got a look.

    Staying with the DDR theme, we had a look at Tranenpalast, the former processing centre for visitors from West Berlin, attached to Friedrichstrasse Railway Station. Translated as “Palace of Tears” in reference to the number of wrenching farewells that took place nearby, it contained some very poignant stories of families and lovers parted, and the officious cruelty of the guards.

    Interestingly, when it was no longer in use, the guards didn’t join in the elation - in the East German economy, they were just worried about losing their jobs.

    Finally, we visited the Berlin Wall Memorial, near a preserved piece of wall on Bernaurstrasse. This was excellent, too, with a memorial for the 140 people who died at the wall, archaeological exhibits and a viewing platform high up across the street overlooking a reproduction of the wall and the no man’s land behind it.

    It was all very moving, and that is probably what made Berlin seem so special. It’s certainly not just a typical, elegant European city; the relatively recent, terrible history, and the great way it has been preserved and memorialised, make it quite unique.

    Sadly, we are now leaving, heading for Hamburg.    Weiterlesen

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  • Chris DicksonEurope 2026Reisender
    Furstenzug - most of its 102 metres
    Furstenzug - most of its 102 metresSemperoper - the Dresden Opera HouseThe Dresden ZwingerThe Nymphenbad, within the ZwingerCherubsThe Zwinger from aboveThe Dresden Royal PalaceThe Porcelain Room. Not a Caroma in sight!Fancy Elector dudsPalace courtyardCathedral St Trinitatis (left), joined by a bridge to the Royal PalaceSt Trinitatis from Bruhl's TerraceThe River ElbeBruhl's TerraceFrauenkirche1Dancing and merriment in the Platz

    Dresden

    14.–16. Juli in Deutschland ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C

    We’ve just spent a day and a bit in Dresden, and all of it within about two square kilometres, so much is there to see here.

    Dresden was a home base of the thousand-year Wettin dynasty and the seat of the Electors and, later, Kings, of Saxony. In particular, under Elector Augustus II the Strong in the early 1700’s, it grew into a city full of Baroque splendour. Augustus was kept busy in other ways, too, apparently fathering 360 children.

    Then, in February 1945, it all came tumbling down, as Allied bombing, and the ensuing firestorm, flattened most of it. 25,000 people died.

    The effort involved in turning Dresden from rubble back to the incredibly beautiful city it is must have been stupendous and never-ending. These are some of the bits we saw.

    The Furstenzug commemorates 800 years of those Wettins, with a 102-metre wall depicting 35 of them, all on 23,000 porcelain tiles.

    The Dresden Zwinger, a palatial garden lined on all sides with pavilions topped by an ample supply of bare-bottomed cherubs, was fabulous in the fine early morning. Very popular with tourists groups, too, it must be said.

    The Royal Palace was excellent, too, as the superlatives run out. We visited the royal quarters, which were quite good, then went to the Old Green Vault.

    With treasures of every conceivable description, starting with amber, then the rather distasteful ivory, then carved ostrich eggs, nautilus shells and rock crystal, and gems of every colour and size set into all manner of objects, each room in the complex was a feast for the senses.

    It was a feast for someone else, too, in 2019, when a whole lot of it was stolen. To date, only about 70 per cent of the missing items have been recovered.

    Bruhl’s Terrace, a pathway high above the shore of the River Elbe and dating originally from 1547, is a fantastic place to promenade in the evening before dinner, for which there are about a thousand options within the two square kilometres.

    There were more delights: the Opera House, two historic churches (the Cathedral St Trinitatis - connected by bridge to the Royal Palace for use by the Elector - and the Frauenkirche - begun in 1726, flattened in 1945, re-consecrated in 2005) and platzes aplenty for eating and drinking. There was even a festival in the Neumarkt each evening we were there.

    We barely touched the sides of this beautiful city, but we must move on, as Berlin is calling. We just hope the trains are running on time.    Weiterlesen

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  • Chris DicksonEurope 2026Reisender
    River Pegnitz, Nuremberg
    River Pegnitz, NurembergThe Hauptmarkt, Frauenkirche in the background, old man in the foregroundKaiserburg NurembergThe Castle GardensThe CastleView from the castle over the old town, St Sebaldus Church at centreSt Sebaldus interior. They wanted 5 euros to go any closer, so we didn'tThe Alte RathausEhekarussel - The Merry-go-round of Marriage - from this......to thisLorenzkirche DresdenThe 1493 tabernacle in Lorenzkirche - almost 19 metres tallLorenzkirche after the Allied bombingThe Congress Hall at the Nazi Party Rally GroundsRally in the 1930's. Would last up to 8 daysInside the Documentation CentreBamberg and the River RegnitzPassageway through the Old Town HallThe Old Town Hall, on its man-made islandLittle Venice!!?Nice beer, but the flies here drove us crazy

    Nuremberg

    11.–14. Juli in Deutschland ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

    The German railways traditionally run like clockwork. The only problem, though, is no one has wound them for some time. They are working hard to fix things, but the number of trains we saw or experienced running an hour-plus late was huge.

    Therefore, we were glad to be done with Munich Hbf, which is in the midst of a huge refurbishment, with construction noise droning on and on and masses of confused and unhappy people trying to find their trains.

    Nuremberg Hbf, on the other hand was relatively calm, as we left it for our walk to the Altstadt.

    It was a fabulous place.

    The walk from the station took us over the attractive River Pegnitz, crossed by bridges all through the city, then up to the Hauptmarkt and Schoner Brunnen, a restored replica of a magnificent, gold 14th-century Gothic-styled fountain.

    People were out everywhere for the evening. In the shade of the city walls, near the castle, they were sitting on the cobblestones drinking beers bought from a souvenir shop; when we walked back after dinner they were still at it, but lying on the cobblestones.

    The following day we visited the castle, begun in 1227 and part-time residence to a series of Holy Roman Emperors. The gardens were spectacular, as were the views back down over the old town.

    For a change from the old stuff, we took a look at Ehekarussel, a fountain built in 1981 to conceal a subway ventilation shaft. It depicts “The Marriage Merry-go-round”, but not in a very positive way; suffice to say public opinion remains divided.

    Then, a break from all the pretty stuff - we visited the Documentation Centre, Nazi Party Rally Grounds, located in the bowels of the unfinished Congress Hall, a part of the planned rally grounds complex.

    The story of the Nuremberg Rallies and the rise of the Nazis was told in excruciating detail, from the slave labour camps at the quarries where thousands died to supply materials for the building of the rally grounds, to the ingenious use of propaganda and the media to seduce people into believing the lies they were told, to the disenfranchisement and ultimate dehumanisation of whole groups of people.

    If ever there was a solid argument for a strong and independent fourth estate, it can be found here.

    Finally, we braved the trains again for a trip to Bamberg, a UNESCO-listed city on the Regnitz River, with an interesting town hall built in 1461 on an artificial island in the river, allegedly reclaimed by the citizens in protest at not being granted land by the bishop.

    The fast-flowing river is present all through the town, not least in the area known as Little Venice, with 15-century fishermen’s houses lining the river. Not sure about the Venice reference, really, but the whole old town is great to wander around.

    We are moving on again, next to Dresden for a few days.    Weiterlesen

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  • Chris DicksonEurope 2026Reisender
    1Theresienwiese - the Oktoberfest site - in July
    1Theresienwiese - the Oktoberfest site - in JulyThe Munich ResidenceThe Portrait GalleryThe Grotto. Odd, simply oddThe 66-metre Antiquarium. Sorry it's a bit crookedA relic - the decomposed hand of some saint or other. Apparently importantThe National Theatre (1818) in Max-Joseph-PlatzThe Neues RathausInterior of FrauenkircheAsamkircheAsamkirche interiorNymphenburg Palace, a summer residenceThe birth room of the future King Ludwig IIWeird shell grotto/chapel in MagdalenenklauseThe Nymphenburg GardenNymphenburg, channelling VeniceThe Badenburg's swimming poolThe Amalienburg, all rococo swirls and glamour

    Munich

    8.–11. Juli in Deutschland ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C

    It was quite a change arriving in a big city, especially one where the Hauptbahnhof is one gigantic construction site and the cyclists outnumber and outpace the cars. Woe betide the pedestrian who strays into the bike lane!

    Of course, Munich is famous for Oktoberfest, an annual excuse for people to drink 7.4 million litres of beer. It being July, we were a tad early, but we were interested to find a connection between this annual piss-up and the Bavarian Kings we had seen so much of.

    Apparently, the original Oktoberfest was held to celebrate the wedding of Crown Prince Ludwig to Princess Therese in 1810. The area where it takes place - Theresienwiese (Therese’s Meadow) - is named for her.

    We got into the real swing of it with a visit to the Munich Residence. A long visit, that is - there are 130 rooms to look at. Too many to document, but the grotto of sea shells and the 66-metres long Antiquarium, with frescoes and busts galore were among the highlights.

    After a look at Marienplatz, with the Neues Rathaus (1874 and neo-Gothic in style, so not really very new), we went to a couple of churches.

    Frauenkirche is the Roman Catholic Cathedral, consecrated in 1494, enormous yet with quite an austere, if towering, interior.

    Contrast this with the Asamkirche, built privately by the Asam brothers in 1746. Of modest dimensions outside, the interior is an absolute feast for the senses, a stunning mass of Baroque features topped by a ceiling painted by Cosmas Asam.

    We also visited the Nymphenburg Palace, summer home to the Bavarian kings.

    This was a bit more hyped-up, with timed entry and such, and lots of tour groups. However, we didn’t enjoy it as much; it was crowded and rooms weren’t as interesting.

    What we did enjoy, though, were the gardens and the four small palaces (outhouses??) scattered amongst them.

    The Magdalenenklause (1729) was built to look like a ruin (which it does), and contains an eccentric shell grotto/chapel.

    The Pagodenburg (1719) had Chinese influences everywhere, the Badenburg (1721) was a bathing pavilion and the Amalienburg (1739) a rococo-styled hunting lodge with flourishes and swirls everywhere.

    We enjoyed our location and the excellent Munich trams; if only they would finish the railway station it would have been perfect.

    Anyway, our next stop is Nuremberg, which we are looking forward to very much.    Weiterlesen

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  • Chris DicksonEurope 2026Reisender
    The Füssen Faerie Festival, or some other hippie thing
    The Füssen Faerie Festival, or some other hippie thingThe LechfallMaximillian II monument above the gorgeThe former St Mang AbbeyThe River LechFussen old townGiving lie to the illusionist window paintingThe Hohes Schloss. The illusionist window painting dates from around 1500St Mangs BasilicaBasilica interiorThe MarienbruckeHohenschwangau1Neuschwanstein, from the MarienbruckeNeuschwanstein courtyardThe Marienbrucke, replete with visitorsThe AlpseeHohenschwangau

    Fussen

    5.–8. Juli in Deutschland ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    Fussen is the nearest large town to Hohenschwangau, where the future King Ludwig II grew up, and Neuschwanstein, the palace he built that nearly bankrupted Bavaria and helped bring about his downfall.

    But more on that later; Fussen has some other attractions as well.

    We stayed out of town a little, in Bad Faulenbach, ten minutes walk but miles from the bustle of Fussen. In a most peaceful, scenic location, and full of robust bicycling and hiking Germans, the Aktiv Hotel Schweiger was terrific, if a bit strange. It is certainly the only hotel we have stayed in that has an in-house dialysis centre.

    Nearby was the Lechfall, an attractive, 18th-century weir over which the River Lech tumbles some twelve metres into the Lechschlucht Gorge. The water had a wonderful pale blue, limestone-cloudy look to it.

    Near the gorge also is a monument to King Maximilian II, Ludwig’s dad and generally well-liked monarch.

    We enjoyed Fussen’s old town and its two star attractions, the Hohes Schloss (High Castle), where, around 1500, someone had the clever money-saving idea to paint the details around the windows on to the walls and St Mangs Basilica, dating from 1726 and with a truly splendid interior.

    The following day we caught the bus out to Hohenschwangau, site of the former royal residences and now a core piece of Bavarian tourism.

    It has all the attributes. Scenic castles in lofty, romantic settings, an easy path to a bridge - the Marienbrucke - from which picture-postcard photos can be obtained and a gorgeously scenic lake - the Alpsee - for relaxing.

    The sight of Neuschwanstein jutting out from its mountain foundations is truly stunning; it’s hard to imagine how it could be made to look any more photogenic.

    The interior is fascinating. A throne room in the Byzantine style, a bedroom in the Gothic style, Wagnerian references everywhere, it was an interesting look at the masterwork of Ludwig, who was maybe not mad but certainly very unusual.

    Hohenschwangau was different, and not overly architecturally pleasing. However, as the home where Ludwig was raised and lived as monarch, it held other items of interest. The walls are painted extensively with works of art, and it was in one of the rooms that Ludwig signed a letter that contributed significantly to the formation of Germany as we know it today.

    Slightly castled out, we are moving on to our next stop, Munich.    Weiterlesen

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  • Chris DicksonEurope 2026Reisender
    Heidelberg Bergbahn
    Heidelberg BergbahnBergbahn passengersView from KonigstuhlViews from Heidelberg CastleAlte BruckeThe German Pharmacy MuseumHeidelberg CastleThat's not the Big Wine Barrel...THIS is the Big Wine BarrelHeidelberg Castle ruinThe River NeckarHeidelberg Old TownThe 18th-century JesuitenkircheBeautiful Jesuitenkirche interiorWeird Jesuitenkirche interiorHeidelberg from the Philosopher's WalkRather unusual brass instruments, and very fancy dudsThe Old Bridge FestivalThe 70's is alive and well in Heidelberg

    Heidelberg

    2.–5. Juli in Deutschland ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    We transferred from one scenic riverfront location to another, from the Rhine to the Neckar, stopping a few nights in Heidelberg’s pretty and bustling old town.

    The Bergbahn, a funicular railway, runs up the hill behind the city, past Heidelberg Castle. A sleek, modern rail car whisks you up to Molkenkur, a station beyond the castle, where you transfer to a vintage-looking rail car based on the original 1907 design. This one then creaks and groans in vintage fashion up to Konigstuhl, 567 metres above the town and with views seemingly to Luxembourg, so high is it.

    The castle was destroyed by the French in the late 1600’s, and has only been partially rebuilt; the ruins are great to stroll around.

    We saw some other attractions there as well: the Museum of German Pharmacy, with an endless array of potions, pills and poisons displayed in magnificent, vintage cabinets, and the Big Wine Barrel.

    The Big Wine Barrel is surely the equal of any of Australia’s big things. Built in 1751 from 130 oak trees, it has a capacity of around 55,000 4-litre Berri Estates casks.

    It was in Heidelberg, too that we parted with Steve and Kim, after another fabulous week holidaying together; hopefully there will be many more to come.

    The 1788 Old Bridge - Alte Brucke - is a beautiful focal point for the town and swarms for much of the day and night with happy people and their cameras. It’s also a great excuse for a party: the Old Bridge Festival took place while we were there, with bands, beer and sausages on bread.

    The atmosphere was terrific and it was so close to our hotel we could watch and listen from our window. There was a marching band with some very unusual brass instruments and quite fancy duds, and a very entertaining (probably even more so if we understood what they were saying) group that played everything from Eric Clapton to Boney M to Midnight Oil.

    We also hiked up a lot of steep and uneven cobblestones to the Philosopher’s Walk - Philosophenweg - a path on the far side of the river formerly used by the academics of the town to do their thinking. The views were spectacular, when our heart rates returned to normal.

    Later in the day, after some more music and bratwurst, we found a competing festival in the Universitatsplatz, this one Filipino. Line dancing to Achy Breaky Heart - what bliss!

    Then, in the evening, outside our hotel were “ The Shades of Soul”, triggering all those wonderful memories of Donna Summer and Hot Chocolate and endless other atrocities from the 70’s.

    Anyway, enough of this high culture. Next off, we are on our way to Fussen, to look into the creations of Mad King Ludwig II.    Weiterlesen

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  • Chris DicksonEurope 2026Reisender
    Deutsches Eck, from Ehrenbreitstein Fortress
    Deutsches Eck, from Ehrenbreitstein FortressDeutsches EckDeutsches EckKonigsbacher BiergartenEhrenbreitstein FortressWine pressStillSt Kastor's Basilica. Parts of the building date from 1160GorresplatzSeilbahn RudesheimThe RhineThe Neiderwald MonumentThe Neiderwald TempelRudesheim's vineyardsDrosselgassePS GoetheRhine viewsCruising the Rhine in styleStolzenfels Castle, just south of KoblenzNight view of the fortress

    Koblenz

    29. Juni–2. Juli in Deutschland ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    After a tough day negotiating the German railway system, with delays and enormous crowds, it was a very pleasant surprise to land in Koblenz.

    We took a walk along the river to Deutsches Eck - literally “German Point” - sited at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle Rivers and with a huge, triumphal equestrian statue of Kaiser Wilhelm I at its centre.

    Next to this, it being Germany, was the Konigsbacher Biergarten. It was five-thirty and hot, so the weary travellers slaked their thirst (several times, in fact) and dined on pizzas amongst a growing and excited crowd waiting to watch Germany play in the FIFA World Cup.

    Unfortunately, the excited crowd were soon to be disappointed, as their team lost.

    The following day we took a walk past several attractive buildings along the Rhine, to the spot where you can see the 1794 Electoral Palace, when it’s not covered with scaffolding and hessian and looking like a building site.

    Then we went to the fortress. Ehrenbreitstein commands the top of the rocky hill opposite the junction of the two rivers and is quite enormous. The most recent structure was completed in 1828, and never used defensively; it has done time as a refugee camp, and housing, and is now a museum, war memorial and overall interesting place to wander around.

    The following day was a pearler.

    On a beautiful, sunny day, we caught the train south to Rudesheim am Rhein, from where we caught a cable car - Seilbahn Rudesheim - high above acres of grape vines to a viewpoint above and around a bend in the river. Stunning, simply stunning!

    Then, looking away from the river, you are confronted by the towering 38-metre Neiderwald Monument, a massive work in stone and bronze topped by a rather stern-looking, 12-metre tall Germania. It was completed in 1883 to commemorate the unification of Germany.

    Back in Rudesheim, after our very peaceful return on the Seilbahn, we took a look at Drosselgasse, an extremely narrow street lined with wine bars/restaurants and souvenir shops.

    Then it was onto the 1913-built PS Goethe, for our return downstream to Koblenz.

    Sitting outside on the deck, drinks and snacks in hand, weather beautiful and a continuing passing parade of castles and villages going by on both sides of the river - it just doesn’t get much better!

    We passed the Lorely Rock, the legendary spot where the sirens lured sailors to their doom, but our fearless crew resisted the temptation and we passed safely. Or maybe it was the bunch of tax accountants having a long, happy dinner on the cruise, all wearing sailor hats, that got us through safely.

    Still amazed at the wonders and scenery of Koblenz and the Rhine, we are now leaving for a new adventure in Heidelberg.    Weiterlesen

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  • Chris DicksonEurope 2026Reisender
    Galeries Royale St Hubert
    Galeries Royale St HubertLike bees to the honeypotGuild-houses in the Grand PlaceThe Grand PlaceMont des ArtsFun run, a well-known oxymoronFun run encouragementThe Church of Our Lady of Victories at the SablonPlace du Petit SablonThe under-restoration Palais de Justice, tucked behind the SynagogueThe Fab FourStreet artTHAT statue, Oatley covered up for decencySt Michael and St Gudula Cathedral

    Brussels

    27.–29. Juni in Belgien ⋅ ⛅ 33 °C

    We started mainland Europe with a day briefly exploring Brussels, which was an exciting but, to be honest, quite a dirty city. It was great also to meet up with our long-time friends and travelling companions Steve and Kim for the next few destinations.

    Brussels wouldn’t be the destination it is without a few arcades full of touristy Belgian chocolate shops, and we started off with a walk through the elegant Galeries Royale St Hubert.

    The Grand Place, next up, was spectacular, surrounded on all sides by public buildings and guild-houses all dating from the late 1690’s. We wandered down in the morning, when it was cool and uncrowded, before continuing our walk.

    This took us up the Mont des Arts, a beautifully-designed complex of gardens and public buildings climbing up its sloping site. Here, solely for our entertainment, of course, a fun run was taking place, the runners spurred on by a female drumming group. The views back down the hill were fantastic.

    We saw the attractive 15th-century Church of Our Lady of Victories at the Sablon, and the neat and perfectly-groomed, neo-renaissance Place du Petit Sablon opposite, before finishing up at a viewpoint next to the scaffolded-up Palais de Justice.

    Back down the hill, we pushed through the crowds at That Statue, probably even more unaccountably famous than the Little Mermaid, before a quick look at the Grand Place again and a few snaps of the beautiful St Michael and St Gudula Cathedral dedicated to the patron saints of Brussels.

    It was a busy day, if only a brief look at Brussels, and we finished off with a nice Italian meal before going home to pack up again.

    Next stop Koblenz.    Weiterlesen

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  • Chris DicksonEurope 2026Reisender
    Blenheim Palace
    Blenheim PalaceBlenheim Palace, with arenaThe birth room of Winston ChurchillTypical opulent palace roomThe LibraryThe Library, 156 metres longThe gardensDownstairsOne diplomat to another...Christ Church CollegeThe Great HallTom Quad800-year-old paint.. they don't make it like they used toChrist Church CathedralThe Radcliffe Camera, from the University Church of St Mary the VirginViews from the churchThe Bridge of SighsThe Sheldonian Theatre, site of graduations and celebrations. You're in my spot...

    Blenheim Palace and Oxford

    25.–27. Juni in Belgien ⋅ ☀️ 35 °C

    We returned the car - with its blessed, wonderful air conditioning - and made our sweaty way to Woodstock, where, at the start of the 18th century, after winning numerous battles in the War of Spanish Succession (in particular, the Battle of Blenheim), John Churchill was appointed Duke of Marlborough and given some land and money to build the modest residence that occupies the site today - Blenheim Palace.

    About 170 years later, Jennie, Lady Randolph Churchill was visiting her in-laws when she felt a twinge; some short time later young Winston emerged on to the scene. Whether he was smoking a cigar at the time is a matter for conjecture.

    The Festival of Blenheim begins, we were told, on 27 June and features artists such as Katy Perry and Michael Buble. This explained the army of workers and their vehicles swarming over the courtyard in the centre of the palace known as the Great Court, installing a stage, sound equipment and about seven thousand seats. It was a pity, really, as dumping a portable arena into the middle of a stately home kind of spoiled the ambience a bit.

    The building, though, is magnificent, although the roof is being replaced and it is covered in scaffolding and there is a fake ceiling in the entrance hall.

    We looked at the palace rooms, the formal gardens, the downstairs and numerous pieces of Winston (with an “i”) memorabilia, and enjoyed them all. The scale and grandeur of the place was astounding, and we barely touched on a skerrick of the whole thing.

    The following day we went to Oxford.

    Christ Church College was founded in 1525, when Thomas Wolsey threw the monks out of St Frideswide’s Priory and built a fancy college on the land.

    It is indeed a beautiful set of buildings, surrounded on one side by bucolic English countryside and the other by a brace of other university colleges. The history of the place seems to ooze out everywhere.

    We were quite taken with the Great Hall, seemingly inspirational for some Hogwarts scenes in the Harry Potter films, and the Tom Quad, with its Christopher Wren-designed tower.

    It was also the end of Trinity Term for the students. There were many wandering around in their sub fusc outfits of white shirt and black trousers or skirt, having finished their exams. A white carnation indicated finishing a first exam, a pink an intermediate and a red a final exam. There were no doubt to be a lot of busy pubs that afternoon.

    We also climbed the 127 stairs up the tower of the University Church of St Mary the Virgin. The view, once we negotiated the steep and uneven spiral staircase, and the sometimes very squeezy passing of people going in the other direction, was stunning.

    We were adjacent to the beautiful Radcliffe Camera, and had a marvellous view of all the sights of Oxford.

    This is the end of our time in England for this trip, next up we have a few days in Brussels.    Weiterlesen

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  • Chris DicksonEurope 2026Reisender
    Market Square, Castle Combe
    Market Square, Castle CombeThe By Brook, Castle CombeCastle CombeCastle CombeCars in the square, Stow-on-the-WoldThe Yew Tree DoorArlington Row, BiburyBiburyBiburyMarket Hall, Chipping CampdenMarket Hall, Chipping CampdenTown Hall, Chipping CampdenBurfordBurford, Church of St John the BaptistBurford, Church of St John the BaptistSt Mary's Chapel, Sudely CastleSudely CastleSudely CastleBroadwayBroadwayBlockley, Church of St Peter and St Paul, closedRandom Father Brown actorsBourton-on-the -Water - didn't even get a mention in the textBourton-on-the-Water

    The Cotswolds

    22.–25. Juni in England ⋅ ☁️ 29 °C

    Wow, this is a beautiful area, even in the thirty-plus heat we have experienced since arriving.

    We’ve navigated the length and breadth of this designated Area of Natural Beauty by every manner of road from manic freeways to single-lane goat tracks.

    The motor car is by far the preferred means of travel here, and it is lucky many of these villages have a historic market square that they can fill up with cars, to allow the tourists to have their cream teas and check out the boutiques. They would actually look nicer as pedestrian plazas, but that’s just an opinion.

    A few highlights.

    Castle Combe, probably the jewel in the Cotswolds crown. We visited early, before the crowds, and found a very quiet but stunningly beautiful place. The bridge over the By Brook has featured in so many pictorials it is now retired on the royalties.

    Stow-on-the-Wold (gee, these hyphenated names are annoying to type) was also very nice, the Yew Tree Door of St Edward’s Church very photogenic and possibly inspirational for JRR Tolkien. Besides, you could see it from the pub next door where we had a fantastic dinner with our friends Ron and Kim.

    Chipping Campden. Hardly a hidden gem, but a bit more unpretentious than some of the others; the National Trust-owned Market Hall and the nearby Town Hall look wonderful.

    Bibury is famous, mainly, for Arlington Row, an isolated row of National Trust-owned cottages that attract - or at least they did when we were there - hundreds of visitors each summer day. Even, so, it was well worth a look.

    We also visited Burford, Broadway (sort of the Berry of the Cotswolds) and Sudely Castle, which had magnificent gardens and a great story to tell, from Catherine Parr - last wife of Henry VIII and buried at the castle - to the inevitable rise of the death duties spectre and the opening of the doors to mere (but cashed up) commoners like us.

    Oh, and we visited Blockley. Well known as the filming location for the Father Brown series, we popped in to have a look at the Church of St Peter and St Paul where it all happens. But we couldn’t… because they were filming Father Brown and there was no access permitted.    Weiterlesen

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  • Chris DicksonEurope 2026Reisender
    Windsor and Eton Central
    Windsor and Eton CentralEntrance to the castle2Chris's next carThe Round TowerChanging of the GuardSt George's Chapel, now housing Elizabeth II, among othersThe Long WalkWindsorBorough MarketHMS Belfast, in front of the Tower BridgeTower BridgeQueue for the Crown Jewels. About 32 degrees.The White TowerViews from the Battlements

    London

    19.–22. Juni in England ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    Recovered from the flight and our botanic gardens overload, we kicked off in London with a visit to Windsor.

    Along with quite a few others, we caught the train to Windsor and Eton Central Station and walked the hundred-or-so metres to the castle entrance.

    The mood was quite festive, with people spilling out of cafes and even a band playing. We thought it might have been the Band of the Grenadier Guards or something, but it turned out they were from… North Dakota.

    Once inside, and having the obligatory snap with some guy’s vintage Rolls Royce, we donned our audio guides and toured the very swish Royal Apartments. The audio guide content was excellent, but unfortunately didn’t run in the same sequence as the tour; that was okay, as the relevant item number for the guide of displayed in every room - but right near the exit, so you sort of found out about what you had just seen on a time delay.

    As we proceeded from room to room, the crowds mysteriously began to thin out: the changing of the guard was taking place. So we duly joined the others and took a blurry picture of some bearskins behind a sea of mobile phones thrust majestically skyward.

    The other highlight of a great day at Windsor was Queen Mary’s Dolls House. Sadly, there are no photos, but any dolls house with running water and electricity, miniature books you can read and miniature records you can actually play has got to be worth a look.

    The following day found us initially at Borough Market, where we wandered past all sorts of yummy and exotic comestibles.

    Then it was down to the Thames for a walk down to and across the Tower Bridge and a visit to the Tower of London.

    It was very hot, and twenty minutes of queueing in the sun to have a look, with a hundred other people, at the Crown Jewels was a bit wearing. They are pretty impressive, though.

    We also quite enjoyed the White Tower and a walk along the Battlements, before heading back for some all-important liquid refreshments.

    That was about it for a short visit to London; we are next heading north to Moreton-in-Marsh and some time in the Cotswolds.    Weiterlesen

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  • Chris DicksonEurope 2026Reisender
    Singapore Botanic Gardens
    Singapore Botanic GardensA garden guardianThe Swan LakeSteps constructed by WW2 POW'sPOW prisoner arrowsIn the Orchid GardenChopin. Not sure that he ever got to Singapore...Preparing to fly to LondonThe Palmhouse, Royal Botanic Gardens, KewInside the PalmhouseLooks like a bell tower, actually a chimney for the Palmhouse furnaceThe Broad WalkSingapore has its orchids, England the thistle......and the rose.Kew PalaceThe OrangerieA Henry Moore sculpture, of which there are 30 scattered aroundThe Temperate HouseThe Great Pagoda - seems a little out of contextThe Treetop Walkway

    Singapore and onward

    17.–19. Juni in Singapur ⋅ 🌧 30 °C

    We broke our journey with a stopover in Singapore, and began our trip with a botanical twist, starting at the Singapore Botanic Gardens, one of only three such gardens to hold World Heritage status.

    It was great to enjoy the warm weather and see something away from the usual Singapore sights.

    We wandered along happily, at one point dodging a rather large goanna-like creature, to the Orchid Garden. Having previously seen orchids in hot houses around the world, it was a pleasant surprise to see them outside in a beautifully designed and tended setting.

    Thence it was on to London via a somewhat delayed flight, and a slight surprise to find the weather even warmer than Singapore.

    So, to enhance our vitamin D, we carried on with the UNESCO-listed garden theme with a trip to Kew. We also carried on the flying theme, with a constant steam of aircraft passing above on the flight path to Heathrow.

    Unlike Singapore, for which the entry price is nominal, here they sting you for about twenty-five pounds each to wander around and get sweaty.

    It was very good, the glass buildings oozing history as well as luxuriant vegetation, as we covered as much ground as our jet-lagged minds and legs would allow.

    The tree top walk was another highlight, a circular walkway twenty-odd metres above the ground.    Weiterlesen

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  • Chris DicksonNew Zealand 2025Reisender
    Intrepid walker, in the sun, rain and wind, all at once
    Intrepid walker, in the sun, rain and wind, all at onceThe Twizel RiverThe Twizel RiverDistant view of Mt Cook, from Twizel. Only time we saw itLake PukakiScrambling up the Glencoe TrackA tui. I thinkThe road in to Aoraki/Mt CookViews from the Glencoe WalkKea Point TrackView from Kea Point. Mt Cook is somewhere out thereLake PukakiTribute to the border collies and their role in the sheep industryThe Church of the Good ShepherdFootbridge over the Tekapo RiverLake Tekapo

    Aoraki/Mt Cook and Tekapo

    14.–18. Okt. 2025 in Neuseeland ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C

    Our New Zealand holiday came to an end with two more incredibly scenic destinations, as has been the case for the past three-and-a-bit weeks.

    It is a beautiful country to visit - unspoiled, unhurried, uncrowded, in some cases untamed. You can find a parking spot in all but the busiest places, and the tourist setup, especially in the national parks, is beyond excellent. There is history aplenty to go with the stunning natural beauty.

    We returned to the alps with a visit to Mt Cook, about forty-five minutes from our base in the town of Twizel. Even the drive in was great, with pretty Lake Pukaki adding still more shades of blue to the world’s collection.

    When we arrived, we set out on the short Glencoe Walk, only about twenty minutes to a viewpoint just behind the township. It was a steep, scrambling affair that soon had us regretting the excessive food and drink of the past three weeks. The views from the end of the walk were excellent, though.

    Back in town, we had lunch at a cafe that managed to include not a single healthy item on its menu. You could have a burger. Or a cake. They didn’t even do decaf.

    Then we walked out to Kea Point, about six kilometres return. The walking was easy, along gravel tracks and boardwalks, and the scenery excellent.

    The weather was interesting, too. It was sunny, with light rain falling, and an icy wind that at times cut through the thickest of clothing.

    Anyway, we soon reached the end and were rewarded with a striking view of the glacier moraine and the nearby cliffs. And the space between the cliffs where Mt Cook would be were it not completely obscured by cloud.

    So we made our way back, Mt Cook viewless, and drove back to Twizel for some drinks and dinner.

    Our final destination was Lake Tekapo, a short drive from Twizel.

    Another impossibly-blue, impossibly-scenic lake, with a small but growing township at its southern end, we enjoyed a quiet few days to finish off the holiday.

    We took a look at the Church of the Good Shepherd, which, back in 1935, its founders had the good sense to put on a promontory with lake and mountain scenery all around.

    All that is needed for the perfect photo, apparently, is to strike the right pose in front of it, or so it seemed from the busloads of people who were doing just that.

    And so we are on our way home, looking forward to seeing loved ones, going on a diet and saving up for another adventure.    Weiterlesen

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  • Chris DicksonNew Zealand 2025Reisender
    Northern royal albatross
    Northern royal albatrossDunedin Town HallThe stylish Regent Theatre, conveniently between two pubsDunedinDunedin courthouseDunedin Railway StationCustomer desk from the local BNZ branchSome fossilsBaldwin Street, Dunedin, steepest in the worldBeautiful KaritaneKaritaneŌamaru historic buildingsMr and Mrs Dickson welcome you to their homeTold you it was hands onSteampunkQuick rendition of the Monster MashSteampunk feature in our hotel room

    Dunedin and Ōamaru

    10.–14. Okt. 2025 in Neuseeland ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

    After we hopped off the boat in Milford Harbour we did a coast to coast drive, ending up in the south-east, in Dunedin.

    And what a nice, neat city it is! A good selection of historic buildings, including the iconic Dunedin Railway Station, a semi-pedestrianised city centre with shops of every persuasion and a lively drinking sector near the beautiful Regent Theatre on the Octagon.

    But before all that, we visited an albatross.

    We took a long, slow drive around the north coast of the Otago Peninsula, hugging the coast the whole way and passing through numerous tiny villages until we reached the Royal Albatross Centre. That’s “royal” as in a northern royal albatross, not “Royal”, as in some kind of kingly or queenly patronage.

    Unfortunately, the albatrosses were either shy or, more likely, not back from their two year sojourn on the southern ocean winds, as we only saw one.

    They are an incredible creature, mating for life, heading off separately for two years, flying thousands of kilometres (sometimes a thousand kilometres in a single day) and then when the time comes to get together to mate again, landing back at exactly the same spot within a few hours of each other.

    It was also red-billed gull breeding season, so we were treated to numerous instances of red-billed gull fornication on the way up to the hide.

    Back in Dunedin, we enjoyed the nice buildings and the aforementioned lively drinking sector, as well as the Otago Settlers Museum.

    With all manner of exhibits, from the very early years, to the City Council’s old IBM computer, and a few boats, cars and trams in between, it was a great presentation of the history of the city, while also paying appropriate attention to Dunedin’s Scottish Free Church history.

    Then we popped in to Karitane. Not the local baby-feeding-help clinic, but the village of Karitane, where the first such place was opened at the house of infant nutrition pioneer Sir Truby King. It was an absolutely beautiful little place.

    Further north is Oamaru, where spent a few days.

    Again, we kicked off with some wildlife spotting, spending a few chilly hours watching the occupants of Oamaru’s blue penguin colony make their way home after a day’s fishing. It was fascinating to watch them emerge from the water, clamber up the bank, then, on some random impulse, dash (well, waddle quickly but awkwardly) across no man’s land to the nests. Sadly, no photos were allowed of this fantastic sight.

    Oamaru has some considerable former glory, having made fortunes out of gold, shipping, wool and frozen meat exports - it was the first in the world to commence this last one.

    As a result of this, it has a couple of blocks of extremely well-preserved Victoria /Edwardian buildings, now repurposed into museums, arts centres and shops.

    We had a look at the wonderfully fun and informal Whitestone City, a museum with all manner of hands-on artifacts.

    The third arrow in Oamaru’s quiver is as a centre for steampunk. We spent a couple of very fun hours at Steampunk HQ, enjoying the interesting-to-say-the-least exhibits.

    The steampunk theme was continued at our hotel, which was decorated like pretty much no other we have seen. Our room was adorned with whips and tractor seats, although I promise neither got used during our stay.

    Next off, we head inland again for the final few days of our trip.    Weiterlesen

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  • Chris DicksonNew Zealand 2025Reisender
    Milford Sound
    Milford SoundCromwell Historic PrecinctArrowtown Chinese SettlementArrowtown Main StreetLake Wakatipu, QueenstownQueenstownThe celebrated TSS Earnslaw, on WakatipuPrecipitous street down to townAnother jetty, on Lake Te AnauA takahe, endangered, and rather odd-lookingEglinton Valley, en route to Milford SoundA kea, brazen and cheekyOn board the good ship Milford MarinerMilford SoundOur mooring for the night, in Harrison CoveOut in the Tasman SeaMirror Lake, on the way back out

    Queenstown and Piopiotahi/Milford Sound

    5.–9. Okt. 2025 in Neuseeland ⋅ ☁️ 9 °C

    On the way to Queenstown, on a cold, clear morning, we stopped firstly at the Cromwell Heritage Precinct, a bunch of old buildings relocated to higher ground when Lake Dunstan was created in 1992.

    From there we popped into historic Arrowtown, a gold mining town dating from 1862.

    The remains of the town’s Chinese settlement were fascinating, as was the historic Main Street of the town, where the businesses are now employed extracting gold from the wallets of the tourists.

    Queenstown itself more than lived up to its hype, although the weather was a little unkind to us. We enjoyed walking down the incredibly steep hill (not so much walking up, though!) from our accommodation to the township, and walking past the forty-five-minute-plus queues at Fergburger to get to the waterfront.

    Being too old, too sensible and too tight-arsed for the adventure activities, we enjoyed the walk out around Queenstown Gardens, a cruise on Lake Wakatipu and a drive up to the village of Glenorchy in pouring rain.

    From there, via a couple of nights overlooking the picture-postcard lake at Te Anau, we made our way to Milford Sound for an overnight cruise.

    The weather by this time was a bit dreadful, very cold and windy and with a major rain event forecast. In fact, the Milford Road was forecast to close the day we drove in, leaving us to hope it would be reopened in time for our exit the following day.

    As it turned out, though, we were a bit lucky. Quite a few of the 6,800 annual millimetres fell whilst we were driving in but once we set sail from Milford Harbour the rain stopped and we had a couple of wonderful hours cruising up close to the waterfalls, some permanent and hundreds of others just random rivulets cascading down the cliffs.

    It was a wonderful experience to wake up in the morning, pull the curtains aside and see the light slowly bringing into focus the calm water and the imposing cliffs rising on all sides.

    The following morning was clearer still, as we sailed out through the entrance to the sound for a brief sojourn in the Tasman Sea. That entrance is hard to spot from the ocean, so much so that even noted apprentice grocer James Cook missed it as he sailed past.

    Leaving Milford, we were third in the queue when the road was reopened, too, so our luck held out to the end. What a great experience!    Weiterlesen

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  • Chris DicksonNew Zealand 2025Reisender
    Peter's Pool, a kettle lake near Franz Josef
    Peter's Pool, a kettle lake near Franz JosefExtract from the Arahura Deed of PurchaseFranz Josef Glacier, from the viewpointGlacier closeupPeter's PoolThe Waiho RiverBridge across the Waiho leading to Robert's Point TrackFox GlacierNot a kiwi, but a tuatara, also at the Wilderness CentreA new day - and a change of weatherThe Waikukua RiverRoaring Billy FallsThe Haast River, and Roaring Billy FallsThunder Creek Falls, also on the Haast RiverFantail Falls, also on the Haast RiverBridge to the Blue PoolsThe Blue Pools, on the Makarora RiverThe Blue PoolsThe Blue PoolsLake WanakaWanaka. It started raining soon after we arrivedEels in Lake WanakaLake WanakaThe Tree at WanakaWanaka Station Park

    Franz Josef/Waiau and Wanaka

    1.–5. Okt. 2025 in Neuseeland ⋅ ☁️ 8 °C

    We left pretty Punakaiki in very unpretty, wet, windy weather, and drove south to Hokitika, where we took a glance at Sunset Point before retreating into the Hokitika Museum.

    There, we read about the Arahura Deed of Purchase, whereby the white people bought 7.5 million acres of the West Coast for three hundred pounds - about $NZ45,000 (or less than a cent per acre) today.

    Actually, the agent who did the deal was sent out with four hundred pounds, but managed to beat them down. It didn’t matter so much, though, as of the fourteen signatories to the agreement, two were women, so they didn’t get anything anyway.

     On a chilly, four-degree morning, we took a scenic walk out to Franz Josef glacier.

    The track took us to a viewing platform right next to the glacier. Oh, wait - that was in 1910!
    The glacier has now retreated three kilometres back into the hills, mainly thanks to the actions of we pesky humans.

    Actually, the lack of close-up glacier contact was more than made up for by the peaceful, still atmosphere. There were very few people around and the only sounds we could hear on our walks in the area were birds and the occasional gurgle of a nearby stream.

    Later in the day we drove the twenty kilometres or so to Fox Glacier, for a very distant, but scenic, view.

    Oh, we also saw a couple of kiwis, at the West Coast Wildlife Centre, in Franz Josef/Waiau. No photos, unfortunately, but we were so taken with these cute fluffy animals, poking around in the foliage with their stick beaks, that we went back the following day for another look.

    Then we headed south, and across the mountains through the Haast Pass.

    Roaring Billy Falls. Thunder Creek. Fantail Falls. The Blue Pools. The trip was a succession of walks along immaculately-maintained tracks to churning aquamarine streams and waterfalls, all with the imposing snow-capped peaks looming above.

    Soon enough, we were in Wanaka, a pleasant, buzzing town with a long, picturesque frontage on to its eponymous lake. After the relatively empty west coast, we were also a bit stunned to be back amongst crowds.

    Unfortunately, we had pretty bad weather for our visit and had to time our sightseeing between showers of rain.

    We managed a couple of walks along the scenic foreshore, a trip out to Glendhu Bay and a look at Wanaka Station Park.

    “That Tree at Wanaka” sits proudly in the lake and gets so many photos it might have a Banksy painted on its trunk.

    Next stop, hopefully drier, will be Queenstown.    Weiterlesen

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  • Chris DicksonNew Zealand 2025Reisender
    Lake Rotoiti
    Lake RotoitiCloudy BayLake Rotoiti residentsStoat trapThe wild Tasman SeaThe very fancy Visitor CentreThe path to the Pancake RocksNew Zealand flax1Tree hugging on the Truman TrackAt the end of the Truman TrackThe entrance to Constant BayConstant Bay

    St Arnaud and Punakaiki

    27. Sept.–1. Okt. 2025 in Neuseeland ⋅ 🌧 11 °C

    We left a sun-drenched Picton and drove to Blenheim, where we spent an enjoyable hour or so at the Cloudy Bay Winery, tasting a few samples purely in the interest of research.

    Then we headed up the valley, until the endless vineyards of Marlborough made way for hillier country, with the braided and fast-running Wairau River the dominant feature, before arriving at tiny St Arnaud, on the edge of Lake Rotoiti.

    The lakefront is incredibly picturesque, with a solitary jetty just crying out for a bikini-clad lass - admittedly with frostbite - posing on its edge. Unsurprisingly, there were none around.

    Refurbishment of the local beech forests is a big thing here. Apparently the female scale insect burrows into the beech tree and eats the sap. It then excretes honeydew through its anal passage, and this secretion is ambrosia for the birds and insects of the forest. And also, unfortunately, for the wasp, which, since being introduced into the country, has decimated the local wildlife.

    So there are hundreds of wasp-bait stations in the area, along with traps for larger predators such as rabbits, stoats and the like. The dedication of the local group who are doing this work is admirable.

    After a couple of days, we made our way to the west coast, via the very scenic old gold mining town of Reefton, to Greymouth and, finally, to Punakaiki, home to the Pancake Rocks and Blowholes.

    These proved to be much grander than their name suggests, in part thanks to the heaving, frothing Tasman Sea, which absolutely pounded the shore for the entire duration of our visit.

    From the architecturally impressive visitor centre, the path meandered through acres of New Zealand flax plants as we made our way about fifty metres to the coast.

    Once there, the circuit took us along the top of the cliffs, weaving between chasms full of churning water. From time to time, a thrump! told us to expect spray from a blowhole somewhere. It was amazing.

    We also took a drive north to Charleston, and pretty Constant Bay. Unbelievably, this tiny inlet was at one time gazetted as the official Port of Charleston. Too bad the entrance is only about thirty metres wide, and thirty metres of surging, unforgiving ocean at that. Little wonder that there were eight shipwrecks in thirteen years.

    Two days in Punakaiki has been perfect; there has even been the occasional period of fine weather! Tomorrow we head to glacier country.    Weiterlesen

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  • Chris DicksonNew Zealand 2025Reisender
    Kaikoura township
    Kaikoura townshipThe Seaward Kaikoura RangeAlong the Kaikoura Peninsula WalkwayPlayful humpbackSmelly sealsSmelly seagullsSnoopy's triumphDe Havilland MosquitoJungle wreckWaikawa Bay, near PictonA change of weather, and the Picton ferry terminalPelorus BridgeCullen Point views3

    Kaikoura and Picton

    23.–27. Sept. 2025 in Neuseeland ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    We set off from Christchurch and drove a few hours up the coast to Kaikoura, through impossibly-green countryside, sometimes on easy straight tarmac but frequently very up-and-down and twisting.

    Kaikoura, despite being on the coast, is on an incredibly steep slope. The snow-capped Kaikoura Ranges rise 2,000-plus metres to landward, and the undersea Kaikoura Canyon rapidly drops 2,000 metres not far from the shoreline.

    We took a walk across the Kaikoura Peninsula, not far south of the township, and were rewarded with spectacular views and, once, the sight of a humpback whale playfully lob-tailing not far from the shore.

    The peninsula is also the site of a seal colony and sea-bird breeding ground, and we walked past these at the base of the cliffs, taking in equally the fascinating sights and the retch-inducing smells.

    Kaikoura also has the title of the site of New Zealand’s second-biggest earthquake - a 7.8 magnitude eruption back in 2016. Some of the memorabilia and photos of the damage were incredible.

    En route to Picton, we stopped at Blenheim, and popped in to the Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre. Partly the work (and, presumably, money) of Sir Peter Jackson, it was an excellent presentation. Aircraft from each of the two World Wars were depicted in typical situations, with extremely realistic backgrounds and mannequins. The sight of the Australian soldiers stealing the fur boots from the body of the Red Baron was a good example.

    Remarkably, too, there was hardly anybody there - we didn’t sight a single other visitor as we walked around the exhibits.

    The following day, we took a drive around Queen Charlotte Sound, along the tortuous scenic route to Havelock, passing pretty little seaside hamlets and spectacular cliff views - or, at least, that’s how it might have been had the incessant rain eased just slightly.

    It did clear in the afternoon, so we stopped in at Pelorus Bridge for a quick look at the attractive river, and then at Cullen Point, where, after a steep, muddy and slippery 500 metres, we found stunning views for miles up Pelorus Sound.

    Next, we move on to St Arnaud and then the West Coast.    Weiterlesen

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  • Chris DicksonNew Zealand 2025Reisender
    2The earthquake-damaged Christchurch Cathedral
    2The earthquake-damaged Christchurch CathedralThe River AvonBotanic garden flower bedUnspeakableThe Arts CentreExhibits at Quake CityEarthquake-proofingThe Earthquake MemorialThe Church HotelNew Regent Street - eating, drinking and - if you're interested - tattooingChristchurch from Mt CavendishLyttleton from the summit of Mt CavendishThe Cardboard Cathedral

    Christchurch

    20.–23. Sept. 2025 in Neuseeland ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    Our tour of the South Island began in Christchurch, a very pleasant place indeed. We spent two full days taking in the sights and admiring the attractive gothic revival buildings - or, at least, those that were still upright after the earthquakes of 2010 and 2011.

     Christchurch, named for the Oxford University college, was founded by a bunch of Englishmen called the Canterbury Association, who acquired land, made up suitable English-sounding place names and, in 1850, sent four ships loaded with settlers over to establish a colony.

    On a cloudy-but-warm Sunday, we wandered through the botanic gardens, full of spring blooms and cherry blossoms, then back along the banks of the River Avon before a quick lunch amongst the crowds at the Riverside Markets.

    Then in the afternoon we visited Quake City, the museum dedicated to the earthquake-prone city and in particular the disastrous 2011 quake.

    The exhibits and facts were interesting, but the stories told by the people who were actually in the quake were simply compelling and, in some cases, heartrending. Interestingly, at the conclusion of the museum was another segment showing the thoughts and experiences of the same people ten years on from the quake.

    There is also a beautifully understated memorial wall on the bank of the river, listing in simple white marble the names of the victims.

    After all that earthquake trauma, we needed some refreshment. We were lucky to get a tip from our friends Chris and Vicki about the Church Hotel. It was (once) a real church, given a delightfully irreligious makeover into a pub, with lots of live music, lots of craft beers and lots of people having fun.

    It was so good that we broke our “five o’clock - beer o’clock “ rule just this once. So far.

    Our second day found us riding the Christchurch Gondola, 448 metres up to the top of Mt Cavendish. The views from the top, both south to the port of Lyttleton and north over Christchurch and to the distant snow-covered mountains, were superb.

    We took a bit of a walk around outside before riding the Christchurch Discovery Ride, an interesting, though maybe slightly condensed, six-minute journey through the millions of years of Canterbury’s geographic and cultural history. It was quite entertaining.

     Back in town, we visited the Christchurch Transitional Cathedral - the “Cardboard Cathedral “ - built as a temporary structure for use whilst the real cathedral was repaired. This is ongoing, so the temporary five-year structure, with a roof supported by cardboard beams, is still doing good service fourteen years after the earthquake.    Weiterlesen

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  • Chris DicksonSri Lanka 2025Reisender
    Stilt fishermen, making money
    Stilt fishermen, making moneyTurtles, a few days oldNote this poor guy/girl only has one front flipperDutch church in Galle Fort. It was initially Portuguese, then Dutch then English.Galle Cricket GroundSunset drinks, not for the first time on this tripHarvesting toddyDrinking the finished poison, I mean productMadu River mangrovesMadu River birdlifeHarvesting cinnamonIndependence Square, ColomboOld Parliament HouseColombo Lighthouse (1952)1One of the insanely-driven blue buses, stationary for a change

    Bentota

    27.–30. März 2025 in Sri Lanka ⋅ ☁️ 30 °C

    Our last destination for this trip was partly for some relaxation as well as seeing a few things.

    We travelled here via the south coast, and our first stop, just south of Galle, was for a look at the stilt fishermen.

    It’s a good gig, really. You put some big sticks in the sand and charge tourists a few thousand rupees for a few photographs of you pretending to fish. On a busy day this could be quite a few rupees per hour, for sitting still on a pole in the water.

    Then we went to one of the numerous turtle hatcheries in the area. In equal parts heartbreaking and uplifting - much like the Elephant Transit Centre - we saw some magnificent creatures, all without an arm or a leg or with a hole in their shell, mainly through collisions with ships.

    The hatchery part of the activity involves harvesting eggs and ensuring they are released in the evening so that there are far fewer predators waiting to eat them on their obstacle course stumble to the sea.

    We have had a great trip, and have seen so many great sights, but felt like we short-changed Galle somewhat. We only had time for a quick whip through the fishing port and the historic fort, with the cricket ground in its shadow. So much more to see that we missed!

    We were heading to our hotel for the night, driving along the very scenic coastal road from Galle to Bentota, when the sunset beckoned. Prashan, our guide, never short of good ideas, pulled into a rather tired looking hotel, found the bar and ordered some drinks and snacks to be taken next to the pool overlooking the beach. He then had a swim in the pool, and we enjoyed barbecued prawns and a beautiful sunset.

    We also took a boat trip on the Madu River, braving the oppressive heat to look for wildlife in the numerous mangrove-encircled islands. Reminiscent of the safaris, there were probably more tourist boats than animals, but it wasn’t a bad way to spend the morning.

    On the way to the boat ride, Prashan spied some men, high in the coconut palms, collecting toddy, which is the fermented sap of the palm tree. Fourteen per cent alcohol, not a great taste, and nine-thirty in the morning - probably not the way to enjoy a relaxing drink! Still, the skill of the men who harvest the stuff high up in the trees was incredible.

    Our last event on the trip was a look around Colombo, which, to tell the truth, isn’t the prettiest or most exciting city we have seen. Still, Independence Square, where independence was declared in 1948 and with a statue of Don Stephen Senanayake, Sri Lanka’s first prime minister, was very nice, as were both the new and old parliament buildings.

    Post script

    We very much enjoyed our brief tour around the country. We will almost miss the crazy driving at heart stopping speeds, and the red (government) and blue (private) buses that dominate the roads, speeding along, overtaking everything in sight and with the conductor hanging out the door shouting out to potential passengers.

    There is culture aplenty, and a mix of religions happily coexisting. There is also beautiful countryside and wildlife and some marvellous iconic sights - Siguriya for one.

    It was also stinking hot, and there were a few heavy afternoon downpours.

    With a good guide to show the way through the incredible range of foods, to help buy beer and wine at the liquor stores and to handle the crazy traffic - and maybe even to tell you a little of Sri Lanka’s life story - it is an incredible, wonderful place to visit - especially with Steve and Kim, our great, long-time travelling companions.    Weiterlesen

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  • Chris DicksonSri Lanka 2025Reisender
    Ravana Waterfall
    Ravana WaterfallA cheeky monkeyBuduruwagalaOn safariPainted storksSpotted deerPeacockBee eaterTwo bee eatersTwo bee eaters, fornicatingCrocodile and water buffaloWater buffaloFeeding at the Elephant Transit Centre

    Udawalawe

    27.–28. März 2025 in Sri Lanka ⋅ ☁️ 31 °C

    We had a busy day, and a bit of luck, on our trip to Udawalawe, and its eponymous 131,00-hectare national park.

    A quick stop at the scenic Ravana Waterfall turned exciting when a monkey grabbed a packet of biscuits from a tourist and proceeded to open it and start eating. The imbecilic tourist got closer and closer to have her photo taken with it, then tried to grab a biscuit back from the monkey. It was only intervention from our guide that saved her from likely injury, as she clearly wanted to keep tormenting the creature.

    We then visited Buduruwagala, an archaeological site containing a fifteen metre high Buddha statue carved into a huge rock face, and dating from the seventh or eighth century. The Buddha is accompanied by six other statues, and there are extensive other ruins in the complex.

    This took some time, and we had a long drive in front of us. We were due to go on a safari in the national park that afternoon but it became obvious that, even driving extra-suicidally, we wouldn’t make it. This was our good fortune, though, as it rained all afternoon but was warm, still and clear for the rescheduled event the following morning.

    And what an event it was. Plenty of elephants - and plenty of Jeeps watching them, it must be said, spotted deer, water buffalo and come quite beautiful birds. We hadn’t even reached the national park when we stopped to look at some incredible painted storks.

    After the safari we visited the Elephant Transit Park, where sick or orphaned elephants are helped to transition to life in the wild. We had great seats, right near the feeding and amongst a bunch of pre-schoolers.

    The elephants were sent to the feeding station in groups and the smaller ones given some milk but only enough that they will still be hungry and therefore seek out more food. It was exciting to watch not only the feeding but the jostling for spots as the bigger animals literally threw their weight around to get at the juiciest snacks. The viewing area was absolutely packed and it was good think of the support provided by the entrance fees for such a worthy cause.

    From Udawalawe we head south to the coast and thence to Bentota, our final stop on this trip.    Weiterlesen

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  • Chris DicksonSri Lanka 2025Reisender
    Views from our Ella accommodation
    Views from our Ella accommodation2Path up Little Adam's PeakLittle Adam's Peak viewsA trainNine Arches Bridge. The last step down is a doozy

    Ella

    24.–26. März 2025 in Sri Lanka ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    Ella is a very tourism-oriented town a few hours of manic driving south of Nuwara Eliya. Almost every shop is a bar, restaurant or transport provider and the town bustles with backpackers and other travellers. The tuk tuk population is enormous, too.

    We stayed in a home stay a few kilometres out of town, very basic but perched right on the side of a hill with the most incredible views. The bathroom got so wet you needed to leave your pants outside when using the toilet, but that’s a small price to pay for the magnificent outlook. It was amazing sitting on our balcony as the sun went down, nursing a drink and watching the lights of the train weave around the hill opposite.

    We took a walk up to Little Adam’s Peak, just to keep up the number of hot sweaty climbs up lots of steps. The views from the top were spectacular. About half way up was an outdoor activity centre with a giant swing - and a shop with outfits you could wear whilst swinging - and a zip line. Both of these were in constant demand and the area was crowded with thrill seekers and old people like us taking a breather from the constant stairs.

    In the afternoon we took a train ride. We were actually supposed to catch the train all the way from Nuwara Eliya, but due to some form of black market scalping or other corruption all the tickets had been sold.

    So we were on the tourist train, which was probably better. All seats faced the windows and there was an open-air carriage that would have been fantastic had it not been raining.

    Our trip started in Demodara, then rattled down to the Nine Arches Bridge, a most picturesque piece of engineering. Everyone hopped off for a look around, which was easier said than done, as the steps on the carriages only reached about half way to the ground. It was even more fun climbing back on to the train, with lots of heaving and groaning and pushing and pulling.

    In persistent light rain, we travelled to Ella, and thence through very attractive rice-growing countryside to Bandarawela, a bustling little town, much more commercial and less touristic than Ella.

    We had a demonstration of Sri Lankan rain once we were back at our digs, about half an hour of absolute downpour. When it had finished the air was beautifully clear and the waterfall on the hill opposite had turned into a muddy brown torrent.    Weiterlesen

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  • Chris DicksonSri Lanka 2025Reisender
    Ramboda waterfall
    Ramboda waterfallThe tea pluckers workspaceInside the tea factoryThe road to Moon PlainsPotato farmingView from Moon PlainsWith fellow travellers Peter and ChristinePlucking

    Nuwara Eliya

    23.–24. März 2025 in Sri Lanka ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    The road from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya twists and turns constantly for 76 kilometres, climbing all the time. It was a fascinating few hours, passing through numerous small townships built along the ridges of the hills, all bustling and offering more opportunities for road carnage.

    We stopped for a tour of the Damro Tea Factory, which was interesting. From green leafy bush to tiny browny-black particles is quite a journey, and the free cuppa at the end of the tour was welcome, too.

    Nuwara Eliya is sometimes called “Little England” for the numerous colonial buildings and institutions that remain from the days of sweaty white people who ran the tea plantation or who would journey up the hill for respite from the heat of Colombo. When we arrived, around six o’clock, these were nowhere to be seen. We found only a typical Asian shopping area, with the supermarket next to the tyre fitter and the ladies’ dress shop between a tattoo parlour and a battery shop, all with traffic at a standstill and vehicles parked on every scrap of ground.

    The following morning, we ventured up to Moon Plains. We boarded a Jeep and drove up through extensive potato farms to a magnificent 360-degree viewpoint, with Sri Lanka’s highest mountain in clear sight. Well, not all that clear - the weather was very hazy and any distant sights were completely obscured. There were native buffalo in the distance, and rumoured to be leopards in the adjacent jungle.

    Finally, as we exited Nuwara Eliya, we did take a turn around some of the quite attractive buildings from the English period. The Post Office - still in use, the very exclusive-looking Hill Club and numerous fancy-looking villas.

    As we left, also, our driver pulled over to the side of the road and after a rapid-fire conversation Sharon and Kim found themselves with bags on their heads, learning to pluck tea. Suffice to say it’s not a skill that can be learnt in a few minutes, even when taught by a bunch of laughing women with very bad teeth.

    After our short stay here we are moving on to Ella.    Weiterlesen

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