Reset search
Europe 2023
  • Gary Thomas
  • Gary Thomas

Europe 2023

60 days backpacking around Europe Read more
+5
FollowInsightsInsightsCalendarCalendarPhotosPhotosShareShareBucket list
Newest first
  • Gary ThomasEurope 2023Traveler
    1
    1112

    Lake Bled - No words, just pictures

    April 22, 2023 in Slovenia ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    I'm lying; I have to say a few words about this.
    If the pictures of Ljubljana don't persuade you to come to Slovenia, then just look at these snaps.
    Only 45 minutes up the road from Ljubliana is one of the most picturesque locations in the world. Lake Bled.
    You will recognise the pictures as they pop up on your computer every few weeks as a Google Chrome screen saver.
    We got our 18000+ steps in today by walking around the whole Lake. Worth every step.    Read more

  • Gary ThomasEurope 2023Traveler
    1

    Faith in humanity restored!

    April 23, 2023 in Slovenia ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C

    A bit convoluted this one, but bear with me.
    So after a lovely walk up to the castle and back around to the city, we came across a lovely little street. We sat down for a beer at a local bar and ended up staying for a couple. We got talking to a few young locals who were sat there, playing chess and having a drink. We watched them play and then paid up and went over to a restaurant over the road for some lunch.
    Ten minutes into the meal the bar tender from over the road came in and said that I had left 10 euros on the bar, and passed it on to me. It turns out that he was a friend of the girl we were talking with and she told him that we had crossed the road to the restaurant.
    So after the meal we went back to the bar and I asked if I could buy them both a drink for their kindness. So he poured some shots for us all! It was like firewater, but great fun.
    This occurrence just reinforces my opinion about how lovely the people of Slovenia, and indeed their country, really are. What a fabulous few days.    Read more

  • Gary ThomasEurope 2023Traveler
    3

    Off piste in Maribor

    April 24, 2023 in Slovenia ⋅ 🌧 12 °C

    No skiing, just a reference to the fact that not many tourists come to Maribor (I think we were the only people to get off the train!).
    Very much the "2nd city" of Slovenia, behind Ljubljana, nevertheless it had it's own charm and is full, of course, of lovely Slovenian people.Read more

  • Gary ThomasEurope 2023Traveler

    Budapest - Nearly 30,000 steps in a day!

    April 27, 2023 in Hungary ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C

    Actually, Jane's app showed that she did over 30k steps in the day. But that's because she is one of the few people in the world with shorter legs than me! 😂
    Lovely trek around Budapest in the sunshine. Highlights included lunch in a local restaurant, the great market hall, and going up to the castle where Rhys proposed to Lissy when they were here.Read more

  • Gary ThomasEurope 2023Traveler
    1

    Bratislava - poor man's Ljubljana

    April 28, 2023 in Slovakia ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    The difference between Slovakia and Slovenia is like chalk and cheese.
    Both joined the EU in 2004, but whereas Slovenia has embraced the change and benefited from it massively, Slovakia looks stuck in a timer warp.
    And the main square resembles something out of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Half expected the Child Catcher to wander across with his cage!    Read more

  • Gary ThomasEurope 2023Traveler
    11

    The Thomas holiday weather curse strikes

    April 29, 2023 in Austria ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    Vienna, and the famous Thomas holiday weather curse has struck again. Ok, it has taken nearly 4 weeks to get our first drop of proper rain, but I mean, come on, bloody typical, eh? 😁
    As for Vienna (it didn't rain for too long), you can get a feel for the past grandeur of this city. The buildings are huge, with wide, open roads. Must have been very impressive back in the day.Read more

  • Gary ThomasEurope 2023Traveler

    Super Salzburg

    April 30, 2023 in Austria ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C

    Gorgeous day here in Salzburg and the old town is beautiful. Saw Mozart's birthplace and climbed up the (very steep) hill to the castle for a great view of the town. Walked through the lovely Mirabelle Gardens where they filmed some of the scenes for the Sound of Music.Read more

  • Gary ThomasEurope 2023Traveler
    1

    The luckier you are, the luckier you get

    May 1, 2023 in Austria ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    Long day of travelling from Salzburg to Milan started with a cancelled train and bus replacement service. Not great you might think. BUT, it provided us with some unbelievable Alpine scenery to enjoy. Stunning.Read more

  • Gary ThomasEurope 2023Traveler

    Our luck continues-Salernitano dal 1978

    May 1, 2023 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    So after travelling via bus and train for 10 hours from Salzburg to Milan, existing on a croissant and coffee for breakfast and a shared caprese roll grabbed in Verona train station, we were exhausted and hungry by the time we arrived at our apartment.
    We dropped off our bags and headed for the nearest restaurant. How fortunate were we that it happened to be Ristorante Salernitano Dal 1978? The food was gorgeous; or did it taste that good because we were so hungry? Well, we'll soon find out because we are going back there tonight! It was that good.    Read more

  • Gary ThomasEurope 2023Traveler

    Our new best friend

    May 2, 2023 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    So, after receiving a recommendation of where to go this evening for somewhere to eat (thanks Cheryl Davies), unfortunately it was the other side of Milan. So we resolved to return to the lovely restaurant we visited yesterday. And we were welcomed back like long lost family. Francesco, the owner/chef, came over to greet us personally, and to thank us for coming back. We were then given additional food and drink throughout the evening and were thoroughly spoiled.
    Fantastic.    Read more

  • Gary ThomasEurope 2023Traveler

    Forza Napoli

    May 3, 2023 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    We happened to be in Spain when they won the World Cup in 2010, and witnessed unbounded joy from their fans. But I honestly don't think it will will a patch on what is going to happen here in Napoli tomorrow night (Thursday) if Naples beat Udinese to win this year's Serie A. They are going to go nuts as it will be their first since the days of Maradona in 1989/90.
    Not sure we will get much sleep tomorrow!    Read more

  • Gary ThomasEurope 2023Traveler

    Pompeii - also from A.D. 79

    May 4, 2023 in Italy

    I know that no-one actually wants to see all these pics from Pompeii and Herculaneum; they are more of a personal record for Jane and I to look back on.
    Lovely picture of Vesuvius, though, taken from the amphitheatre in Pompeii.Read more

  • Gary ThomasEurope 2023Traveler

    Same vintage as the St Emilion Grand Cru

    May 4, 2023 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    Possibly not!

    On our way back from Pompeii we thought we'd buy a bottle of wine and a packet of crisps, and relax on the hotel terrace, which is lovely.
    Couldn't find a shop anywhere. Asked some locals and they shrugged their shoulders and we carried on walking. Suddenly a guy on a scooter appears and says "You want wine?" We say yes and then next thing he unlocks a door to an adjacent house and beckons us in. We look at each other and think "why not?", and walk in. Next thing we are walking out with a litre box of local red wine and a packet of crisps! Don't ask. 😂😂Read more

  • Gary ThomasEurope 2023Traveler

    R&R on the Ile d'Ischia

    May 5, 2023 in Italy

    After 31 days on our feet, carrying those bloody backpacks, we have decided to decamp to Ischia for 4 days for a bit of R&R, before resuming our trek around Europe.
    And look at the view we discovered as we opened the door to our balcony in our apartment here!Read more

  • 2026© FindPenguins
  • Home
  • About us
  • Group Tracking
  • Press
  • Terms
  • Privacy Policy & Cookies
  • Help Center
  • Legal notice