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Central Europe & the Alps
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  • Inizio del viaggio
    31 agosto 2018
  • Lacey TravelsCentral Europe & the AlpsViaggiatore

    Zamilapark

    31 agosto 2018, Germania ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    Arrived in Munich early this morning and there has been steady, soft rain all day. Deciding to shake a few jet-lag cobwebs out of the system, we walked in the rain down to Zamilapark just a few hundred metres from our hotel.

    The beautiful old trees stud the parkland which is criss-crossed with well-used pathways. There are some brave souls walking their dogs, people heading for the shops and a flock of wild geese who make the park and lake their home. Today they're feasting on green apples dropping down onto the grass. This must be a real haven in the summer with so much green and space to run and play - very peaceful. The trees have not turned as yet.    Leggi altro

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  • Lacey TravelsCentral Europe & the AlpsViaggiatore

    Getting a little bit lost in Zamdorf

    31 agosto 2018, Germania ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C

    We thought this walk would be so simple! Straight down Luderitzstrasse to the Park and back again. We didn't figure in all the wandering we did along the park's pathways. So when we started to head back to the hotel, we ended up walking around in circles, up and down dead-end streets.

    This, in itself, was really interesting. The homes mostly have a small footprint but multiple storeys - small compared to what we are used to. The suburb is very green and leafy with beautiful shady streets. Almost no houses (or apartments) have garages, so parking is on the streets. We notice several things - roofs are steep and most have snow barriers on them; there are almost no garages; the Germans take great pride in their gardens with little sheds behind their hedges; almost every house has outdoor seating for the summer.

    PS. We eventually back-tracked out of the maze of dead-end streets to the park using the mobile phone map to find our way back to the hotel. This was a little adventure exploring the backstreets of suburban Munich.    Leggi altro

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  • Lacey TravelsCentral Europe & the AlpsViaggiatore

    Walking the neighbourhood

    1 settembre 2018, Germania ⋅ ⛅ 11 °C

    The drizzle is back. We decided to walk through the surrounding area of Denning and Englschalking. Interesting checking out the local small specialty shops and supermarket of this reasonably affluent area.
    Generally prices here in Munich are about the same as in Australia, except that they are in Euros which makes them so much more expensive. Check out the service station prices for petrol and diesel. This carries over to coffee, meals, bar prices etc.
    Found a nursery with large bonsai conifer trees. I can't imagine how much they cost but a perfect size for the small gardens.
    The postie is delivering the mail by bicycle. There are bikes everywhere in this flat city with dedicated bike lanes and paths.
    A good walk of around 5-6km.    Leggi altro

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  • Lacey TravelsCentral Europe & the AlpsViaggiatore

    Haupt Markt, Nuremberg

    2 settembre 2018, Germania ⋅ 🌧 14 °C

    We walk through the streets to the Haupt Markt (Central Square), passing several gothic churches on the way. The Haupt Markt has several interesting features including Frauenkirche and the Schöner Brunnen, the gilded “beautiful fountain” with tiers of figures. Most of this old town is vehicle free and easily walked.
    Throughout the old city there are many religious icons in public places. At noon we watch the bell display in the main square. The small figures at the top of the church facade move while the bells play.
    A quick coffee in a local cafe gives us access to free clean toilets. Public toilets cost €0.50.    Leggi altro

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  • Lacey TravelsCentral Europe & the AlpsViaggiatore

    Crossing the German Czech Border

    2 settembre 2018, Repubblica Ceca ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    Travelling over the rolling hills and valleys, we seem to be climbing all the way. There’s lots of pine forests where the logs are harvested.
    As we approach the Czech border, there are no barriers, just a sign on the freeway. We stop at the first services past the border. It is super-crowded with huge trucks that are parked up because it is Sunday. It is illegal for trucks to travel on Sunday, so even if they are mid-journey, they must stop.

    We have our first experience with the Czech currency. There are 25 crowns to each euro, so the prices seem huge but are really quite cheap.    Leggi altro

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  • Lacey TravelsCentral Europe & the AlpsViaggiatore

    Old Town - the Jewish Quarter

    3 settembre 2018, Repubblica Ceca ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    The Old Jewish Quarter is located straight off Czech Bridge. The architecture is stunningly beautiful with ornate facades on the tall buildings lining the narrow streets. It’s obviously a very wealthy part of Prague. There are several Jewish synagogues, equally impressive and the very large Old Jewish Cemetery where the Jews employed creative ways of burying their dead in such a small space.Leggi altro

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  • Lacey TravelsCentral Europe & the AlpsViaggiatore

    Parizskya - Paris Street

    3 settembre 2018, Repubblica Ceca ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    A wonderful tree-lined boulevard leading from the Czech Bridge to the Old Town Square, Paris Street is lined with high-end retailers. Brands such as Rolls Royce, Dior, Hermes, Dolce & Gabbana all have minimalist window displays with guards at every door. The whole ambience of this street, like its name, is very reminiscent of the Champs Elysses in Paris. Despite the thousands of tourists trekking from their buses to Old Town Square, the feel of the street is peaceful and unhurried.Leggi altro

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  • Lacey TravelsCentral Europe & the AlpsViaggiatore
    2

    Charles Bridge

    3 settembre 2018, Repubblica Ceca ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    This historic bridge took more than 60 years to build, being completed early in the 15th century. It was built by Charles IV. There are some 30 statues which line the bridge dating back to the 1700's. It was the only link between Prague Castle and the Old Town until 1841 - the bridge between Eastern and Western Europe.
    The Charles Bridge is for foot traffic only. It’s lined with buskers and artists - again a very French feel. The stone features are highly blackened and need cleaning desperately. It’s a domed cobbled walk over the Bridge rather than flat.
    From the bridge there are great views of Prague Castle and the Cathedrals on the other side of the river.
    Repairs are scheduled to start in late 2019, they should take around 20 years.    Leggi altro

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  • Lacey TravelsCentral Europe & the AlpsViaggiatore
    1

    Astronomical Clock

    3 settembre 2018, Repubblica Ceca ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    Somewhat disappointed to find that this Prague icon is undergoing renovation prior to it’s XXth anniversary in October. It’s shrouded in sheets of blue brattis but you can just see the “bones” behind. Located in the Old Town Square, it’s a huge drawcard and is surrounded with hundreds of tourists like us.Leggi altro

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  • Lacey TravelsCentral Europe & the AlpsViaggiatore

    Old Town Square

    3 settembre 2018, Repubblica Ceca ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    The Old Town Square is so reminiscent of St Marks Square in Venice and Florence. Many of the buildings are decorated with artwork and gilt. They shine in the sun. Surrounding the Square are many restaurants and cafes where people sit out on the square. There is much entertainment but people-watching is certainly the thing to do.
    The large monument in the middle of the Old Town Square is the statue of the Church reformer Jan Hus (John Huss), one of the most important personalities in Czech history.    Leggi altro

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  • Lacey TravelsCentral Europe & the AlpsViaggiatore

    The River 1

    3 settembre 2018, Repubblica Ceca ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    We take a river cruise on the Vltava River which cuts through Prague’s seven hills and the city itself. The river has 2 names....the Czech is Vltava but it is more widely known as the Moldau, its German name.
    It is such a busy thoroughfare, this waterway, with boats of all sizes. White swans are eating apples which have fallen into the river. Bridges cross-cross the river as we take the 1 hour cruise. Prague from the water is very impressive, yet a genteel old lady.    Leggi altro

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  • Lacey TravelsCentral Europe & the AlpsViaggiatore
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    Lunch in Prague

    3 settembre 2018, Repubblica Ceca ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    Just near the Astronomical Clock, we wind through an alley to a quiet courtyard set amongst the surrounding old town buildings. We have coffee first with Julie and Mick and come back later for spinach crepes. It was a little oasis among the pulsing tourist hotspots.Leggi altro

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  • Lacey TravelsCentral Europe & the AlpsViaggiatore

    A Czech Dinner

    3 settembre 2018, Repubblica Ceca ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    We head out for an evening of Czech food, wine, music and fun in U Marcanu about 30 minutes from the hotel up in the hills surrounding Prague.
    We start out with a traditional shot of Becherovka. It’s very strong and tastes a little like cough medicine - no sipping, just skoll it down.
    The meal is 3 courses. Starters are potato cakes; the main has a skewer of pork and chicken, dumplings, potato and beans. All vegetables are served cooked, not fresh. Desert is a fruit filled crepe with ice cream and cream. Pretty good food and plenty of it with traditional dark bread.
    A fun part of the evening is the wine waiter who fills our bottomless glasses in the traditional way - glass bulbs filled with wine on a long glass tube,. He hold his finger over the end of the tube to stop the flow of wine. Deftly, he flicks aside his finger, aims the pippette at your glass, about a metre away, and rarely misses. Very entertaining. Of course, bottomless beers are available as well.    Leggi altro

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  • Lacey TravelsCentral Europe & the AlpsViaggiatore

    Czech Music and Dance

    3 settembre 2018, Repubblica Ceca ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    Traditionally dressed musicians entertain us with songs and dance. The style is reminiscent of Cossack music and dance varying from lamentable and passionate to fun and furious.
    They use 2 special Czech instruments. The Fujairah is an upside down whistle that is played like a didjeridoo. The other instrument, the gajdy, looks a little like bagpipes.
    There’s lots of audience participation and we have had a really enjoyable evening, one of the best cultural excursions we have ever done.    Leggi altro

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