Cruising the Danube

After travelling thought 3 countries we arrived in Passua.  It was great being met t the train station and dropped off at the dock right in front of the boat!  Then two guys appeared and took our luggage out of the boot and whisked it away to our room.  After a quick briefing about the boat and introduction we were all welcomed aboard.  There re not many English speaking people as we found out when 17 people turned up to the English speaking briefing. 

We then were all welcomed aboard with a cocktail and introduced to the crew. Then come the best meal I have ever eaten.  First we had salmon with wasabi sauce.  Next up was broccoli soup and my main was Ribeye.  Dessert was white and dark chocolate mouse. I know I have missed some but they were the stand outs for me. 

Woke up this morning after a wonderful sleep, didn't notice going through the locks apart from one moment it was dark then it was light this morning! Got up and headed up to the sun deck to get a photo of the misty Danube.

Headed off to breakfast but didn't over indulge much but I did have a lovely feed of fresh fruit.  Then we just cruised through the Melk which is an amazing part of the Danube River.  We should have passed it last night but we kept getting held up at the locks.

We then had a talk about the Danube and how the locks work so understand that a lot better.  After another wonderful meal we were bussed into Vienna as we were running late.  

We went to the Hundertwasser House.  This is the guy that designed the toilets in NZ. 

After we caught the bus and went around the ring which is a road that goes right round the city of Vienna in place of the wall that once protected the city of Vienna. We then walked to St Stephan's cathedral. 

After that it was a quick shower and out for another wonderful meal with fantastic company. 

Final day in Prague

Today I sort of blew my daily budget with a few purchase to bring home and as I went to pack my bag I have decided that I too am going to have to go to the dark side and get a wheelie bag, as I really can't fit much more into my pack.  I would hate to see what Prague in summer time is like as Prague in winter is hectic!  Hard to get a good photo with people everywhere! Walked a roos the Charlie's Bridge today with a thousand other people.  As you can see from my white knuckles I was holding on pretty tight to my goodies and keeping my bag very close to me!  Had our last walk through the markets and then headed to sort out tickets for tomorrow's early train ride.  Have booked the taxi for 4:45 hope he doesn't ripe us off as I haven't heard many good things about the taxi drivers here!  Well all going according to plan this time tomorrow night we should be attending the welcoming dinner on the MS Amadeus Brillant! 

Prague

After a bit of a rough sleep (bed is a bit boney) was up and on the move. Caught The tram into town and then went walk abouts to find the Astromical Clock.  Got there just in time to see it chime and for the things to pop out.  Then we went wandering and found another market.  The markets here are way better then Germany. Kate then took me off to get my feet eaten by fish!  Had to sit in the window and all these people would stop and watch.  Very interesting experience. Home to get showered and ready to be picked up to go for a cruise on the river.  Not many good photos but a good time was had! 

Trip to Praha (Prague)

Another travel day, we both never seem to sleep well before we change house!  Woke before alarm and finished packing.  Was sad to leave as it was a wonderful place to stay and the staff were very helpful.  Headed underground and that was where the fun began! Ended up going above ground and getting a taxi to cut a long story short!  But we caught the right train this time and all was good.  There was a lovely German man sitting across from me and I asked him all about the trouble people were having on the train and he said it is a bad line as they have made no improvements to it since it belonged to the communist. He was saying that he was in the west and his wife was in the east when the wall happened and that they used to meet in Prague.  He said that it was history to us but he still lives it.  Was very interesting seeing the destruction from that time and how so many places are just wrecks including train stations still to this day.  We don't realise how lucky we are! Just before we hit the border the armed police wander through the carriages checking things and we start to follow the Elbe River which had all these lovely little towns along it banks.  Tried to get some photos but the train had dirty windows, so can't really show you what it was like.  We followed that all the way to Prague.  We were suppose to get off at the first stop but we stayed on to get closer in.  I have no idea why the booked us to get off at the outskirts of Prague.  Not much trouble finding our way to home.  Then we went out for a wine and something to eat and now getting all set for bed. Prague looks a beautiful city looking forward to exploring it tomorrow. 

    

Christmas Day 2013

Christmas Day in Berlin was a sleep in this morning and then a 20 second ride up 24 floors (fastest elevator in Europe) to get a great view of Berlin.  A quick stop to have coffee up there and then it was down to have some German sausage for Christmas Brunch.  Was pretty tasty! Then we headed out to the East Side Gallery to have a look at the paintings on the Berlin Wall.  We walked the 1.3 km along it stopping to take photos.  A few train stops later we were on our way home.  So was a quiet Christmas Day here but still one to remember. Travelling to Prague tomorrow. 

  

Berlin

Sorry I didn't post anything last night as I was knackered, I was asleep before my head hit the pillow! Was a bit of a rough start yesterday.  I got us on the wrong train to Berlin.  As soon as I realised we were on the wrong train it started moving.  I said to the ticket guy we are on the wrong train!  He said you will need to get of at the next stop.  As we were pulling in we heard over the loud speaker that the two ladies on the wrong train need to get off here and go to platform 2 and your train will be along at 9:22. Sure enough it was!  I went up to him when I saw him on the platform and thanked him for setting us right.

After that it was a 6 hour train trip to Berlin.  We were in a cabin with the older Germany people.  There was one lady who reminded me so much of my Aunty Nance she was such an old dear.  I helped get her off the train as well as getting the others luggage sorted.  

We got to the train station in Berlin and it was massive!! Shops galore and trains going in all directions. After a few laps round it we were sorted and ready to tackle the trains and underground to find home for the next few days. Wasn't hard at all! 

Our hotel is lovely the customer service is the best we have seen so far.  We have a lovely room and have even moved up a floor today to get better wifi.  

Last night we dumped our gear had a cold Beck's (beer, which I'm developing a taste for!) then ventured out to see what we could find.  Did a few blocks then had to sit down for tea as we were starving!  We then walked a few more blocks and found our first German Christmas Market. Wow! The smells and tastes were fantastic.  I had an apple and cinnamon spiced wine and it was lovely.  Even have the glass with the name of the market.  Will be worth lugging it round! Kate had an ice skate as well, I looked after the gear and recorded it.  She couldn't manage to steal on of the penguins of the children.  After that it was a very fast walk home in the dark. 

Woke up this morning at 10:10, we were suppose to have an early start but neither of us woke up so we had a late start.  We got on the under ground and headed to Potsdamer Platz where we had a German sausage and potatoes and Golash for breakfast,  yumm!   We walked through the Christmas market again then headed to find the Brandenburg Gate.  

We found this amazing little park that is in memory of all the gypsy that were killed, was a very special little place.  Then we went looking for check point Charlie.  What a mission and we found it it was closed!  So time to head home for a rest and another Beck's.  

Thinking of everyone at home and wishing you all a wonderful Christmas.  

Final Day in Amsterdam

Today was a blast!  Biking round Amsterdam was great fun, dodging other bikes, people and trams was like riding an obstacle course! When you stop or leave your bike you have to put 2 locks on it as people steal them.  With the amount of bikes I have seen I didn't think that would be an issue! After that the rain set in so we sat in a cafe and had a drink and something to eat.  Amsterdam has been great, would have been even better if it had decided to shine some sun on us.  It certainly will be a place that I remember!

My trusty ride! 

Amsterdam Day 2

Woke this morning to rain.  First time since Scotlad so we have done pretty well.  Thought we would head out and see how long the line was to get into the Anne Frank Museum, lucky for us it was short! Everyone must have stayed at home because of the rain.  Walking through the house was quite moving didn't expect to feel like that.  You could see the pictures that she had glued onto the walls and the lines drawn on the walls to show how much they had grown while in hiding.  You also heard from her father and how reading her diary was an eye opener for him as he didn't know she had those feelings and he had a wonderful relationship with Anne. After being there we managed to get ourselves lost in the canals but the bright lights attracted us and we were trying to find a nighty for Kate.  We got ourselves home a little wet.  Have had a relaxing afternoon back at the hotel.  Just about ready to find somewhere to eat. 

Arrived in Amsterdam

Woke just before the alarm ready to head to train station to try to get a ticket to Amsterdam.  There were no tickets so we made the decision to pay full fare! Gulp!! Any way we had a quick trip here and we went and found where you buy tickets to try and get a ticket to Berlin on the 23rd.  The lady was not impressed with our eurail pass and informed us that it hadn't been validated correctly.  Think she felt sorry for us so she didn't charge us the fees to get it fixed up.  So we left with a correctly validated pass and tickets to Berlin so we were happy.  The people in Amsterdam a way more friendlier than any we have come across so far.  We found our hotel dumped our bags and went to look round a market.  Then it was wine time so we found the coolest little bar to stop at and ended up having something to eat there as well.  Went home had a little sort out and headed out for a look around the streets.  Went through the red light district and had a look around. Early night planned as we want to get up early to go to the Anne Frank house. 

 

Paris Day Two

Had a bit of a sleep in this morning not that I was meant to but this tourist business does wear you out.  Anyone once up and away we headed straight for the Lourve.  Lucky that we walked straight of the subway into a pandora shop where I brought the Fleur-de-lis (lily of France) for my bracket.  Then we had a quick coffee ready to battle our way through.  We got our tickets and made our way straight to the Moana Lisa.  Lucky for us the crowd wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.  I got to have a look and get a photo so was pretty pleased. The ceilings in the museum are amazing they themselves are works of art. After that we made it outside and were harnessed by people selling trinkets again!  Already have had a run in with one of them so stayed well clear today! Last stop for the day was going to see the Notre Dame church.  Kate had her first wine of the day and we did a little bit of shopping and headed home.  Tea was the most amazing experience and is a meal I will remember for a long time, as I said to Kate it's not a meal it's an experience! After a busy day we headed home and started to pack as tomorrow is another day trying to catch a train! I had to finish of the day with a quick shower.  I opened the window so I could look at the Eiffel Tower all lit up!  How many people can say they had a shower while looking at the Eiffel Tower! 

Eiffel Tower

I fulfilled to dreams today! One was seeing the Eiffel Tower and the other was going to the top! Was a bit nervous going up because it just kept on going up and up but once up there you didn't worry how height you were. Words can not describe it, I have to say I even had a tear in the eye! On the way home we stopped in the little shop on the corner and I got to have the most delicious cakes I have every tasted!  I couldn't choose so had to get two! Came home downloaded photos for awhile then went back out to find some tea.  Did the washing and am now sitting up in bed watching the spotlights on the Eiffel Tower go around.  Tomorrow we are off to the Lourve as it is suppose to rain!   Here's hoping it doesn't. 

Yummmmm