Day 29 - Dubrovnik

I had a lazy morning nit doing much and just getting ready to meet the girls for a late breakfast at 10am. We wandered down to the old town and after a bit of looking and flicking through some really short breakfast menus, we found a place that had a bit more on the menu. BTW you can get a discount in some places for sitting inside we got 25% off just got eating inside as opposed to on the street.

Jane and I then wandered the streets to do a bit of shopping. I only had to get something for one of my sisters, as I had gotten the rest of my family something already.

I met up with Mel again and escaped the midday heat with and ice cream and a cold drink. I then headed up to the cable car at about 2pm to get the view from the imperial fortress that over looks the city.

After spending about 30min walking around the top taking in the views I headed back down again. By this stage the weekend tourist crowds became a bit too much for me so I decided to go hide in our villa for a whole have a shower cool down and catch up on my blog.

I met up with Jane for dinner at 7pm and we headed down into the old town. I just had some grilled chicken. We then got an ice cream on the way home again. Early night tonight as I am flying out tomorrow.

Day 28 - Dubrovnik

After about 2.5 hours we arrived in Dubrovnik. We got dropped off beside the main road opposite some stairs. We headed down the stairs for a while until we got to a green metal door. Off the stairs this was the door into our villa where our private rooms were. The room is big enough but the bathroom is very compact. (the door hits the toilet when you open the door.
We had a little while to settle in before having our orientation walk around the city. After the orientation walk we decided to go to Lokrum Island for a couple of hours getting the 1pm boat. So we went different ways and had lunch. Mel and I got salads from a restaurant which were huge mine was the size of a salad I would do for a small bbq. A couple of older American women sat beside us and ordered ice cream, the bill came our and one of the American women hadn't looked at the prices. The bill just for the ice cream was more than what we paid for our salads and a drink. There bill was 220 kuna, which is expensive considering that if they went to a ice cream stand/shop not a restaurant they would have only paid about 20 kuna. That's why they give you a menu. :-)
Lokrum Island was good and only a 15min boat ride from the old town port. I went for a swim off the rocks (beach in these parts). Layed on a rock in the sun for a while before moving to the shade.
We got the 3:15pm boat back so that we could have showers and get ready for our 5pm walk around the old town wall before dinner. We had dinner down near the water outside the old town and I had a wild bore goulash with fried gnocchi followed by some creme caramel and a taste of some hot cherry pancakes with ice cream.
We then went for a drink near our villa in more of a local pub than a tourist pub and the prices complemented that fact. Only 18 kouna for a gin and tonic.
We said our good byes to our tour leader Daniel as this was our farewell dinner and Daniel had a very early flight.

Day 27 - Kotor

This morning we had a boat tour of the bay booked at 9am with a local guide. We casually putted around the bay taking in the sites around the bay we stopped off at a man made island which has a church and museum on it. We then had a beer while we putted back across the shore to have a coffee right on the waters edge. After our coffee stolen we then started our way back on the other side of the bay stopping for a swim along the way.
The tour finished at about 1pm and we decided to head out for lunch at about 2pm we stopped at an Italian restaurant on the water edge on our way back into the old town for a spot of souvenir shopping.
We had a light dinner by the bay where we just shared some entrée, wine and had some dessert.
Off to Dubrovnik tomorrow at 8am via private transfer thankfully.

Day 26 - Kotor

After an early start and two buses we arrived in Kotor at about 9:30am. We were able to check in straight away and we had breakfast at the hotel. After a pretty terrible sleep last night I took the opportunity to rest and watch a bit of tv before our city orientation walk at 2pm.
Kotor is a beautiful spot still with plenty of local charm. The old town is a bit touristy at times but what old town area isn't. We were planning on doing on kayaking tour around the bay in the afternoon but with winds increasing and the chance of rain the tour wasn't running. So we opted to sit down at a bar on the town wall and enjoy a drink. We then made our way back along the bay to our accommodation to relax and get ready for dinner.
It is great to have time to relax after a fairly intense start to this second half of my tour.
We went to a seafood restaurant near the back of the old town with a view of the fortress and walls on the mountain behind us. The meal was a bit pricey but was good and we were paying for the setting.

Day 25 - Ostrog Monastery

We left our accommodation in Sarajevo at 10 to 8am to start making our way to the Ostrog Monastery. It was a winding climb out of Sarajevo through the mountains and all the way to Ostrog Monastery. After crossing the border the landscape started to change and became more and more spectacular rugged mountain ranges with deep valleys, forests and mountain streams. We got dropped off on the side of the road near the turn off for the monastery, where our private transfer was waiting to take us up to our dorms near the lower monastery.
We had about an hour of free time when we arrived at the dorms to looks at the lower monastery and grounds. We then walked up to the upper monastery. The view was pretty spectacular but it was very hazey/smokey.
We had a bit of a look around the monastery and went into the room where the remains of a Saint are kept supposedly unpreserved and not decomposing.
We then headed back to the lower monastery area to walk down to a nearby restaurant for dinner. Early start again tomorrow with a 5:45am departure to Kotor.

Day 24 - Sarajevo

I had a bit of a sleep in this morning before going to the Srebrenica exhibit which documents the events of the srebrenica massacre in 1995. 11000 bodies have been found in mass graves so far in Bosnia after the war.
After looking at the exhibit I went for a walk up to a lookout over the city. I caught up with everyone for lunch at 1pm before going on our tour to the tunnel museum at 2pm. The tunnel was critical supply route for civilians in the city for basic needs like food. The tunnel was only 800m long and passed under the UN controlled airport. Connecting the urban area which had space to grow fruit and vegetables with the city. The tunnel was later used to bring in weapons for the Bosnia army.
When we got back Mel and I went for drink from the fountain (they say that if you drink from the fountain you are destined to return to Sarajevo). We then made our way back to our accommodation, getting ice cream along the way, to get ready for dinner.
We had dinner in the old town area at nice restaurant with a good variety on the menu. On our way home we stopped in at a pub for a drink. We sat on the sidewalk, inside very 80 with black lights and fluorescent paint splashed on the walls. There was also strangely a room with different types of casual chairs around a central pole, like a private pole dancing room very odd.
Sarajevo has grown on me and it has such a vibrant atmosphere. I should have mentioned that our accommodation was right beside the old winter Olympic Stadium from the 1984 winter Olympics (which has been repaired since the war).
Off to the Ostrog Monastery tomorrow.</p>

Day 23 - Mostar

Early start again today (6:30am departure) with our day trip to Mostar. We had a lovely 2.5 hour train journey through the beautiful Bosnia and Herzegovina mountains.
Upon arriving in Mostar, Daniel gave us the short history of Mostar before heading into the old town area which has now almost been fully restored since the end of the shelling in 1993. UNESCO assisted with funding the rebuilding and the bridge was reconstructed using the traditional methods when the bridge was first built.
After finishing our orientation walk we sat down for a coffee by the river. We could have almost sat there all day, but we thought we should go and see some of the sites. We walked back to the bridge the tower one side has a war photography exhibition by a New Zealand photographer on he other side we checked out a photo exhibition and a short film which shows the shelling and collapse of the bridge in 1993. We then got lunch down beside the river where I just ordered a burger after lunch we went into the tower on the other side for a museum dedicated to the history of the bridge and Mostar and contains artifacts found on the site, including things like wooden pipe and a wooden knife.
We then wandered back through the old town for a bit of souvenir shopping. We then went into an old style turkish house that was built in the traditional ottoman style. We then headed for the bus station with some haste as our bus was departing at 3pm to take us back to Sarajevo.
We got back to Sarajevo and our accommodation in time our cooking class at 6:30pm we made dolma which is basically spiced minced beef stuffed in vegetables (capsicum, zucchini, onions, etc) or wrapped in vine leaves.
It was great as they had prepared ones earlier so we got to eat straightaway (we didn't have to wait for ours to cook). :-) After dolma and salad we had coffee and baklava. It was nice to do a spot of cooking as I haven't done any for about 3 weeks now. Free day in Sarajevo tomorrow. Going to take it easy after a couple of busy days and we have another big travel day the following day.

Day 22 - Sarajevo

Early start this morning departed the hotel at 5:45am to catch a bus to Sarajevo. We arrived in Sarajevo at about 2pm and then hopped on a trolley bus into town to our accommodation. We had about an hour to relax before our orientation walk followed by a local guided walking tour of the city.
The city has incredibly lively vibe for a city that has been devastated by so many wars. The most interesting part of the tour was the site of the assassination of Franz Joseph and his wife that sparked the first world war.
We met back up with our tour leader at the end if the your and headed out to dinner. We had sampled the delicious local food banquet style along with some domestically brued flavoured brandy and beer.
Early-ish start tomorrow for a day trip to Mostar (6:30am).

Day 21 - Belgrade

Free day in Belgrade, only thing I have planned is the Nikola Tesla Museum tour at midday. So I had a bit of a sleep in, had breakfast and caught up with the girls (Mel & Jane) we went to the public square for a coffee and a spot of people watching before going to the Nikola Tesla Museum. After the museum I was planning on going on a bicycle tour of the city, but decided to be lazy and have lunch with the girls. We had to fend off a stray cat while we ate.
After lunch we went for a walk through the other part of the fortress and sat on the wall overlooking the Danube and Sava rivers. We then headed back to the hotel to get ready for dinner.
We went to the Bohemian Quarter for dinner. We went to a really nice grill where I had the nicest steak since leaving Australia and it was huge. We walked back up to the public square for a drink before heading back to our hotel for the earliest start of the tour 5:40am for a 7(+) bus trip to Sarajevo.

Day 20 - Novi Sad & Belgrade

This morning I had a bit of sleep in trying to get over the end of my cold. After breakfast I headed back across the river to walk around the fortress in the daylight. After walking around the fortress I headed back onto town to walk around the main pedestrian mall, before settling in at a cafe for a drink and a banana split along with some all important people watching of course.
A quick stop at a bakery to get some snacks for the train journey to Belgrade, I then headed back to the hotel to meet the rest of the group to get the train to Belgrade.
Once in Belgrade we got settled in our hotel rooms and then went on an orientation walk up to the town square to meet our local guide (Bojana) at 5pm. We got a lot of history about Belgrade, it has seen approximately 140 wars has been destroyed and rebuilt about 60 times most recently 1999 after the NATO bombing. People have been living in the Belgrade area for 6500 years (it dates back to the stone age). It is where the Danube and Sava rivers meet.
We had dinner in the oldest building in Belgrade called ? (No I didn't forget it's name it us called ?). The building dates back to the 19th century (which is an achievement in Belgrade). We then went for a drink in silicone valley before making our way home via the Bohemian Quarter.

Day 19 - Vukovar & Novi Sad

We left Osijek straight after work breakfast and started making our way to Novi Sad via private transfer. We first went to Vukovar and stopped at the museum in the hospital basement which documents the terrible genocide and bombings that took place there in the 90's during the war between Serbia and Croatia. Afterwards we walked around and up the Danube to look at the castle before we got some more borek and cup of coffee. We then stopped at a memorial where the patients and hospital staff were taken and killed in an old barn. After a heavy morning we lightened the mood by going to a winery before crossing the border into Serbia.
We arrived in Novi Sad just after 3pm and we are only here for one night. Once settled Daniel gave us a quick orientation walk around the city. Afterwards we got a cab to a honey museum where we learnt about the origins of modern day bee keeping and we got to try some more wines and then some honey.
We then got back into our cabs and went up to the fortress for dinner. The view over the city was spectacular. We had a good discussion about the wars in the area over dinner. We then started to walk back to our hotel after a wrong turn (buy our tour leader) we got some directions from a local and we back on the bridge making our way to the hotel again.
We have a free morning tomorrow morning in Novi Sad before getting a train to Belgrade.

Day 18 - Osijek

Today we went out of town for a day trip. First we went to a training facility for the lipzana horses. We got to see their new facilities for training and eventually shows similar to that in Vienna with dancing horses.
After the horses we went to the cathedral in the town and we were invited down to the basement/crypt to see the tomb of a Saint and other important people to he town. The cathedral is decorated extensively with paintings of biblical scenes from the new and old testament and inscriptions have been written in croatian which is not very common.
We had a coffee and a beurek and a little break before heading to a park. There was a run down villa in the park where Tito. There is also a run down hunting lodge near the villa that would have been used for Tito's guests.
We then went for a drive through the wetlands however it is still to early for bird watching. We saw one flock of ducks. We then made our way to an eco farm for lunch where we had goose goulash with home made pasta, mulberry wine, white wine, apple wine, elderflower water followed by pancakes with jam.
Needless to say after a late lunch like that with so much wine I needed an afternoon nap.
We went out for dinner at the old bridge pub and then out for a couple of drinks.

Day 17 - Osijek

We got up and took about a 5 hour train journey to Osijek. After we crossed the border into Croatia a young Croatian girl approached us to practice her English. She was in high school and on her way home. We arrived in Osijek where we were greeted by the owner of the guest house at the train station who then drove us to our accommodation. We are staying in the old town area. The building we are in dates back to the 17th/18th century. We went for a short walk to get some money and others got some food.
We had arranged a walking tour at 4:30pm with a local guide Igor. He is finishing his studies to become a lawyer. He remembers some of the war from when he was a child (10/11 years old). His school was evacuated during one of the bombings to Slovenia. You can still see evidence of the bombings on the buildings baring the scars from shrapnel and some direct hits.
We walked back along the river with our ice creams and Igor told us a bit more about life in Osijek and it's history.
We had dinner at a local restaurant in the old town where we shared two stews one catfish and one venison with a cheese pasta side and some salad.
I called it early night to rest up to see if I can hit this cold I have on the head.

Day 16 - Budapest

Kiryn and I went to terror house this morning. We then walked all the way across to the buda side and along the river to the funicular which we got up to the palace. There was a chocolate &amp; sweets festival on in the gardens but you had to pay an entry fee so we decided to give it a miss. We found a street stall selling food and beer, so we stopped for a beer and got some hot food to eat. I got some chicken and onion shish kebabs with potato wedges. Kiryn got some grilled pork and sauerkraut with paprika.
We then walked back down the hill and back to our hotels we were intending on going to a bath again but my cold had gotten a bit worse so I decided to go back to the hotel for a nap.
After my nap I caught up with Kiryn again for dinner. We went to the same place I went to last night I had the venison with these apple stuffed potato croquettes which was interesting but very tasty just different though as they were kinda sweet. I had a chocolate souffle with vanilla ice cream and a baileys for dessert.
Off to Osijek in the morning.

Day 15 - Budapest

This morning I got some laundry done at a laundromat about 9 blocks away from my hotel as I think it was the only one open in a weekend. I then caught up with Kiryn to go to the baths. After a bit over an hour we got the metro back to the Octogon where the main street (Andrassy) had been closed off for some festival. We sat down had a beer with some cheese and meats and people watched as we tried to work out what the festival was for. The best we came up with transportation and active lifestyle.
We got some sweet pastry strudel type thing that was delicious. After that I decided to head back to my hotel for my 6pm goup meeting for the next leg of my tour and to meet my fellow travellers. We have only a small group of 4 people, Harley (my room mate for the next 2 weeks, an older gentlemen) from Auckland, Jane from Brisbane, and Mel from Melbourne. Our tour leader Daniel is from Melbourne but he has lead this tour about 5 times this season so we are in good hands.
We our for dinner at a local restaurant just near the opera house. Since it is Oktoberfest at the moment they had a few beers on special. I got a litre of beer and had a three course meal goulash, pepper chicken breast with dumplings (they are different here), and cheesecake. We then went to a small ruin bar near our hotel called instant for a couple of drinks before calling it a night.

Day 14 - Budapest

We got up this morning had breakfast and got on our private minibus to Budapest at 8am we arrived in Budapest at about 1pm. We had a short orientation walk around the local area and finished in this beautiful cafe at the back of a bookstore near the opera house.
Afterwards we walked around made our way toward the river, past parliament and up to the end of cable bridge. We decided to head back to the hotel for a rest before dinner. It was our last group dinner of the first part of my tour, I am the only one from our group continuing on the next leg. I will meet my new group and tour leader tomorrow evening at 6pm.
Kiryn also came to dinner which was nice and Darina had arranged a cake for Larry's birthday. I shared a bottle of red wine with Kiryn and I had the roasted duck leg.
We paid for dinner and said some of our goodbyes, as some of us were going out to a bar afterwards.
Darina took us to a ruin bar in the Jewish district, which was possibly the best bar I had ever been in. The bar staff were so efficient. It was sad to say goodbye to such a great group of people, but looking forward to the next part of my trip.
Tomorrow will probably be laundry in the morning then lunch and thermal baths in the afternoon.

Day 13 - Tatra Mountains

The weather had not gotten any better over night it was still raining so our tour leader suggested that we go for a walk through one of the caves in the Tatras. The walk was good but the guided tour was not in English but our guide did her best to translate the main points of the tour. I am sure it wasn't as good as the hike that was planned but hiking in 0°C rain and wind is not my idea of fun especially when there would be no views to enjoy.

After the tour of the cave we got some lunch at a local restaurant I had the venison. We (Matt, Janice, Sheila and I) spent the afternoon playing cards and enjoying a couple of drinks at our hotel, I while some of the others went on a train ride and hike to a lake in a nearby town.

Once everyone returned we went for dinner at the same place we had lunch I had the mixed grill with some delicious grilled corn followed by an iceceam sundae and baileys. We then headed back to the hotel for another bottle of wine and chocolate.

Whilst we didn't get to get the best experience of the Tatras is was nice to have a nice slow relaxing afternoon, enjoying the company of my fellow travellers.

Off to Budapest in the morning.

Day 12 - Krakow (and bus ride to the high Tatras)

After breakfast I repacked my bag as we were leaving Krakow at 1pm. I then headed out and caught up with Matt in the town square. We wandered around a few shops looking for something to auction at our group fundraiser for the Intrepid Foundation. After not having much success we wandered up the oldest street in Krakow up to the castle and had a look around the grounds and in the cathedral, where a number of Polish Kings and Queens are burried/entombed. We also saw Chopin's tomb in the crypt.
On the way back to our hotel, I got some hand made chocolates and a bottle of white wine to auction off.
I went our and got some street food for lunch it was it was basically a baguette pizza with mushrooms, cheese, salami and a tomato sauce and an ice cream.
I then went to the supermarket to buy some snacks for the bus trip. We got one bus which was suppose to be 2 hours but we hit a bit of traffic and almost missed our transfer, but we managed to get them to hold the bus for 10mins while we ran from one to the other.
We got to our accommodation where it was raining and we took a very short walk around the little town before dinner.
After dinner we had a charity auction for the Intrepid Foundation.
We stayed up singing songs and talking about different thing that we grew up with.

Day 11 - Salt Mines & Krakow

This morning a group of us (Matt, Janice, Sheila, Kim, Kay and I) decided to go to the Salt Mines for a tour it is a UNESCO site and the salt mine operated for over 700 years. The tour was about 2 hours or so. The salt chambers are very impressive some have taken decades to get them into the State that you seen them in today. The church chamber was probably the most impressive with salt chandeliers and carvings. We ended up at a final depth of 165m and the largest chamber is over 1000 cubic metres.
It was all very impressive.
We got back and had some lunch in the square before our bike tour of the city which took us around the old town, along the river to the Jewish quarter and the Ghetto. We saw some sites that were used in the filming of schidler's list.
We (Matt, Janice, Sheila, Kim, Kay and I) went out for dinner it was a restaurant just off the main square. I enjoyed a three course meal whist the others had 2. We had a drink in the square before heading back to the hotel for the night.

Day 10 - Auschwitz and Krakow

Early-ish start to make our way to Krakow via Auschwitz by private mini buses. We stopped for lunch about an hour away from Auschwitz.
The Auschwitz tour was a very emotional and moving experience. I didn't take too many photos out of respect and it just didn't feel right.
The scale of the camps was the most surprising they are huge. I don't really know how to put it into words so I am not going to try, but the tour is definitely worth while if you get to this part of Poland.
Krakow is about 1.5 hours drive from Auschwitz. We arrived and at our hotel which just located across the road from the old town area. We went on a dusk walking tour around the old town before dinner. We wandered up the streets and into the spectacular town square it is the largest medieval town square in Europe 200m x 200m. The old town and spacious town square has such a vibrant and relaxed atmosphere. It would have to be the most beautiful town squares I have ever been in.
After dinner (beetroot soup and Pierogi), Matt, Janice, Sheila and I went to the town square for a drink and some cake.
Off to the salt mines tomorrow morning. :-)

Day 9 - Teplice nad Metuji

Early start this morning to make our way to Teplice nad Metuji. We had to be at the meeting point by 7am to get the tram to the train station for the first of three trains. We were on the first train was about 2.5 hours the second train for about 50mins and the last one for only about 10mins. The trains got smaller and smaller as we wound our way up the maintains. The last train was only a single carriage.
We arrived at our pension and we got a recently renovated room that had its own ensuite. After we checked in we had some lunch. As it was my last day in the Czech Republic I figured I had better do the local thing and have some sweet dumplings (mine were with berries). After lunch we hiked up the mountains (only 6.5km return) to view the interesting rock formations and unique landscape of the region. We climbed up one of the rocks via a series of steep stairs and ladders.
We continued along the walk where it takes you right up and in between some of the rocks where it was quite damp with thick moss growing on the rocks and the cool air trapped.
After the walk I hit the pub up for some beers before dinner. We had bbq meats and veges for dinner. I had the pork which was great followed by pancakes with apple and whipped cream.
Early-ish start tomorrow as we make our way to Krakow via Auschwitz.

Day 8 - Prague

This morning we got up and had some breakfast at a local bakery I had a bagel with hummus which was delicious. After breakfast we wandered through the town square to the Charles bridge then down to the funicular, which we got up to the top of the park. We then climbed the tower left from the world expo held in Prague for some photos. The tower was swaying a bit in the breeze. We then walked to the castle and wandered around the buildings, it was really busy with tourists and tour groups. We then wandered through the royal gardens down to the metronome which stands where a statue of Stalin use to stand.
We then wandered back down into town and actually got some lunch at the same bakery we had lunch I got some vege rice paper rolls and a piece of carrot cake. We went for dinner at the first pilsner urquell restaurant, I just had grilled chicken with veges followed by a piece of Old Czech Pie which was delicious.
Early night as we had an early start the following morning.

Day 7 - Prague and Kutna Hora

We (Matt, Janice, Sheila, and I) decided to go to Kutna Hora for a day trip. We had breakfast and left our apartments at 9am. We headed to the Main Railway Station, found the train we needed on the board. Then went off to discover how to buy tickets. We found the ticket counters and we managed to get our ticket for 4 people return. Pointing at tourist brochures works well as she nearly sold us a ticket to Berlin. Janice enquired about what times the trains return to Prague only to get the reply yes return and the ticket handed back to us. :-) We had a little difficulty locating the actually train platforms. To add to the confusion (for English speaking travellers anyway) We needed the North platforms but they are marked with S. We found our platform and our train arrived shortly after, we managed to get 4 seats together. After about an hour on the train we arrived in Kutna Hora. We decided to walk to the Bone Church (Ossuary) as it was only just over 1km from the train station. We also saw the recently renovated cathedral which reopened in 2009.
The Bone Church was very interesting there are over 30,000 human remains that have been used to decorate the church including a chandelier a coat of arms and other wall decorations.
The recently renovated cathedral near the bone church was interesting as they had built a walk way through the roof space so you can see the top of the arches and domed ceilings from above. We then wandered back into town as we had a few hours to kill before the train back to Prague at 3pm.
Once we got into the old town of Kutna Hora it was very quant. We wandered around a bit found a place to have lunch. After lunch we wandered around the old town and stumbled across an excellent view of the St Barbara Cathedral. We decided to make our way up to have a closer look. As we got closer we decided we definitely needed to go inside even if only briefly (15 mins). It was well worth it. It is a very unique cathedral, even though it is done in a classic Gothic Style, the interior is surprising light and pleasant (opposed to dark and a bit somber inside so many other Gothic buildings).
We got a taxi from the old town square back to the train station for our 3pm train. Our train was delayed by about 15mins which made us a little bit late getting back to Prague for our group picnic dinner. The picnic was in a park up a hill over looking the city. Our tour leader went shopping and bought a heap of traditional Czech food for us to try. It was all good, meat and cheese focus heavily. We had some Czech beer and wine and watched the sun set over the city. It was a wonderful way to end the day.
We made our way back into town where the group split up (those going out those not). We (Matt, Janice, Sheila, Kim, Kay and I) decided it was too early to go back to our apartments so we decided to head out. We decided to go to a cocktail bar just near Kim and Kay's apartment, however the waitress explained that we could not get any cocktails as there was a ban in place on the sale of liquor over 20% alcohol due to the deaths of 19 people from bootleg liquor. The Czech parliament banned all sales of alcohol over 20% indefinitely across the country until the source is identified. The sale of beer and wine has not been affected. :-)

Day 6 - Prague

We got the bus from Cesky Krumlov to Prague (about 3 hours), we had a fairly nice coach with entertainment, tea/coffee service and free wifi. Upon arrival into Prague we got the metro into the old town area and a short walk to the accommodation office as we are staying in private apartments in town.
Once we had dropped our bags off in our rooms we headed out to lunch and then a walking tour around Prague. Some of us left the walking tour at about 4pm to head back to our apartments. I did a little bit of hand washing and had a rest before heading out to dinner. We went to a popular traditional Czech pub. I had a quarter roasted duck with dumplings and red cabbage and everyone else ordered salads as we are getting a little bit of meat (mostly pork) and potato fatigue. We had these delicious traditional donuts with a tart plum jam and whipped cream for dessert.
Going to head out to Kutna Hora (Bone Church) tomorrow, I think.

Day 5 - Cesky Krumlov

After breakfast we went bike riding through the forest. We drove out of town and into the forest, so most of the ride was downhill. It was raining just a little bit but it was very nice I didn't stop and take too many photos rather I just enjoyed it. Our guide for the bike ride was an Aussie. The bike ride finished in the old town just near our hotel.
We freshened up for heading to lunch (Matt, Janice, Sheila, and I). We had some crepes and coffee. We then wandered through the castle and gardens before heading up the tower for probably the best view of Cesky Krumlov. It was raining lightly but fairly constantly. We the wandered back into town and had some afternoon tea in the town square.
Due to the rain I went back to the hotel to put my feet up for a bit. Matt and I then headed out for a walk before dinner. We walked through the city park and then down around the bottom end of the castle area.
We had dinner at this great grill restaurant where the grilled meats were cooked in an open fire grill beside the table. I shared a mixed grill for 2 with Janice (chicken, turkey, beef with potatoes, dumplings, potato pancakes) and a mixed salad. It was delicious we shared an apple strudel with ice cream for dessert.
I washed it all down with a 1L beer and a shot of some Czech plum spirit thing. I was feeling good so a group of us (Matt, Janice, Sheila, Kim, Kay and I) on went to the pub just near our hotel for some cocktails and gin and tonics.
I think I got to bed at about 1:30am. Again is was a fun night full of laughs.
Off to Prague tomorrow morning (well now really since I am typing this on the bus).

Day 4 - Cesky Krumlov

We got up the following morning and made our way to Cesky Krumlov via mini bus, about 3 hour drive. We arrived at the hotel right near the centre of the old town (see photo of the room). The old town is still pretty much as it was in medieval times.
We had lunch at the hotel restaurant before going rafting down the river. We floated and casually paddled out way down the river stopping a couple of times for beer and drinks and to take in the beautiful views of the forest and river. Once we reached the end point they pick you up and drop you back into town. After rafting we did an evening walking tour around the old town with a local tour guide who told us a bit about the history of the town. The tour finished at the restaurant where we had dinner and we ordered a chicken feast platter which was delicious and I had some South Bohemian Mead and Czech Cake for desert (like a plum flan with sweet cottage cheese crumbled on top).
Dinner was so much fun with the Canadians and Kiwis, we laughed all night and were probably the loudest table. We stopped off at a pub on the way home 20m from our hotel for a night cap which was a traditional Czech spirit (forgotten the name of it) that smelt and tasted like Christmas.
It was a very relaxing day with he rafting and the warm sunny weather.

Day 3 - Vienna and Bratislava

We took the train out to Bratislava from Vienna and got the bus into the old town centre where we went on a short walking tour of the old town and castle. Our guide gave us a brief history of Bratislava and its importance in history from Roman times to present day. We then headed to the main street were we had lunch at a Slovak Pub for some traditional Slovak food. I had the potato dumplings in a sheep cheese sauce with bacon (you know just a light lunch).
We had the option to stay in Bratislava and head back to Vienna at anytime. I choose to head back early with the guide. We arrived back at the hotel around 4pm. I just relaxed in the hotel room for a couple of hours before heading out to dinner.
Dinner was at this buffet eatery/pub on the outskirts of Vienna. There was a buffet which I just ordered my food by pointing at everything I wanted. I had some roasted pork belly with crackling and some oven roasted ham. By the way they weighted the meat to sort out how much it cost. You ordered drinks at the table, wine by the litre seemed to be the go.
That was our last night in Vienna, before heading to Cesky Krumlov the following day via private mini bus.

Day 2 - Vienna

We started the day with a walking tour around Vienna old town centre after a short tram ride into the city. We started at The State Opera House, to the Albertina, past the old church, past the mall and then to Blood Lane, then into a little courtyard in the middle of the old town which was really quite and calm, and right in the middle of the old town, just around the corner from Mozart's House, back through the mall past St Peter's, then down past St Michael's, and the back of the Hofburg Palace, and where our walking tour ended. The rest of the day was free time. Matt and I climbed the 354 steps about half way up the main tower (as far as you can go) at St Stephens for some spectacular views of the old town area of Vienna. After that we headed to Kunst Haus Wien which is an interesting house with curves and uneven floors as a reflection that in nature there are no straight lines. We decided not to go into the museum. We wandered back to the old town centre to Albertina to check out the exhibits. The photography exhibits where the best and the Picasso exhibit was interesting. We then wandered the streets trying to decide what to eat for lunch. Until we decided just to get something cheap from a street stall and eat our lunch in the Volksgarden. I had a kebab sandwich and a beer. Yeah walking down the street and sitting in a park drinking a tinny just like any good Aussie overseas. :-) We took a tour of The State Opera House, which we were able to go to the side stage area. About 2/3 of the original Opera House was destroyed by American bombing during the war. The old sections which survived the bombing are are extensively decorated with paintings and 24ct gold gilding. The stage area is huge the side stage and back stage areas are as large as the main stage area. The main stage area is on a hydraulic platform that retracts down 11m to a sub stage area which also has a side stage and back stage area. So for example in a 3 act opera they will have the set for act 1 set up on stage, then they drop the stage and push the set off into either the sub side/back stage area, raise the stage and bring the act 2 set in from the side stage and act 3 from the rear stage area. Came back to the hotel for a short break and to get in some wifi time at a nearby McDonalds, before heading out to dinner. We just decided to head into the city centre and find a place. We decided on a nice Italian restaurant just off the main mall. It was very good and so cheap when compared to home. Stopped by the opera house to catch a couple of minutes of the opera on the big screen on the outside of the theatre. Before heading off to get some ice cream. Heading to Bratislava tomorrow for a day trip.

Day 1 - Vienna

Full buffet breakfast was included in my nights stay at the hotel. However apparently my travel agent didn't send through payment details so I ended up paying for my room out of my own pocket, but when I met my tour guide that evening I didn't even need to prompt her she asked for my receipt and refunded me total amount on the spot.
My goal today was to take in the sights in the Belvedere both upper and lower galleries, surrounding gardens and the modern art gallery 21, entry to all 3 for €19. Mistake I made was taking a very long walk there on the way back blisters were already developing (good start since most of my tour involves walking tours). :-)
There is some amazing Austrian art on display. The upper and lower buildings with their gardens are amazing just on there own and considered one of the world's finest Baroque landmarks, and it's easy to see why.
21 is a very modern art gallery building so it is vastly different in atmosphere some of the art was interesting but some just looked very self indulgent (which is always expected).
I made my way back from the Belvedere I stopped in the main shopping mall for a pizza and some beer. Overpriced compared with dinner last night, but not too bad when you compare it to Australia.
My feet had enough today so I got myself a Vienna Card which I should have done yesterday in hindsight. €19.90 includes 3 days unlimited public transport and discounts to many of the main attractions (museums, etc). Made my way back to the hotel after lunch via the tram and had a half hour soak in the bath to try and help my feet recover as I have a 2 hour walking tour tomorrow.
I met my room mate for the trip Matt. He recently moved to Brisbane, but has already been tripping around Europe for a couple of weeks.
6pm we had our group meeting where we met our tour guide and the other members of our group.
I am the only one from the group on the extended 29 day tour. So I will have a complete new group after Budapest.
We had a group dinner at a local restaurant, where unfortunately pick pockets got the better of our tour guide despite all her warnings to us about the situation here in eastern Europe.
The group is mostly older people with the exception of Matt and Kim, but all appear to have a great attitude.

Day 0 - Arrival in Vienna

I arrived in Vienna on BA700 from London on time. There was a junior kiwi kickboxing team on the flight and one of the lead coaches was sitting in the window seat of my row. I between us was a model from Slovakia she mostly works in New York but travels around a lot with her work. I had arranged an airport transfer from the airport to my hotel, the drivers English wasn't that great but he was pleasant enough. This driving on the right business takes a little bit of getting use to, I almost jumped in the drivers side. I am probably not this careful about crossing the road at home.
Hotel Bellevue was nice, new bathroom, air con and comfortable bed. I spent the afternoon walking around and trying to get myself lost. Didn't really look at anything in particular just lots of walking. On my way back to my hotel for the night around 7pm I came within 10 metres of the German Chancellor (Angelina Mertle?? Someone correct me) she was on here way into the State Opera House. The police had her surrounded keeping the crowds in check. (what's that travel advice about avoiding crowds while overseas??) For dinner I just grabbed a Doner Kebab and a soft drink from a street stall they are everywhere (selling hot dogs, kebabs, burgers, chips, noodles, etc). Best part dinner only cost me €4.20. I stayed up until about 9pm local time then crashed.
Side note: the long haul flight Melbourne-Singapore-London was surprisingly good on the A380. The drug I induced sleep certainly helped.