World
Tourer - Travel Information -
June 2018
Video Postcards - Travel Archives - My Lifetime of Travel - Photo Index
28th June 2018
Change of Plans
I had planned (booked and paid for flights) to return to Australia
to live for a year but I have changed my mind. The main issue is
that my cost of living here in Vietnam is so low that I can save
money despite being on a pension (the main reason I was able to
travel to Europe for 3+ weeks this month). The cost of living in
Australia is ridiculous (especially rental accommodation), well
above the cost in Europe and more than double the cost of living in
Vietnam.
What I am now going to do is travel to Europe again in September for
3 weeks.
The European trip I just completed may become a regular event (with
varied cities) as I really enjoyed it and believe the "Culture" and
"Old Fashioned" way of life is more sensible than Australia (who
follow the USA "Mindlessly") - the Australian government is also
following the USA by becoming "Less Democratic" every day (funded by
corporations - and to a large degree "Puppets" of the corporations
who fund them).
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27th June 2018
Nha Trang, Vietnam
I am now back home in Nha Trang after a wonderful trip around Europe
- the trip home was rather tiring but the holiday was excellent and
gave me the "Refresh" I was seeking.
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25th June 2018
Berlin, Germany
Today I sepnt most of my time walking around various areas of Berlin
like an average tourist - the weather in Berlin is cold and dreary -
it feels more like the start of winter than the start of summer.
Tomorrow I leave Berlin and fly to Paris where I catch another
flight to Saigon and then my last flight from Saigon to Nha Trang,
Vietnam (Home). I have really enjoyed this trip and it may well
become an "Annual".
Brandenburg Gate
Quadriga
Reichstag
Victory Column
Victoria, Goddess of Victory
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24th June 2018
Berlin, Germany
I am now back in Berlin where my European trip began - I will be
here until 26th when I fly to Paris and then on to Saigon and Nha
Trang, Vietnam. The weather today has been cold and wet so I did not
do much - I travelled around on the trains and buses and went to see
"Checkpoint Charlie" just for the heck of it and walked around what
would have been the border region between East and West Berlin (No
Wall Anymore).
Checkpoint Charlie
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23rd June 2018
Vienna, Austria
At the start of this trip I imagined there was a good chance of
something going wrong due to the number of places I was visiting and
the co-ordination of flights, hotels, etc. Up until yesterday things
had gone very smoothly other than some rain in Madrd. But yesterday
I flew from Lisbon to Vienna and shortly after I had booked into my
hotel I got an email saying my flight from Vienna to Berlin on 24th
June had been cancelled. Unfortunately the best option was to get a
flight the day earlier which meant that I only had a single night in
Vienna. So my plans of touring Vienna today are scrapped and I am
now at Vienna airport waiting for my flight to Berlin. That means
that I will be in Berlin for 3 nights rather than 2 (I would have
rather spent 3 nights in Vienna and 1 in Berlin but it was not
practical with the flight options). I also had to book a second
hotel as the one I had booked had no vacancies for tonight - anyway
all is OK and the trip has been very good. Three nights in Berlin
then fly back to Nha Trang, Vietnam, via Paris and Saigon.
----
21st June 2018
Lisbon, Portugal - Day 2
Spent today doing what has become my regular day tour - a self
guided tour using the Metro. I covered most of the areas of Lisbon
and as far as I can tell Lisbon does not have many (any) stand out
features. I am sure the locals love it and some visitors as well but
for me it is rather dull and boring.
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20th June 2018
Lisbon, Portugal
Today I flew from Frankfurt to Lisbon and I am starting to realise
my European Adventure has not got long to go. I am in Lisbon for 2
nights, Vienna, Austria, for 2 nights and the Berlin for 2 nights
before I fly home to Nha Trang, Vietnam. This is my first visit to
Lisbon and Portugal and my first impressions are that is just as I
had expected ie. very Southern Europe. I really will only have one
full day in Lisbon (tomorrow) and I have not yet decided what I will
do. I took a couple of Metro trips today and did not find anything
special. I took a photo of a large waterfall and fountain in a park
near my hotel.
Lisbon's Fonte Luminosa - Waterfall & Fountain
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19th June 2018
Frankfurt, Germany - Day 3
Today I just took it easy and did nothing much. I caught the train
to Wiesbaden, which is about 40 kilometres from Frankfurt, just for
a change of scenery. Wiesbaden is much smaller than Frankfurt and
was very quiet. On my return to Frankfurt I had a typical German
"Street Lunch" of Bratwurst and fries. Tomorrow I fly to
Lisbon, Portugal.
Marktkirche - Wiesbaden
Frankfurt Lunch - Bratwurst & Fries
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18th June 2018
Frankfurt, Germany - Day 2
Arrived in Frankfurt yesterday and spent today playing tourist. I
eventually found the "Old Town Square" after discovering the station
I wanted to get off at was closed for renovations. Overall the
trains and trams are excellent and run every few minutes.
Frankfurt Old Town Hall
Frankfurt Old Town Square
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16th June 2018
Prague, Czech Republic - Day 3
I spent today doing much the same as yesterday - travelling around
by tram and walking. Both today and yesterday I had typical Prague
"Street Food' lunches which were fine. I also took a drone video of
Prague Castle, St. Vitus Cathedral and Vltava River.
Prague-Trams
Klobasa Sausage & Beer
Halusky & Pivo
Prague Castle, St. Vitus Cathedral and Vltava River, Prague, Czech
Republic
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15th June 2018
Prague, Czech Republic - Day 2
I flew Paris to Prague yesterday and spent today doing a DIY tram
and walking tour of the city - getting around Prague is best done by
trams as they run all over the city and on a regular basis. I have
been to Prague before and if it didn't get so cold in winter I could
consider living here (this morning the temperature was 9 degrees and
this is summer).
Bridge Tower - Charles Bridge
King Charles IV Statue
Vltava River
St. Vitus Cathedral
Church of Our Lady before Tın
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14th June 2018
Paris, France - Day 3
Yesterday I made a drone video of the Eiffel Tower from close range.
Drone Video of The Eiffel Tower, Paris, France
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13th June 2018
Paris, France - Day 2
Most of today was spent doing a self guided Metro/Walking tour of
Paris - luckily the rain had cleared but it was quite cold. I
covered a lot of ground and took several photos (and a video that I
will post tomorrow).
Arc de Triomphe
Fontaine des Mers
Luxor Obelisk Army Museum
River Seine
Gold Statue Alexandre III Bridge
Eiffel Tower
Louvre Museum
Eiffel Tower - Close Up
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12th June 2018
Paris, France
I arrived in Paris today and struck the first rain of the trip -
only light drizzle. The forecast for tomorrow is sun and clouds. I
have grown tired of hop on hop off bus tours and will spend tomorrow
doing my own Metro tour. I have been to Paris before and to be
honest it is not really my sort of city although I do not know why.
----
11th June 2018
Madrid, Spain
Arrived in Madrid yesterday and today did the hop on hop off bus
tour and it was quite boring. I fly on to Paris tomorrow where I
will spend 2 nights before flying to Prague for 3 nights.
Unusual Building
Puerta de Alcalá
El Retiro Park
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9th June 2018
Rome, Italy -
Day 3
Spent most of the day travelling to various parts of Rome on the
Metro - nothing much of interest in the suburbs. I leave for Madrid,
Spain in the morning and the weather forecast is good - so far there
has been clear skies and warm temperatures for the trip (hot in
Athens between 31-33C).
----
8th June 2018
Rome, Italy -
Day 2
Flew into Rome yesterday and did nothing much other than have pizza
and beer for lunch ("When in Rome").
Today I did a Hop on Hop Off bus tour that covered the main tourist
sites of Rome. I took some photos and considered a drone video but
discovered that the entire city of Rome is a "No Fly" as an anti
terrorist measure (in truth it is probably an anti drone measure).
Arch of Constantine
Colosseum
Colosseum
Castel Sant'Angelo
St. Peter's Basilica
Piazza Venezia
Trevi Fountain
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6th June 2018
Athens, Greece - Day 3
Did the hop on hop off bus trips today and it was OK but not as good
as I had hoped - the highlight was the Parthenon but I did not go in
as there was a long queue and it was 20 Euro entrance fee (Mr.
Cheap). But I did find a spot to launch the drone and get a photo
and video which was good. Later I also made a video of the changing
of the guard at parliament house.
Parthenon, Athens, Greece
Drone Video of The Parthenon in Athens, Greece
Changing of the guard at parliament house, Athens, Greece
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5th June 2018
Athens, Greece - Day 2
Today included a lot of walking - a group walking tour of the
central Athens area and solo walking around the same area in the
afternoon.
I took a few photos and will take more tomorrow.
The highlight of the day for me was the
Panathenaic Stadium which was
originally built in 144 AD and renovated and expanded before
becoming the stadium for the first modern Olympic Games in 1896 with
a capacity of 80,000 and is built of 100% marble.
Hadrian's Arch
Zeus Temple
Roman Baths
Zappeion Hall
Zappeion Fountain
Panathenaic Stadium
Presidential Guard
----
4th June 2018
Athens, Greece
I arrived in Athens, Greece, today after flying from Berlin -
the sky was clear and the temperatue 31C. I was very tired as the
trip to get here included stops in three countries in three days
(Vietnam, France and Germany).
I have booked a walking tour of Athens tomorrow and will probably spend
the next day doing hop on hop off bus trips all over Athens.
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