I have a bed booked for the train. I have no idea of the quality of the accommodation.
Here’s my ride- the actual carriage that I am going to be sleeping on.The cabin
Three of us sharing the cabin. So there followed a game of Jenga to fit everything in.
Bike space, later becoming my shoe rack.The sinkToilet The connecting door looks ominous The corridor
The train set off, crossing the border into Hungary just after half past nine, Austrian time. I slept through most of Hungary, but was woken up by shouting, possibly in Budapest.
We crossed in Romania at around 3:45.
Train station Simeria at seven in the morning.
It’s a long journey from the border to Bucharest, under bright blue almost cloudless skies.
SighisoraAlbestiHouses AlbestiHouses Vinatori
Many of the houses are small but colourful.
Cata
It’s cold outside but looks dry with the grass parched.
House at CataCataHorsesCows at Cata
I didn’t see any livestock, apart from close to houses. Presumably due to the grazing being poor at this time of year.
HumorodRacoș
We start seeing snow.
Augustin Dickson a partially frozen riverBraşovPredeal
The snow is getting thicker and the buildings have the look of a resort.
Near BraşovMountains PredealPredealRiver near Poiana CâmpinaFloreştiFlorişti – it’s gone flat.
Near BrasiMogosoaiaComing into BucharestBucharest Nord
The journey flew past in a flash. I slept well, much to my surprise. I shared the cabin with an Austrian and a Romanian who works in Austria, but barely speaks German. They were good company.
Cycle to hotel.
Slightly uncomfortable ride across to the hotel, trying to use the smaller roads.
It’s always unnerving cycling in a country for the first time. What is available in terms of cycle paths, how do the motorists behave. There are lots of good cycle ways in Vienna but I ended up on one road with no cycle path which was uncomfortable.
Ibis Budget – simple but effective.Dinner
Looked for a restaurant close to the hotel and found..
The Shiyu
Lovely food.
Desert Next to the Donau at night.
And next day..,
Sun shine to start the day DonauturmCrossing the Donau In the Augarten looking at the FlacktürmeWiener Rathaus HerrengasseThe horses pulling the tourists have their own poo catchers.MichaelertraktMaria Theresia from the back in the sunFront in shadow Next to the Natural History Museum Karls Kirche St Stephen‘s cathedral SchönlatterngasseAustrian Institute of science
Having never been to Augsburg previously but having heard a lot about Augsburg and particularly the Fuggerei I had high expectations. I set off on foot as check out time was noon.
Some interesting nooks and crannies Breakfast
Stopped for breakfast at the local market.
There are trams. Anti-antisemitism poster in the background.
I
The Main Street of the Fuggerei
8 Euros to explore the Fuggerei. The place is fascinating.
One of the key requirements of the Fuggerei is the Catholic faith.
There was a victim of the National Socialist even in the Fuggerei.Stolperstein
The Fuggerei was flattened by British bombing towards the end of the Second World War. Augsburg was a major centre for manufacturing weapons including fighter planes, and therefore a prime target. The Fuggerei was rebuilt.
Lech
On the way back to the hotel I discovered that the river is channelled through the city next to roads and houses.
I also walked along a street with loads of school children playing in the road. I asked the policeman what was happening. The police had blocked the street in preparation for a demonstration. An enterprising sports teacher used the moment to get the children out for a bit of fun.
Police blockade
After checking out I went back to the Augsburg Altstadt
Ausburger WasserfahrradKaffee und KüchenIt’s warm- eating outside in February Time to head to the station
Augsburg exceeded expectations, beautiful city, but substantially rebuilt after the war.
Change at München
Leaving München Mountains in the distance Bernau am ChiemseeTraunstein
What is interesting is that the German regional train runs from München to Salzburg, requiring cross border cooperation. This happens quite frequently on this trip.
Change at Salzburg Near Salzburg Full luggage rackSun setting Wien HBF
Having left the exhibition I stumbled on the Sintetkaas parade., which was impressively long. Before the parade children and parents thronged the streets. I grabbed a coffee in Vascobelo – V Den Haag.
Hamburg combines a massive port, industry with a beautiful city including two large lakes, Binnen Alster and the Außen Alster. Lots of history, lots of culture, lots to see. And the there is the Elbe, used by ships to reach Hamburg, which is inland. The container port is built on the Elbe.
Hamburg has a really good public transport system including the S Bahn.
Hamburg has a number of impressive churches.
View from the St Michaelis , including the Hamburger Dom.St MichaelisClose upSt Nicolai KircheSt. Katharinen KirchePetrikirche- the oldest site for a church.Altona Kirche
Not as old as the churches is the Elbtunnel opened 1911. You can cycle or walk through it, free of charge.
View down the tunnel from the north side.Looking up on the south side.
And then there is the Spiecherstadt. A complex of old warehouses next to canals. Now mainly repurposed.
A view of the warehouses next to a canal.
Some of the bridges have two levels.
Warehouses, picture taken from above the previous picture.
There are other interesting buildings.
Schanzenturm- now a hotel. Formerly the biggest water tower in Europe.FC St Pauli stadium, Grüner Bunker and Fernsehturm.
The former bunker now has a garden on top.
Hamburger Rathaus
Every year the Hamburger Dom takes place in Winter. It has its origins in the 11th century.
The port is huge, the third largest in Europe. The Elbe gives an advantage, bringing goods inland reducing costs, but the downside is as the ships are getting bigger they can no longer travel up the river.
A view from the Köhlbrandbrücke.Also from the Köhlbrandbrücke Cranes for moving containers
Hamburg is a a beautiful city but like many cities it suffers from the dominance of cars. The roads are crowded with cars and the seems to be little observance of the 50km/h speed limit. Unpleasant!
There is good provision for cyclists, but could be better. Occasionally the routes are not clear and there are frequent road works which particularly seem to affect the cycle paths. Touring Hamburg on the bike was fun.
And a tip for rainy days. Buy a HVV day ticket and travel on the U3 , which does a loop, mostly above ground, sometimes elevated.
Insight 