Is it possible to get from Paris to Inverness in a day by train? Yes, and with only one change.
It’s an early start but not overly early from the hotel. Onto the Gare Du Nord.
Arrived at Inverness just after 8 having left London at 12 and Paris at 9:10 French time. 90 minutes to change in London, but 12 hours to get from Paris to Inverness.
The train I was planning to catch already was delayed by 45 minutes, which was making the next connection tight. But I had arrived early at the station and so caught an earlier train, which way delayed by 7 minutes. It arrived on time to München.
There follows a rapid set of border crossings. Germany into Austria into Switzerland. This happens skirting the edge of the Bodensee or Lake Constance.
Crossing into Switzerland
Impressive buildings in St Gallen
The next leg is the longest of the day on the very rapid TGV.
The cycle across Paris is made interesting with the cycle ways being blocked by vans being used to pack away a market.
Four countries, four border crossings.
I start the visit to Linz with some food at a nearby Korean restaurant.
The next day I explore.
Back to the hotel for breakfast.
And then more exploration.
I think I can see the top of the steeple from my hotel window.
Interesting courtyards and passages off streets
More views
Time for refreshment.
And then have a trip on the Pöstlingbergzug. This heads from the Hauptplatz to the Pöstlingbergkirche. Which appears in my earlier photos on the other side of the valley.
And then out for dinner at a pasta restaurant which makes food to order-no waiters.
Trams
The temperature has climbed but it’s foggy in Bucharest
Cycling in Bucharest is awful, but faster than driving, bus or walking. Could the tram be faster?
I am told that I will be joined in the cabin at Timisoara, where we are due to arrive at 0716. I set the alarm for 0700.
The train is late at Timisoara, so could have had a longer lay in. I am joined by three Iranian students.
There’s a check before the border. The Iranians of course attract attention and my passport is checked.
Just over the border in Hungary there is a bit of a wait.
It seems that the rail operator has built in a big pause at the border, longer than our wait, so we are back on time.
Unfortunately no time to explore- on to the next leg.
There loads of wind turbines near the border on the Austrian side.
The train was 45 mins late to Linz. I managed to complete the journey within 24 hours, just. The total time on the train 23 hours.
A few pictures from Bucharest.
The Cara cu bere is a restaurant serving traditional food with something extra…..
The food:
One train, almost 19 hours..,,
I have a bed booked for the train. I have no idea of the quality of the accommodation.
Three of us sharing the cabin. So there followed a game of Jenga to fit everything in.
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.
It’s a long journey from the border to Bucharest, under bright blue almost cloudless skies.
Many of the houses are small but colourful.
It’s cold outside but looks dry with the grass parched.
I didn’t see any livestock, apart from close to houses. Presumably due to the grazing being poor at this time of year.
We start seeing snow.
The snow is getting thicker and the buildings have the look of a resort.
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.
Slightly uncomfortable ride across to the hotel, trying to use the smaller roads.
And time for a quick explore.
Arrived in Vienna in the dark.
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.
Looked for a restaurant close to the hotel and found..
Lovely food.
And next day..,
Then it’s back to the Hauptbahnhof.
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.
Stopped for breakfast at the local market.
I
8 Euros to explore the Fuggerei. The place is fascinating.
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.
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.
After checking out I went back to the Augsburg Altstadt
Augsburg exceeded expectations, beautiful city, but substantially rebuilt after the war.
Change at München
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.
A short walk to St Pancras station. As ever border control seems chaotic and the waiting area is packed and too hot.
Time for a quick late night tour.
A pleasant but long day. Also confusing language wise. German, French, English (and some Polish) being spoken on the train. French bartender spoke to me in French until I hesitated ,then he switched to German.
A day book ended by two Premier Inns
The cycle route was mainly on protected cycle lanes. Some are very new. This makes the ride far more pleasant. But stop start.
Insight 