Wien to Bucharest

Posted on 24th Feb 202525th Feb 2025 by insightndes

One train, almost 19 hours..,,

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.

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 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.

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.

Near Braşov

Near Brasi

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.

Tourism, Travel

Exploring Augsburg and on to Wien

Posted on 21st Feb 202521st Feb 2025 by insightndes

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.

There are trams. Anti-antisemitism poster in the background.

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.

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.

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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

Ausburger Wasserfahrrad

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.

Travel

London to Augsburg via Paris

Posted on 20th Feb 202520th Feb 2025 by insightndes

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.

Travel

Didcot to St Pancras

Posted on 19th Feb 2025 by insightndes

A day book ended by two Premier Inns

Bathroom- shower better than standing in a bath.

A view of the BT tower on the way across London

The cycle route was mainly on protected cycle lanes. Some are very new. This makes the ride far more pleasant. But stop start.

Travel

Inverness to Didcot

Posted on 19th Feb 2025 by insightndes

Breakfast on the sleeper- it’s dark outside

Passing through Reading with a mosque visible

The journey was in bright sunshine and blue skies.

Travel

On the tracks again. The Far North to Inverness

Posted on 17th Feb 2025 by insightndes

Travel in February means it’s a bit cold. And it gets dark quickly, so not good for photos out of the window.

The line is not smooth.

Inverness – catching the Caledonian Sleeper.

A rain free trip, a few deer sightings, but most of it without a view due to lack of light. Very friendly staff.

Travel

Didcot to the far north. Snow!

Posted on 20th Nov 2024 by insightndes

Then a cycle to the Great Nepalese Restaurant near Euston station.

Complimentary food is available in the Sleeper Lounge.

Inverness station has a dusting of snow.

Unfortunately the Far North train does not connect well with the Sleeper. I have a two hour wait in Inverness. Not much open at this time so in a moment of inspiration it’s off for a breakfast at Premier Inn. Must get sponsorship.

The Premier Inn is slightly disorganised. The card reader is not working so I get a free breakfast. Due to a low number of staff it takes an age for it to be served. Can’t complain because I am not paying for it.

Slight speckling of snow near Conon Bridge.

There’s proper snowy scenery

Then back to the coast.

Then up the Helmsdale Strath.

Travel

Den Haag to Didcot

Posted on 18th Nov 2024 by insightndes

Appeared to be no luggage racks on the train.

Breda station is poorly signposted plus two platforms are missing. Very confusing for a visitor.

I had a little time to look around Brussels

Cartoons are on some of the house walls.. Rue des Capuchins

More cartoons. Rue Notre Damme de Graces.

View across Brussels from Palais de Justice.

In the cellar of the Judgy Vegan.

Kerfuffle at the border control. I was asked if I have a flick knife. Turns out to be a multi tool in the bag.

Due to congestion at the Eurostar terminal we leave late. Eurostar, you have something to work on. The whole process of passing through border control is hectic and disorganised with lots of pinch points.

It’s turned to dusk as the Eurostar sets off. It’s dark by the time the Eurostar has a pause waiting for permission to enter the channel tunnel.

Then it’s down into the tunnel and onto England.

I unfolded the Brompton to make it easier to move with the luggage. A mistake as it turned out. I was directed to the lift which is tiny and therefore has a long queue of people with large amounts of luggage, push chairs and one bike. I am second to last in the queue. Poor design!

I am the last to leave.

When previously passing through Oxfordshire on the train I had spotted that the train line would be closed between Paddington and Reading due to HS2 workday, but it was possible to get to Reading using the Elizabeth Line. So I cycled to Tottenham Court Road to catch the Elizabeth Line. I discover that the Elizabeth Line in the central area of London is not running. I am directed to take the District Line to Ealing Broadway to catch the Elizabeth Line. It is chaos at the tube station.

The District Line has small, noisy and very warm carriages. It is an old line. The tube train is crowded.

The Elizabeth Line has modern rolling stock. Nice and quiet but nowhere to put rubbish.

Reading- Elizabeth Line train across the platform.

The journey from St Pancras took far longer than normal so by the time I reach the Premier Inn at Didcot the kitchen is closed. So an emergency Macdonald’s it is.

The room has seen better days. One light out and sink plug jammed. Welcome back to the UK.

Travel

Hamburg to den Haag.

Posted on 16th Nov 202416th Nov 2024 by insightndes

Catching the 1243 train I was due to get in to Den Haag at 1910.

The German Premier Inn breakfast was not as good as the British version. Fuelled up for the journey.

Premier Inn – Alster ( nearish to the Alster).

It’s only a 12 minute cycle to the Hamburg Hauptbahnhof.

Arrived punctually at Osnabrück.

The connecting train to Amsterdam was 27 minutes late.

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Passing goods train at Osnabrück provided entertainment.

The train to Amsterdam arrived, off we went, crossing the border onto the Netherlands. The train guard had changed from a German to a Dutch person. The announcements went to three languages.

And then the announcement came on, the train was terminating early at Amersfoort Central, due to an accident on the line between Amersfoort and Amsterdam. We were told to catch a train to Utrecht.

Off we got at Utrecht where I followed the crowd who started running. After resisting the urge to join in, I sprinted on the platform to join a very crowded train.

The Christmas decorations are already up.

The next train to arrive at the platform where I had got off was heading to Den Haag, very conveniently. This was the same train I would have caught from Amsterdam. Which meant I arrived at Den Haag on time.