Due to work commitments I had to fly back to Scotland. Still managed to complete the journey by rail.
Did not expect Tesco in Budapest
Very early start to get the 0740 flight to Heathrow. A trip involving a tram and the airport bus to Budapest Airport. Budapest is a fairly pleasant airport compared to the nightmare that is Heathrow. Then onto Inverness Airport, which now has its own railway station. Inverness airport is relatively pleasant.
Not great flying but almost halved the carbon footprint compared to flying both ways.
Inverness Airport stationThe airport seen from the station,
A 45 min wait for the 12 min train ride to Inverness. Then a further wait before heading to the far north.
River NessIt’s sunny
Beauly Firth.
In contrast to the other train lines the vegetation is really close to the track.
River OykelLooking down the Dunrobin castle driveLooking out to seaBrora RiverSun peaking through the trees at Brora Hill cloud and sun looks dramatic River Helmsdale Near Forsinard Mist near HalkirkThurso river near Halkirk Trees on the horizon
A spectacular display as the sun sets on the journey north.
The map taken from the Interrail app shows just how far the journey was, but misses the far north line and the detour to Oxfordshire.
From the Interrail app: 5784 km distance
15 trains on the Interrail ticket, 20 in total.
Seven countries.
Weather
Sunny almost throughout, but a big variation in temperature. Highest ,around 14 centigrade in Augsburg, lowest -10 in Bucharest.
Food
The food was good, but had to get creative in the meat centric countries. I had my first experience of a Lebanese restaurant in Bucharest, the very good Coin-Vert Libanez.
I had to fight through the snow and ice to get to it. A week later I had my second Lebanese restaurant experience in Paris.
Plenty of good food on this trip.
Hotels
I stayed in three Premier Inn plus rooms, three varieties of Ibis: budget, styles and no moniker, a Radisdon Individuals Schiller Park in Linz and Ramada by Wyndham in Bucharest.
Best bed:Premier Inn plus
Best shower: Premier Inn plus
Best view: Ramada by Wyndham
Best location: Hotel Schiller Park- in central location near the railway station.
Best breakfast: Ramada by Wyndham
Best rooms: Premier Inn plus
Most expensive: Premier Inn St Pancras
Best check out times: Ibis / check out by noon.
I like the simplicity of the Ibis Budget.
Locations
Both Augsburg and Linz were amazing places to visit. Smaller and not as busy as Vienna but interesting buildings and history. Bucharest lacked the beautiful buildings but the lake was beautiful.
Travelling by train emphasised the change in landscape and buildings. Farmhouses are tiny and ramshackled in Romanian but huge and well maintained in Austria and Germany.
People
As well as meeting the natives of each country that I visited I was surprised to meet people from so many other countries. I had conversations with Qataris, Russians, Albanians, Norwegians, New Zealanders, Moldovans, Canadians, Taiwanese and probably more. Talking to Austrians in German with their local accents was a joy, including a woman in her 90s from Vienna,
Cycling
Cycling was awful in Bucharest, but faster than cars. Driving in Bucharest also looks awful. Paris cycle way provision is good in Paris, but blocked by vehicles on the Sunday. Vienna was busy, Augsburg pleasant. I heard a tram hitting a car in Vienna and saw the massive crumpled side of the car, the tram just drove off. The closest I came to an accident was Inverness, where a car was being driven at 60 mph in a 30 zone, as I was turning right. The bike gave a good way to cross cities between stations and to get to hotels. It was also a great luggage trolley.
I start the visit to Linz with some food at a nearby Korean restaurant.
SoupWarm Bowl for main
The next day I explore.
Die DonauNibelungbrückeNibelungbrückeThe cloud is clearingRechtebrückestraße
Back to the hotel for breakfast.
View from hotel room
And then more exploration.
Linzer Landstraße There are plenty of impressive buildings Martin Luther church
More tram action Neuer Dom
I think I can see the top of the steeple from my hotel window.
Buildings nearby – interesting mix
The bellsLandhaus Landshaus Platz
Interesting courtyards and passages off streets
LichtbrunnenHauptplatz Hauptplatz Looking away from the Hauptplatz to the Landstraße Old cathedral Ursuline church of st Michael Ok platzKarmiltenkircheAm SchloßView from the Schloß
More views
Looking into the distance Archways around the SchloßThe semi ruined Schloß had been developed This building is notable because…
Time for refreshment.
Linzer Torte mit Kaffee
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.
Going up.
Passing place.
Endstation 519m PöstlingbergkircheThe view
Filmed to try to catch the view.Close to Linz‘s city boundary
Returning
And then out for dinner at a pasta restaurant which makes food to order-no waiters.
The temperature has climbed but it’s foggy in Bucharest
The blue skies have gone.
Leaving Fastest way to travel?
Cycling in Bucharest is awful, but faster than driving, bus or walking. Could the tram be faster?
Needs must for food at the station.Bucharest Gara de Nord is dingy
Leaving Bucharest NorthMy accommodation for the next 18 hoursBike goes under the couchetteI am alone in the cabin for the night.
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.
Bed made up.It’s a bit wet for the first time.Recaș
The train is late at Timisoara, so could have had a longer lay in. I am joined by three Iranian students.
TimisoaraVinga
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.
Delay – confused by time change at border.
They took the back end of the trai off.
A wait just across the border.River TiszaSzolznok – so many tracks!Very flat near Újszász
Near GyömrőThe train Coming into Budapest Puskas arena Arrived in Budapest on time!Bucharest to Budapest Outside the station
Unfortunately no time to explore- on to the next leg.
This time it’s an OBB train direct to Linz.Budapest to LinzLeaving Budapest KeltiCrossing the DanubeHills near Budapest Donau further west Hegyshalom near the border Turbines
There loads of wind turbines near the border on the Austrian side.
Bruck an der LeithaSarasdorfTrainmansdorf an der Leitha
Don’t fly Mountains Coming into Vienna
The sun has gone.Arrived
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.
Hilly with beautiful buildings, cobbled streets and mad drivers. Mixed weather varying from very pleasant to hot. Shops open really late.
Coming off the underground tram.Inside Bolsa PalaceThe modern tram above ground .
A little wander on the bike.
There were loads of people sketching the buildings while sat on the steps.The old tramLots of the buildings are tiled on the outside.Looking towards Porto The Alantic
Insight 