Like the Austria trip earlier in the year, this trip was made entirely by road.
Places that I saw whilst in that part of the world (not a million miles from Yugoslavia!) were:-
Belgium (on the way), Germany (on the way), Prague (Hradcani Castle, St Vitus Cathedral, Charles Bridge, the Old Town Hall, Wenceslas Square etc), Brno, Budapest (Parliament, St Steven's Church, Heroes Square and a huge Citadel), VIENNA (Hofburg Palace, Old Town, St Steven's Cathedral, Schonbrunn Palace on so on).
Calling in Belgium on the way back to England, I left my final coach in Worcester. I decided on trains to and from, and the accommodation in, Worcester itself!
More detailed interim SUMMARY
Travel Dates: 24 Sept - 4 Oct 99
DATE DAY ACTIVITIES SLEEP AT...
24 Sept Fri Walked with my 'strap-on wheelie' to station
Caught earlier train than expected, 6pm,
to Worcester. To accommodation early to. Forresters Arms
Newer hand-baggage proved to as watertight Worcester
as previous one - in this RAIN!
Reset the alarm (does 'bird calls') after my
bit of TV there. (Area 51 etc!)
Marion booked my morning taxi.
25 Sept Sat Awakened by a 'tweeting' bird alarm at 2.30 am, I then
dozed off again until the repeat at 3.30 am!! I retried to
sleep until my genuine 4.15 am alarm!! Up and dressed
immediately, I made my own drink and finished packing
before letting myself OUT at 5 am..
The taxi was late, first 5mins.. then 10mins .. and at 15mins
I was getting very worried about my Coach connection in
town. Having rung the hotel bell, the taxi then arrived before
Marion (or husband) could answer the door. I was taken to
the Coach stop on 'Grandstand Road' and was the only one
there!!
Coach departure from Worcester was at 5.30 am..
I was taken with my luggage to the Dover coach interchange
for the Ferry at 15.15hrs. The driver and his mate, both
making comments about the 'white-van-drivers' enroute (all
fully justified) then, for the whole journey, broke ALL THE
BAD DRIVING records in the book by behaving like their
'white-van-drivers' .... complete with a coach-load of human
cargo!!
The infuriating practice of this company was to pick up the
odd passenger in LONDON (Victoria), being involved in
multiple grid-lock hassles, before and after Victoria, on the
way to Dover. ALL the other coaches were at the interchange
before us, and we only scraped in by the skin of our teeth
with minutes to spare before all the others were condemned
to make a massive MISS together.
Anyway, we arrived at Dover and changed our cases to the
appropriate Coaches for the continuations of our journies, and
then we quickly (very quickly!) boarded the Ferry after reaching
our seats on our new coaches. Being on the last coach to reach
Dover, I was last onto my next coach, every seat, except one,
having been taken. A very pleasant very active 91year old lady
(a South African) welcomed me to our seat for sharing throughout
Europe. What a wonderful bright sense of humour she had, and
what a great sense of adventure too!! All this belied her age, and
she could communicate on any subject either of us brought up.
I left her as we made our own ways about the boat on this crossing
and I purchased some sandwiches (cheese ploughmans) on my
wanderings. I acquired sufficient for tomorrow's lunch!!
The arrival in Calais was approximately 17.30 and on exitting there
we made our way through FRENCH roads and went directly to
BELGIUM, to the north-east corner of Brussels - quite close to NATO HQ.
Our overnight stop was in the 'Hotel Belson' (a pleasant place despite
its name!!) All along this continental leg of today's journey, this lady
(named Iris Serene) and I chatted excitedly. We went straight to our
own separate rooms at 'Belson' - after all, we'd all had a long day
getting here from different parts of the UK! I quickly unpacked my
pyjamas, laid on top of my bed, ate my Malvern-packed sandwiches,
and then went to sleep.
26 Sept Sun On this morning, I was awakened by two people talking in the next room just
a few seconds before my pre-booked call on my room-phone rang!! I got up
immediately as today will be a LONG busy day. That phone-call was at 5.50am
so I got my cases packed and out (after a quick electric shave) by 6.40 am..
Breakfast was at 7 am and then I went to the coach at 7.25 am ready for the
journey Eastwards towards the Czech Republic going thro' Germany. I chatted
all the way with the charming, intelligent 90year old South African lady (her
name is actually spelled "Celine") and our route took us from Brussels, on the
route A2 - passsing Genk, Aachen, then on the A4 passing Koln, Wenden and
southwards along the E40, 41 (A45) to Wetzlav, then Eastwards via Gieben,
Eisenach (the 'fence') and then into the previous EAST GERMAN territory,
passing Gotha, Erfurt, Weimar, Gera, Chemnitz ( a bit decrepit - this place) and
crossed the border into the Czech Republic on a small road going S.E to the
Hotel Alexandra in the Prague area. All these places were quite close together
- but taking very LONG times.
I had already changed a £20 sterling note into 1030 'crowns', at the 54Kr/£ rate,
en route and we arrived at our hotel in NW Prague (actually at Roztoky) at
about 9.15pm We all went directly to the restaurant for a meal after this very
long day (covering 551 coach-miles today!). There was some good malted
bread, good soup with noodles - and a beef-like main course - followed by
some delicious 'ice-cream on a plate'!
I got to chatting with some mutual friends about our travels and experiences,
especially with a Manchester-area based couple before departing for our
own rooms, bars (or whatever) when finished. Having collected my key to
Room 210, and my case , I then found my room, started unpacking some
luggage and bought TWO bottles of fizzy mineral water. (They cost 40 crowns
for the pair)
That mineral-water was absolutely beautiful - so after writing up some notes
on today's trip and taking my medications, I found myself at the time of
23.43hours - and it's now time for some sleep to prepare myself for tomorrow's
long-awaited exploration of PRAGUE. "Night, night all. I hope the fizziness
doesn't go out of my second bottle by the morning!!"
27 Sept Mon
Having got up at 7a.m in the ALEXANDRA HOTEL in ROZTOKY, which is just
7 miles North West of Prague's centre, I readied myself for the days travels by
performing all the normal things - going down for breakfast at about 8am, before
taking the coach on the 7mile trip into Prague. The first thing to do there was to
do a short 'orientation' trip - before picking up the local guides.
These two guides were shared between the 22 of us, depending on our position
in the coach!!
This was to be a Full day in Prague.
I got out of the coach by my door for this Sightseeing walk when we got to
** Hradcani Castle ** and found my female guide walked at a sensible pace
with sensible stops on this half-day, morning, walk. Even the 90year-old
lady kept up with us - and I hope I can do that when I'm her age [ - what a
remarkably fit, cheerful, interesting, active woman she was!! (and probably,
still is!!)]
This walk started at the highest point, outside the castle, with its fabulous
views to the town (OLD, NEW & HISTORIC areas were pointed out and
summarised!) We witnessed a very primitive "changing of the Guards", viewed
inside the various courtyards of this castle - with fully interesting descriptions
of each. We also covered the "St. Vitus Cathedral" , which is inside the castle
boundary, and its many stages of development. Our female guide certainly
'knew her stuff' and certainly is a credit to The Czech Republic! She spoke about
their 'writer-president', his whereabouts and his influences.
Our eventual exit from the castle lead down the steps to the LOWER town, the
river and other sites. Over the bridge to the north of Charles Bridge we made our
way to the OLD town. We got to the Old Town Square in time for the programme
that the ASTRONOMICAL CLOCK went through. It wasn't brilliant (as I had been
lead to believe) but it was OK , though short!!
Our guide gave us clues for us to find other places - like Charles Bridge plus the river
and its many islands. I found a useful tourist-office on my way to Wenceslas Square
and acquired a very useful map to guide me on my wanderings. With the guide, before
she left, we sat on some steps in the famous, or is it infamous, Square where we heard
about the martyr produced there in the Student Protest. One set fire to himself - as seen
on the TV worldwide!! This place is now named in his honour. It wasn't on the steps
that he set fire to himself - but at the top of the hill on Wenceslas Square. Now I've got
until 16.50 hours (when we find our coach) for my own leisurely exploration of PRAGUE.
I rewalked the 'Square' first (it is NOT a real square but a quarter of a mile long double-
carriageway avenue. I then revisited the multitude of streets towards the River VLTAVA -
going over the CHARLES BRIDGE in a Southerly direction. Half way across this bridge,
I descended some steps to a linear park in the middle of the river, - and there I ate my
remaining Ploughman's Sandwich in comfort on my own park-bench seat. (I had bought
these sandwiches on the Ferry yesterday!)
Then I went up and along the west bank of the VLTAVA RIVER and across the CHARLES
BRIDGE. Being only one of the two people on the island-park (under the bridge) I could
concentrate on my own food and refreshments. Up on the Charles Bridge, I was concentrating
on other things, - like the ART exhibitions and the DIXIELAND JAZZ BAND (lyrics in Czech
- but I knew the 'numbers' anyway!!) Most UK & US nationals would have known them. They're
not fools - the Czechs!
I had some good 'photo-stops', complete with the guide's relevant descriptions, annd changed
films on the edge of the citadel hear the following photo!
We used the 'white-pillared' ELIZABETH BRIDGE (shown above) to cross to PEST and
had a coach tour around the city - and this included the HERO'S SQUARE where I took
many photos (some follow)
Click for Gothic-style Parliament, Budapest
OVERALL IMPRESSIONS
Whilst Prague was below my expectations ( after all I'd heard about the place!),
I was very pleasantly impressed by BUDAPEST (well, both BUDA and PEST actually!).
I enjoyed many walks on the banks and islands of the DANUBE.
Just like in Australia, where I visited MARGARET RIVER for thoughts of my great friend
Margaret, here I did the same thing!! I walked to, and on, MARGARET ISLAND for the scenery, the
exercise and their Athletics Centre!! Not only that, but I reckoned that I'd find some things that were
in short supply in the city itself.
Click for Athletics Centre, Budapest
Thus I found things that all ATHLETES would require:
Good value refreshments & free toilets!!
From there, it was a return walk to PEST, via the
"Elizabeth Bridge" where the coach had left us to
our own devices!! From there, I started my own explor-
ations.
First, I walked South (ie. Downstream Danube) along the
East Bank of the DANUBE from the Elizabeth Bridge and
then made my way, and found shade amongst the man-made
items all the way to the next bridge. I underpassed this and, on
regaining the top-level, turned inland (Eastwards ap Vamhaz)
to a large interesting undercover Market-Hall where I purchased
one 'hand' of bananas for 24hours of sustenance!
Then I regained the junction with the embankment and headed North
(but NOT before eating, slowly, two relatively UNRIPE [although
not GREEN] bananas!!) My next objective was to find a toilet
[there are 'not many' in these Parks!] before enjoying the rest of
the day's exploration!!!
Meanwhile, back at the ELIZABETH BRIDGE, I communicated with my driver about locations
for an 'emergency pee' (which both of us required!) and we both solved this problem with
the coach's internal (very cramped) facility!! Not only small, but it had NO light and caused
much psychological stress. Anyhow, we were both 'relieved', and I then headed, on foot,
further upstream by the DANUBE - making my main visit, in this mini-project, the delightful
MARGARET BRIDGE and MARGARET ISLAND!
The East Bank was littered with 'landing stages' receiving people from "straight off coaches"
(with no effort from these lazy sods!) all the way along. I don't know where our 'lot' will
leave from! I went 'inland' from the eastern bank, again, along Zoltan and Nador, to skirt
the IMPRESSIVE Gothic Parliament Building (just like Westminster's in the UK!). There,
I took many photos - and, after a very pleasant diversion, I rejoined the EMBANKMENT
where their stretch of 'repair jobs' ended.
I was then not far from the MARGARET BRIDGE.
Once there, I took several photos of the island from the 'kinked' MARGARET bridge, and
then I progressed over a connecting bridge to 'head' for the large fountains which I'd
witnessed when the coach had passed there, earlier!
(a) refreshments (e.g mineral water)
(b)good clean toilets
(c)'Tartan Track' (I didn't use this!)
I availed myself of both the other facilities (the main reason for coming here!) - and then,
on exit, took photos of the 'CENTRE' and the 'children in action'.
( ... to be continued ...in Czech - part2 )
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Year99 index
for more details and visits or
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for full list of books either finished or under preparation.