A walk in the Black Forest that isn't black.

    Fall is a great time to visit Central and Eastern Europe. Most of the tourists are gone home and school has started. Those of us in California don't see Fall for long
but Hungary's and Germany's last a good while longer.

Golden Gate Park: Closer to Home

You will note that we enjoy traveling in Europe. That is true.

Yet, we live in one of the finest areas of the world. We live in Central California which is the world's most productive valley. From our home we can be at the beach in an hour and to the East is the Sierras, Lake Tahoe and Yosemite in about two hours by car. The photo above is taken in Golden Gate Park in the heart of San Francisco. We think the City is one of the great ones as it is urbane and sometimes silly.

Some years ago we ran in the Bay to Breakers which is a colorful and fun race where almost anything goes. You won't see this in Kansas.

 

Brussels and The Europe Union

 

When we took the train from Paris to Brussels we were surprized in the closeness of the two cities.  We are used to the vast distances in the United States.

Brussels is a pretty city with lots to do, but we were taken by its worldview. Brussels is the home of the European Union and it is obvious that they see and feel their close relationship to other countries.

This is the central square - indeed it was a rainy day.

On a walk in Barcelona a South American Bird

    Since my childhood disease I have not found walking fun. I hurt. But, that does not keep me from trying. Often I will need to stop while my wife walks on ahead. But there are many reasons to walk. We were in Barcelona returning from a visit to Park Guell. (Worthwhile visit. Get tickets online and be on time or else...)

    As I ambled around a bend (I always amble) I saw a parrot on a road closed gate. I like the windows. That was brought my eye there in the first place.  I find that parrots are only present in Spain when have escaped their cages. They are from South America. Enough have found freedom to have some small families in town.

 

Sidetracking

We were zooming along the road from Innsbruck to Liechtenstein when I proposed we take a quick trip into Germany so we could say we were there. We headed over the border not far to Mittenwald.  I need not have done that because since then we have spent a good portion of time in Germany. Coming back to Austria, I saw this village between the trees and stopped to take this photo. I just liked the scene.

Photos you must take

Here I am in the guardhouse of the Spain's National Palace in Madrid.

You just must do it.

Like people posing pretending to hold up the Leaning Tower.

Timing a photo at the One O'clock gun at Edinburgh Castle.

My favorite is getting into famous pulpits,

Think of more?

 

Village School Botswana, Africa

When we were in Africa we took school supplies and books to a village school.

The students speak English as well as their native language because the country was once part of the British Empire.

Look closely at this photo and see how many students share computers.

There are between two and four at each place.

The computers are old models brought in from European Schools. It was fun to get to know some of the students, but made me wonder how these kids learn like that.

 

Neuschwanstein Castle - 5,845 miles way

    It was Fall in Bavaria and we took off for Neuschwanstein from Munich because almost everyone does. This is a different view than you usually get, but this is what it looks like from the road up. You will wish to take the shuttle to the top. Even at that, the ride is a tad wild. You can walk down like we did, but be warned that it is steep. The castle is fun, but the view of the valley is wonderful. In the Castle you will find treasures but the are lots of stairs just like all castles.

Warm day/Carousel rides

This man was out hustling  ice cream in a plaza in Granada Spain.

Behind him is a Carousel.

Two things struck me about this.

I am reminded about how much I enjoyed the common life in Granada. It has the Alhambra, but the city is walkable and friendly.

The second thing is the fact that there are still Carousels around Europe. While a few countries in the world have "Eyes" like London, the old school carousel is still going strong: Florence, Paris, and large and small towns.

Granddaughter aboard in a small town in Tuscany.

 

Tourist vs. Travelers

This is the front of a horse cart in Seville.

This is one of most beautiful plazas I have ever seen.

The time you spend on a carriage ride you can spend on a stroll in a park.

We were covering some area in in a park and descovered

The Plaza de Espana with it water features and beautiful tile.

Tourists see the former, Travelers see the latter.

 

Rubbing statues

Any number of cities have myths around rubbing statues. In Verona it is Juliet's breast. In Florence it is the nose of the pig (boar).  On the Royal Mile in Edinburgh it is the foot of a leader. And this one in Munich.

 

And back again

There are cetain familiar places that end up in many photos.

As I fly over Mount Hood Oregon U.S.A, some six times a year,

it is both a mountain and a symbol of an adventure.

    

 

Making a brief trip last four weeks and a life time.

View of Prague from the castle

      Say you have always wanted to visit Prague. Work spoils the desire because you only get one week vacation.

    First buy yourself a good guidebook. We like "Lonely Planet".

    Second, don't just look at the pretty pictures. Read it.

    Third, go to other sources like watching a Rick Steves series or check out                 National  Geographic.

    Four, read Dan Brown's "Secret of Secrets", it is about Prague. 

    Five, check your flights and night's stay. The Internet is a wonderful resourse.

    Remember your passport. No Visa needed for CZ.

    SECOND WEEK; put down general plans and revise and know that it all will         not  be perfect. Revise again

                         FLY TO PRAGURE --- -one day early to beat jet lag.

    Enjoy all the things you want and dream about. Take photos (better if you             keep a journal of photos.) I don't, it takes time to write them down and if you         have an iPhone it remembers for you.  Go to locally suggected places to eat.

     My system is to ask the person at the desk: "If you were going out to a nice            dinner where would it be?  

     Don't spend time in stores to buy trinkets. Do that when you wait for your             plane home and also get rid of local money.

                          FLY HOME

    ONE WEEK to unpack and decompress.

    Every day from then on you will have memories and photos and warm feellings.

                     

 

The Lost Five Days

    The last five days have been lost "down the rabbit hole" due to being in the hospital. Those days did not bother readers like they bothered me.

    It reminds me of my trips. When I was in Africa my cell did not work many places and I felt lost by it. Years ago, before laptops I wrote a newspaper column for ten years. We went off to Ireland. Several times I had to find a Computer-Cafe to send in something. [You have to be up in years ro remember a Compiter-Cafe,] When in London I borrowed the laptop of the manager's son  and received an education. I know people do not miss these posts. That is not the point. I miss these posts and remembering my travels.

(Rabbit: Southwest Community Center, Portland Oregon USA)

 

The Jewish Memorial at Dachau

 

Looking for a Drugstore -- Europe is not a group of Third World Countries

This is a display of non-medical drinks in Madrid

Slovakia has nice mails with automatic filling of prescriptions. I got Tylenol and Sudafed (by different names). I needed foot powder in Florence. Not a problem, which formulation? Another brand of Tylenol in Verona. Blister-packed. At the Boots (Walgreens in London) needed some cough med. Druggist had to take my blood pressure because it had dextromethorphan. Sinus infection sent me to "Urgent Care" in Munich Germany. Doctor spoke English. RX antibiotics and total charge $5 USD. I am not sick a lot I just like drugstores. Too long in medicine. Been to Paris several times; red wine kills germs.

 

   

DUBLIN IS MORE THAN TEMPLE BAR

Temple Bar is the name of  a pub - good music and not-so cheap beer.

It is so popular that the whole area is called Temple Bar.

Located between the vehicle bridge and the walking bridge

it is full of night life and buskers seeking to earn your money.

Beer or no beer it is a fun visit.

Try 4 pm.

 

Is Florence Italy Worth The Hype?

    If I were to ask my grandchildren where they would like to go they likely would say Disneyland and not Florence. When they turned twelve they visited Scotland, Normandy, Brussels, Amsterdam, South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Tuscany, (and three trips included Paris). I fear that Florence is more for adults or at least my wife and me. You have to hunger for art and history. The galleries are amazing. You see art that you have only seen in books.

    Now, to the question. Is it worth the hype? Absolutely yes. And, you need to stay more than one day.

 

Prague, Vienna, or Budspest: Which one for a week?

St. Vitus, Prague Castle

    If you ask which is the better city to visit for a week: London or Paris? I would say that having done both I cannot choose. Of the three lovely cities of Central Europe I have some opinions;

    Prague is easy to get around by foot or trolley. If you have read Dan Brown's book "Secret of Secrets" you will like finding the places mentioned. Prague is an easy choice for a week. (If you read: "City of Falling Angels" you must go to Venice.)

    Vienna is a sparkling city with much to see, but more to hear. You can find music everywhere and while it not always rock, it  is wonderful. They make it easy to attend and my favorites include concerts that serve wine at intermission.

    Budapest is half on a hill overlooking the Danube. It is amazing at night with its lights. There are also many places to see and if you go to the bathes you will see more of the Hungarian people.

    Everyplace has its own unique character. 

 

Traveling Within The Cities of Europe

The cities of Europe can be seen in many ways. Above you see walking and bike riding.

 One of our favorites to introduce ourselves is the HopOHopOff bus.

We take them to get an overview and to deliver us from site to site.

In Rome, Dublin, Vienna, Paris and London we have used cabs.

In Bussels, Paris, and Gibraltar we hired a car and driver.

Generally the Metro/Underground/Tram is easy.

The trolly in Prague is great.

Do your homework.

 

Zebras: Southern Africa

    We were in Southern Africa during the annual migration of zebras. Slowly thousands gathered on the savanna in South Africa and Botswana. It was an amazing sight. I learned several things I did not know. For example, a zebra can mate with a horse and made a whole new group. Also the native peoples there pronounce it "Zeb" (like eb) "rah".
 

You saw pictures of this on TV

This is a photo of the seating inside the coliseum in Verona where

the closing of the 2026 Winter Olympics was held.

This is the permenant stage.

Here are two American visitors.

 

Giant Panda: Edinburgh Zoo

A pair of Pandas on loan to the Edinburgh Zoo.

They thought tourists were interesting.

 

Street Sign? in Botswana

So, we were in a safari vehicle in the middle of a visit to a reserve in Botswana. The gravel road was giving out and the dirt begun.The savanna loomed ahead. Then, there was this directional sign. Kasane is the location of the airport. This is near where four counties merge: Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Vienna

Some people feel that Vienna is over-rated.

I think it is a beautiful, historic city with wonderful music.