Journal of Europe Trip (7 - 21 Sep 2013): 2013

Journal of Europe Trip - 7 to 21 Sep 2013 (14 days)

Airfare - Qatar Airways >>S$1,357.70

Flight Details - 7 Sep (Sat) 21.30 dep Sin for Vienna; 20 Sep (Fri) 22.30 dep Paris for Sin

Eurail Global Pass (15 days continous pass) >> Euro 556 = S$940 (1 E = S$1.698)

Countries Visited

1. Austria >> Vienna and Salzburg >> 8 - 11 Sep (Sun - Wed)

2. Germany >> Berlin >> 12 - 14 Sep (Thu - Sat)

3. Holland (Netherlands) >> Amsterdam >> 15 - 17 Sep (Sun - Tue)

4. Belgium >> Brugge >> 18 Sep (Wed)

5. France >> Paris >> 19 - 20 Sep (Thu - Fri)

1. AUSTRIA >> Vienna and Salzburg >> 8 - 11 Sep (Sun - Wed)

8 Sep (Sun) - Reached Vienna airport around 7.21am and shocked that the wi-fi does not work once out of airport. Oh! I had forgotten to take down the hostel name. Later, managed to find a teenage McDonald staff who told me where to look for hostel. My Eurail Global pass was to be validated at Vienna airport railway station but there was no train counter. Anyway, took the train and would explain to the train inspector of my Eurail pass entitlement.

A elderly lady biker helped me find Westend City Hostel (E20.90 per night with breakfast). As it was Sunday, all streets were very quiet. Visited the must-see palace, Schonbrunn Palace which was a 30- minute walk from the hostel. The palace garden landscape had an asterisk type of formation making the garden walk endless. Saw the ruins and the sculptured waterfall. The greenery has a pleasant view but unfortunately strong wind blew up the sand onto many visitors ended up being very dirty after the visit.

9 Sep (Mon) - Took a 10.03am train to Semmering Railway, a UNESCO World Heritage for Railway. The rail route went through more than 10 tunnels and viaducts and is among the world's most beautiful lines. It was a 1.5 hour journey from Vienna. At Semmering railway station, a station staff recommended me to walk around the village area which had old houses, villas, post office, a tourism school and an old charming little church. Left at 1.45pm for Vienna and reached Vienna around 3.10pm. Walked the main shopping street, Mariahilfer Strabe. Visited the must-see Hofburg (Imperial Palace), beautiful State Opera House, Stephansdom (a historical church in Vienna centre built in 1160). Also walked along the old cities, City Hall, University and nearby theatre. Took E3 Chinese noodle for dinner as I was craving for it.

10 Sep (Tue) - Left Vienna at 8.36am for Salzburg. Arrived Salzburg at 11am and walked about 1 hr to hunt for Meininger Hostel (M Hostel - E15.30 per night). Visited Mozart Place. Mozart (1756 – 1791) stayed on the 3rd Floor of the yellow building and admission fee was E10. In that area, there is Mozart statue and sales of varieties of chocolate wrapped with wrapper with picture of Mozart. It is a nice litte boutique shopping area. For lunch, ate a fishy Nordsee fish with paella rice (E11.55). .

11 Sep (Wed) - Bought a hop-on-hop-off bus ticket (E16). The weather was sunny and excited to see the various sites where the Sound of Music was filmed in 1965. First stop was Leopoldskron Palace with a beautiful lake in front and the backdrop of the mountain. Next was the pavilion (song: 16 going to 17) which was located at Hellbrunn Palace. The palace garden area was spacious and neat. Then the Nonnbery Abbey where Maria was a nun there. The Mirabell Gardens where the kids sang Do-Re-Mi song at the Green Archway. Visited a scenic Untersberg Mountain (1805m, 5 km from town) by public bus no. 25.

2. GERMANY >> Berlin >> 12 - 14 Sep (Thu - Sat)

12 Sep (Thu) - Took railjet train at 9.02am to Munich 10.30am. Transferred to another train 10.47am to reach Berlin at 5.18pm. Total travelling time was about 7 hours. Quite a stressful train ride as the weather changed from sunny to rainy quite frequently and the train was crowded. Worst still, wi-fi was not available on train and thus I lost my Meininger (Berlin) contact. This is the second time I did not take down hostel contact. But managed to get help from another M hostel near the train station. Berlin train station has many storeys and quite messy. Stayed at M Hostel at town area (E16 a night) and slept on a bed at third level. The hostel kitchen area was vibrant with lots of discussion including a discussion from a hooker and preparation of the national Mexican dish. There was a washing machine and dryer at the kitchen which seemed to be overworked.

13 Sep (Fri) - Started my trip with the nearby big Berlin Cathedral, Berlin Wall (like art gallery), Brandenburg gate (many rich historical events) and university. Walked a long way to Potsdamer Platz where Sony centre was located with roof set to be like a flower with many petals of oval shape. Found Checkpoint Charlie which was formerly a registration area for foreigner armed forces before their trip into East Berlin.

14 Sep (Sat) Visited the must-see Pergamon Museum (E12, 10.30 - 3.30pm). Some highlights are the Pergamon Altar Hall, Milet (market gate with Roman architecture), Ishtar Gate of Babylon (lions to guard the processional way), Aleppo Room (many paintings around the door area). The museum headset with well guided information was helpful and free. For dinner, I had fried spaghetti and eggs. Yummy!!

3. HOLLAND (NETHERLANDS) >> Amsterdam >> 15 - 17 Sep (Sun - Tue)

15 Sep (Sun) - Left Berlin around 7.48am to Hannover 10.30am and transferred to 10.40am to reach Amsterdam (Holland) around 3pm. Amsterdam has a very pretty train station like the Disneyland castle. Wandered 3 hours to hunt for the Central Station Hostel @ E15. Fortunately, a man from the club helped me. The narrow steps to the hostel was difficult for a climb. Fortunately, I stayed at Level 1. Had a steak for E10.90 after a persuasive waiter invited me to try. Lost my way back to the hostel and having to brave through the cold rainy weather was no fun.

16 Sep (Mon) - Took the 11am canal cruise @ E14. Nice historical buildings, boat houses and bridges. Worth the value. But not for the city sighting bus (E13). Stopped at Gassa Diamond factory to see diamond cutting and get a free coffee. Next, stepped into Heineken brewery. That night, visited the popular red light district where hookers displayed their sexy bodies in a small lighted room.

17 Sep (Tue) - Joined the countryside tour (E30.40). Visited wooden clog factory at Marken. Took the Marken express (cruise) to Volendam. Visited the cheese factory and the windmill area at a small village, Zaanse Schans . A bit touristy but learned that energy from the windmill can be used to grind nuts. Our lovely lady tour guide explained the great canal system in Amsterdam clearly. Lunch was a big and fresh portion of fish and chip (E10.50). Tour ended around 2.15pm and rushed to catch the 2.55pm train to Brugge. Reached Brugge (UNESCO heritage site) at 6.45pm feeling cold. A young lady helped me to buy a bus ticket E1.70 (ride for just one stop). Looked pathetic in front of the Lybeer Travellers Hostel staff and he sold me a room for E25. It was freezing cold sleeping in that nice room.

4. BELGIUM >> Brugge >> 18 Sep (Wed)

18 Sep (Wed) - Woke up around 8.30am and walked around the market square. The medieval buildings were unique. Left for train station around 11.32am to catch the train to Paris. Reached Paris around 4.32pm and easily found Blue Planet hostel (E18). Met a Japanese kindergarten teacher, Megumi who dropped a little note before she left as I gave her a small bottle of shampoo and body soap "To Ms Hana, Thank you for present & kind to me! I wish you a safe & happy trip!!"

5. FRANCE >> Paris >> 19 - 20 Sep (Thu - Fri)

19 Sep (Thu) - Set off around 9.15am and bought a combined ticket E37 for bus tour and admission to Louvre Museum (11am - 2pm). Museum highlights were Mona Lisa painting, sculptures, and Egyptian artifacts including the mummy. Reached Eiffel Tower around 3.30pm. It is a gigantic tower. The grand boulevard area (yellow line) lined with shopping centres and cabarets was great.

20 Sep (Fri) - Walked around the nearby area to buy sweets, biscuits, lip gloss and vitamins. Left Paris around 6pm for airport to catch the 10.30pm flight home. Reached home around 8pm

TRAIN TRAVELLING TIME AND FARE ESTIMATION

Vienna to Semmering (Return ticket, 1.5 hr one way) – S$90

Vienna to Salzburg (2.5 hrs) - S$180

Salzburg to Berlin (7 hrs) - S$428

Berlin to Amsterdam (6 hrs) - S$394

Amsterdam to Brugge (4 hrs) - S$137

Brugge to Paris (2^nd Class Slow Train; 5 hrs) - S$156

Airport Train (Austria & Paris) - S$60

Estimated Total - S$1,445 (Eurail - S$940; Saving - S$505)

SUMMARY

Most Beautiful City – Paris

Most Beautiful Train Station – Amsterdam