I’m not much into sport.The blokiness of it all; the fat-and-red-necked rough-nuts that dominate the NRL; the suspect off-field life of the AFL; the paralyzing boredom of cricket. But finally, after 40 years, I have found a sport I’d happily watch again and again. It has everything I want as a fan – pageantry, triumphant…
Tag: Attractions
The Veneto Club
As well as Venice, the Veneto, in Northern Italy, offers loads of gorgeous old towns with art and history aplenty. In Padua, there is Giotto’s amazing “Scrovegni Chapel”, that you have to book to see months in advance. Commissioned in 1305 by wealthy banker Enrico Scrovegni, it was intended to be a “get out of…
Bella Venezia
I can still remember the emotions I felt when I walked down the steps of the train station in Venice towards the Grand Canal for the first time 20 years ago. I cried then, and on these, the 5th and 6th times descending the same stairs, I did again. It’s overwhelming. Venice is one of…
“But soft, what light through yonder window breaks…”
If ONLY it was light breaking across the skies of Verona today, and not billowing clouds, cracking thunder and tumultuous, fat rain! The day started out pleasantly enough. There are two major sites that have tourists flooding into Verona. Juliet’s (alleged) balcony, and the Roman Arena. When I visited 22 years ago, and had the…
“We make savings fun and easy, whatever the amount…”
“Your dollar might go further in a Dollarmite Account”. When I was a kid singing along to that jingle, with Commonwealth Bank and advertising execs rubbing their hands with glee, I never knew that A/ it was a play on words, with the “Dolomites” being a mountain range in Northern Italy, or that B/ I’d…
The Dark Crystal
When I planned a trip to the Swarovski factory in western Austria, I guess I was expecting a “this is how we make our products” type set-up, and maybe the chance to grab a few bargain buys at the end. Wrong, and wrong! I’ve got a few Swarovski trinkets. I don’t much go for the…
Where Eagles Dare
Remember “The Good ‘ol Days”? I’m not quite sure when these “days” allegedly existed, but if you think the stories today’s media bombards us with about murder, theft and cruelty are some kind of fancy new 21st century abomination, you are a king’s fool! There have always been good people, and there have always been…
“The Hills are Alive…”
…with the sound of tourists being ripped off in droves! Including us. Ah Salzburg. A truly beautiful, charming, inspired city. Crowned by a fortress built in the early 1000’s, and decorated with stunning homes, it’s a gem. Most local tourists come here to walk the streets Mozart walked, but internationals like our good selves want…
Ice, Ice, Baby
Wherever we’ve been throughout Germany and Austria, people have been active. Bike-riding to work; riding surfboards on the man-made wave in Munich’s Englischer Gardens; hiking through parks and through the hills. People stride, with serious hiking shoes and poles instead of meandering along. Exercise doesn’t seem to be a chore, or a “geez, that was…
Munchen
I tell you what. I’m REALLY looking forward to the whole of Europe being back at school. I think there are currently more tourists in Munich than Munchners! While the Italians are busy gesticulating wildly and yelling at each other, there is a cool calm about the Bavarian folk. Whether they’re riding their bikes, downing…
“Mad” King Ludwig!
Well he can’t have been all that mad, because his over-the-top fanciful castles have made Bavaria one of the richest regions in Germany! More on that in a sec. It’s amazing how much you jam into one day on holiday. The days seems to stretch out to fit everything in. Granted, we’ve been slashing plans…
Rothenburg Highlights
It’s going to be a big day of driving today. First to the “fairytale castle” of Neuschwanstein, then through Oberammergau and to our next stop, Munich. Thought I’d remind myself of some of the things we’ve enjoyed so far. * Our cute apartment. It doesn’t have the trendiest or the most “German” decor, but it’s…
The Token Traveller 