Nathan's Insights

World Traveller: 7 Continents, 90 Countries, 871 Days Overseas


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  • World Trip 2006: Day 56 – Vienna, Austria

    Tuesday 23 May 2006
    Highlights: Enjoying the performances at the Vienna State Opera, Habsburg’s Winter and Summer Palaces

    I just got back from the ‘Vienna State Opera’ and wow, it was just brilliant.   I got standing room tickets and over 3 hours watched two operas, Osud and Le Villi.   It seems like I might be getting some culture after all on this trip and I didn’t even to it to impress a girl!

    They have a screen display that translated the songs into English but you could get a good sense just by watching the performers.   I would strongly recommend going to an Opera in Vienna.   I suppose I’ll have to start going in Melbourne now 🙂

    I also visited the Habsburg’s palaces (winter and summer).   The Habsburgs ruled the Austria-Hungry Empire for hundreds of years.   The Summer Palace was very special and worth a visit.   The Winter Palace one however was the more functional Palace.

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  • World Trip 2006: Day 55 – Vienna and Wachau Valley, Austria

    Monday 22 May 2006
    Highlights: A brilliant wine and bike tour of Wachau Valley

    Wow what an enjoyable day.   Getting up early I joined a ‘wine/bike tour’ of the Wachau Valley (9 hour tour).   This region claims to be the first place that wine was created in by some monks.   The country side of Austria is magnificent.   A one hour drive out of the city and we arrived at our first wine tasting stop of the day. In total I’d say I had about 12 glasses of wine, mostly white as this is what the region is known for.   Have to say I think I’m starting to like white wine (might that a little longer for red however).

    The region is mostly a collective of small farmers who worked together to produce first rate wines. The first stop included a man made cave (from 1079) that must have taken a long time to create.   We then jumped on our bikes and went to other cellars, the photos should be great.   Enjoying a BBQ of traditional Germanic meats (sausages etc) we headed of to the river for some beach volleyball (I suck) and a quick swim.   Later we hiked a small mountain (we all struggled up this one) to a now ruined castle that Richard the Lionheart was once held in for 6 months.

    At the end of the tour they gave us each a bottle of wine which I later shared back at the hostel with a few BusAbout guests including Rebecca (Bec) and Jess.   Amazing that free wine can make you popular 🙂 An amazing day spent outside of Vienna and away from a big city, something I’m starting to like more and more.   It seems to be very easy to make friends when you are out having fun with fellow backpackers.

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  • World Trip 2006: Day 54 – Cesky Krumlov to Vienna, Austria

    Sunday 21 May 2006
    Highlights: The beautiful countryside

    This was a simple travel day enjoying the countryside as the bus took us to Vienna.

    The only interesting thing at my destination was that a bag was left in my hostel room which I had to report (and hoping no drugs etc in it).  It looked like that previous occupant had checked in but never checkout or even slept in the room.   The police were called as the staff where very concerned. Vienna appears to be a beautiful place. I’ve booked into a Wine / Bike tour around the Wachau Valley for tomorrow which should be great.

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  • World Trip 2006: Day 52 and 53 – Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic

    Friday 19 May and Saturday 20 May 2006
    Highlights: Cesky Krumlov Castle, Castle Gardens, historic buildings

    A very short drive to Cesky Krumlov and I was enjoying this fairytale like small city (around 15,000 people).   This city survived WW2 without really any damage.

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  • World Trip 2006: Day 51 – Moravian Karst to Prague, Czech Republic

    Thursday 18 May 2006
    Highlights: Exploring the Moravsky Kras Caves

    Some of my fellow travellers were sore this morning (not very surprising given last night’s fun games), we headed out to Moravsky Kras Caves which feature some great formations.   We even had an underground boat ride.

    On both days we stopped in a local small Czech pub for a traditional lunch, vegetarians need not come to Czech, however the food is fantastic.

    Again I was amazed at how well I got on with 7 people who were strangers just 2 days before. Getting back into Prague late I experience one of the heaviest rain storms I’ve ever be outside for 😦

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  • World Trip 2006: Day 50 – Dalecin, Czech Republic

    Wednesday 17 May 2006
    Highlights: Sedlec Ossuary (Bone Church),  hiking a mountain

    To mark the 50th day on the road I decided to undertake a 2 day road trip into the country area.   I was the only person to get into the trip from my hostel, so taking off with 7 strangers we headed out to the ‘Bone Church’. The Church became famous after a priest returned from Rome with some holy dirt.   The rich and elite wanted to be buried at this small church and eventually over 30,000 people were buried.

    Due to this they had to dig out older graves.   In the 17th century a monk start using the bones to make structures and art inside the church.   It is very weird.  We then drove the van to Dalecin, a nice small village.   Hiking up the local mountain I got to see some great views of the local area.   The mountain in winter is used for skiing.

    The best part of the day however was at night, the 8 of us had unlimited beer and wine available to us and after a great home cooked dinner (and meeting Roger the local black rabbit) the night got going.

    Apparently Canadians play a game called “Bite the Box” very funny game.   We also played a few after drinking games and at about 1 am I went to bed in this outback new hostel (14 max people).   Probably the best choice I’ve made on this trip.

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  • World Trip 2006: Day 48-49 – Prague, Czech Republic

    Monday 15 May and Tuesday 16 May 2006
    Highlights: Prague Palace, St Nicks Cathedral

    Over the 2 full days in Prague I undertook a walking tour that included visits to Prague Palace and through the city to their historic sites.

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  • World Trip 2006: Day 47 – Berlin to Terezin and Prague, Czech Republic

    Sunday 14 May 2006
    Highlights: Border crossing into the Czech Republic, Terezin Small Fortress

    Leaving Berlin early I had a long day in the bus but luckily got a seat to myself to more easily relax and enjoy watching the countryside.

    Crossing the border I was reminded this was the old Central, communist Europe.   We waited 20 minutes before the guards came to check our passports and it took about 40 more minutes to get through.   The Czech Republic is part of the EU but you wouldn’t know it.

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  • World Trip 2006: Day 46 – Berlin, Germany

    Saturday 13 May 2006
    Highlights: Learning the history of Checkpoint Charlie

    I visited Checkpoint Charlie and learned about all the escape attempts and the 100+ people who died.   You have to remember that West Berlin was surrounded by East Berlin.   East Berlin trains went through the West, but didn’t stop.   During the blockade it would have been very difficult to live in West Berlin.

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  • World Trip 2006: Day 45 – Berlin, Germany

    Friday 12 May 2006
    Highlights: Berlin Wall, Hilters Bunker, CheckPoint Charlie, Bebelplatz (infamous book burning site), Reichstag Dome

    I’m staying in a hostel in the old East Berlin which is actually were the best sightseeing for Berlin actually is, including the giant TV tower the communist created to stop Western broadcasts.

    I did a great walking tour; in short we visited or saw: the Berlin Wall, what’s left of it, the Deathstrip, Hitler’s Bunker, Checkpoint Charlie, Memorial for murdered Jews, Bebelplatz – site of booking burning, and the Reichstag Dome – Government headquarters.

    There is currently 20% unemployment in Germany and it shows.   Tourist help out a lot but the linking of East & West is causing some problems.

    Seeing things I had read about, like the Bebelplatz book burning is very moving as is seeing the Berlin wall and reading the stories of those who tried to cross is inspiring but it makes you think about the barriers we put up now in our country.

    I finished the day with a Pub Crawl.   Beer is actually very cheap in Berlin.   I made it to the last pub, number 4, but decided to stop before the club while I could still walk.   Beer is usually given to you in 0.5 litres and is about 8% strong.   It doesn’t that long until you can barely walk.   I met some great Canadians who have all of a sudden started appearing on backpacker circuit to counter balance all the Australians.

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