World Traveller: 7 Continents, 90 Countries, 871 Days Overseas
Pages:
About | Countries | Tours | Trips | Bucket List – Done | Bucket List – To Do | Airport Lounges | Flight History
Travel Categories:
Flight Reviews | Lounge Reviews | Destinations | Short Breaks | World Trip 1986 | World Trip 1998 | World Trip 1999-2000 | World Trip 2006 | World Trip 2009 | World Trip 2009-10 | World Trip 2010 | World Trip 2011 | World Trip 2012-13 | World Trip 2015 | World Trip 2016 | World Trip 2017 | World Trip 2017-18 | World Trip 2018 | World Trip 2019 | Australia 2022 | World Trip 2023 | World Trip 2024 | World Trip 2024-25 | World Trip 2026-27
Thursday 11 April 2024
Highlights: The confronting truth at Auschwitz and Birkenau Nazi Concentration and Extermination Camps, exploring more of Krakow
When booking this trip, I did it knowing I would be visiting Auschwitz for an educational experience. That day was today and lined up well to expand my knowledge after yesterdays to Oskar Schindler’s Enamel Factory. Back knowing about a place and events and visiting them is on a different emotional level.
When visited: Saturday 06 April 2024
Time of day: Late Morning (10 am)
Operator: Finnair (Linked to Oneworld Alliance)
Rating: 3 / 5
This is a basic lounge for intra Europe travel in the Schengen Zone. It’s fine for refreshments, a nice seats and maybe some finger food while you wait for your flight.
(more…)
When visited: Friday 05 April 2024
Time of day: Dinner
Operator: Qantas (Linked to the Oneworld Alliance)
Rating: 4.5 / 5
I last visited this lounge on 08 June 2023 so less than 12 months ago. This Qantas Lounge was upgraded a few years ago and as a result is very modern and provides everything you need. In particular access to showers before you long haul flight to Europe or back to Australia.
(more…)
When visited: Friday 05 April 2024
Time of day: Midday
Operator: Qantas (Linked to Oneworld Alliance)
Rating: 3.5 / 5
The Qantas International Business Class Lounge Melbourne is known as ‘the dungeon’ for good reason. It is located in the basement and has no natural light. While functional and having all the modern facilities and options an international business lounge should have it is dated and tired and badly needly a refresh. Definitely better than sitting at the Gate but not a Lounge worth using a lounge pass to access.
(more…)Wednesday 10 April 2024
Highlights: The interactive tour of The “Wieliczka” Salt Mine, the intense visit of Oskar Schindler’s Enamel Factory
Today was a free day to decided what you wanted to do. In the morning most of the group, including Darby and myself selected a visit to The “Wieliczka” Salt Mine which cost 240 PLN each (roughly $94 AUD). For this we had transportation to the mine and back, entry to the salt mine and a guide.
(more…)Tuesday 09 April 2024
Highlights: Visiting Palace Pławniowice, Exploring Wawel Royal Castle
Today was a long travel day from Berlin, Germany to Krakow, Poland. This is a roughly 600 km trip which was originally expected to take 6 hours but leaving at 07:30 and arriving at 17:15 it took 9.5 hours. This was mostly due to road works and massive number of shipping trucks.
(more…)Sunday 08 April 2024
Highlights: Brandenburger Gate, Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, The Canals of Berlin, the stunning Berlin Cathedral, visiting the remaining section of the Berlin Wall, exploring an underground bunker.
Today our Tour CEO Christin kindly offered a tour of Berlin that wasn’t part of the official G Adventure tour. Originally this extra was to take 1 to 1.5 hours but Christin kept expanding it as we asked questions. Most of the group started this unofficial morning tour but only 5 remained for the entire walk.
(more…)Sunday 07 April 2024
Highlights: Getting lost trying to get to our hotel, meeting our tour group
Today we ended our short pause in Helsinki to get to the start of our G Adventures Eastern Europe, Croatia and the Balkans tour starting in Berlin.
(more…)
Finnair
Date: 7 April 2024
Gate: 23
Seat: 5A & 6A (Economy Class Seats)
Plane: Airbus 320
Boarded: 10:55
Pushback: 11:23 (Scheduled 11:25)
Arrived: 12:19 (Scheduled 12:30)
Duration: 1 hours 56 minutes
Distance: 1,129 kms
This flight was from Helsinki-Vantaa (Finland) Airport to Berlin Brandenburg (Germany) Airport Willy Brandt. This flight was between two countries in the European Schengen travel area so similar to domestic Australian flight.
(more…)Saturday 06 April 2024
Highlights: Landing in a snow-capped Helsinki, exploring the Senaatintori (Senate Square), climbing the steps to the magnificent Helsinki Cathedral, visiting the Kauppatori (Market Square) on the edge of the Baltic Sea, exploring the Temppeliaukio Rock Church.
Our trip exploring Europe began today after a 13.5 hour overnight flight from Singapore to Helsinki (review). The first surprise was how much snow there was on the ground, and this is second month of Spring in Europe!
Nathan's Insights 