30th Lucerne to Innsbruck

Woke up in Lucerne it was wet and nasty, drove to Liechtenstein, stopped off in the capital Vadus. It was a one street town and quite nice. Drove on to Innsbruck through the alps, unfortunately it was very cloudy so we couldn't appreciate the view. We were driving in a valley with ranges either side of us.
At Innsbruck we stayed at the Austrian Trend. First we went on a walk around the town, it ended at the Swazvoksi crystal shop. The price were very reasonable but the range was too large for Lynette to make a decision in a mere one hour.
The town itself is an alpine village, it has hosted the winter Olympics twice.
Lynette went with the group to a Tyrolean dinner which they thoroughly enjoyed. I asked Lynette if they had performed the fish slapping dance from Monty Python, they did the more traditional face slapping dance instead.
While Lynette was away I went running for an hour. I was the only runner in shorts and short sleeves it made me very pink. When I got back, I showered, dressed and walked back to town walked over the other side of the river and up the hill past two old churches. Had a sandwich and olives for dinner. The others had a good time at dinner, lot of singing, some slapping and copious amounts of beer. Greg decided to be a part of the show by jumping on the stage.

Vadus Town Hall

The only picture I have of Innsbruck, which is a shame as it was a beautiful place

29th Lucerne and Mt. Pilatus

We were mistakenly awoken at 6.00 am instead of 7.15. We went for a run for 30 min to start the day, then on the bus, traveled about 15 min to take the world's steepest cog railway to the top of Mt. Pilatus.
It was cloudy at the bottom but clear at the top. Very scenic place, we walked to the top and around before catching a cable car and gondola to the bottom where it was drizzling rain for the rest of the afternoon. Walked around town for a couple of hours then went on a boat cruise around Lake Lucerne.
Walked up to the Holy Hotel (Gutsch Hotel), so called because when you first walk in and look around you exclaim "my lord", later when you get your bill you exclaim "oh Jesus". We also walked in the forest a bit before catching an hours sleep before heading out to eat at 7.00, had fish and chips again. Walked after eating - nice day.

The Terminal / Restaurant at top of Mt. Pilatus - Note the dragon tile pattern. There is a legend about the dragons of Mount Pilatus.

Netty on top of Mt. Pilatus

The two of us, heads in the clouds again.

One of the tunnels carved through the rock

Cable car down the mountain

The Holy Gutsch Hotel. We walked up behind this in a forest.

Town from the Gutsch - the old city wall on the other side of the river.

28th Mannheim to Lucerne

Woke up while it was still dark to go for our run. It wasn't a run friendly place, managed to run through a farmer's market to the small central park and back then around the block to make 25mins.
Had a light breakfast. Followed the Rhine to the Black Forest. Stopped off at a  Cuckoo clock manufacturer, watched a demonstration on how the clocks are made, watch the 12 o'clock display as the front of house is a large clock, then enjoyed some black forest cake, as we should.
There were a few walking tracks behind the place and a nice railway bridge, Lynette and I walk along a stream then I climbed up a hill to get a Panoramic shot of the bridge and surrounds.
Back in the bus, we stopped off at the largest falls on the Rhine at Rhinefalls, the Lion falls.
Headed through Zurich to Lucerne where we have a two night stay. Went for a pre-dinner drink that cost 22 euro, won't be drinking much in this town. Had dinner at the hotel. Went for a walk with Nigel and Leanne, Greg and Tess we walked over the Chapel bridge and stopped to have one more drink before heading back.

The Cuckoo Clock

The Rail Bridge down to Cuckoo Store

The Loin Falls

Lucerne monument for the Swiss guards that died defending Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette. The anguish in the face is astonishing. Note the outline of a pig - ask me about it one day.

Lynette with Chapel Bridge in the background

The three galahs

27th Amsterdam to Mannheim

Left Amsterdam, drove to Boppard for a Rhine Cruise, it was beautiful. On one part of the river 3 castles are all visible. Enjoyed beautiful weather, a pint of beer and the splendid views.
Joined the bus again and drove to Heidelberg. Had a walking tour but there wasn't enough time to go to the castle. Lynette had a monkey face photo at the bridge.
Drove back to the Mecure Hotel in Mannheim there was not enough time for a run. Had a included tour dinner.

One of the Castles visible on the boat cruise

Netty on the Heidelberg Bridge

In Heidelberg - Lynette's monkey face 

What the?

26th Bruges to Amsterdam

Left Brugge early but got caught up in the traffic.
Stopped in Brussels for another walking tour saw the Mannekin Pis. We had a little time on our own so Lynette took me to so where she, Chantal and Lila had recently stayed.
Brought Tyson a Tin Tin book then saw the Girlenkin Pis (Jannekin Pis).
Drove to Amsterdam, had a canal cruise first, up the Herengracht (Gentleman's Canal), Keizersgracht ( Emperor's Canal) and Prinsengracht (Prince's Canal) to look at the beautiful houses, then another walking tour, went pass the smallest house in Amsterdam where our tour director Howard Hazekamp lives, past hash house cafes and through the famous red light district.
Back to the hotel got dressed and went for a run. Asked at reception where to go, she pointed us to a lovely park. Lynette ran 5kms I kept going and ran 8km. We went back, showered and went to eat at about 8.45pm, surprisingly a lot of places were closed already. We ate at a meat restaurant called Gauchos, it was very good.

Red Light District - Amsterdam

The Mannekin Pis - Brussels

The Jannekin Pis

This would be something Lynette ordered

Party Boat in Amsterdam

25th Start of Trafalgar Grand European Tour

First day of the tour. We had an early start today to get out of London before the traffic started. Drove to Dover, crossed as ferry passengers to Calais, it was a foggy morning but still managed a few photos of the white cliffs. I have to return to visit the war rooms under the castle. Jumped in a European bus in Calais then drove to Brugges.
Had a walking tour in the old city, very nice. Visited the Beer Wall - lots of beer, with a unique glass for each beer . When on our own, relaxed with a beer on the canal. Walked back to the NH hotel.
Lynette and I have a goal to run in each city we stay in on this tour. We went for a run along a canal, we never crossed over the canal and it worked out to be a nice 5 km, passed a few old windmills on the way.
After showers went to our introductory dinner. A light but satisfying meal.

White Cliffs of Dover in the background

The beer wall - with different glass for each beer

Belgium - Home of Herge the author of Tin Tin

Town Hall, Brugge

24th Back to London

Started the day with a 1/2 hr run. The mountain we climbed yesterday was shrouded in mist, there was a light drizzle falling, a real Scottish experience.
Packed up and caught the 10.30am train back to London. When back in Kings Cross visited the 9 3/4 platform (Harry Potter). Caught the tube to Sheppards Bush, we were booked in at the Hilton by Trafalgar tours.
Visited the Trafalgar Tour representative in the lobby, then walked back to Queens Way tube station (3 stops), to meet Paul and Jo from Brisbane Swing dancing for a pub dinner, nice to catch up. They had driven around Scotland frequenting Costa's coffee from the co-op (as you do). They thoroughly recommended taking a GPS, something they wish they had done. I've found you get a much better tour when you get a little wayward.

Kings Cross, off to Hogwarts

Jo, Lynette, Paul and Paul enjoying the English Pub

23rd Edinburgh

Went walking by ourselves went to the Holyrood palace where the Scottish Royals used to live, did the audio tour it was pretty good, saw where Sean Connery received his OBE from the Queen Then went up the hill near the palace for some exercise, not as far as Aurthur's gate but enough to get a great view of the old and new towns.
Went on a Castle tour in the afternoon. Had to rush around a bit after the tour as the place starts to close at 5.00pm. Toured the dungeons on our own, a typically gruesome place.
Lynette had a haggis burger for dinner which surprisingly, she enjoyed. I had a more mundane fish and chips which I also enjoyed.

Lynette standing in front of the Holy-rood Palace

Us - with a fountain and palace behind

Guarding - somebody had stolen the previous guard 

Outside the Edinburgh Castle

Looking over the city from the hill we climbed

22nd Edinburgh

First thing in the morning Lynette asked for the room to be fumigated.
We went for the free Sandemans walking tour. Run by an Australian chap named Kiel, he was very knowledgeable and good. He gave us a lot of the history of the city then we walked to a cemetery where J.K.Rowling had taken some of the names for her novels, past the grave of Greyfriars Bobby, then down to grassmarket, where surprisingly enough they used to sell grass for the cattle stock coming to auction, it is also where the gallows was, had a coffee, then walked up to the castle gates for the end of the tour.
Had Subway for lunch in the North side, Princes Park I think, and a little sleep, then went on an underground city tour. Lesson learnt - there are multiple underground tours - do the Queen Mary Close tour - we didn't.
Went home for a short while, then out for a roast pork dinner at the pub, very nice.

Thomas Riddell's Grave

Greyfriars Bobby - famous for sticking around

Edinburgh Castle looking up from the Grass-Market Area

Enjoying an almost coldy

21st London to Edinburgh

This was a sad day.
Netty and I left our luggage at the hotel to see Telly and Lila off. We had planned to be at the airport 2 hours before departure but the train was delayed due to a points failure and had to be diverted. Chantal was in a bit of a panic as we arrived only an hour before departure but as it was Emirates it was no problem.
Unfortunately we had a very short goodbye after all this time spent together.
After they left we went back, booked accommodation in Edinburgh grabbed our suitcases and went to get a train. As we booked we were told if we run we could get the train leaving in a few moments, otherwise we would have to wait 3 hours. We ran - it was a 6 hour trip up due to works.
We got to Edinburgh at 6.00 checked in at Holyrood Aparthotel and went for a walk along the Royal Mile. Had dinner at the Worlds End pub, very nice. Had an after dinner walk up to the castle gates then back to sleep.
Our hotel apartment reeked of stale cigarette smoke, it infiltrated our clothes.

The Royal Mile - close to our apartment

On of the pubs where I had fish and chips

Bye Chantal and Lila

20th A day in London

Breakfast at the hotel was typical English - not very good.
Headed out to St Paul with a map and a plan. Stopped to chase squirrels on the way. Lila was the star of the the Cathedral with many Asian tourist lining up to take her photograph.
Headed down to Temple Station, stopped at a pret de manger for a soup and sandwich. We went for a walk along the river Lila fell asleep in the pram so we stop for a rest/read in the park.
Went on a free walking tour at 2.00pm head back to Canning st. Stopped off at an Italian restaurant around the corner, it was very good and quite cheap. We all packed, Lynette and I for our next adventure, Chantal and Lila to head home.

She is telling me a story

Singing in the rain

A lovely Singaporean took these photos and sent them to Chantal

Cheeky Girl

She is having a ball

19th Meet in London

Our 26th Wedding Anniversary today.
I arrived at Heathrow around 6.00 am.  Met Netty, Telly and Lila at the St Pancras railway station as they were coming in on the 9.57 train.
Then back to the underground to Canning Street station for the Holiday Inn Express. Lila and I had a quick snooze.
After we went to Westminster, walked around looking for St. Pauls but as the weather was crappy and it was late in the afternoon we decided to eat early and bug out.
Stopped at a shop on the way so the girls could pig out further as eating the Belgium chocolate they had bought me wasn't enough.

In on the 9.57 from Brussels