Danube 2015, Travel

Day3: “History” can be a long word (Prague)

2 Comments

Today we discover Prague. A guided tour and stump speech began our day. A local guide enhanced the sights of the two oldest portions of the city for us with her knowledge of the area, tales of her life here, and a sense for living in Prague as well as the Czech Republic.

A local professor of Physics met our group along the way, imparting a greater degree of knowledge about the history of the area through his personal experiences since 1968. He literally stepped on a stump to deliver his engaging talk. Continue reading Day3: “History” can be a long word (Prague) →

Danube 2015, Travel

Day2: Wish-I-woulda-packed-a… (Prague)

2 Comments

We headed east from the U.S.A., and picked up time. Flying overnight through Detroit and Amsterdam, we land in Prague a little past 8 in the morning.

This is a Praguetically a free day to roam the city. The weather has cooperated greatly, changing from a forecast with temperatures in the 50s and some rain to three days of sun and highs consistently in the 60s. Continue reading Day2: Wish-I-woulda-packed-a… (Prague) →

Danube 2015, Travel

Day1: Flying is an adventure

1 Comment

Start by clicking where you find ‘Danube 2015‘ highlighted in text like this, or within the menus on the top or left side of my pages. Then scroll up and down to see my notes. More recent updates appear near the top (they may be older topics if I made changes and put them on top); older ones toward the end.

Continue to read about the air travel experience, followed by a map below that shows you “the places we’ll go …” Continue reading Day1: Flying is an adventure →

Australia 2014, Travel

Day 13: Sydney by Ferry and Foot

Leave a comment

After a hotel breakfast, ferry tickets were purchased at Circular Quay (pronounced “key”) for our debut ride on the water. The most efficient way to sashay about the most popular sights is definitely to float on a boat. The “Sydney Ferries” are the public-owned crafts, like a bus line with very prompt schedules never affected by stop lights. There are also private ferry lines running on the major routes, and small water taxis near many of the docks for transportation on your schedule, direct to your destination.

Our first target this morning was the first stop on the “Darling Harbor” route, north from the massive wharf area at the Quay, Continue reading Day 13: Sydney by Ferry and Foot →

Australia 2014, Travel

Day 12: All ’round Sydney by car

Leave a comment

I set the alarm for sunrise, and it rose splendidly! Scurrying to Sydney Harbor, there were ferries starting morning runs, joggers doing the same, and one madman taking over 100 photos. By the time the sun crested the peaks of the Opera House, my camera decided enough was enough at this hour, and the LCD viewer screen plaintively explained, “Battery Exhausted.” Continue reading Day 12: All ’round Sydney by car →

Australia 2014, Travel

Day 11: Night Greets our Arrival in Sydney

Leave a comment

The stunning sights of Sydney unfold after flying from Cairns, and our downtown hotel provides a room with a view, or rather a room with “the” view: Sydney’s dazzling Opera House.

Iconic view out our hotel room window at the Intercontinental of Sydney
Iconic view out our hotel room window at the Intercontinental of Sydney

Without leaving the hotel our sightseeing has begun. From the 31st floor atop the Intercontinental the treat of a fabulous sunset unfolds beyond the city and creates a backdrop in the Blue Mountains that we will visit in three days’ time. Continue reading Day 11: Night Greets our Arrival in Sydney →