Thessaloniki day 2

 Second day

Touring the City by HopOnHopOff bus was easy- just get to the appointed place buy tickets and sit for 75 minutes while you see the sights. The problem was that it was 36C at 1000hrs - too stinking hot to walk around. So we just looked at the places and admired the skill of the bus-driver who negotiated double-parked cars, narrow Streets and tight turns, all without so much as a scratch or even a backup.

The bus saved us a walk uphill as a large portion of the sights were at the top of the hill overlooking the bay. The Ancients loved to place fortifications on a hill and make the enemy come to them. We would have liked to see the Heptapyrgion - the Fort and Prison. Wiki ref here but the 30 minutes exploring and the 30 mins waiting for the next bus would have been torture!

Getting back to the Terminal, we were really happy we had seen most of the City and walked a few of the interesting Streets and we alit from the bus and headed for the shade and beverages. Suitably refreshed we decided to find a shady route back to the hotel and enjoy our A/C. Finding more things to look at made the walk back leisurely. 

I apologise for the brevity of these posts from Thessaloniki but the weather did give us time to pause from the activity of the other place we visited days before.

Day 1 Thessaloniki Greece

 

After half day travelling on the plane, which was easy, the boarding pass on the phone accessed everything it had to. Screening lineup of ten minutes and the plane was held at the ramp for 30 minutes, nobody told us why.

We landed at the Thessaloniki (wiki ref here) airport in Greece - no immigration checks and out the door. The assigned, and paid for, pickup was there, where he said he would be. Dropped us at the Hotel and we were in another building but we found it anyway. As usual the internet was not working. A weak and sporadic signal does nothing for the firestick, but it will play Spotify, barely!

The nice Greek who gave
us a free boat ride

Took a walk around the main drag and found a place to eat. Had the first 'Greek Salad' of the trip. It was a good one.

The boat 

Next morning: Breakfast at the Hotel, 6 forks out of ten. Then a walk along the Seafront of the Town. The distinctive feature of this Town is called "The White Tower" and it was a fifteen hundred metre walk. We made it and then discovered that a thirty minute boat cruise around the Harbour only costs a cup of coffee or whatever else you would like to buy from the bar. A wonderful way to start the day. Walking back through the 'shopping strip' we meandered and Doreen bought a pair of shoes. Back to the room and the A/C. But the internet was down again.

Afternoon/evening "let's get out and find food" Well the resto at the bottom of the stairs was beckoning. Doreen had a mix of veggies and I ordered lamb. Five forks out of ten. "let's go out again" for a drink. So we went out to find the "Dubliner" Irish Pub. I had spoken to the owner that morning just to chat and his drinks now were beckoning. Called it a night at 9pm and the daylight was still with us (June 21 the longest day what do you expect).

Last day in Munich

Five days here and there is only one sight that we have not walked to in those days! That was the Residenz, Wikipedia reference here. The Museum ticket takes you to 130 rooms on a couple of floors.

When we finished we had our 10,000 steps in 8000 of them getting there and wandering around. Descriptions need to be flowery and to acknowledge unlike the Nymphenberg Castle this one was really filled with reconstructed rooms and original furniture. When the bombs dropped on Munich in 1944/45 the artifacts were moved to safe quarters, But with the fires and collapsed ceilings the walls and their decorations were demolished.

Wiki quote: "The palace was severely damaged by bombing during World War II. Most of its rooms were reconstructed by the 1980s. Some of the buildings, however, were rebuilt in a simplified manner. Examples of this are the facade of the Alte Residenz on Residenzstrasse or the Arcades in front of the former throne hall on the first floor of the Festsaalbau. A substantial loss was caused by the destruction of the neo-classical rooms and halls in the Festssalbau (including the Grand Throne Hall, now the Hercules Concert Hall, and the Grand Stairway), of the rich décor of the Papal Rooms including the ceiling of the Golden Hall and of the apartment of King Ludwig II (1864–1886). The frescoes of the Court Church of All Saints were also completely destroyed."

the Antiquarium

This place grabbed me with the first room we entered - The Antiquarium. The 15th Century Rulers were obsessed by Roman Emperors and collected/commissioned statues and busts and built this room to house them. After that we were just assailed by opulence. Discerning what was real and what was reconstructed was tough, but the sights and rooms were worth it.

We saw both the King's and Queen's apartments, they seemed to live separate lives, but came together from time to time as there was a double bedroom in the middle of the Wing.

An hour later and with 150 photos we exited into the Square and sat down at the first resto with shade. The .75 litre bottle of water we bought was 7.5 euros ($10.20cdn) but we would have paid anything, as would the thirsty person in the Desert.

Passing the only Church that we hadn't looked at, in the DownTown area - St Peter's Church. We just had to peek in.

Looking for something to snack on for lunch it suddenly became obvious that Muncheners really take 'Sunday Closing Laws' seriously. - all the good places were shut tight, even the Virtual Market, a large food market was shut but walking further we came across a secluded Restaurant with an outside garden.

Walking back to the Hotel in 35Celcius temperature made it obvious that Western Europe is in the middle of a heatwave. Could have been worse it's 43C in Spain.

Now back to packing and checking out early we have to be on the airport shuttle by 7am. 

A "Do-Nothing" Day

Today, after 16,000 steps yesterday, we decided to take it easy - we only walked 12,000 steps. But in a different direction from the usual way to the Marienplatz. Travelling North we headed past the Karlsplatz into the Konigsplatz and turned right to walk down BrennerStrasse.

A fine building on Brenner

This area is mainly the area for Government offices so the sights are just normal but a couple of buildings did stand out.

Monument to the Victims of
National Socialism

Moving on down to the Odeonplatz we passed the Monument to the Victims of National Socialism and the West Gate. This structure was original to the Old City and marked the City boundary.

the Residenz Dais

The Odeonplatz is to the North of the main pedestrian area but home to the Residenz. A large National Palace hundreds of years old. We may come back tomorrow! It is a large complex but an impressive structure, which may well be an outdoor stage (Dais) stands outside of the complex.

Moving South we came into the Marienplatz. We have been here before but there were a couple of sights we hadn't explored. One was the Frauen-Kirche, a large but simple Church. The outstanding feature is a hanging Crucifix in the middle of the Nave.

On the way home we treated ourselves to an ice cream sundae - three scoops of ice cream a spray of whipped cream, a shitload of strawberries and a topping.

Back at the Hotel Doreen showered while I went across the road to a Syrian Barber Shop. It should be mentioned that for years I have trimmed my own hair with a beard trimmer, but Doreen insisted that I get a 'proper haircut' so I went to 'DownTown  Cobourg, entered a Barber shop who shall remain nameless and had the crappiest cut I have had since I left the Army. These Syrians know how to cut hair and Doreen is suitably impressed.

Last Day Tomorrow

A visit to the scenic Castles

Today was the road trip - a ten hour ride to Bavaria and visits to Neuschwanstein and Linderhof Castles. King Ludwig II built the first one - Neuschwanstein - while he lived in the second one. My notes dictated into my phone as we went through the day, the wonders of technology. It should be noted that pics could not be taken inside either of the Castles. However this link shows some of the rooms in Neuschwanstein Castle.

Notes:

Okay well now on the bus, a double deck luxury bus. On our way to the castles. We have just paid for our entry tickets $40 Canadian each. That enables us to bypass the line and go straight into the tour. Not much to see here just a four lane highway surrounded by trees.

Just got off the four-lane highway and on now coming through very pretty Alpine villages. Seeing lots of cut hayfields but no barns or cows Wonder what they do with the hay? Now seeing the bales all wrapped up in plastic.

Lindehof Castle

We have arrived and are off the bus, at the Lindehof Castle we receive instructions about want to do when we are here, from Joseph the guide and then we head off for a pitstop.  Returning Joseph is distributing the tickets, we are going to be split into three groups. We get them and head off down the road to the Castle. We are at the Schloss now a  good small Castle a bit underwhelming but the gardens are impressive there is a Lake leading up to something built into the hillside.

We are lined up into three groups each group go in to see the palace five minutes apart. The group we are in the middle group The first group hasn't gone in yet.

We have gone in and come out, I must say that this palace is the most ornate and fancy that we have seen in all our trips. There is not one inch of wall space that is not covered with a wood carving covered in gold leaf; very French style.The grounds were very impressively manicured and tailored to the English garden and sculptures but we did not have time to explore them.

Back on the bus now I don't know where we're going to go to next.

Have just had a drive through tour of Oberammergau very picturesque; the site of the passion plays. We drive on and the bus is parked and we are waiting to get our tickets. Now we have to find some way to eat. A quick food stop one muffin and a cup of milky coffee hit the spot. We decided to walk; "It is only a twenty minute walk" Josef the guide tells us all. BUT.

Okay we made it to the top to the castle up the windey road supposed to be a 20-minute walk took us old folks 35 minutes. We are here early but that is good. We waited, again, this time for out tickets to match the admission time. One group every five minutes.

The walk downhill took ten minutes less than the climb up. Now on the road again it will take an hour and three quarters to get back to Munich.

Reflections of the castle 

Very well painted and decorated inside in the traditional palace manner there were a few outstanding items like the chandelier in the throne room. Otherwise just seems to be another castle with exceptionally distinctive turrets and roofs. It was a great pity that we were not allowed to take pictures in either of the castles.

Day 2 Munich walkabout

The second day and the hoponhopoff tour; we did all three of the routes. A note about the HoHo tour in Munich, it is not the bus company's fault that there are few sites to see, but we did try to see a few. So off to the Nymphenberg Palace. Buying tickets on line we walked in showed the QR code, strapped the daypack on the body frontwise and then wandered in. This Palace appears to be no more unusual than any other European Palace, and we have seen a few!

Exiting the Palace we then moved to the Stables to another exhibit. Showing our tickets we were promptly told "Those are for the Schloss". Not willing to pay another 8euro we missed that one. Talk about being nickel and dimed by Museums.

Coming back to the HoHo Bus Terminal we then decided to visit the big Park in Town - the Englischer Garten, and maybe get a bite to eat there. Arriving at the side entrance we had to 'pin' the location to make sure we got back. The bus only comes once every hour. Walking for ten minutes we heard the 'Oompah Band' and suspected we had come to the BierGarten. We had and after using the facilities we had to figure how get some food. It was like a big buffet - grab a tray and load up what you want to eat, from any of the food booths and then pay at the cashier - we had a curryworst and a plate of fries. Buying the beer was different as the price included a deposit for the mug.

After eating and listening we left to get the bus scheduled to arrive ten minutes away. Arriving three minutes before the appointed time we waited and waited and waited. Finally the bus turned up twenty-five minutes late. Grabbing a couple of bottles of water we headed off to the room. The one thing that is not working in the room is the wifi - slow speed and sporadic in its speed. We did manage to hook up the Firestick and now we have the same number of TV channels as we do at home, only six hours ahead in programme time. The Hotel TV only has one English channel - CNN International.

Tonight's food -we had intended to eat at the HofBrauHaus, the most famous beerhall in Germany. Unfortunately is has a reputation for being loud with the 'Oompah' band, waiters who couldn't be bothered to serve and when they they are rude, and a long wait for service. Unfortunately all of these traits were true for us tonight, we said "who needs this" and left to go across the road where the prices weren't as high and the service was only half slow.

A long walk back added to the daily total - 16,120 steps.

Travel Day Venice to Munich

Day 5 

On the train Ok a late start, a breakfast the same as the other four days - boiled egg, bread, cheese meat and croissants and tea; and then off the Station. We had decided to use the 'vaporetti' the public transit boats. Negotiating the ticket machine we then boarded and the next stop was the "Ferrovia" - Train Station. We had been here yesterday so we know the drill - check the Board for the train, it was on the Board not cancelled today. A wait in the coffee shop; a very cheap Americano 1.5 euro. "Not Venice prices here!", said the checkout guy - good!

hour 1 on the train 

The train arrived and then chaos, although we had a ticket there were no reservations. We wondered what to do when arriving at car 258, there were reservations but some named others not. But the DeutchesBahn app, on the phone, showed us as being in car 258 71/72. So we found the seats and although unnamed. the seats were marked Venice to Munich. We claimed them. I guess we weren't the only ones who didn't understand the system others are looking for a seat too. 

vines

hour 2 

Heading across the North of Italy into Verona, landscape is typically European, lots of green fields grapes and corn, and boxy houses, stucco yellow and tiled roofs. There are fifteen stops on this train and we have done four of them the next big one, Verona, is coming up. Another discussion ensues, a couple of seats down about reserved seats, and people are standing in the aisles for a while. Discussion over and we now have seatmates. A German couple who don't speak much English. Cell coverage is really spotty so tracking the route and time is sporadic. 

horizontal vines

hour 3 

Next big stop Trento, the terrain is changing more mountainside less fields. We are in the valley big cliffs to our sunny side, we are following the river. Definitely grape country. But these vines look like trees. Instead of vertical vines these vines are spread wide horizontally and hang on frames. Arriving in Trento next stop Bolzano, the start of the Alps. 

hour 4 

Still in Wine Country, big wine country, nothing but vines for miles. Bolzano the start of the Alps. 

the Brenner Pass

hour 5 

Still climbing and still in wine country but the language on the signs is in German now. Going uphill now. Cell service is not good in these parts. Approaching the Brenner Pass the high spot in the Alps. Stopping at Brenner noticed a truck stop full of trucks waiting to go South. Now we have stopped in Brenner Station. On the go again, downhill all the way. Couldn't take pics the sun was in the way. 

hour 5.5 

Stopped in Innsbruck - a big place. 

hour 7 

Gonna be late by 14 minutes, travelling through many wooded areas the trees are blocking the view but I can see plenty of newly cut hay fields. 

last view of the Alps

hour 8 

Arriving 35mins late. Managed to get out of the station and into the hotel. A bit hungry so went out again and discovered that we were in the Arab section of own. Not wanting falafal or donar we trekked back to the staion to the 'bratty" stand. But "only fries are left!" so we had fries and went back to bed.

Day 4 Ben missed the train

The Train Station

Today we went for a walk in the opposite direction to normal - we have seen enough of San Marco and the Square. This time we walked North - toward the train station, someplace we have to go to tomorrow. A nice stroll took us past a couple of churches and towards the station.

 the coffee stop

We included a coffee stop halfway. We hit the grand Canal, turned right, went over a bridge, turned left and entered the station.

We were shocked, the train we are taking to Munich tomorrow, EC82, was cancelled for today. Asking around we were told to go to the other Venice train station - the one on the mainland - Venice Mestri, to ask our questions. Tried to use the automatic ticket machines, missed a step and failed in each of five attempts. So we bought  our tickets the old-fashioned way - from a ticket booth. But these tickets had to be validated before boarding. This realisation came about after we boarded the train. Ben jumped off to validate, he turned around to see the train leaving the station - he had missed the train. So the others went ahead and Ben followed on the next train - no fuss just the perils of travel!

Anyway getting to Venice Mestri and asking about what to do if the train was cancelled, a classic Venetion shrug of the shoulders and "Train is cancelled, I don't know" So now we have to develop a plan B and hope that the train is not cancelled tomorrow. Now just to be sure I phoned DeutchesBahn the operator and asked about the cancellation, and was told the train ran today. So what is going on, I guess we will find out tomorrow.

The blue hulk

When we returned we came back yet another way and courtesy of Google Maps we did not get lost. A lunch break was included and another, but different set of streets was introduced to us. There was a Palestinian Art Exhibition going on and I snapped this peculiar art piece, for the life of me I can't see the connection between Palestine and this "blue hulk".

The laundry pickup

A couple of interesting sights spotted this morning. Being Monday, the start of the week people went back to work. A barge picking up laundry and a garbage scow.

The garbage scow

Day 3 - Free is good!

Not knowing what we wanted to do today, we settled on a trip to Murano. This is where the glass products sold in every other store is made. So we meandered down to the San Marco Square where we knew the boats left for Murano. On the way to the boats, we bumped into a guy pushing a promotion. Free trip to Murano on a water taxi - usually a 65 euro ride, if we went to a glass factory. Great free is good. So onto the boat for a fifteen minute ride to the Island.

We entered a very high class setup to watch a guy blow glass and then we wandered through the showrooms, where almost all the products were marked in the many thousands of Euros, and ended up in the 'cheapy' store where we bought a few pieces. Hanging around the Island for a couple of hours the next question was, "How do we get back to Venice?'. Looking for a water taxi, if split four ways would have been affordable, and finding none we looked at the 'vaporetti' - the public transport. Again lucking out the next boat was the fast and direct boat, so we arrived in Venice in 30 minutes instead of 90.

So how would we spend the rest of the night? Well yesterday we had made arrangements for a window table in the resto immediately opposite the Hotel. Well let's just say the ambience was better than the food.

After that we celebrated Jeff and Michelle's Anniversary with a gondola ride. A wonderful experience but very pricy.  Passing under the "Bridge of Sighs" - pic on right, we then entered the back canals for a 30 minute ride. All in all a very hectic day and hence the early night.

Day 2 Venice

 

A walkabout day and a "secret tour". When one usually buys a ticket for the Doges' Palace, the Palace that was the seat of power for hundreds of years, you only get to see half the building. The other half - the Prisons and the back offices is on another tour - "The Secret Tour". You get to see the place that Giacomo Casanova was imprisoned in, he eventually escaped, as he was a rich guy and bribed the guards after digging out of his cell.

We left the 'Secret Tour" and enjoyed the rest of the Palace, the most impressive room was the Grand Hall, pic on the right, where the ruling Aristocracy gathered to make decisions. This room on of the biggest in Europe held 1200 people at a time.

 

After the Doges' Palace, the pic at the top, we had lunch in a side street resto, average price 35 euro. A bit of a rest and then out for another walk. This time around the Rialto Bridge and the Square to the North; a very hospitable area, we drank a few. Doreen is very taken with the Orange Spritzers.

Day 1 Venice

Well we have arrived. But it was tough, we navigated YYZ and discovered that at 12pm the scares about the lineups were just that - scares. But the flight was different. AirTransat's big airbus was not good. If you fly the plane we did avoid seats 44. The AC was brutal and the entertainment centre did not work. Asking for a blanket I was informed that one would cost $11. Maybe that's why the AC was high - to sell more blankets.

Thanks to Booking.com the hotel transfer went smoothly. We had arranged a private transfer and we were glad we did. Pity the poor schmucks who had to to trek the fifteen minutes to the bus and then ride for fifteen minutes to the boat station and then negotiate their way to the hotel, it would have been challenging!

Finding the Hotel was easy. It was surprising to find that Venice is smaller, in land size than imagined. 

After a smooth checkin we went for a walk to see the Town and to find out where we would go for the tour tomorrow. "The Secret Tour" of the Doges' Palace. The weather was the best for walking - quite hot but not directly sunny. We called it a day after a couple of hours, the travel had caught up with us.

But we got our second wind after a nap and then went for an evening stroll. Up to the Rialto Bridge and around. Even at 9pm there are many people just eating or walking, and Google Maps is getting a workout with everybody. I wonder how one did it before the internet?