The Hardy Wench

When the Fab Two encountered the Fab Four!

October 19, 2025

Well she’s off again after a brief respite in Dorset, it was off to Liverpool this time with my sister Gabs as a belated birthday treat for her, a committed Beatles fan since her teen years back in the 1960’s.
We set off from Weymouth with the now obligatory fizz on the train and arrived in Liverpool in the late afternoon.
We headed for Panoramic 34 on the recommendation of a friend and it certainly did not disappoint! A cocktail lounge and restaurant on the 34rd floor gave fantastic (panoramic) views of the whole city.

We arrived before sunset, so it was great to see the change as night descended and the lights began to twinkle. They twinkled even more after a couple of rather strong spiced Margeritas and we then headed for our dinner venue, ‘The Hard Days Night Hotel.’ Full of great photos and Beatles memorabilia and of course Beatles background music, we joined a rather full restaurant. Gabs was recognized by one of the diners who proved to be on a coach trip from Weymouth and we discovered all the diners were on a trip with Bluebird coaches; one of our local coach companies. No escaping Weymouth for these Budmouth wenches!

Dinner was great and very reasonably priced, certainly would recommend this hotel and restaurant.

The next morning after a hearty hotel breakfast, we headed to the Albert Dock for our ‘Magical Mystery Tour!’ We headed off around the city seeing the Beatles birthplaces, schools, song writing locations, streets that inspired their songs and places where they first performed. We also passed Brian Epstein’s house and were told the story of how he came to be their manager. The tour guide was so informative we learned some new facts along with reminders of what we already knew. We were amazed that other travelers included: Dutch, Brazilians and Argentinians confirmng just how unique and famous the Beatles still are. I could not imagine traveling to Argentina in search of a similar experience for a 1960’s Argentinian band!

On then for a stroll around ‘The Albert Dock,’ followed by of course a trip on the famous ‘Ferry ‘Cross the Mersey,’ as immortalized by Gerry Marsden, another Mersey side talent. As well as the iconic statue of the Fab Four, Billy Furey also graced the quayside. The buildings alongside the waterfront provided a mixture of aged grandeur and the very modern City of Liverpool museum with the odd modern sculpture thrown in!

For those of us who remember the 1970’s a popular sitcom about two single girls living in Liverpool was called the ‘Liver Birds,’ I learned that this name was taken from the two birds on top of the Royal Liver building shown in the photos. They face away from each other and it is said that if they ever leave, Liverpool will be doomed;somewhat unlikely as they are statues! After this busy afternoon we headed back for a brief rest before our evening booked at the Cavern club.

The band were great and had obviously studied the Beatles closely, their sound and mannerisms were so accurate. They were accompanied by a slide show with recordings and quotes from the Beatles and they followed the different stages of the band with appropriate costume changes as well.

Following the encore of ‘Hey Jude” which we sang along with the couple from Inverness, we headed out into the street which was buzzing with Liverpool Friday night partygoers. Way after midnight, late for us Silver citizens!

Another hearty breakfast later and we headed to the Catholic cathedral affectionately known as ‘Paddy’s Wigwam;’ 75 percent of Liverpudlians have Irish heritage. The building was completed in 1967 and was very different to all the cathedrals I’d recently visited in Europe. Inside the stained glass could not fail to impress even on a cloudy day.

We also visited the crypt a huge arched structure below ground level which was part of the original plan and used for mass before the final building was completed.

After a quick stroll around the shopping area Liverpool 1, it was time to head back to Lime Street for the train journey home.

A truly great city with so much to offer, everyone we met was so friendly and the humour and warmth of the Liverpudlians is evident.

I can’t recommend this city enough! Until the next time…..
Wessex Bound! There’s no place like home!

October 15, 2025

Whilst the adventure was wonderful and exceeded expectations, the two young maids were happy to be on their way back to Budmouth and, Weymouth and Portland certainly did not disappoint. A sunny afternoon five mile walk along the beach with my furry friend and a bracing dip in the sea at Chesil the following day reminded us that Dorothy was correct! Until the next adventure…
A Paris Enfin!

October 15, 2025

And so to our last port of call Paris. We had to catch two trains both of which were really busy so we were glad to have reserved seats. After the pristine appearance of Vienna, Paris proved a bit of a shock. We emerged from a very grubby Metro station to a street with overflowing bins, people sleeping on mattresses on the pavement and large groups of men lurking on street corners. It felt more like a shanty town than part of such a glamorous city. We hastily headed for our hotel which fortunately proved to be fine and not in keeping with its surroundings. The next morning after a quick coffee and croissant, we headed to Norte Dame, an easy journey on the Metro. It was busy outside with travelers from all over the world, we joined a queue which was probably the most orderly we had experienced within Europe (almost British!) and, within an hour we were inside the cathedral. It was warming to see so many people interested in seeing this famous monument in its almost new state after the extensive restoration and, having paid twenty quid to enter York Cathedral earlier in the year it was amazing that it was free of charge. Once inside it was busy but possible to move around; an announcement kept telling people to be quiet but with so many people it was difficult to maintain complete silence. While the shop was doing brisk business at the back of the cathedral, Mass commenced even with hoards of visitors skirting the perimeter. Not what I would call conducive to spiritual communion.

We found out afterwards that one of the entrances was dedicated to my namesake St Anne, Mary’s mother so I felt very at home!

A long stroll along the Seine taking in the Louvre and Tuileries in the direction of Le Tour Eiffel followed after a fuel stop of crepes.

It was lovely walking along the river, sellers sold the inevitable souvenirs but it was a relief not to see fridge magnets! (I never want to see another one again!)

We arrived at ‘Le Tour Eiffel,’ and having decided to reach for the top, were disappointed to find out the top was closed, due to full capacity. We acccepted the first floor was the only option and waited in the ticket queue. By the time we got to the ticket office we were informed the top was open so, we went for it! Foolishly I stood at the window of the lift and the ascent made me feel very sick and disorientated; however, in the next lift I stared at the floor and was relieved to discover upon exiting it was enclosed! Once acclimatized I was able to go up to the next floor which was open and enjoyed the vista of Paris before me . Before long I was tap dancing on the glass roof! ~Might have been the glass of wine that helped!

We descended and after a fairly average meal in a very touristy spot headed back to the hotel for the final night before our departure for home.
Oh Vienna! (And a meeting with Mozart!)

October 11, 2025

And so on to our next port of call Vienna: the scenic rail journey had me expecting to see Julie Andrew’s popping up over every mountain top. (Sense a nun theme on this journey!) Mountain peaks clad with pine trees trimmed with very lush green fields with grazing cows reminded me of a Lindt advertisement and I started craving chocolate!

We arrived in Vienna, and found our way to our very trendy modern hotel/apartment called ZOKU. A very different concept from the traditional hotel, it provided a studio with all facilities along with a large and airy open plan living/dining area/working area complete with restaurant, cocktail bar and roof terrace overlooking the Prater; Viennas oldest fairground, it has been there since the 1870s. Our studio had panoramic views over the city and the attention to detail within was exceptional, postcards giving advice on how to sleep well, be more sustainable along with kitchen table wisdom and recipes were pinned to a noticeboard. Whilst it was not huge, every bit of space was utilized so well we had plenty of storage space. A staircase pulled out from the wall to give access to our mezzanine bed. Modern prints were placed at the end of the corridor in case we wanted to swap the artworks already in our room. Bikes were downstairs, available for hire for only 20 Euros a day! They are planning to open one in London so look out!

The next morning was Tina’s birthday and we had a lovely surprise when the waitresses brought a little cake with a candle to our table at breakfast. Afterwards we headed to the city and walked around admiring the many huge and very grand buildings, clearly a city with a very wealthy history. We decided to head for Schonbrunn Palace, the number One tourist attraction in Vienna. We had a stroll around the gardens which were a bit like Versailles, then we toured around the inside of the palace learning about various Hapsburg Emperors, their families and daily life throughout their 700 year rule. The range of decor was impressive and varied but Roccoco was clearly the order of the day!

Each room had a huge ceramic stove which was fueled from behind to create a more aesthetic look for the royals!

Upon our exit we were greetings by Mozart, and very charming he was!

We returned in the late afternoon to the hotel to hastily prepare for the surprise dinner Niall, Tina’s son had kindly booked for us in a very typical Viennnese reataurant, Meissl und Schadn. It was a lovely restaurant setting, very traditional with waiters swerving around bearing huge portions of Viener Schnitzl. We opted for a hearty meal of roast beef, mixed vegetables followed by Plum Dumplings which accompanied by wine had us waddling out a bit later and provided a lovely way to end a very full birthday for Tina!

Th next morning we had a light breakfast in our studio and headed into the city Centre following a guided tour Tina had found on the internet, dodging the numerous touts selling tours and music concerts. More grand buildings were proof of the very rich history Vienna can boast. En route we saw the stables for the Spanish Riding school and we impulsively booked some tickets to watch a performance the next day. We then headed for The Grand Hotel for afternoon tea another birthday treat. We were presented with a menu of various teas and served with a selection of beautifully presented canapés, scones and miniature cakes. Once again, the staff surprised us with even more cake and a candle! We waddled home – again and after a rest headed for the rooftop for a couple of cocktails overlooking the Vienna sunset witnessing The Prater coming to life. A disco which was accompanied by live musicians created a very buzzing atmosphere and I suspect we were the oldest in the room but were we bothered! No!

The following morning we headed to the Spanish Riding School for the performance which began at 11.00am. These were trainee riders and horses but the standard was to us outstanding. It was such a beautiful thing to watch, the horses performed dressage moves, and the commentary told us of the history of the school and the costume traditions. It seemed as if the riders and horses were one. We were asked not to take photos during the show as it can upset the horses, it was really refreshing to watch without phones being waved all over the place. Sadly some idiots still took photos and had to be reminded by staff of the rules.

Another walk around the very busy city centre (Saturday shoppers) and we headed for the Albertina Art gallery which also housed the old state apartments. It was a mixture of modern gothic, Impressionism, surrealism and cubism fauvism (too many isms!) displaying a very impressive selection ranging from Monet to Picasso.

We then headed back to the hotel for a quick rest before going for a wander around the Prater which really comes to life at night. It was a tad rainy (the only rain we have encountered the whole holiday!) which dampened the atmosphere a little but it was still great to see. We didn’t brave any of the rides but it was lovely to hear the whoops of delight from other fairgoers.
Strolling in Slovenia

October 2, 2025

After a long day’s journey by rail and a rather hairy time-constricted change of trains (7 mins with change of platform!) which, we made in time! We arrived in the tiny village of Bohinjska Bistrico;the platform was possibly the smallest I have ever encountered, about three feet wide with a picturesque station the size of a detached house. We walked across the rails and were greeted by our host Marco who had very kindly and most unexpectedly come to meet us at the station to drive us to our ‘apartment.’ This was tiny but adequate for a our needs and after a long day’s travel we collapsed into bed.

The next morning after a slightly unusual breakfast of Apple Strudl, all that was on offer in our local eatery, we explored the village and discovered that Lake Bohinj was within walkable distance. We set off, not being really prepared and with the slightly wrong turn we took it took just a tad longer than we had hoped, two and a half hours in total. The scenery was stunning, a wide valley bordered by mountains on either side. For most of the walk we were accompanied by the sound of the flowing river nearby, apart from the odd cyclist a few cows and a fisherman in the river we didn’t see anyone! A very welcome peace after the frantic busyness of the city.

The weather was perfect for walking, dry, sunny but not too hot. We were becoming very thirsty and hungry towards the end and were grateful to encounter a charming bar/cafe with cold beer and a great lunch of grilled cheese, salad and mashed potato certainly provided a great fuel stop.

We arrived at Lake Bohiinj and made future plans for canoeing and swimming. Having walked so far (9.8 miles) we didn’t feel guilty getting the bus back. Having loaded up with supplies we returned home for a very welcome evening in!

Bled Bound

After an infusion of Plazma, very appropriate as we were heading for Lake Bled, we headed for the bus stop to head to one of Slovenia’s top tourist destinations, Lake Bled. After a beautiful drive through the mountains known as ‘The Julian Alps,’ we arrived at this dramatic and very beautiful lake. Not even the hoards of flag following tourists could detract from this lake’s beauty. A tiny island in the centre was home to a church, a souvenir shop (inevitable!) and an ice cream shop. After being extorted for 20 Euros for a five minute boat ride, we climbed the 99 steps to the church at the top. The bell was clanging all the time and we discovered that if you climbed the bell tower you could ring the bell and make a wish. Looking at the stairs to the top (reminiscent of Portland Bill!) we decided against it and headed back for our return journey.

We then continued waking around the lake stopping for lunch on the way. decided on a Goulash today, again it was incredibly hearty with the inevitable potato dumpling it looked thick enough to ‘trot an ass,’ on as they say in Ireland. Whilst the prices are similar to England the portions are always huge and I have yet to discover a meal I am able to finish! We continued our walk managing to crash another wedding on the way!

As we walked around it became obvious that the Slovenians are certainly capitalizing on this very beautiful spot, it was very commercial and overpriced but well worth a visit regardless. It was a relief to get back on the bus and head for our much less frenetic village.

Bobbing about on Lake Bohinj

The following day, Sunday, we decided to get the bus to Lake Bohinj with various options Canoe/walk/swim bing considered. It was quite a grey day so swimming and canoeing were ruled out. Once arriving at the lake we discovered a boat which took visitors to the opposite end of the lake. The waters were so calm and clearly very deep so it was a lovely peaceful journey, much less crowded than Lake Bled. We seemed to get lumped in with a group who looked like the French version of SAGA, I suggested to Tina we immersed ourselves and spoke in French. I gave the game away when the boat man said ‘Bonjour’ I replied ‘Hello!)

Arriving at the other end, Tina decided to return by boat and I walked the length of the lake, only a couple of miles. This was followed by a visit to the tiny church pictured above dedicated to John the Baptist. It was a beautiful little chapel marred only by the fairly gruesome pictures of both his and St. Paul’s beheading!

I thought he looked fairly cheerful though, despite his fate, the carving reminded me a bit of ‘Punch and Judy!’

Four candles!

Upon our return to Bohinjska we heard the bells frantically ringing in the church, we went to see they were advertising Mass but, it proved to be a practice bell ringing session. Looking in the church cemetery (which was immaculately kept,) we noticed that the church had thoughtfully provided a vending machine for candles which can be placed on the graves. With a choice of four different styles, and a steal at two Euros these were probably the best value item so far in Slovenia so Tina splashed out and bought one.

There were a few clearly Communist graves which was surprising in a Catholic cemetery, these were much more subdued and plainer than those of the non-communist dead.

There was one plaque which with my rudimentary Slovenian commemorated the ending of the war and perhaps the beginning of a Communist state.

Lovely Ljubliana

To my shame I had never heard of this city until about three weeks before we left England. What a great discovery it was. Just a two hour bus ride from our village a very old fairy-tale like gothic city centre with a castle perched high on a hilltop nearby. A river ran through the city crossed by several bridges. We brunched on a floating platform on the river; although there were some tourists about it was nothing like the heaving masses of Budapest so it was lovely to wander around. Again we wimped out of the stairs up to the castle, this time opting for a very modern funicular. Views from the top were spectacular all over this tiny city.

Dragons featured heavily in this city and I suspect there were several myths linking them to the history of the city and the castle.

A market place selling a range of goods from flowers to overalls was at the bottom of the castle and I could imagine centuries of market sellers plying their wares on the ancient cobbles. Slightly more sophisticated souvenir shops here apart from an incredibly tacky mug bearing Melanie Trump’s mug, wishing ‘Greetings from Slovenia,’ a worthy export indeed! A gentle boat ride followed by a look around the Art deco architecture and we were ready to head back for the bus home.

It was with a little bit of sadness we left Bohinjska, it was such a lovely village and it had been a great respite from our busy city visits. Our departure was delayed somewhat as the train we were supposed to be on, didn’t arrive due to engineering works.another train arrived an hour later and when I asked a station staff member when it would leave he just replied, ‘later!’ It did leave eventually and as all the trains were clearly disrupted we reached our Vienna destination only one hour later than planned!
Brilliant Budapest!

September 26, 2025

Early on Sunday morning we trundled our bags to the station for the next leg of our European exploration. The journey was direct which, proved a relief after some of the extremely short changes we had experienced on our previous travels. It was great to just sit and look out the window while catching up with the Archers (How little we travelers have to sacrifice these days!) The countryside whilst flat was very green with many forests and wind farms.

We were very impressed with the restaurant car complete with white tablecloths, full meal (including dumplings!) and draft beer!

We arrived in Budapest in the late afternoon and were immediately struck by how much larger it seemed than Prague with many grandiose buildings and wide boulevards. Once checked in and freshened up we headed for the river for what we hoped would be a relaxing evening trip on the Danube viewing Budapest at night.

Having been informed there was a boat leaving in ten minutes, we hurried to the quayside and found ourselves in a long queue with lots of wannabe pushers in (just not British!)Some forty minutes later whilst listening to a dreadful live band performing on the riverbank we shuffled onto a boat which was about the size of a Football pitch. The heaving masses proceeded to stand on seats at random vying for good positions from which to take photos, many didn’t even look to see what they were photographing. Whilst we all hate being called tourists and I know I am one, it was not a pleasant spectacle to witness. Having said that the views were incredible and it was impossible not to join the melee to record the amazing sites on offer.

We hustled off the boat and feeling peckish but not really wanting a full meal opted for a langos , a Hungarian version of Pizza with a deep fried base (Not a slimming option but well worth the calories!)

The next morning, well refreshed and free the previous evening thinking we were going into battle rather than a pleasant day’s sight seeing, we headed for ‘The New York Cafe,’ for breakfast. The hotel receptionist has sneerily commented ‘Good Luck” when we told him where we were going so it was a pleasant surprise when we were seated almost immediately! Long queues by the time we came out though!)

It was possibly the poshest breakfast I have ever had. We sat and ate in stuccoed splendor whilst listening to a string quartet alternating with a concert pianist playing on a grand piano. Everything was so beautifully presented and not a dumpling in sight!

Well fortified, we set forth to view the memorial to the Jewish children who were shot beside the river in 1944. This was in the form of iron shoes which replicate the shoes the children were instructed to remove before they were killed. It proved a very moving tribute, I found the pairs which depicted one foot just ahead of the other particularly moving as it would have been the last step they had taken.

Following this sobering site, we headed to the nearby bridge to cross to the Buda side to see the spectacular Castle Buda. The funicular did not appear to be open and it was very hot so after a beer we wimped out of climbing the steps and got the tourist shuttle to the top. Much more than a castle at the top, St Matthias church, a fisherman’s bastion, the Royal Palace (under renovation) and the National Gallery were all set amongst a village set across the hill. The views were spectacular and unfortunately my phone camera does not do them justice!

After another beer we bussed down the hillside and headed for the hotel, a quiet night followed after 20,000 steps in 29 degrees heat we certainly weren’t up for clubbing!

On Tuesday, we decided we deserved a slightly more relaxing day so headed for the Gellert Spa, a short tram ride away. It is part of the Gellert hotel which is about to close for the three year refurbishment. Whilst looking a bit tired, the Art deco splendour was still apparent. Wallowing in the thermal water surrounded by trees with Art Deco fixtures it was hard to believe we were in the centre of a city and provided the perfect antidote for all the tramping around we had done in the previous week. We headed for the indoor pool to be greeted by a whistling Lifeguard because swim hats were compulsory! Managed to buy one so all was not lost and I managed ten lengths although it wasn’t easy in the not so buoyant mineral water.

After a relaxing day with our skin feeling ultra soft we headed back, while Tina had a rest, I headed for one of the ‘Ruin Bars’ which have become famous in Budapest. Situated in what was originally the Jewish ghetto, these were originally rudimentary bars set up on pieces of waste ground between buildings which although now more sophisticated still retain the unique ambiance of their original creation.Decorated in bohemian alternative style the addition of Fairy Lights and raised platforms create a great atmosphere and provide an extensive range of beverages.

Whilst on my way I could not resist taking a photo of the very impressive Hungarian State Opera house and shortly after another of a much less grumpy nun than the Prague variety. I did wonder if he/she was heading to the Opera! Hopefully not to view ‘The Little Infant of Prague,’ admission would certainly be refused!

We finished the day with a splendid Arabic meal (the best I have had since eating Dubai!) thanks to the generosity of Matthew HD. The restaurant was called Goli and I would highly recommend it to anyone visiting Budapest – no dumplings either! It was so lovely to catch up with Matthew and still warm enough to sit on the pavement.
Dumplings and Dvorak (and much more!)

September 22, 2025

Day one in Prague and Tina and I headed for the Old Town Square along the cobbled streets to see the famous astronomical clock. It was lively and buzzing and from the many languages I heard Prague is obviously a destination for tourists from around the globe.

We joined the jostling crowd and waited for the hour when the skeleton rings a bell and the apostles make a brief appearance in a small window. Everyone was jolly excited about this and clapped and cheered when the ten second show was over! I found the clock unfathomable, whilst it was very beautiful it didn’t actually tell the time!

We then headed to the Jewish museum, a collection of buildings in which would have been the Jewish ghetto in days gone by. Synagogues, a cemetery and a very moving memorial with the names of all Jews killed in both First and Second World Wars. Beautiful buildings, artefacts and a very haphazard cemetery with gravestones that had clearly moved over the years, reflected the long and often troubled history of Czech Jews living in Prague.

From there we headed back to he main square for a much needed cold beer; had to be tried in the country who invented lager, it was so welcome but I did feel a bit shortchanged when seeing how much of it was froth!

Back to the hotel for a quick refresher and then to a locally recommended restaurant to try some Czech fare. This was a very simple yet authentic Czech eatery with very hearty fare, potato seemed to the order of the day and accompanied almost every dish. We chose was Boar goulash and Pork with tomato’s pancakes, apple cabbage followed by apple strudel all jolly filling and very cheap! (We later discovered the restaurant was named after the original owner whose name translated into English was Lard, so hardly surprising the food was not vegetarian friendly!)

The following day we negotiated the tram and made it to the other side of the river where we encountered a fairytale like shop full of gingerbread biscuits in all shapes and sizes, a pair of black gingerbread children reflected a very inclusive ethos!

Outside the shop and in front of the Kafka museum a statue of two men widdling at each other made us smile. I did wonder if there was a Kafkaesque meaning to this but this was not the case. If you rang a phone number you could ask for a message to be written with their stream! We desisted!

We then made our way to the Charles Bridge, a tourist hotspot, luckily we were early so it was manageable, stunning views of the river from this very ancient bridge. From there, we aimed for St. Nicholas church, famous for housing the original statue of the Little Infant of Prague. It is held in reverence by many Catholics as a symbol for aiding recovery from sickness and is dressed in different clothes for different seasons.

We were greeted by a sour faced nun who indicated I was not appropriately dressed, the sleeve of my all in one had slipped off my shoulder. ~I placed it back was still refused entry! Possibly the colour red indicated I was a woman of ill repute! So, we headed up a very big hill to the castle to join a queue to see the Crown Jewels and then on to look around the castle grounds.

Here, I was challenged when I asked for a senior ticket ( I felt quite chuffed!) the ticket seller had the grace to admit I was correct about my age when she saw my passport! The cathedral staff in the castle proved a lot more liberal than the grumpy nun, and I entered without any trouble. Views from the castle over Prague were well worth the climb.

Back then for a rest followed by more hearty fare in Mr Lard’s restaurant.

Early night, ready to prepare for our last day the following day.

For our last day we headed to Wenceslas Square which was a bit like Oxford Street, It was strange seeing Primark and M and S, along with C &A and Bata shoes, shops which have long left British shores. Again it was busy and buzzing but very enjoyable. We headed for there through some narrow cobbled streets and when headed for the river encountered a bridal party waiting outside a church for the previous wedding to be over! One of the groomsmen was holding the wedding cake. It all seemed very relaxed and the bride waited with her groom, no appearance at the end of the aisle! As soon as the previous wedding left, they headed inside!

By the time we got tot he river the crowds were milling so we headed back and were lucky enough to encounter a traditional Czech procession, all singing and very jolly.

After this display of Czech pride we headed for the Communist museum to find out About life in this country during Communist times. En route we encountered another wedding, marriage is obviously popular in Czech Republic. This bride threw her bouquet into the crowd in the square, Tina almost caught it but had to make do with one rose as a consolation!

Onward to the museum, which was really more like an exhibition and incredibly biased against the communists, interesting all the same.

Back then (after another beer!) to prepare for the symphony concert that evening. More hearty fare (dumplings really are de rigeur here) and then on to the concert hall. Yet another beautiful building with a famed Art Deco glass roof. We listened to a Symphony orchestra play the ‘New World,’ (better known as ‘The Hovis Advert!)composed by Dvorak famous son of the Czech Republic. It was very striking how many classical concerts were going on in Prague in churches every day as well as concert venues.

Sorry to leave this city, have felt so comfortable here and still lots to explore but hopefully the Tobinator will be back one day!
It’s Lunchtime it must be Germany!

September 18, 2025

By 4.45 am we were delighted to be out of our somewhat dingy hotel (the only positive note being it’s immediate proximity to St Pancreas Station; we headed for the terminal and were hastened through by a predominately French security staff and Passport officials who were at best brusque and at worst rude! I was tempted to say ‘Good Moaning,” but from their general countenance suspected they would not be fans of ‘Allo Allo,’ so I resisted the urge.

The station was heaving with two trains leaving twenty minutes apart. ~It struck me that were we still chunnelless, all these people would be flying or crossing by ferry to Europe and this was only two of the many trains that were leaving today.

It felt very different to any other railway station I have been on, no trains or platforms in sight. They were only visible when we were permitted to board. Once boarded we were offered breakfast and a very welcome coffee. The staff were charming and very helpful when we had a twelve minute changeover in Brussels which we made! So, through France and Belgium into country number three, Germany. On to our third train from Cologne to Berlin. Even had time for a quick photo stop outside Cologne Cathedral.

We made our connection in Berlin…Just and we were finally headed for Prague. Countryside was beautiful, lots ore trees and less farming than in England. Also many more Wind farms. Passing Dresden one of our German fellow travelers tipped me about a photo opportunity which I took. It looked a beautiful city.

One hour from Prague we were informed that we would be delayed due to an ‘extraordinary event!’ It all sounded very exciting but turned out to be a technical fault!We arrived in Prague one and a half hours late but, were sustained by Goulash and tapas and wines in the buffet carriage. (Wouldn’t be available in England!) Thanks to a lovely Czech guy called Martin who had the misfortune of sitting opposite me, we were directed to our hotel which was in walking distance. We were greeted by a very enthusiastic receptionist who cheerfully advised us of what to add to our ‘to do’ list in Prague. Finally released we collapsed into comfy beds for a very welcome sleep….
The Adventure Begins

September 18, 2025

Following the blistering rejection of their application for “Race Across the World,” Tina and Annie decided to create their own adventure and, on a sunny September morning two young maids bravely set forth from the Hardy country bound for adventures on foreign shores.

Seeking a hearty full English before departing they were disappointed initially by the non appearance of a chef at the first venue (Weymouth Pavilion cafe) so not to be defeated visited the ‘Custom House Cafe,” whilst they were in possession of a chef; sadly he was no longer cooking breakfasts (too late, past 11.30!) Opting for lunch they were told it was too early, (midday onwards!) So instead they made with a breakfast bap which was being served after 11.30!

Onwards to the station and then onto the carriage. Some more refreshments ensued.

Felt a bit more relaxed after this lot and we proceeded to Waterloo. Negotiated the buses with our bus passes and found our hotel which apart from being very near to the station did not have much else to offer. Consigned to the basement I was awoken by what sounded like Flamenco dancing mice who I suspected were after the Malt loaf still in my bag. By morning of course I realized they were not in my room but that of another guest! Despite the extremely early departure 4.45 am it was a relief to be on our way.

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